E3 Stand-out Game: Infinite Undiscovery
posted by KawzNFX on July 19th, 2008
I spent Wednesday roaming the halls of the LA convention center. This year, E3 is very muted. It no longer has the flash and fan fair of the E3’s of old. Today’s E3 is not a show, but a showing. Here are some games that are worth keeping an eye on.
The top of my list is Infinite Undiscovery, which is an Xbox 360 exclusive. This game is beautiful. When I approached the Square Enix display, I was treated to live game play that took place in what seemed to be an enchanted forest. The colors, lighting and artistic style really made the game stand out. The fighting was done in real-time, and the action can move pretty fast. Unlike most Japanese RPGs, you control your character, and only your character, in a third person view throughout the game. There are no grids or standing in line to wait for your turn. Its you and your AI squad attacking as you see fit.
(click to enlarge)
The biggest thing I learned about Infinite Undiscovery has to do with the party system. In all other RPG party systems, you have to choose two or three characters to join you. The rest of the characters stay in some hub or are just with you in spirit. This is not true here. if there are ten people selectable for your party of four, anyone left over can form a second party… or squad. For this second squad, you choose which is the party leader, and who will follow him or her into battle. This second group of Ai roam the map as you do and fight as you do. It was cool finishing off a group of enemies and seeing the other squad off in the distance doing the same thing. I was told that there will be 18 characters that will join you on your quest. Most of which will be forming squads and rolling with you. That’s new, that’s hot.
I hope to get more playtime with this title before its release in September. For now though, keep an eye on this one if you go for fantasy RPGs.
