Dragon Quest is one of those names that can mean everything and nothing, given the countless different productions that are now included in this universe. For example, Infinity Strash: Dragon Quest The Adventure of Dai might catch readers off guard, because not everyone is clear about where this game should be placed conceptually. To put it quickly: first of all, it is not one of the main chapters of the video game series, and that could be understood. However, it is not even the latest addition, on the contrary: it is linked to a manga and anime series that has existed for more than twenty years, the first of which was hosted by none other than Shonen Jump magazine, together with better known names. It also arrived in Italy, at different historical moments and with more or less careful adaptations.
La review of Infinity Strash: Dragon Quest Dai's Adventure In fact, it will reconfirm this kind of precarious balance, between a story that is not bad in itself and then a contextualization - in this case video game - that would have needed much more care. The idea we have is that it is a product designed exclusively for a small niche of enthusiasts, the only ones who could forgive the current defects, balanced by ideas that, if they had been explored in depth, would have unleashed very interesting dynamics. In any case, we will talk about this and more in the following paragraphs, so take your sword and become, for a few minutes, true Heroes.
Plot: against the demon Hadlar, to save the world.
The plot of Infinity Strash: Dragon Quest The Adventure of Dai faithfully traces what the manga offers (almost) self-titled, Dai's Adventure, which is also largely based on the episodes of the respective anime. Those who follow both will find themselves immediately at home, just as they did a while ago with Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot, in which the faithful of Goku's paper and television adventures were clearly in tears with emotion. However, even if you've never heard of young Dai before, Infinity Strash will put your mind at ease in no time, because it really tells the entire story (covering almost the first half of the entire manga).
He does it in a composite way, so heterogeneous that often something is not entirely convincing. There are static images, accompanied by text that "narrates" the illustrated events, then sections reconstructed with the actual game engine; We jump a little here and a little there, but above all we make a selection. Whole The narrative lines, considered less important, are condensed., when perhaps they would have needed more time to better characterize the relevant characters. This is the case, it seemed to us, with the saga of Avan and the return of Hadlar: we don't even have time to get attached to the pink-haired sensei and his particular training given to Dai and Popp, before the warrior greets us. . Instead, a lot of space is given to Crocodine and the thousand confrontations between the latter and the group formed by Dai, Popp and Maam.
If the criteria for directing choices remains questionable to some extent, it's less clear why Square Enix decided to stop mid-manga, perhaps already imagining an Infinity Strash: Dragon Quest The Adventure of Dai 2 in the near future, or of DLC of a certain size. However the progression Within the title it is obvious: we go from chapter to chapter, from paragraph to paragraph, alternating narrative sequences in which the only thing we have to do is "witness" the events and fights between the main heroes and villains of the moment, usually monsters. in service of the Demon King Hadlar. Minimal scans simply involve moving from point A to point B, in very small environments.
An “action RPG”… with little ambition
Square Enix called Infinity Strash: Dragon Quest The Adventure of Dai an "action RPG" (we quote verbatim); the definition is correct, because all you do is hit the enemies, with a lot of dynamism on the screen, it doesn't matter if they are insignificant and secondary opponents or visually much larger bosses. There is no missing minimum component of role-playing game, with a set of "cards" that will be associated with each character (the so-called Bond Memories), well-defined roles (Dai is the attacker, Popp the magician, Maam the support healer) and minimal customizations (in special attacks.) However, everything is always kept at an extremely superficial level: you will find yourself, most of the time, simply launching attack after attack, waiting for the specials to recharge, and then again for the finishing moves - these are devastating - especially Dai's famous Avan Strash. It should be noted that in the execution of the final blows the situation becomes satisfactory, either for the short film or for the damage inflicted on the unfortunate victim. .
The only truly strategic component of production is learning the movements of boss (Hadlar, Crocodine, etc.), because the latter can be really dangerous, although the difficulty level of Infinity Strash: Dragon Quest The Adventure of Dai is never really prohibitive. However, a few well-timed dodges, combined with selecting the right Bond Memories, will allow you to tackle any seemingly problematic situation. About Bonus Memories: This is honestly one of the few clever "finds" of the product. They basically reproduce iconic scenes from the manga/anime and act as a true collector's item. However, they can be equipped to improve certain pre-established character traits: some insist on magic (and therefore should be given to Popp), others on physical attack (and this is obviously where Dai comes in), and others, more versatile, can be equipped. benefit. The whole game. To collect them all, instead of the story mode, you will have to dedicate yourself to the Temple of Remembrance.
Il Temple of Remembrance is nothing more than a gigantic procedurally generated dungeon: from room to room you face increasingly stronger enemies, incurring random adversities but also notable rewards. Every five rooms you face a boss, and after each boss there is the possibility of continuing or returning to the entrance, keeping all the objects obtained up to that point (material for improvements, gold, etc.). Game after game, you'll be able to earn extremely rare Bond memorabilia, while duplicates will provide you with the currency to upgrade the ones you already have. And that's it: Infinity Strash involves retracing the original story, fighting historical bosses, and exploring the Temple to unlock collectibles.
Conclusions
Tested version PlayStation 5 digital delivery Steam, playstation store, Xbox Store, Nintendo eShop Price 59,99 € Holygamerz.com 6.0 Readers (5) 6.0 your voteInfinity Strash: Dragon Quest The Adventure of Dai is a title designed exclusively for fans of the manga/anime The Adventure of Dai. Others, in fact, will have a hard time forgiving a very poor game system, in which the main narrative (extremely static) is interspersed with levels in which you have to kill a certain number of enemies, collect collectibles and then start again. From the beginning. Bond Memories' mechanics are good, but they're also the only one worth mentioning; while the Temple of Remembrance serves to ensure a minimum of interaction for those who have already completed the main campaign or simply want to get out into the field without thinking too much. More could and should have been done, especially to pay due honor to the heroes who must save the world from Hadlar. Maybe next time.
PRO
- Fidelity to the reference story.
- Bond Memories mechanics are interesting
- The animation of the special moves is nice.
AGAINST
- All mechanics remain in a superficial stage of development.
- Precarious balance between narrative (passive) and combat.
- Extremely repetitive
