Infinity Nikki’s huge PlayStation State of Play highlight in Might garnered an array of reactions. Followers of the favored Nikki sequence of cellular trend video games had been excited to see the pink-haired fashionista make her triple-A debut. Unfamiliar viewers both dismissed it as a very whimsical dress-up sport or discovered themselves unexpectedly intrigued by its pleasant and distinctive spin on an open-world expertise. I rely myself in that third camp. One thing concerning the sport’s premise caught with me, however after enjoying a number of hours of a beta model, I’ve gone from admiring Infinity Nikki conceptually to being genuinely excited to put on the complete expertise.
The journey sees the titular Nikki and her furry greatest pal, Momo, getting ready for a ball solely to be unwillingly transported to the magical world of Miraland. A god-like being named Ena the Curator tells Nikki she’s been chosen to search out and restore the Miracle Outfits, a set of magical and highly effective clothes, to uncover a divine reality. Alongside the best way, Nikki additionally learns that she’s a Stylist. These are particular folks with the power to search out and create outfits anytime, wherever.
I start the sport with three Means Clothes, particular outfits bestowing a novel energy. One is the blue gown/blonde hair ensemble seen within the State of Play trailer that enables me to carry out a floating soar Princess Peach type. Not solely is that this good for crossing massive gaps or bounding between rooftops, however Nikki also can carry out a plummeting slam to defeat enemies or shatter fragile objects. A Purification gown is used for fight, letting Nikki fireplace orbs of cleaning power to purify (not kill) demonically corrupted enemies referred to as Esselings and collectibles. One cute gown lets Nikki groom sure animals to gather supplies from them. Main skills like floating and purification are mapped to buttons whereas specialised clothes just like the grooming or a bug-catching gown I unlock later might be activated by way of a variety wheel.
Based mostly on the beta slice, Miraland is huge and welcoming, due to colourful and plush flower fields, rolling hills, and the quaint village of Florawish. Infinity Nikki appears to be like as fairly as her wardrobe. There’s a lot to do and discover, whether or not it is finishing aspect quests or, the primary hook, attempting to find Whimstars. These particular stars are used to unlock new gadgets and perks from a ability tree and are scattered in all places. Whereas some can merely be discovered (with assist from Momo’s particular imaginative and prescient that may spotlight and tag distant Whimstars), others have small challenges tied to them. Examples embody defeating enemies or trying to find hidden gold stars, reminiscent of an decoration atop an umbrella. You too can achieve Whimstars by coming into particular portals that warp gamers to platforming/puzzle problem rooms paying homage to shrines from The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild/Tears of the Kingdom, albeit less complicated. I like gathering Whimstars because it captures the acquainted pleasure of amassing stars in a 3D Mario sport.
Whimstars are spent unlocking new outfits and different gadgets in a ability tree referred to as the Coronary heart of Infinity. Nonetheless, this solely makes the outfit accessible to be crafted – you continue to need to make it your self. Whereas exploring Miraland, you’ll collect supplies like varied fruits, flowers, threads, furs, and extra to craft a desired ensemble, consisting of components like hairstyles, higher and decrease physique put on, make-up, and equipment. Sketches for outfits might be discovered or earned by finishing quests and different actions.
The extra outfit sketches you discover and unlock, the upper your stage as a Stylist rises. Early on, Nikki joins the Stylist Guild in Florawish. Right here, she receives a tablet-like machine referred to as a Pear-Pal that retains observe of a litany of objectives, reminiscent of defeating a quota of enemies or taking images with an in-game digicam. Finishing objectives raises your rank, which rewards cash and supplies to unlock extra outfits. This could enchantment to objective-oriented gamers, as there’s no scarcity of meters to fill. With essential story and aspect quests, Stylist Rank, and every day challenges, Infinity Nikki continually tracks and rewards all points of play in a fashion much like video games like Genshin Influence.
Checking a field often means getting new crafting supplies or outfit sketches. That is an efficient hook, because the Nikki sequence’ Bread and Butter is dressing up the heroine with a staggering assortment of clothes choices. You possibly can outfit Nikki nevertheless you would like, no matter any skills tied to outfit items. In case you actually dig the bug-catching gown and need Nikki to rock that look 24/7, you are able to do that. With so many attire choices, gamers will possible spend loads of time making Nikki look as girly, regal, or edgy as they see match.
Exterior of roaming the scenic open world and amassing stars and supplies, a essential story quest provides some meaty narrative intrigue. Cutscenes are properly rendered and have strong comedic writing at occasions. Characters like a speaking dragon-like poet or moments like watching a woman driving a large origami paper airplane crash into and stage a constructing add an oddball appeal to the perpetually saccharine vibe.
Infinity Nikki is chock filled with appeal at each flip. Even manipulating the world’s day/night time cycle entails enjoying a cute Flappy Chicken-esque minigame. Each nook goals to make you smile whereas finishing myriad goals, and incomes new outfits present efficient dopamine hits. Whereas I take pleasure in basking in Infinity Nikki’s cozy environment, its cinematic teases of a grander thriller intrigued me much more. I nonetheless have little thought what to make of this world and the way it works, however I wish to be taught extra, and several other lore books and different notes counsel what could possibly be unexpectedly deep world-building. The sport additionally includes a multiplayer part, however it was not accessible within the beta, and developer Infold Video games is not prepared to debate it but.
Most of all, having an open-world sport that doesn’t function overt violence is refreshing. I wouldn’t think about any impediment I’ve encountered to this point to be difficult, however there’s an attract to only being on this world that’s exhausting to disclaim – every little thing is simply so darn nice. I’ve acquired my outfit picked out, so hopefully, Infinity Nikki’s launch gained’t go away us ready an excessive amount of longer.
Infinity Nikki is coming to PlayStation 5, PC, iOS, and Android. A closed PC public beta is now accessible for choose registered gamers.