Post by Warlock on Dec 12, 2011 22:00:40 GMT -5
Has anyone played Infinite Space on the DS?
It's a pretty interesting game in a couple of ways, and I'll probably write up a more detailed review when I'm finished with it. The short of it is that it's an interesting Space Opera-themed RPG- it roughly follows the JRPG formula, but throws out a lot of standard JRPG mechanics and brings some fresh ideas to the table. You're in command of an entire fleet of ships, and there's heavy emphasis on customizing and min/maxing your fleet and crew.
Battles are closer to a real-time tactical affair than a traditional JRPG. They're unique enough that I can't think of a good comparison offhand- it's kind of an action-RPG-ish setup. Your fleet and the enemy fleet are on a one-dimensional line; you have the ability to move back and forth at will. A "command guage"- think mana- ticks up; actions consume parts of this gauge. Your fleet's speed and the range are customizable; a nimble fleet can hang outside the range of most of an enemy fleet's weapons and lure them into wasting some of their command gauge on a weak attack, then move in for the kill. There are a couple other mechanics that are introduced as you play- such as the ability to board enemy ships and launch fighters- as well. It does capture a tactical/naval battle feel fairly well.
The story is a bit of a mixed bag, unfortunately, with very pronounced high points and low points. The main character is a generic anime teenager leaving his home planet to explore deep space with a mystical artifact bequeathed to him by his dead father; along the way, he gets involved in the various political squabbles of the nearby star systems. There have been a couple promising moments, but a lot of the time it feels like they're rushing through plot points, and the main plot twists have so far been pretty easy to call.
It's been interesting so far, and I've been enjoying it- the fleet customization aspects have been the high point and it's been a pretty solid way to spend my commute.
- HC
It's a pretty interesting game in a couple of ways, and I'll probably write up a more detailed review when I'm finished with it. The short of it is that it's an interesting Space Opera-themed RPG- it roughly follows the JRPG formula, but throws out a lot of standard JRPG mechanics and brings some fresh ideas to the table. You're in command of an entire fleet of ships, and there's heavy emphasis on customizing and min/maxing your fleet and crew.
Battles are closer to a real-time tactical affair than a traditional JRPG. They're unique enough that I can't think of a good comparison offhand- it's kind of an action-RPG-ish setup. Your fleet and the enemy fleet are on a one-dimensional line; you have the ability to move back and forth at will. A "command guage"- think mana- ticks up; actions consume parts of this gauge. Your fleet's speed and the range are customizable; a nimble fleet can hang outside the range of most of an enemy fleet's weapons and lure them into wasting some of their command gauge on a weak attack, then move in for the kill. There are a couple other mechanics that are introduced as you play- such as the ability to board enemy ships and launch fighters- as well. It does capture a tactical/naval battle feel fairly well.
The story is a bit of a mixed bag, unfortunately, with very pronounced high points and low points. The main character is a generic anime teenager leaving his home planet to explore deep space with a mystical artifact bequeathed to him by his dead father; along the way, he gets involved in the various political squabbles of the nearby star systems. There have been a couple promising moments, but a lot of the time it feels like they're rushing through plot points, and the main plot twists have so far been pretty easy to call.
It's been interesting so far, and I've been enjoying it- the fleet customization aspects have been the high point and it's been a pretty solid way to spend my commute.
- HC
