Print this page

Review - Infinite Undiscovery (X360)

X360 RRP: £44.99 buy for £29.98
Out September 5

The one genre that Microsoft’s Xbox 360 has never managed to conquer is role-playing games. The console does have a few very high quality RPGs, but it’s only now – since Japanese RPG developing giant Square Enix agreed to some exclusives for the 360 – that things are really starting to look up for RPG fans. Infinite Undiscovery is created by the teams that brought us the Star Ocean games and the Tales series, so expect some high quality, fast action battling.

Unlike many role players, Infinite Undiscovery focuses on real-time battles with on-screen enemies. The days of random battles and turn-based, ponderous strategising are on the wane. The game sports a rather preposterous tale of the Moon being tethered to the Earth by baddies, unleashing monsters on the world. It’s a concept that opens the way for a big party of disparate characters to fight many monsters and save the world as is the wont of all RPGs.

Using a system called Connect you can command other members of your party using the “face” buttons. In battles this means you can control which special attacks your party members use while you hack and slash away with your own character, the game’s main protagonist, Capell. Outside of battle your party members can perform tasks such as talking to animals to gain information and finding hidden treasures. There’s a fun cooking game within your inventory but don’t expect to be spending lots of time looking through menus: the game doesn’t pause when you’re in the inventory so you could be attacked by enemies on the field while changing your armour or cooking up a nice dessert.

The mix of fast action play and deep character customisation should attract both hardcore RPG heads and those new to the genre. Discover the undiscoverable this September.

8/10

Review by Kirsten Kearney