To be completely fair and totally honest, these are not our first impressions of Disney Infinity for the Wii U. Our first impressions came to mind long before we had a chance to play the game, and they were assuredly similar, if not identical, to most people’s thoughts. Our first impressions of Disney Infinity were something along the lines of “this is a brazen Skylanders clone,” and while it would be a lie to say that our initial assessment was completely off, now we’ve actually been able to see what this game can do.
To say that Disney Infinity is a big game would be a phenomenal understatement. Saying that it is one of the most expansive and far-reaching games that we have ever had the pleasure of experiencing still doesn’t quite capture the feeling, but it’s getting close.
At a glance, and then even after experiencing the core gameplay, it’s obvious that this title draws influence from the Skylanders series, but that’s akin to saying that any modern turn-based RPG draws influence from the Final Fantasy or Dragon Warrior series. For those readers unfamiliar with what the hoopla is all about, Skylanders is a third-person adventure game that uses a peripheral “portal” device on which players can place physical character figures and then use those characters in the game. Disney Infinity follows the same formula, but all of its playable characters are from the expanded Disney universe, ranging from Monsters, Inc.’s Sulley to Tonto from Disney’s recent live-action venture The Lone Ranger. Sure, Skylanders may have come first, but Disney Infinity has taken the groundwork that it laid out and is building upon it in huge ways.
The core gameplay is a by-the-numbers action adventure that puts you in control of Disney characters in a variety of situations modeled after the company’s iconic properties. The game controls simply and smoothly, just as one might expect from this type of 3D platformer. Switching between characters is seamless and can be done easily by swapping out character figures on the Infinity Base while still in game. The character figures can be used with any version of the game regardless of console, so there’s no need to repurchase characters that you want to play on different consoles. There is also co-op play available for the campaign missions, assuming you have two character figures from the corresponding universe.
Beyond the campaign is Toy Box mode. This is where the game is really, truly something special. Those of you who played Toy Story 3 may remember the fantastic Toy Box mode in which players had creative control on who and what appeared around your customizable space. Disney Infinity builds off of that same model, expanding it in mammoth directions. Players now have full customization over their Toy Box, taking a page from the book of Minecraft. Not only are there more customization options in this new version, but you are now able to build upward and outward to great distances. Co-op is also available in this mode, allowing up to four online players to work with – or against – each other to build or destroy your personal universe.
Once you’ve crafted something in your Toy Box that you’d like to share, you can then upload it online and give the world access to your creation. But it doesn’t end there. Using a sprinkle of Disney magic, it has been made possible to share your creations cross-platform. In case you missed that, not only are you able to bring your figures with you and play as your favourite characters on a different console, but you can actually play in what is essentially your own sandbox on a PS3, Xbox 360, or PC hardware instead, assuming you’ve uploaded it online. Due to gameplay differences, this option is unfortunately missing from the 3DS version, but no matter what way you look at it, cross-platform user created DLC is still an incredible accomplishment.
Disney Infinity is a good looking game, but its cartoony art style doesn’t exactly lend itself to impressive visuals. The characters are all smoothly animated and look as thought they fit naturally in their environments – even when they’re out of their own universe – and the settings are vibrant and full of life. We did experience some dull environmental textures that looked far less than perfect, so we’re definitely hoping that these get smoothed out in time for the final release.
From our limited time with the game, it’s easy to tell that Disney Infinity is so much more than a Skylanders clone. There are obvious similarities between the two games, but this one goes off in a direction entirely its own, creating a clear difference between the two franchises that is absolutely worth exploring.
As a closing thought, it’s worth keeping in mind that Disney also owns Star Wars, Marvel, and ESPN. And while these franchises are not represented in Disney Infinity at this time, the hint of their future inclusion is always lingering.
Comments 43
I'm still a bit on the fence about this due to the price... BUT, if they do add Scrooge McDuck, Timon, Pumbaa, Mickey, Donald or Goofy, I'll throw money at the nearest retailer's doorstep! 8D
Same here. I mean, why keeping the company's mascots out of this title?
Nightmare before Christmas here I come
Where are the Tron characters?!? The Lone Ranger is even coming, but there are complete absences of Tron characters...
Fun looking game btw, though it's not really anything I am looking forward to right now.
Does this come with any Disney Characters from before the year 2000?
I love Disney but I don't really like the idea of having to buy toys in order to play a game.... can't believe people complain about selling on disc content as DLC but are willing to accept a game where all on disc content is locked unless you buy toys
Candace: "MOM! Phineas and Ferb are making a virtual Toy Box!"
This looks like it had potential to attract me with a healthy dose of Disney nostalgia. The main probems are 1) the characters are on the newer side of the scale, so there goes nostalgia, and 2) I'd rather really not have to buy separate figures in order to unlock characters.
I believe it still has potential to be a huge success, of course, but I'm just not in the target demographic.
My immediate impression is that none of those characters are interesting to me.
"but all of its playable characters are from the expanded Disney universe,"
To continue on w/ what Captain Gonro (any relation to Ginyu?) started above - here's what I envision as very playable concepts (based on playing Lego licensed games mostly -
Dumbo - he can fly off the tops of buildings that have a black feather conveniently located on top (can also get drunk for psychedelic levels)
Thumper - he can jump higher than any other character
Jiminiy Cricket - small enough to crawl thru the cracks
Tinkerbell - she can fly
7 dwarves - work as a team like Pikmin
Baloo - he can sing and dance, who doesn't love dancing bears?
That's just off the top of my head. And I am waiting for next year when they release the sequel - Disney Infinity: The Classics. Though my kids really want to know why Mickey isn't in a game w/ Disney in the title. Kids.
And for the girls edition:
Teapot from Beatuy and the Beast, Crab from Little Mermaid, elephant from Tarzan, the parrot from Alladin and the dragon from Mulan.
I'm ok if they skip the Apple Dumpling Game and World's greatest Athlete but I woul dlike to play as a ball of flubber and drive Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.
As for the game itself - I'm not interested in spending a lot more money on character toys now on offer (where's Maximillian from Black Hole?), but the Toy Box mode in Toy Story 3 was really fun (on the PS3, I think Wii had it cut) and the create mode in here looks great, so it might actually hurt them due to the resemblance w/ Skylanders b/c this does look like so much more.
Should have just made this "Pixar Infinity" though and called the sequel Disney.
Pass. I don't care if it has more to do than Skylanders, I'm not buying any game that requires buying stupid plastic crap that my kids will misplace. I already spend the first 5 minutes of a gaming session looking for remotes, controllers, and the game I want. Not adding a plastic toy to the mix. Also, Disney sucks. I'm pretty tired of them and all their repackaging of old characters and movies.
Its time for Nintendo infinity
This game looks like it has some serious potential. I'll certainly be keeping my eyes on this one.
Looks very interesting, but after the Epic Mickey games, I don't trust Disney titles. I'll wait until I see the reviews.
I have been back and forth on this title. When it first came out, I was all in. Then, I heard that the gameplay portion of the adventures ranged from 8 to ten hours, and that seemed a little short to me with the price tag attached. I mean the extra play sets are $40 a piece. Then, I watched Toy Box Mode, and it put me back on the train.
If Toy Box Mode does what it says it can do, this will be a great game. I can just see people spending hours upon hours on this. Now that you can upload you content to the cloud and download other peoples, the adventure piece seems like an aside.
As for the playsets, I, too, would like to see more nostalgic characters, but I understand who the game is aimed for. It makes sense for them to start with the newer groups. However, as much as I really do not care for the Cars playset, you have to have it to get the Toy Box pieces. Curse them for being so dang smart.
I really wan to get this game but it's price is the biggest issue. And btw there will be a Mickey figurine later like in November supposedly.
@efaulk84 Nightmare before Christmas and Toy Story. Pirates of the Caribbean & The Lone Ranger are based on stuff from before 2000 as well, but that's just being pedantic.
Got this preordered, and I really like the cross-platform community content, which means the Wii U is the best platform for it.
As far as the costs of the sets, shopping around & sharing with friends can really bring down the costs. I've already saved quite a bit by getting a good deal on the preorder, but I have no idea if anyone I know is also getting it.
I'm actually more excited for this than Skylanders Swap Force, it just looks like it has so much more than Skylanders offers. I'll wait for a review, because I have Skylander figurines I would like to still use for the new game, if possible
$74.99 isn't that bad for this game, considering Swap Force is $79.99. But once you start buying figures, it really starts adding up If you live in NA and have GameStop, if you pre-order Infinity, you get a free figure of your choice and a power disc pack, so you save $18 or so.
It's so frustrating that I had this idea using Nintendo's franchises and characters before even the Wii launched. Before it was even fully revealed actually. I also suggested it be built directly into the system on day one so that every single Wii owner could use it to make a variety of different content that could be shared across the community with other Wii users. In fact I suggested an entire creation suite* where users could make art, animations, music, games and more and share it with the world.
Additionally, when it didn't happen on the Wii I suggested the Wii U would be perfect for it with it's touch screen controller, for creating art and textures for example, and the integrated Miiverse etc.
I even had an idea for a game with a little Island where all this content could exist on, where you could have franchise crossover and for example you could have F-Zero racers racing around on it or Pokemon characters catching Pokemon on it etc. You would also be able to import different characters and models from current and future games to keep expanding what was possible in the game. It would additional be massive multi-player, where each player had their own island, and people could create their own game types and travel to other people's Island to play on them or take stuff with them etc.
However, I am a nobody, so why would anyone listen to me...despite me being around ten years ahead of the curve...
*I actually came up with the beginning of this idea somewhere around the time of the N64-GC. Which ironically came from the idea of Nintendo's own creation suite concept on N64 DD that had showed so much potential but never quite delivered on it. Somehow however Nintendo didn't actually think of this idea for either the Wii or Wii U which I just find bewildering. Despite having the whole Mii idea which is basically an offshoot of this original concept.
I will get this because it has the Incredibles in it , but not day one, eventually
I MIGHT get this at some distant point, but doubtful.
No interest in these Disney franchises. Give us the Walt Disney classics, though, and I'll be in trouble. Also, the figures are generic and unappealing.
This looks, & sounds good, up until the figurines. But, I may actually get this. I will be following this, though. The cross-plat(or platform if you prefer) play is awesome, though, & more games need to do this.
Not getting it. It'll be a money grabber like Skylanders and I have better things to do with my moolah. :3
I'm just not digging the characters i've seen so far. Wheres my 90's disney? Wheres the classics?
If Jack Sparrow meets Tonto, will the universe explode?
@rmeyer that sounds awesome
I'm a grown man and I collect action figures. So I'm down with it.
...
THEY'RE NOT DOLLS!!!!
@Captain_Gonru I'm not sure how Robin Hood would have licensing issues. I'm pretty sure that character is in the public domain.
This is awesome!
Looking forward to this game on the Wii.
I will get it if they use more known characters.
They used Phineas and Ferb?
They should use characters like
Scrooge
Pete
Launchpad
Mickey
Goofy
Darkwing Duck
Gizmoduck/fenton
Donald Duck
Miss Beakly
Ducksworth
Max
Baloo
Don kanarzh
Louie
And some Gummiebears
Maybe characters from Winnie the Phoo?
Christopher Robin and his imagination could be realy powerfull
Or characters from movies like Song of the south, Bedknobs and broomsticks, Marry poppins even condorman would be cool
What is the cost (With all the figures) £500 ? £1000 ? more
Saying that cartoony stuff will never look visual impressive seems a strange thing to say especially when it comes to Disney. Even the very first multiplane camera films are still impressive to this day.
That sense of depth is one of the few graphical effects I am interested in. (I really like stuff like parallax with loads of layers - still think stuff like Astal looks impressive today.)
This looks like bollock awful trash. Aimed at kids and easily duped parents who don't read reviews this is a cynical, sinister example of Disney at their worst. . . Adult gamers have no need for this crap. I buy a game, I complete a game and I'm satisfied. I stopped collecting figures when I was 10 ... I certainly have no need to start again ... especially for crazy amounts of cash. Predicting 60-70% reviews... But people will probably shell out anyway.
What about famous movies like The shaggy dog or Pollyanna?
Well I do live in Norway so i migth not know about more movies then an average American.
Lilo and Stitch would be nice too, what about Yzma or Kuzco?
A smal reference to the original Mickey Mous club would be cool
@Yeah, buddy sure. And I came up with a Nintendo fighting game, a game where Mario and Sonic compete in sports, a Link to the Past sequel, yadda yadda yadda.
Having an idea before someone else, and even if you keep shouting it out to other people hardly matters unless you execute that idea first. If you can't execute it fast or good enough, then patent it, if possible. If you can't do that, and if someone else comes up with the same idea, so what? It's not like anything frustrating comes out of that.
@fluggy Reading reviews is not a great help. The average is 70% across metacritic. If the average was 40% it might be easier to find the good stuff. As it stands the stuff some people find too difficult ends up mixed in with the total junk. Famitsu scores seem to be quite good but unfortunately they don't have an international edition.
@Rumbler I don't need a makeover. Just because I have a Disney character as my profile picture, doesn't mean Im a hardcore fan that must like everything. I don't need to be interested.
I think I will try the Castle of Illusion remake. (Quite liked it as a kid if it is £15 or less). I quite liked Quackshot and World of Illusion as well. (Less bothered for the lucky dime caper).
disney owns star wars and marvel. if they buy playboy im in
yeah, no. not getting this. 'tis a money grabber. imagine if nintendo did this with pokemon "gotta BUY 'em all!" no. this feels like the exact same thing. skylanders wasn't worth my time, neither is this.
Does the cross platform thing work for the Wii U version as well?
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