izigame.me

This review is purely my opinion after finishing the game (40-50h) but please consider reading the full review on reddit link below if you want to get a better idea what's good or bad
I don’t use to write something like this because usually a game is either really bad and I stop playing it or just good and I don’t have anyhing to say. Review bombing with 20min playtime is crazy..
Short answer I recommend this game. But only if you met these criteria :
- Dragon Quest Dai's Fan (especially the 2020 remake anime, being just the old manga fan or a simple anime fan will not be enough I think)
- Like Yuki Hayashi’s OST and the Japanese voice cast (absolutely amazing to see these voices back just for a game) Idk about the enligsh sorry
- Like Boss Rush & Rogue Like
- Like simple gameplay and system but with cool tech (combo cancel, perfect dodge, perfect guard)
- Like Challenging Boss (post game)
- Being aware of this game's scope (anime low budget, development issues, small game not mainline DQ and not a real "spin" off)
And even after that you may not enjoy it, depending on your personal preference

Long review (full review with challenge mode section and my conclusion. I'm sorry more free space to write on reddit unfortunately) : FULL REVIEW
Introduction context, this game was planned to be release alongside the anime remake (so in 2021) that's why it didn't cover the whole story, but after releasing the first trailer, they decided to reboot the entire development (at this point they lost between 1 and 2 years of development for a game that already has low budget and small scope) Now considering this game is an ANIME adaptation and not a DQ game, you start to get what went wrong. Anime game budget is really low because it is calculated based on the Production Committee of an anime (they only share a part of the overall budget to produce game, merch etc) so it will never be as big as a real "game" (DQ builders, Monsters or Heroes have far more budget than Infinity Strash) This game is not developed by Square Enix. This is Kai graphics and Game Studio Inc first new console games (the credit has more marketing and voice actors than developpers) So keep that introduction in mind it doesn’t totally justify the game quality but it helps you to understand how anime adaptation works.
- Gameplay :
If I had to hardly disagree with most of the people, is the gameplay system. This game seems to be oriented for kid/ young teenager because the gameplay is really simple, no combos or crazy thing here. However, Infinity Strash is not a MUSOU no thousand of enemies and map strategy, and I'm if I need to compare the way it plays, bosses in post game seems to be closer to a simplified Dark Souls than One Piece Pirate Warriors (I'm not saying it is nearly as good as a Souls) The way you should play is not button mashing or farming 50 levels, you have to learn the boss pattern, try 5, 10, 20 times or even more if you are not good. You can be 2 shot. Then you have "hidden" tech, and I didn't see any review mentioning that. The game has combo cancel, by pressing quickly guard just after a hit, you can reset your character animation and decide after to either dodge, combo again or guard. This allows you to react quickly. Popp and Martial Artist Maam can perform this move with meditation if you want. You have also 2 different dodges. Neutral dodge is when you press the dash button without pressing a direction, this dodge has less recovery time so you can quickly guard or do something after that. Then you have the classical dodge/dash, by pressing a direction you can dash in that direction, it has more recovery times depending on the character because YES all 6 characters are not the same (Popp has more invincibility frame, maam and hyunckel can dodge faster than dai). People complaining that the gameplay is simple and can't even understand how it works (as simple as it is) are the real crybaby (sorry). If it is simple it is accessible, not for you taste maybe but for other people, casual players or even kids.
- Graphics
Game made with unreal engine 4, simple environnement, basic lighting but some part of the game like the Temple of Recollection has cool environnement artistic direction. Cel shading anime style, amazing 3D model, facial expression and animation are on point. 2D FX (skills effects etc…) are good and even better than the anime (3D VFX look in the anime), they did a great job. Some anime games doesn’t even have this “simple” standard and it is quite alarming. The HUD/UI looks good, respect the anime artistic direction, simple to understand, really easy to access and navigate it might be stupid but I’ve played One Piece odyssey this year and the interface and menu are horrible, comparing to DBZ Kakarot for exemple. But graphics is not really important for some people so let’s talk about the content.
Game content :
- Story mode (4.5/10)
This is the worst part of the game, the game has mission/stage based structure with no level design (nowadays mobile game like to do that because it allows short play session) that doesn’t mean it is completely trash. You can enjoy that (some people prefer small ambition game compare to empty open world) but my main problem is it has too much cutscenes and not enough gameplay. 3D CGI cutscenes are amazing but it cost a lot, this game is not a Dragon Ball Z game and will never be one (no ones care about Dai especially outside japan) I don’t get why they decided to tell the entire story (even the small details) because for the pacing of a game it is really bad. Maybe Shueisha (the Shonen Jump magazine) or the Author (Riku Sanjo) asked Square to tell the entire anime without forgetting element (weird decision lol) I understand that it is impossible realistically to tell 41 episodes in full CGI, games like DBZ kakarot has most of the time no voice actors, no animation A poses 3D model watching each other and a lot of missing part of DBZ story. They should (imo) skip some part and tell only the essential part of Dai’s story to have a great pacing and better story mode. The anime and manga are amazing and enough if you want to discover the story. My only positives thing is, if you like Dai 2020 anime, you will appreciate the effort of the voice actors (they’ve recorded everything again just for this game), the OST by Yuki Hayashi are rearranged (Haikyuu, My Hero Academia…), the 3D cutscenes are great, and some missions has cool details in it (Popp’s Megante sacrifice, Dai casting Raidein spell against Hyunckel with Popp in the background, the final boss is cool, similar to Oz from One Piece Unlimited Cruise 2) If you are expecting a big ARPG open world you are wrong, Square Enix never mentionned that, just inform yourself before buying. I will put this game mode arround 4.5-5/10 max
- Temple of Recollection & RPG system (7.5/10)
One of the positive part of the game, an infinite rogue like dungeon or survival mode (that’s why the game name is Infinity Strash) where you can collect bond memories (accessories with manga art/animation voices and stat boost) this is easy to understand even for casual players or kid and fortunately without gatcha economic system (because I hate that). You have over a hundred random rooms to defeat with Vearn as a final boss (amazing boss pattern and animation) and Medoroa Spell to unlock for Popp. Lot of enemies and bosses, trap, chest, shop, you need to manage your party members, your item and your buff efficiently (you have to choose a stat boost/buff after beating each room)......
Challenge mode (8.5/10).......
Conclusion (6.8 - 7/10 max)........
FULL REVIEW