Disney has owned two Christmases in a row with the Infinity gaming series. Fans of Disney, Pixar and Marvel have enjoyed versions 1.0 and 2.0 on their gaming console of choice. For those that are unfamiliar with the titles they are based on collectible figures which work with a platform that connects to all of the major gaming consoles. The figures are interchangeable and the experience is only limited by the imagination of the player. That is to say that players have access to a “ToyBox” which allows them to create their own virtual worlds, puzzles and challenges that they can then play and share with friends. But that is only half of Infinity, each release also includes a “Playset” which is a fully-formed traditional game where players complete objectives and finish a story. The latest release of Infinity appears to be the most ambitious one yet. This is saying something because the series has done exceptionally well bringing the Pirates of the Caribbean, Cars, The Incredibles, Lone Ranger, Monsters University, Avengers, Spider-Man and even Guardians of the Galaxy to life.
In an unabashed attempt to empty the wallets of gamers the studio will be introducing the Star Wars characters into Disney Infinity 3.0. Based on previous successes this should be easy work from the company and a guaranteed Christmas three-peat. But that has never been anything easy about the success and challenges facing Infinity. The series has gone through tremendous changes over the years. Unlike traditional AAA titles the Disney company was not content to simply release a game associated with a big-name franchise. Instead they released a game that featured the franchise but whose characters could be played with in new and unconventional ways. The vehicles, weapons and even set-pieces from any particular series would be compatible with the items from a different franchise. This did not happen easily. On the back end the developers were constantly refining the code so that the game ran quickly and smoothly. They were constantly patching errors and updating the system across the multiple consoles. This would have been difficult to do with one game yet imagine if that game were compatible with multiple properties. The technical achievements of Infinity are staggering when you look at the breadth of all the franchises the platform supports. Disney also listened to the community, which is rare for any game publisher, let alone a company that size. They actually began reaching out and hiring the best community designers to make their game even better.
The addition of Star Wars into Infinity is akin to a rich frosting on an already delicious cake. As of its announcement Disney has confirmed that the characters and events from the film series and the Clone Wars animated series will be highlighted. Expect to fly the Millennium Falcon, pilot a speeder bike, use a lightsaber and do a million other things that every fan dreams of doing. And these are not cheap recreations of the real thing either! The sights and sounds from the movie will be recreated to some high standards. The sculpts for each new figure retain the same attention to detail that made the series memorable. The scar on the chin of Han Solo for example, the one sported by Harrison Ford, is actually on the figure! A Play Set based on the upcoming “The Force Awakens” is expected to be released in the Winter. Yet that was not the only big news announced for Infinity 3.0. The Disney side would get Sam Flynn and Quorra from TRON, Mulan, Olaf, Mickey and Minnie Mouse. A new Marvel Play Set was announced along with the release of the Hulkbuster Iron Man. This is all great news for Disney who has found themselves competing against Nintendo in the collectible game figure market. Nintendo released the Amiibo figures last year to rave reviews. Unlike Infinity the Nintendo figures work on many games for the Wii U console and 3DS without the addition of a specialized platform. To counter that Disney announced that the newest release would be the least expensive version yet, starting at $64.99. Also Disney will finally do away with the blind booster packs (disks to give characters extra vehicles or weapons) and allow consumers to see which packs they want to buy. More details and a hands-on preview should be available at E3 in Los Angeles, D23 Expo in Anaheim and possibly even the San Diego Comic Con this summer. I should hopefully be able to get some time in and a review for all of the readers of Jim Hill Media.
Until then, May the Force be With You!