It should be illegal for one picture to contain so much joy.
Usually, game reviews are written upon completion of said game, but with Disney Infinity that’s impossible because completion is also impossible. As the slogan so proudly boasts – “Infinite possibilities. Endless fun.”, which just about sums up what this game is.
Following the moneygrabbing strategy of Skylanders, physical figures are purchased outside of the game who you can they play as in game. To do so, the figure is placed upon the “portal”, which is really just a piece of plastic with grooves. In the starter pack you get Mr. Incredible, Captain Jack Sparrow and Sulley – three characters that everybody loves. You also get a playset piece which, when placed on the portal, allows you to play in worlds based on The Incredibles, Pirates of the Carribean and Monsters University. The latter disappointed me a bit. As a lifelong Pixar fan, I was hoping for a world based on Monsters Inc. instead, but you have to understand that this game is aimed at children around the age of 10, so most will be more familiar with University. Sulley himself is the character from Uni which was again annoying but understandable. The same can be said for Randy, who to most will be known as Randall.
The figures themselves are pretty well made. Sulley does look a bit drunk, but Jack Sparrow, sorry, Captain Jack Sparrow, looks as flamboyant as we know him and Mr. Incredible is as out of proportion as he should be. The attention to detail is good, especially with our beloved pirate. Made out of plastic, they’re not very heavy, so you can pile as many on a shelf as you want, but if that’s not neat enough you can buy display cases for your figures. Some figures are so good-looking that people are shelling out a lot of money simply to display them; which is fair enough, I mean who doesn’t want a Jack Skellington lurking over their bed?
The only problem I encountered was getting them out of the box. They were very tightly crammed in and took some strength to get out, which managed to leave some paint on the boxe. Whilst the figure wasn’t damaged, the box had marks on as evidence. Perhaps a problem in the future after a few drops and scratches.
Had this beauty on pre-order since day 1. I think I’m getting sucked into collecting…
Another inclusion in the SP is a power disc. Power discs are hexagons or circular in shape and offer in game bonuses. From terrains to toys to be used in Toy Box to character benefits. I got a Tangled theme that makes the Toy Box all princessy and what-not. Cool, but not for me. I bought a couple of packs from Amazon, £3.00 for each, unsure about what I’d get as it is totally random. I was ecstatic with whaa I got: a Bolt one, a Finding Nemo terrain, another Tangled terrain and one of the rare discs, Dumbo as a flyable vehicle. While I was lucky, many are not and keep getting duplicates, a problem that could drive many insane to the point of more spending or stopping altogether. Power Discs will without doubt be a massive source of income as collecting is something that kids, and myself, find irresistible.
Circle discs provide bonuses, while hexagons offer Toy Box weapons, mods and vehicles.
So, that’s the hardware dealt with, now for the software. DI has two main game modes – Play Sets and Toy Box. Play Sets are what you would call a campaign, or levels. They are activated through a piece found in some packs. When i say ‘some’ I don’t mean it’s luck, I mean only some characters have actual Play Sets, one of the biggest problems with DI. If I buy Jack Skellington, I want to be able to do some levels that are unique to him in a recreation of Halloween Town, but unfortunately it is not to be. He is a stand alone figure available only in Toy Box. The only Play Sets currently available are Lone Ranger, Cars and the starter figures. Whilst the latter is interesting and fun to me, the other two are not. Luckily, the next one is a Toy Story one set in space, so that should address the problem slightly.
The Pirates Play Set offers the most diversity and range. You can do battle with Davey Jones’ henchman, search for hidden treasure or wrest the seas in pirate ship battles. The main Pirates storyline took about 4 hours to complete, with lots of collectibles and side missions left to do. The Incredibles is set in Metroville and is under attack from Syndrome, omnidroids and his super-villain friends, a story that lacks imagination on the face of it but is actually interesting and gripping from the get-go. The Monsters University (sigh), is very nice to look at, but a bit timid. All you really do is scare people and set up traps which become repetitive pretty quickly. The Play Sets, then, are hit and miss but offer just enough variation to keep you interested. The lack of good, quality Play Sets is an issue that needs to be seen to though.
Play Sets are not this games shining light. They lack the creativity that Disney are so famed for having and encouraging. So, along with Play Sets, Toy Box mode is available and if you are stuck for things to do in story missions, the Toy Box has you sorted. Play Sets are like a gateway drug to the much harder and brilliant Toy Box. Perhaps a drug metaphor is a bit silly…OH WELL!
Toy Box mode can be described as a Minecraft and Little Big Planet hybrid…but Disney, which just sounds like and is heaven. The possibilities are so vast and fun that you can lose yourself in a maze of nostalgia for hours. Obviously the first thing anyone does with these kinds of games is build a racetrack, which is what I did and found surprisingly simple. Adding Disney themed decorations was like decorating a cake made out of your childish dreams. I mean, why wouldn’t Carl’s house from Up be floating above the track? And why wouldn’t there be little Kermits and Trons walking around the track? And why wouldn’t it all be set next to Nemo’s home?! A few tutorials sort out the basics and from there it’s relatively simple to build structures and mini games to your heart’s content. Toy Box is also where Power Discs show their worth. Flying around as Dumbo is remarkably fun, even if you are just sightseeing. If you’re thinking that you’ve never been good at building or crafting stuff, have no fear! Disney regularly share the best Toy Boxes from around the world. Every week they hold a competition to find the best and make them available for download for free. From football matches to a Tron/Wreck-it Ralph crossover racetrack, it’s got it all!
The Toy Box offers a wide range of toys to collect. Some, as I’ve said already, you have to get through Power Discs, such as Stitch’s Blaster or Carl’s Cane, but many others you unlock through a simple lottery. The amount of toys available for unlock is staggering, and cover everything from Aladdin to Wreck-it Ralph.
The attention to detail in TB mode eclipses that of the PSs. It’s the little things that matter. For example, when the Nemo terrain is active, the music from the film begins to play. The dialogue between guards or your character becomes witty and naturalistic. Despite not having the actual voice actors, a good job has been done to find people with similar voices. Toy Box mode also ties in with Play Sets in that you can level up your character in their too. You can battle Omnidroids and Rhino Guard from Robin Hood in the TB to earn ‘sparks’ which go towards leveling your character up, giving them more strength and health.
Toy Box mode is what sets DI apart from other games. It’s why this game will survive and flourish for years to come. The second and third installments have already been confirmed, but they’re looking to be released for next-gen consoles. One of the most exciting things about DI is the future it holds. Disney, as most will know, own the rights to Studio Ghibli, The Avengers and Lucasfilm, which opens up a whole new world of, well, worlds. Already confirmed are Star Wars and Marvel figures, though they will most likely be on the next game. If they added Ghibli characters to that, it would be an absolute dream. Imagine, if you will, running around as Darth Vader, battling Iron Man and being beaten up by a Totoro…just imagine that. The possibilities are truly endless and remarkable.
In regards to the short-term future, all Disney have to do is not screw up. If they start to make characters for films that aren’t out or are unpopular, they can wave goodbye to Infinity. Future confirmed figures include Phineas, Perry the Platypus, Wreck-it Ralph and a few from the new film, Frozen. While these are all new franchises, they are popular and good ones. If that’s a bit too modern for you, then Jack Skellington, a Toy Story PS and Sorcerer Mickey will all be available in the next couple of months.
If it were up to me, all films or TV shows would be used. For example, Lilo & Stitch, Wall-E, TRON, Robin Hood, Aladdin, Hercules, Alice In Wonderland, Jungle Book, Lion King, Winnie The Pooh, Little Mermaid, Kiki, Totoro, Spirited Away, Tarzan…OKAY I HAVE TO STOP BEFORE I HYPERVENTILATE! Come on Disney…just make figures and PSs for all of them!
Verdict
An experiment in creativity, Infinity is as unique as all their films and TV shows. This game has that special something that just makes you want to keep playing until bedtime, and then some.
Prepare to be Bloggled! 