Disney Infinity not only rewards players with great entertainment from the gaming aspect but also the fun of collecting all of the toys that come with it. The toy figurines in Disney Infinity are intricately detailed and grant the player the ability to unlock the same character within the game's virtual world. The main objective of Disney Infinity goes far and beyond the gaming and collectible toy portion into a class of its own that encourages creative thinking and play.
One of the great things about Disney Infinity is the extreme amount of variety in its assortment of characters alongside a ton of female character choices. However, for some parents, collecting all of the figurines that your child desires can get a little bit expensive. Some of the characters available are Woody from Toy Story, Anna and Elsa from Frozen and Ralph from Wreck-it Ralph to name a few. All of the toys are high-quality and extremely well-made which means that they will hold up to hundreds of hours worth of gameplay. While you can purchase tons of additional playsets, the Disney Infinity Starter Pack comes with all of the basic necessities to get started. The starter pack includes the game, the Infinity Base, three toys, codes for online unlockables and a Power disc. The figurines included are Mr. Incredible of The Incredibles, Jack Sparrow of Pirates of the Caribbean, and Sully of the popular Monsters Inc. series. Every toy is a small representation of the characters you love from the movies and places a small piece of the adventure to come right in the palm of your hand. And hey, if you don't like playing the good guy then you can also buy the villain characters which are sold separately!
The Disney Infinity playset may seem intimidating to some since many fans may wonder how you put the toy figurine into the virtual world of the game. In fact, it is very easy to get the parts hooked up and jump into the game world with your collectibles. The Infinity Base utilizes NFC technology to read the chips inside every figurine when it is placed onto the Power Disc. Once you place the figure on the Power Disc then it unlocks various characters within the game which are often referred to as Playsets. This means that the three toys in the starter pack will unlock a world relevant to their character, such as Sully's world is Monster U. If you haven't watched the movies that the characters are in then you will definitely be motivated to after a playthrough or two with them.
Disney Infinity doesn't just offer up one adventure for the player but a vast world of infinite possibilities to explore. Every playset offers up an entirely new adventure which offers endless replayability and extra immersion to keep you entertained for hours on end. If you have a little one who gets distracted easily then just place another playset on the Infinity base and it becomes an entirely new game.
The playsets offer up a unique experience that will let gamers explore an open world where they have the ability to complete various challenges within that adventure. The amount of diversity between the playsets allow the player to explore various play styles and mechanics within each world. A great example of this is the different tones present in each playset, such as using Sully offers up more comedic gameplay, while Mr. Incredible focuses primarily on action-packed fun. Lastly, you have Jack Sparrow who takes a more hands-on approach to combat in Pirates of the Caribbean and the ability to create your own vessel to explore with. What does this mean? It means gamers with various playstyles will all find something to love in Disney Infinity. Another advantage is that if you don't like a certain playset then you can trade out characters with your friends.
Gameplay in Disney Infinity can be compared to some of the games from the LEGO series which means that you enter a destructible world that rewards you with blue orbs that can be collected. The game environments are bright, colorful and visually appealing with an exquisite soundtrack to help produce just the right mood for each playset. The controls are fluid and responsive and friends can join you easily in drop-in drop-out co-op play. The core campaign, plus Toy Box mode, for each world is around fifteen plus hours depending on how you play which means the overall starter kit nets you your money's worth. Players have infinite lives which makes the game fun for young gamers who would otherwise get frustrated every time they died and had to start over. Another fun aspect of Disney Infinity is the ability to create your own world with Toy Box which has its own built-in editor allowing for endless creativity. Utilizing the editor can be somewhat confusing for some, but players can use the in-depth tutorial to learn the ropes to help you get building in no time. After a little practice, any gamer will be creating grandiose worlds for their characters to enjoy. Toy Box offers up hours more of gameplay since over 1000 items/decorations/vehicles/NPCs can be unlocked and added to your creations. The Toy Box mode lets players aching for more classic Disney to create their own customized world with Pinocchio, Cinderella and Mickey Mouse.
The problem with unlocking all the possibilities is the amount of time it takes to gain enough tokens to do so and then the randomness of what you unlock. While the randomness does add a degree of intrigue and excitement―it also brings a small component of sadness when you are trying to unlock specific items to create your perfect world. However, players can share their Toy Box with up to three pals in the game's multiplayer mode to mess around with each other's items to curb some of the disappointment of not getting that specific one you have been aching for. While Disney Infinity does contain infinite possibilities for gameplay they are not without their share of problems. There was many times when loading up the game when the music would not start or the only sounds you could hear for a brief moment was the clicking of menu items. Overall, the game's slight glitches are no deal breaker especially for the hardcore Disney fan.
CLOSING COMMENTS
In the end, Disney Infinity offers up a world of possibilities with its fun gameplay, colorful visuals, magical soundtrack and varied adventures. New and long-time Disney/Pixar fans will love stepping into the world of their favorite characters again and again with each new playset. While the game offers hours of fun, it does come with a few downfalls, including glitches and high-costs. For many, the starter pack will be enough to get you started and keep you entertained without having to buy additional playsets thanks to the Toy Box mode. However, if you really want to experience Disney Infinity in all of its glory then you will want to purchase some of the additional playsets that are available. Whatever you decide, Disney Infinity is a magical adventure that the whole family can enjoy even if only with the basic necessities from the starter pack. Disney Infinity awaits you and the adventure ahead is what you make it!
Disney Infinity is now available for Nintendo Wii U, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and Nintendo 3DS for the MSRP of $74.99 for the starter pack. Disney Infinity is rated Everyone 10+ by the ESRB for cartoon violence. For more information on the game, check out the official Disney Infinity website.
Game Features:
- Single Player
- Online Multiplayer 1-4
- Various Playsets
- Trophy/Achievement Support
Game Information:
Developer: Avalanche Software
Publisher: Disney Interactive Studios
Available for Nintendo Wii U (reviewed), Wii, 3DS, PS3, & Xbox 360
Release Date: August 18, 2013
Pros:
- Terrific Family Game
- Slew of unlockables
- Each playset offers a unique
new adventure
- Sound glitches
- Purchasing additional playsets can get costly