OPEN WORLD GACHA GAMES are everywhere!
From the moment Genshin Impact wowed us for its rich narratives and character designs, to the arrival of Wuthering Waves and Tower of Fantasy, there's no shortage of gacha games in the market.
And now it seems there are new players in the market as Infinity Nikki recently launched its closed beta test.
The Nikki-franchise has been renowned for its dress up feature which seem to suggest that the series is geared towards the female audience.
Now with Infinity Nikki entering the scene, is the game following the same trend or has the franchise taken an unconventional turn?
SPIN.ph got a chance to try out the game and here's what we think.
Nikki encourages players to unleash their feminine energy
After grinding our way and discovering the beautiful sceneries in Miraland, we realized that players shouldn't be blinded by the first impressions. From the trailers, to the opening sequences, one may get the gist that the game is primarily built for female gamers, but a deeper introspection would say otherwise.
Infinity Nikki encourages players to celebrate their feminine energy, which explains why the game doesn't really have a thorough combat system especially when comparing it to other open world experiences.
Now is this a huge turnoff? Surprisingly, that's not the case as the game relies on its other attributes that make it stand out.
While combat is a priority for other gacha games, Infinity Nikki relies on its puzzle solving and platforming adventures which can be challenging, and players need to master these mechanics to progress in the game. There are even boss battles that require players to overcome these hurdles.
However it doesn't just end there as there have been other features that are worth highlighting.
The game's narrative focuses a lot about embracing one's feminine energy, where we see the main character, Nikki, solve problems through her ability to understand the overwhelming emotions of the NPCs she encounters.
Some of the NPCs are male, and there were moments in the story that highlight their feminity, as seen when they started falling for the 'wish bottle' scam, which explores themes of men having the same vulnerabilities as their female counterparts.
But beyond the interactions between Nikki and the other characters, there were other means for the game to encourage players to embrace their feminine energy.
As Nikki progresses in her journey, she will wear a lot of hats and unlock a plethora of outfits, and from there players will get a chance to style Nikki to perfection. There are so many ways for players to unleash their creativity and fulfill their inner stylist. Players are also required to level up their outfits, similar to an RPG setting.
As to why? Well their expertise in design will be tested especially when they challenge mafia bosses, stylists, and other competitors in the game.
A magical experience
Looking at Infinity Nikki's artstyle, the game was a breathtaking experience as I was left intrigued by its overall environment.
The design itself was enough to leave an impression, but it goes beyond that as there are so many things players can do while roaming around the world of Miraland.
Earlier we touched upon the platforming sequences, and there's a lot of them by the way, combined that with the numerous items to pickup, mini-games, as well as the various NPCs and quests, and most importantly, those hot air balloon, the game is filled with so much life and soul that the experience itself is truly magical. Some sequences even had a deeper level of storytelling as seen when Nikki rode a giant paper crane in one of the game's main quests.
So much so that even the 'manliest of all men' will fall in love with this game.
CONCLUSION
Overall, Infinity Nikki defied our expectations and given how impressed we were in the closed beta test, we're eagerly excited to see the game's official launch as there could be more surprises that await.
The game itself offers a unique twist in the open world gacha genre, in which it focused heavily on its creativity and its profound message on feminine energy above everything else.
Truly the game lives up to its title as the possibilities are limitless for Nikki who could serve as an important symbol or icon for the gaming community, and we eagerly anticipate to see the game's potential unleashed.
Now the question remains if Nikki will end up as a gacha experience that will revolutionize the scene or will it be too niche or unique for the gaming community.
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