http://www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3174584
Sega and Platinum Games' Infinite Space has had the worst luck spreading the word about itself. A spacefaring RPG for the Nintendo DS, it had the misfortune not only to be outshone (outgored) by Platinum's balls-out first release MadWorld, but for its Japanese debut in stores to coincide with E3 week, all but guaranteeing that few will notice overseas.
It's a bit of a shame, because apparently the game's a corker. F
amitsu magazine rated it 9/9/8/8 for a total of 34 points in this week's issue, earning it a Gold award. "From the ship customization that reflects the player's tastes down to the tiniest detail to the battle difficulty (
you are killed instantly if you let your guard down) to the vast and complex SF story;
every aspect of this game is deeper than I imagined," wrote one reviewer. "The sheer volume is also overwhelming, and I applaud their efforts. There are some unkind parts of the game, but they are easily overpowered by the game itself."
Several other reviewers were similarly "overwhelmed" by the "
vastness of the setting," which one found "simply staggering." High marks were generally given to the ship customization: "Customizing your ship doesn't seem very flashy, but it's highly addictive, and the customizations stick out pretty well from each other."
All this adulation came to Infinite Space despite the game's high learning curve. "The battles present a pretty high hurdle, and you can't even let your guard down in regular fights," one wrote. "It takes time to learn the tricks to battle, but the game stands up to extended play." Another agreed: "
The game can be severe, with seemingly insignificant decisions having effects on the entire game situation. It seems complex at first glance, but the interface is easy to use and the game's simple to get into."
The US version of Infinite Space is due out later this year.