Infinite Space

 DS
  • Publisher: Sega
  • Release Date: Mar 16, 2010
Metascore
75

Generally favorable reviews - based on 46 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 26 out of 46
  2. Mixed: 20 out of 46
  3. Negative: 0 out of 46
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  1. Cheat Code Central
    94
    Even taking the grueling difficulty level into account, Infinite Space is a must-play for any fan of RPGs who has grown tired of overly-cute standard fare.
  2. Official Nintendo Magazine UK
    90
    A massive handheld RPG crafted with incredible attention to detail and a real sense of fun. [Apr 2010, p.86]
  3. Nintendo Gamer
    90
    The ship's the star in the most ambitious DS RPG to date. At times the DS cannae take it, but when the engines engage, they really do.
  5. Games Master UK
    90
    The technical veneer masks a boisterous heart. Very epic. Very silly. Very good. [May 2010, p.82]
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  6. GamingXP
    85
    The story about the epitaphs plus the open world will not let you stop playing this game. Also it will feed your I-want-to-become-better instinct.
  7. RealGamer
    85
    This is thoroughly deserving of a place in your DS slot and you’ll probably still be playing this when they actually invent warp drive engines!
  8. Nintendojo
    85
    The space action, although basic, is addictive. The land action, though mostly text-based, remains fun throughout. The storyline, too, is powerful, thanks both to subplots that are complex without being confusing and a vast array of great characters, who shine despite being essentially static images.
  9. Game Revolution
    83
    Those who enjoy it, like myself, will spend the next few months grinding through the game. However, many others will encounter the steep learning curve and stop playing after a couple hours, if that.
  10. GamingTrend
    83
    It might take you a bit to get your space legs, but once you do you're in for a great ride.
  11. GameFocus
    82
    If exploring galaxies and deep space combat sounds appealing to you, the hours of gameplay in Infinite Space make it a safe buy.
  12. RPG Fan
    81
    Overall, Infinite Space is a tough game to pin a clear-cut review on. Some of its elements like its story and modification system are expansive and enjoyable, whereas the lack of a tutorial is troublesome.
  13. Nintendo Power
    80
    This is a game for those of us who always wanted to be Captain Kirk or, better yet, to design the Enterprise. [Apr 2010, p.86]
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  14. Edge Magazine
    80
    Fat with content, melodrama and fun, few DS games can match its ambitions. [Apr 2010, p.98]
  15. Game Informer
    80
    It’s not bad, but it doesn’t deliver the payoff (and neither do the isolated multiplayer battles) after the time you spend on the more exciting ship building.
  16. Cubed3
    80
    However, this space journey is a splendid combination of old school adventuring and strategic battling, complete with an absolutely engrossing story and sublime soundtrack that all adds up to an unforgettable gaming experience on the humble DS.
  17. Nintendo Life
    80
    Despite its flaws, Infinite Space will provide many, many hours of epic entertainment for anyone with the patience to plumb its greater depths.
  18. DarkZero
    80
    Despite its shortcomings, though, Infinite Space is a thoughtful and addictive space-based romp, with an incredible amount of depth waiting for those who are prepared to put the hours in.
  19. N-Europe
    80
    Infinite Space is a fresh RPG not afraid to try new things, that will overwhelm players like a supermassive black hole...
  20. RPGamer
    80
    Infinite Space's flaws are noticeable but do not detract overall from an expansive, addictive game.
  21. NintendoWorldReport
    80
    Infinite Space is a complicated game. It's long (40+ hours), it's difficult, and playing is a constant learning process. It's a hell of a ride if you can stomach all of its quirks, but I'm just not sure how many people will be willing, or able, to.
  22. Cynamite
    80
    This RPG offers great complexity and a thrilling story. The menu, though, cold have been a bit more user-friendly.
  23. GameTrailers
    78
    Infinite Space is high on content, but falls short elsewhere.
  24. Meristation
    75
    They were right when they first called Infinite Space an "space opera", because that's exactly what we're going to find on this JRPG - an interesting mix between the traditional RPG and the Strategic genre, with a 'spacial' atmosphere that fans will love. And interesting pick if you love the genre or if you're looking for same 60 / 70 hours of fun gameplay.
  25. 1UP
    75
    Infinite Space is an immensely satisfying 60-hour sci-fi adventure that does a fine job of presenting a sprawling universe, which is no mean feat for a portable game.
  26. Vandal
    75
    Its durability and attractive combination of sci-fi and Japanese animation will please many, but not traditional role playing fans.
  27. GameCritics
    75
    As it is, I can only recommend it to those who have the patience and tolerance to work through significant frustration for the reward of a satisfying story about interesting people.

Awards & Rankings

32
#32 Best DS Game of 2010
19
#19 Most Discussed DS Game of 2010
7
#7 Most Shared DS Game of 2010

User Reviews

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User Score
8.2

Generally favorable reviews- based on 67 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 55 out of 67
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 67
  3. Negative: 10 out of 67
  1. GabrielBelmont
    Aug 30, 2010
    10
    I don't often post reviews but after reading what has been said on this game, I feel that I have to somewhat rectify how it's perceived. As anI don't often post reviews but after reading what has been said on this game, I feel that I have to somewhat rectify how it's perceived. As an avid gamer I believe Infinite Space is the one the best games of the decade, and I think any Sci-Fi and/or RPG enthusiast ought to check it out while they still can.

    Let me start right away by saying that the game is austere. It's impossibly grand in scope and runs on the least powerful of all current platforms, so concessions were made. And it's got a pretty steep learning curve. I think that's what turned off most of the people who didn't like it. When I read that the game is "extremely hard," I take it the person just didn't have the patience and tenacity to learn all the subtleties of the game. Because it's deep and rich, but once you understand how it works, it's incredibly accessible and not any harder than most of the games of this era.

    But what's bad for some can be good for others, and one thing I've enjoyed about Infinite Space is that it doesn't hold your hand. It doesn't hammer plot points or tutorials on you; if you miss something the first time it shows up there's a chance you've missed it for good. And it also treats your wannabe character as he ought to be treated. The downside is that it can be unforgiving if you aren't quick to "get it". For example there's a very well done Help Menu, but it's up to you to go check it, as the game won't go over every little detail for you. I can get behind this philosophy myself but it might not be for everyone. It's old school.

    To briefly mention the gameplay, you play as the captain of a fleet of space ships. You'll start out with one, and over the course of the story come to command over a maximum of 5 ships at once. You'll fight enemy ships in battles involving a maximum of 5 enemies at once. To do so there are a wide variety of different strategies you can use, and you can fashion your fleet in very different ways depending on your preferences (e.g. favoring carriers that use small fighters to attack enemy ships, investing in heavy duty battleships, focusing on fast and agile cruisers, etc.). There are tons of possibilities and combinations, and well over a hundred models of ships.

    Aside from battles, an important part of the game is the management of your fleet. There are two sides to it: managing the ships themselves, by having new models built and equipping them with dozens of modules (a surprisingly fun, challenging and addictive activity), and managing the crew, by recruiting new members and assigning them to various posts depending on their faculties (count over 35 posts to fill and over 60 available crew members).

    Last but certainly not least, the game's plot is absolutely brilliant. Many games nowadays use their story merely has a means to put the player in a battle situation, but not in Infinite Space. The plot is very well crafted and rather complex (space politics!) and the characters behave like you'd want them to most of the time. In other words it vastly outclasses most video games in that department. If you like Sci-Fi or just good stories in general you'll have a blast playing this.

    In conclusion, I believe this game has been unfairly and somewhat hastily judged by most "professional" reviewers because of its low profile release. I highly recommend to experienced gamers and I give it a 10/10 simply because it does to perfection what it set out to do. Games of this caliber are much too rare nowadays.    … Full Review »
  2. No3Mole
    Oct 6, 2012
    2
    Infinite Space is honestly one of the worst games I've played in my life. I started playing once and gave up by chapter 5 out of sheerInfinite Space is honestly one of the worst games I've played in my life. I started playing once and gave up by chapter 5 out of sheer boredom. Told that the game really picks up after that, I painstakingly forced myself to play deeper in some years later, and found myself converting my video game review blog into a detailed analysis of everything that is wrong with Infinite Space. An abbreviated list of atrocities is as follows:

    The parts selection that it proudly boasts is lacking until late game. In late game, those parts are hardly a hard choice, because they are often scaling effectiveness instead of entirely different functions, and your ships are seldom lacking for space later on. The humour is bad (to the point of just trying to use the implication of rape as a joke ala that-guy-you-try-not-to-talk-to-at-paries. The gameplay is easy. The battle sequences are literally one-dimentional. As in, Infinite Space's combat takes place along straight lines of limited distance. The dialogue options are often inconsequential. The main character, Yuri, is the most vile, loathsome, stupid, bland creature ever to grace video game lead roles. You'll occasionally find yourself grinding so that you can buy a new ship that you probably don't need, but want. Smaller annoying quirks include being prompted for input (as though a choice was presented) when only one option is available, breaking up flow, ugly visuals, forcing the player to use touchscreen in menus that would clearly be better suited for standard controls, putting the 'database' function out of reach once you load a game for no discernible reason, and the crew-assigning portion of the game being so simplistic that the choices of who to put where are absolutely obvious. There are also unlisted horrible flaws that I can't get into without spoiling the plot, what little of it there is to spoil.

    The handful of tiny praise points I could give it are just trivialized by everything that is wrong. Everything about it, from the core mechanics to the tiny details, it's just mistake after mistake in terms of good game design, and it spoils anything good that could be said about it. I'm honestly astounded that its reviews are this favourable; I felt it was my duty as a good human being to make a Metacritic account just so I could give the game the panning it so rightly deserves, and maybe warn someone who was thinking of getting it in the future.    … Full Review »
  3. colafred4
    Jan 3, 2011
    10
    Really charming game, you really feel like you traveled to the unknown. Distracts your attention for hours.
    Has a bit slow gameplay, so that    Really charming game, you really feel like you traveled to the unknown. Distracts your attention for hours.
    Has a bit slow gameplay, so that you can't recognize how long are you playing for. The difficulty level alternates between an easy-like and a very hard level, and sometimes you will need a walkthrough if your maiden language is not english, even if you speak it well.
    I recommend this because of the outstanding story and dialogues!    … Full Review »
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