Infinite Space

Magician

Magician

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Although it's being labeled as an rpg, Infinite Space is actually a starship simulation.

Due for release on the DS in March. Infinite Space comes from Platinum Games (Mad World & Bayonetta) and Nude Maker (Clock Tower & Steel Battalion). If you're even slightly a Trekkie fan, Infinite Space should be on your radar. From the wiki, "Japan's Famitsu magazine rated it 9/9/8/8 for a total of 34 points, earning it a Gold award."

Infinte Space is my most anticipated DS game this year.

Videos

Japan's promo video.

In-game video.

Side-story anime intro. (a la Dead Space: Downfall)
 
ookitarepanda

ookitarepanda

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Been waiting for this one for a while. I remember when PlatinumGames announced their trio of games, this being the third, and then wondering what the hell happened to it. Guess it came out in Japan last year and they're still waiting to put it out in the US.

The videos of it make it look really complicated, and the reviews pretty much said that the vastness and difficulty of the game were downpoints. Whatever - if you don't know what you're getting into with a P-G game, you should probably avoid it.
 
T

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Any idea if this is anything like Star Flight or Star Control 2?
 
SouthtownKid

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The concept seems really cool and the cartoon bits look and sound good (not the English dub, though), but it never ceases to astound me how poorly the DS handles 3D. I don't see why they don't make something like this in full 2D rather than in clunky, first gen PSX-looking 3D graphics.

The 3D graphics remind me of Virtua Racing from '92. Everything simple, flat shapes with flat lighting and little to no detail.

virtua_racing.jpg
 
Magician

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A new US trailer was released a few days ago.

Here.

I hope the customization is deeper than the Armored Core series.
 
GregN

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Too bad it isn't an RPG. :crying:

Looks like a Koei game in terms of complexity and difficulty.

No thankies.
 
Magician

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BUMP

Just started playing an hour ago.

I'm about to build my first ship.
 
Jedah Doma

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Wow, in between all the stuff coming out, I missed this. Knew about it but had no idea it was out. Thanks for the heads up.
 
Magician

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Aw, the ship building isn't as in-depth as I thought it'd be. You have to find and purchase blueprints for your ship, so all of the ships in the game are prefab, no custom shell building. Blueprints for modules must also be found if you plan to make any additions to your ship.

Combat is fairly easy; you control the distance between yourself and enemy ship or ships. Your distance determines the accuracy of enemy's weapons and your weapons. Winning a battle earns you experience and credits. Crew members level.

Side quests are done for credits, additional crew (very Suikoden-esq) members. As you travel the universe you'll come across spacial phenomena (clusters, stars, nebulas, etc). The discovery of these phenomena and winning random battles gives you fame. I've already come across two potential crew members, but they wouldn't join me because my fame is too low.

There's a fuck-ton of minutia I don't have a grasp on yet. (NUMBARS!! DURRRR....)

More to come as I play.
 
Magician

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Alright, the crew system is a little funky, so it took a little time to understand.

Basically, you eventually gain command of five ships. Currently I can only command two ships because I've just started, but there are slots for five. From what I've read, there are over one-hundred crew members you're able to obtain. Now, even though you're in command of multiple ships, you only designate one active crew. Which is what threw me off in the beginning, because you would think it necessary to place a crew on every ship in your command, wouldn't you? Not so in Infinite Space, one crew does it all across every ship in your fleet. Very funky.

When it comes to crew statistics, there are ten categories. Like any rpg, some crew members perform better in some categories and worse in others. So it's essential that you assign the right crew for the right task. You wouldn't want your best mechanic working in the medical bay, would you?

The standard rpg statics apply in Infinite Space. Good pilots help you maneuver better. A good medical unit lets you travel longer distances in space. A top gunner will do extra damage in combat. A good accountant will provide better prices on modules and weapons. The list goes on.
 
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GregN

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If I'm an RPG whore would I like this? Or is more sim like? Is it difficult? The customization doesn't sound Armored Core like, so that's a plus for me.
 
Magician

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GregN. said:
If I'm an RPG whore would I like this? Or is more sim like? Is it difficult? The customization doesn't sound Armored Core like, so that's a plus for me.
Click to expand...

Twelve hours in so far.

Its more rpg than sim and the customization is light.

It's an easier game than I thought it would be.
 
Magician

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Twenty-five hours in. Currently in chapter five, there are now more modules than there is space to put them in for each ship in my fleet. More attention to what each statistic specifically does for your fleet is becoming necessary. Gauge Speed and Livability are king so far (imo).

The end of chapter four introduces fighters. The only ship type that can use fighters this early are cruisers. Fighters act as a form of stasis (in that they prevent the enemy fleet from moving) and damage over time attack. As the use of fighters is introduced to you, the enemy also begins to use them as well. So it becomes necessary to equip your cruiser with AA-guns, the only weapon that can take down fighters.

This may be the longest game, start to finish, that I've ever played. At twenty-five hours in it appears as though I'm only a third of the way through. But what I find to be most interesting is just how expertly paced Infinite Space is. Each of the first five chapters gives you its story and combat system piece by piece. Not once have I felt overwhelmed.

More to come as I progress...
 
Magician

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Thirty-eight hours in. Just started "Yuri The Man" portion of this space saga. It appears as though the first eight chapters are only a warm up. Your first power gained in this chapter is access to command of a fourth ship in your fleet.

There're some nice twists in the story at this point, lots of questions still unanswered, mostly concerns about the crew you're forced to leave behind in the wake of events at the end of chapter eight. Getting a better grip on the combat system and the statistics. The special abilites for each of the individual crew members are beginning to play a bigger role now.

Why wasn't a full on guide written for this game?

It would've sold well considering this game's depth.

I like how Yuri is more like Riddick now rather than Chris Pine's Captain Kirk (which was Yuri's vibe for the first eight chapters) at this point in the story.

More to come...
 
S

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GregN. said:
If I'm an RPG whore would I like this? Or is more sim like? Is it difficult? The customization doesn't sound Armored Core like, so that's a plus for me.
Click to expand...

Sounds more like Mechwarrior, but in starships instead.
 
elixir

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Hah, Mugen Kouro? I played the JP version, shit is so boring. Unless you have an endless amount of patience and cling to things like EVE Online, don't bother.
 
OMFG

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Magician said:
Twenty-five hours in. Currently in chapter five, there are now more modules than there is space to put them in for each ship in my fleet. More attention to what each statistic specifically does for your fleet is becoming necessary. Gauge Speed and Livability are king so far (imo).

The end of chapter four introduces fighters. The only ship type that can use fighters this early are cruisers. Fighters act as a form of stasis (in that they prevent the enemy fleet from moving) and damage over time attack. As the use of fighters is introduced to you, the enemy also begins to use them as well. So it becomes necessary to equip your cruiser with AA-guns, the only weapon that can take down fighters.

This may be the longest game, start to finish, that I've ever played. At twenty-five hours in it appears as though I'm only a third of the way through. But what I find to be most interesting is just how expertly paced Infinite Space is. Each of the first five chapters gives you its story and combat system piece by piece. Not once have I felt overwhelmed.

More to come as I progress...
Click to expand...

I've been playing this game right before I go to sleep and I found myself hooked. The side missions, bartender given jobs, and stat building will take some time to complete. Even in the first portion of the game, the pirates with that bigger main ship seemed to give me problems until I realized that I'm focusing on not the main front attacking ship. Also, I noticed that you really have to try to read the other ship to determine whenther or not he's going to barrage you or hit you with the normal attack. When the enemy builds up to the red level and drops for a moment back down to yellow usually tells me that they're ready to dodge a barrage attack.

I hate getting into a battle when your crew's completely exhausted. You end up getting your ass handed to you.
 
Magician

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OMFG said:
I've been playing this game right before I go to sleep and I found myself hooked. The side missions, bartender given jobs, and stat building will take some time to complete. Even in the first portion of the game, the pirates with that bigger main ship seemed to give me problems until I realized that I'm focusing on not the main front attacking ship. Also, I noticed that you really have to try to read the other ship to determine whenther or not he's going to barrage you or hit you with the normal attack. When the enemy builds up to the red level and drops for a moment back down to yellow usually tells me that they're ready to dodge a barrage attack.
Click to expand...

I don't even bother with barrage, I only use normal attack, fighters and specials. Dodge is very useful; from chapter nine and on it's always a good idea to use dodge immediately after a normal attack. Yes, the enemy's normal attack accuracy gets a bump, but you nullify an attack which will OHKO any ship in your fleet with armor less than fifty and a hull less than fifteen-hundred.
 
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