Infinity Strash: DRAGON QUEST The Adventure of Dai
- October 12, 2023
- Square Enix
- 24h median play time
Infinity Strash: Dragon Quest The Adventure of Dai is a great introduction to the Dragon Quest anime, but will be too story heavy for some.
In "Infinity Strash: Dragon Quest The Adventure of Dai," players can relive the popular manga and anime series as they control Dai and the Disciples of Avan in their battle against the Dark Army. The game offers an action-packed RPG experience, complete with memorable scenes from the original manga and an endless dungeon for players to explore. The world is threatened by the return of the Dark Lord, and it's up to Dai and his companions to restore peace once again.
Reviews
- The graphics and character models are visually appealing, capturing the essence of the anime and manga.
- The combat system, while simple, is fun and allows for unique character abilities, making battles enjoyable.
- Fans of the series may appreciate the nostalgic elements and the opportunity to engage with beloved characters.
- The story presentation relies heavily on static images and cutscenes, making it feel more like a visual novel than an action RPG.
- The game lacks exploration and variety, with most gameplay consisting of short, repetitive battles in confined areas.
- Many players feel the game is overpriced for the amount of content provided, with a campaign that feels incomplete and rushed.
- story314 mentions
- 15 % positive mentions
- 77 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The story of "Infinity Strash: Dragon Quest The Adventure of Dai" has received significant criticism for its presentation, primarily relying on static images and narrated slideshows that fail to engage players, especially those unfamiliar with the source material. Many fans expressed disappointment that the game does not complete the narrative arc of the anime, leaving it feeling incomplete and lacking depth. While the visuals and some combat elements are praised, the overall storytelling approach is seen as a missed opportunity to fully realize the beloved characters and plot from the anime and manga.
“I really liked the story that I got into the manga and watched both animes (1991 and 2020).”
“I am of course a very big fan of the Dragon Quest franchise, and the adventure of Dai story is one I unabashedly love.”
“Infinity Strash is exactly that — fun for people that have come to love the story of Dai and its characters.”
“The story presentation really doesn't do justice to the original manga/anime, but the effort in game design and end game systems are there.”
“The terrible presentation of its story as well as the primitive/shallow gameplay just didn't feel engaging or worth the $60 price tag (probably worth $15 at most).”
“The vibrant visuals and fun combat can’t make up for the fact that you’ll spend hours doing little more than watching static images tell the plot of the anime.”
- gameplay97 mentions
- 36 % positive mentions
- 60 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Infinity Strash: Dragon Quest The Adventure of Dai" is characterized by its simplicity and accessibility, appealing primarily to younger audiences with a straightforward hack-and-slash style. While some players find the mechanics fun and addictive, others criticize the repetitive gameplay loop, lack of depth, and an overwhelming number of cutscenes that detract from the overall experience. The game features a mix of arena-style combat and challenge modes that require mastery of its mechanics, but many feel it falls short of expectations, particularly in terms of content and engagement.
“The gameplay is fairly simple in terms of mechanics, but is surprisingly fun.”
“It's a pretty simple hack and slash that has everything you'd expect, regular and special attacks with the gameplay being a mix of that and a perfect dodge and perfect block system.”
“Very addictive gameplay, as to be expected from a hack and slash.”
“This game has the foundation to be a great game, but it's too short campaign-wise and doesn't have any depth in the mechanics to make up for the short length.”
“When you do get to the gameplay, you are put in a small area where you fight the enemies.”
“This game is not what is advertised; it is a completely different type of game than what I was expecting. I was expecting it to be an action RPG, and this was probably the worst game I have played. It's basically a visual novel with gameplay sprinkled in randomly.”
- graphics42 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 52 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received praise for their vibrant, cell-shaded style that closely matches the anime aesthetic, with many users noting the beautiful visuals and smooth performance. However, some players expressed disappointment over technical issues like screen tearing and limited graphic options, which detracted from the overall experience. While the art style is celebrated, there are concerns about the game's perceived incompleteness and repetitive gameplay.
“The cell shaded graphics look great and match the anime style of the game perfectly.”
“Graphically, it's beautiful.”
“The art style is fantastic, a perfect reflection of the core series it's based on both in anime and manga form.”
“Also, screen tearing and VSync not working, lack of graphic options, only one screen size: 1280x720.”
“The graphical style was different in the original trailers; gameplay appeared to proceed through more open maps, and perhaps more notably, a trailer shows a playable Leona and a screenshot shows a playable Avan.”
“This is Kai Graphics and Game Studio Inc.'s first new console game (the credits have more marketing and voice actors than developers), so keep that introduction in mind. It doesn’t totally justify the game quality, but it helps you to understand how anime adaptation works.”
- music30 mentions
- 13 % positive mentions
- 77 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many users criticizing it for being largely derived from the 2020 anime remake, which they feel lacks the quality of the original 1991 soundtrack. While some tracks, like the world map music, are noted as catchy, there is a strong sentiment that the game would have benefited from original compositions. However, there are also positive remarks about the rearranged soundtracks by Yuki Hayashi and the overall quality of the music, particularly for fans of the anime.
“The English voice acting is great and I love the music.”
“I also inevitably need to dedicate a line to this game's music composition, because I can at the very least share unabashed praise for its soundtracks, even if just by inclusion.”
“Music, of course, is awesome.”
“The overall music for the most part is simply terrible and is mainly taken from the 2020 anime remake, which pales in comparison to the original 1991 anime's soundtrack.”
“The only exception is maybe the 'world map music,' which actually sounds decent and catchy, so I didn't mind that one in particular, but the rest of the music would have been better off being new original music that should have been made specifically for the video game adaptation.”
“If you are expecting a big ARPG open world, you are wrong; Square Enix never mentioned that. Just inform yourself before buying.”
- grinding18 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Grinding in the game is generally viewed as tedious and repetitive, particularly in the Temple of Recollection, which is essential for challenge mode but lacks revives, making it unforgiving. While some players find the grinding manageable, the limited locations for power-ups and the necessity to learn boss patterns can lead to frustration and a sense of monotony. Overall, the grinding aspect is seen as a necessary but often unenjoyable part of the gameplay experience.
“The temple of recollection is a good roguelike challenge and was a blast to stream for my viewers, but it can get very grindy and repetitive. It is a necessary requirement for challenge mode and clearing all the floors in the tor.”
“The temple of recollection feels tedious more than fun.”
“Grinding for upgrades becomes tedious, and the pacing is poor with combat sequences interrupted by watered-down cutscenes using stills from the anime.”
- replayability6 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
Players feel that the game's replayability is lacking due to a limited number of side quests and the absence of playable villains, which diminishes the overall experience. Many express a desire for more content to enhance replay value, indicating that the current offerings do not provide enough incentive to return.
“I believe a lot of players will give a positive review if all the villains are playable.”
“More side quests would enhance the replayability, especially if Crocodine and Leona were playable characters.”
“The replayability of this game could be improved significantly with more engaging content.”
“I really wanted to like this game, but there wasn't much meat to it, and the replayability can't pull me back in.”
“I believe a lot of players would give a positive review if all the villains were playable.”
“More side quests would enhance replayability, especially if Crocodine and Leona were playable.”
- humor4 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players find the humor in the game to be quirky and situational, often stemming from unexpected mechanics like dodging while still taking damage, which can lead to amusingly precarious situations. The exaggerated character designs and interactions, such as a character with a "hilariously small hp pool," contribute to a lighthearted and entertaining experience.
“After which he leans down, you shatter his paper-thin break gauge, and chip away at his hilariously small HP pool.”
“- perfect dodge and taking damage at the same time (funny, weird, and almost got me killed in my solo run of the Temple of Recollection).”
- optimization3 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game has received positive feedback for its optimization, particularly on platforms like the Steam Deck and Switch, as well as excellent performance on PS5. Players appreciate the smooth gameplay experience and the engaging mechanics, such as the card collection in roguelike mode and extensive customization options for party builds.
“Although I don't own the devices myself, I've also seen it praised for performance on Steam Deck and Switch.”
“[Great performance on PS5, fun progress loop with collecting cards in the roguelike mode, lots of customization for party builds.]”
- stability2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game demonstrates excellent stability, with users consistently reporting that it runs smoothly without issues.
“Runs great.”
“Runs great.”
Critic Reviews
Infinity Strash: Dragon Quest The Adventure of Dai review
Infinity Strash: Dragon Quest The Adventure of Dai is a great introduction to the Dragon Quest anime, but will be too story heavy for some.
70%Infinity Strash: Dragon Quest The Adventure of Dai (Switch) Review
Endless garbage, by any other name.
40%Infinity Strash: Dragon Quest The Adventure of Dai Review
Infinity Strash: Dragon Quest The Adventure of Dai suffers from a chronic lack of focus. The vibrant visuals and fun combat can’t make up for the fact that you’ll spend hours doing little more than watching static images tell the plot of the anime. The result is a game that will frustrate action RPG fans with a lack of action and fails to do justice to the story it is trying to tell. Unless you’re desperate for a new Dragon Quest game to play, you’re better off just watching the anime and skipping this spin-off entirely.
40%