Infinite Undiscovery
Encyclopedia
is an action role-playing
video game developed by tri-Ace
and published by Square Enix
exclusively for the Xbox 360
. The game was released during September 2008 in Europe, Japan, and North America.
The game was meant to transition between day and night about every 10 minutes and the player was to use this to their advantage. For instance, at night the player might have had a better chance of infiltrating an enemy base stealthily as opposed to barging in during the day. However, this system was later found to be removed from the final product. Light stealth elements like this are hidden throughout the game, director Hiroshi Ogawa explains: “As an example, when you’re running away from a hunting dog, you can distract him by dropping apples from the trees. However, the guards may catch you when they hear the thud of the apples.”
At the beginning of the game, Capell is rescued from a secret prison by Aya, a member of the Liberation Force. He was imprisoned and subsequently rescued due to his uncanny resemblance to Sigmund the Liberator, the leader of the Liberation Force of which Aya was a part. It quickly becomes apparent that Capell is one of an exceedingly small number of people that can cut the chains binding the moon. It is heavily implied that this is due to his lack of a lunaglyph. Sigmund is the only other person known to have the ability to sever chains. Capell is also Sigmund's son which is found out later in the game, Sigmund having requested to have his lunaglyph removed shortly after Capell's birth, thus reverting him back to a baby. Many battles are then thrown at the Liberation force. He gradually becomes interested in Aya but doesn't share his feelings with her, and Feina tries to make a move. However it is not meant to be as Feina and her younger brother Leif are killed by the Vermiforms invading Sapran. Soon after, Aya tells Capell that she wishes to fight for him, thus showing Capell that she loves him, and it is implied that the two spend the night together. The two then could be said to be in a relationship with each other.
They head off to the Underwater Palace the next day with high hopes. Only to find out that at the top of the Palace that the chain was the other way around and that it could only be broken from the moon itself. The three powerful Aristos within the group perform a spell which forms a stairway to the moon. Once they are there they meet Various monsters until eventually are confronted by the great moon god Veros. Wisely, Capell declines Veros' request of partnership and fights his loyal servant, the new god Leonid. Capell and his party eventually defeat Leonid and face off with the mighty Veros shortly afterward. Once he is deceased, Aya becomes upset as she realises that the love of her life has to stay behind to cut the onyx chain; which is exactly what he does to save the world and protect the ones he loves. Capell remains on the moon after severing the Onyx Chain (apparently), but during the epilogue it is revealed that Capell is in fact alive. He is seen entertaining some children with his flute, and is reunited with Aya who runs into his arms, crying of joy.
(It is rumored that the SHE who Veros mentioned near the boss fight actually came and teleported Capell to Earth and then gradually made his way back to Sapran. The SHE could be a reference to the absolute final boss, the Ethereal Queen, who is found at the end of the post game dungeon, the Seraphic Gate, having the appearance of Feina.)
, age 16, is the next of the five central characters in the game. Strong willed and aggressive, Aya's constant prodding is often the only thing capable of motivating Capell to action. Aya worships Sigmund, however gradually becomes interested in Capell, a fact which Capell seems to miss. Once Aya warmed to Capell she became overprotective of him, demonstrating extreme jealousy. She is revealed to be the princess of the emirate of Fayel, although her position in the Liberation Force is not in any official capacity. Aya and her father spend the majority of the game on somewhat unfriendly terms, as Aya would rather fight alongside Sigmund rather than act as a proper ruler.
She becomes increasingly interested in Capell and eventually admits her love for him near the end of the game during a cut scene. They are from then on considered to be in a relationship with each other. She assists Capell in his attempt to reach the top of the Underwater Palace and destroying the chain. She also blames herself for Capell having to remain on the moon to cut the Onyx chain; she exposes her distress and her feelings during the end cutscene as well. She begs Capell not to sever the chain, but he does anyway after telling her that he loves her. In the game's epilogue, Aya is now Queen of Fayel and overseeing the rebuilding of Sapran. She witnesses Capell entertaining children with his flute and runs into his arms, reuniting with him.
, age 17, referred to as "The Liberator", was the first person to demonstrate the ability to sever the chains binding the moon. He was raised by Svala, the Empress of Halgita. He grew up in the Halgita palace alongside Eugene, Touma and Komachi. Ever since as a child Sigmund's personality was one of perpetual calm. He does not appear to be an effective motivational speaker, however he is an excellent leader. Sigmund was originally known as Volsung, the King of Casandra, however he underwent a ritual that removed his lunaglyph, which reverted his age back to the day of his birth. It is revealed that Volsung was Capell's father, and it was because Capell was born an unblessed that he decided to remove his lunaglyph.
, age 17, the fourth of the five core characters, views himself as Sigmund's right hand man, a position he feels Capell is challenging. Edward constantly trains out of a desire to reach Sigmund's level. Edward is short-tempered and does not tolerate people questioning him, but when the party's life is on the line, he makes for a capable leader. After nearly becoming a Vermiform, he grudgingly regards Capell as Sigmund's successor, showing that he does indeed have a soft side. He also begins to respect and view Capell as a friend. In the game's epilogue, Edward is the King of Burgusstadt.
, age 26, is the fifth of the five core members of the Liberation Force. He was one of the original members, as he grew up with Sigmund in Halgita. He is the most knowledgeable member of the group, as well as the one possessing the most common sense. In the immediate aftermath of Sigmund's death, Eugene's logic and counseling is all that keeps the group together. Eugene is generally a kind person, although he is more than willing to make and carry out difficult decisions if the need arises. In the game's epilogue, Eugene is Prime Minister of Halgita.
, age 35, is a great man who wields a battle axe, but has the personality of a child rather than a brute. He accompanies the Liberation Army out of respect for Sigmund, the only person to best him in combat. Sigmund promised Balbagan a rematch after the chains were destroyed. Balbagan abandons the group upon Sigmund's death, as the death crushed his wit and sapped his motivation to fight. Balbagan seems simple-minded and is decidedly single-minded, but is a likable person. He acts as the protector of the twins and seems to be the most friendly of the adults towards the twins. In the game's epilogue, Balbagan takes Rico and Rucha under his wing and patrol the roads outside Casandra to stop bandits.
, age 10, is the son of the priest of a small village. He is a beast tamer, although not a particularly effective one. After the death of his father, Rico and his twin sister join the Liberation Force take down the Order of Chains and avenge their father's death. Rico is a perpetual optimist, and other than the scene in which Rico and Rucha discovered their father had died, Rico is also perpetually cheerful. Rico is the only character capable of speaking to animals, and several optional quests make use of this ability. In the game's epilogue, Rico and Rucha work with Balbagan to patrol the roads of Casandra to stop bandits.
, age 10, is Rico's twin sister. She is a summoner, although the vast majority of her spells do not truly involve summoning. After the death of her father, Rucha joins the Liberation Force with her brother to take down the Order of Chains and avenge her father. Much like her brother, Rucha is perpetually cheerful and optimistic. In the game's epilogue, Rico and Rucha work with Balbagan to patrol the roads of Casandra to stop bandits.
, age 21, is a beautiful woman slightly older than most the majority of the Liberation Force. She loves Sigmund tremendously, to the point where it became a detriment to the group. It is unknown however whether Sigmund reciprocated that love. Extremely strong willed, but with a loving personality and a kind heart, Michelle frequently puts her life at risk to heal others. Upon learning of Capell's tragic past, she decides to become his big sister, although this affects little in the game and is only mentioned once. In the game's epilogue, Michelle encounters a group of bandits in Casandra and follows them, over time making them begin to soften up. She is later reunited with Balbagan, Rico, and Rucha after they demand the bandits "release" her.
Gustav is a giant bear of a rare and possibly endangered red variety. He is Aya's longtime pet and protects Aya fervently. Gustav is so powerful that he takes up two slots in the party selection, the only character to do so. In the game's epilogue, Gustav is the one who hears Capell playing his flute for the children and leads Aya to him.
Komachi, age 15, is the female ninja in the service of Halgita. She is the daughter of Genma. It appears that she deeply loves Touma, her superior. This often leads to Komachi making a fool of herself in conversations, as she goes overboard trying to defend herself if she believes that she even implied that she had feelings for Touma. In the game's epilogue, Komachi lives with Genma and welcomes Eugene into their house for tea.
Touma, age 15, is the head of the Nightwhisper Guild, who are ninjas in service to Halgita. He is an Aristo, placing him in the highest social strata. Touma is an old friend of Sigmund's and is one of the few people who knew that Sigmund did not have a lunaglyph. Touma acts in a dignified manner and has a strong moral compass, but is somewhat naive. Much like Capell is with Aya, Touma has no idea that Komachi has feelings for him, even though it is apparent to everyone else. In the game's epilogue, Touma, along with every other aristo, falls into a deep sleep and has not yet awoken.
Vic, age 12, is a young information seller living on the streets of Kolton. Over the course of the game, Capell gradually comes to realize that despite Vic's mannerisms, Vic is a girl. For reasons that the game does not specify, Vic hides this fact. Vic claims that her motivation for joining the Liberation Force is that it offers the potential for profit, however it is later revealed that she had a brother that died from a lunaglyph overload, much like what Edward suffered, and therefore Vic has a personal interest in the quest to restore the moon. In the game's epilogue, Vic is apparently Edward's assistant as he is King of Burgusstadt.
Dominica, age 27, is a female mercenary in orange armor. She has red hair in a ponytail, and uses a spear though she equips great swords like Edward. She has known Aya for quite some time and is acquainted with the staff of the castle of Fayel. Fights to protect what is important to her, she does what she can while knowing her limits. She seems to know her way around the kitchen, and loves watching the people she cares about having fun. Always serious though with what matters she is able to take the horse by the reigns if necessary. In the game's epilogh, Dominica is a loyal servant of Queen Aya and assists her in Sapran's reconstruction.
Kiriya, age 22, is a wizard with extremely long, blond hair wearing Japanese style clothes. Kiriya is a hermit living in the Timberlands and was an apprentice to Savio. He has a rather sharp tongue and only treats Savio with respect. Kiriya was in fact a researcher even during his youth and was the one asked by Sigmund to find a way to remove a Lunaglyph. Kiriya has a noted androgynous appearance, his character model being similar to a female's, and his poses and mannerisms similar to a female's as well. Doesn't get along with everyone at first and still doesn't really at the end, but he does cooperate an a comrade type of relationship. His character artwork even appears female, and many people mistook Kiriya for a female at first. In the game's epilogue, Kiriya is seen striking a deal of sorts with The King of Burgusstadt Edward.
Seraphina, age 20, is a beautiful, elegant woman, who wears white armor with a blue and white dress. Looks acts extremely emotionless and calculating, she is actually pretty shy and funny in her own way. She and Kristopher seem to have fought together side by side for the kingdom of Kolton, and since then have kept a comrade relationship in her eyes, but secretly and unknowingly she has feelings for him. She doesn't appear to wield any sort of weapon during battle, though she can equip books like Michelle. Her Japanese name is spelled Serafima. In the game's epilogh, Seraphina falls into a deep sleep and is watched over by Kristopher until the day she awakens.
Kristopher, age 29, is a brown-haired wapman with a rough appearance, and a design similar to an aviator, a rather modern design compared to the others. He is skilled with machines and was in fact a weapons designer in Kolton, though he became disgusted upon seeing their deadliness, agreed to go with Seraphina to join the Liberation Force. He and Seraphina fought together in a battle for Kolton where ever since then they have maintained a type of flirtatious relationship in Kristopher's eyes, where he declares she is his one and only true love everyday. He wields a crossbow in battle, though he equips regular bows like Aya. His Japanese name is spelled Kristofor. In the game's epilogue, Kristopher has taken up the duty of protecting the sleeping Seraphina and remarks he hopes she is happy to see him when she awakens.
Genma is a member of the Liberation Force, and a powerful Nightwhisper Clan ninja from Halgita. He serves as Sigmund's intelligence gatherer and scout, and relays important messages between Sigmund and Svala.
Faina is a teenage girl with a crush on Capell. Like Capell, she is an unblessed, and therefore she is exiled because of it. She lives in Sapran, a town of exiled unblesseds. Faina appears several times, apparently following Capell, and at one time takes up the merchant's trade in order to support herself and assist Capell. Faina dies in Capell's arms in Sapran when a Vermiform attacks her from behind.
The Ethereal Queen in the Seraphic Gate is a modified version of Faina's character model, the only difference is that the Ethereal Queen has wings. Whether this is a coincidence, or related to Faina herself, is unknown.
Leif is Faina's younger brother. Capell rescues Leif early on after he gets separated from a group of refugees that Aya and Capell are escorting. After Genma rescues Leif and Faina in Halgita Leif decides to train to join the Nightwhisper Guild. Leif is killed in the next attack on Sarpan along with his sister.
Gabriel Celeste in the Seraphic Gate is a modified version of Leif's character model, similar to how the Ethereal Queen takes Faina's build.
Sarleaus is the guardian of the Dragonbone shrine. Rico and Rucha's father was Sarleaus's priest, and died in defense of the shrine. Sarleaus is an extremely powerful dragon, he is nonetheless enslaved by the Order of Chains. Capell frees Sarleaus by slaying his overseer. Sarleaus grants Capell the sacred flute that serves as Sarleaus' eyes and ears through Capell, as well as a powerful medicine that Capell uses to cure Aya.
Emir Sharukh and Sawotir rule the emerate of Fayel, and are Aya's parents. Both of them are aristos, and cannot understand why Aya is resistant to undergoing the ritual that would make her an aristo. Despite their frequent bickering with Aya, they love her very much. Sharukh eventually sacrifices his life to save Aya at Kolton.
King Miro of the winter city of Kolton acts in a cold and calculating manner, always trying to maximize the gain he can get in any type of transaction. Despite this, he cares for Kolton and its people, and is an effective ruler. Once Miro makes a decision, he does not allow others to attempt to convince him to change it.
Nestor is mayor of the town of Burgusstradt, and a powerful aristo. He grants Sigmund a lunaglpyh in a special ritual, after which Sigmund confides in Capell that Sigmund can no longer cut the chains that bind the moon. It is believed that Nestor did not know that the lunaglyph would have this effect, and was instead trying to bestow a great reward on Sigmund.
Iskan Du Bal is a former knight of the ruined kingdom of Casandra. Though he is seen as an enemy at first, Iskan serves Cassandra rather than the Order. He turns out to be one of the only people who knows about Capell's mysterious past.
Held is a knight of the Order who guards the Amber Chain. He is also the first former apprentice of Savio, with the other being Kiriya; Held betrayed them and joined the Order, now carrying out Leonid's orders. He use powerful dark magic arts in battle.
Saranda is a seductive, red-haired woman who wears an elaborate dress the same color as her hair. She is Leonid's closest confidant and will do anything for him. She is rather sadistic and enjoys taunting her foes. Saranda guards the Ashen Chain, revealing herself to also be a knight of the Order, but is ultimately killed by Capell and his party.
Veros the Crimson is the god of the moon and "blesses" the world with Lunaglyphs.
Niedzielan is the arrogant, dreadlocked knight of the Order who guards the Cerulean Chain. He uses water magic in battle and wields the power of the tsunami meant to destroy Port Zala. He is killed by Capell on the Zalan Coast.
Dimitri is the knight of the Order who guards the Crimson Chain. He uses teleportation and wields a crossbow in battle, and seems to be the most trusted knight of Leonid, as he is allowed to stay atop Verplume Tower. He is defeated by Capell in battle, and meets his end when he steps in front of Sigmund's blade to save Leonid.
Lester is the knight of the Order who guards the Azure Chain. He wears blue armor and wields a sword in battle. Given special power by Saranda, he grows black wings and wields deadly powers against the Force. He is killed by Sigmund while guarding the Chain.
Sembreras is the knight of the Order who guards the Orange Chain. He uses magic black orbs and a sword in battle. Quite confident of himself in battle, he is defeated and killed by Sigmund and Capell.
. Initially it was believed that Microsoft
would publish the game, however at TGS
2007, Hajime Kojima and Hiroshi Ogawa stated that Square Enix took over publishing duties because they have more "know-how" with RPGs. However, since Microsoft was the original publisher, it holds the trademark for the game and shares the copyright with Square Enix.
According to tri-Ace co-founder and R&D programmer Yoshiharu Gotanda, this game is set to contain 10 years worth of ideas that can finally be realized by the power of the Xbox 360 and that with it, "RPGs will undergo a true evolution." tri-Ace wishes to achieve this by putting the player through "situational battles" that will lead to "unknown discoveries" and cause permanent changes to the world.
The game was directed by Hiroshi Ogawa
and produced by Hajime Kojima, both of which are credited in the tri-Ace titles Star Ocean: Till the End of Time
and Valkyrie Profile: Lenneth
. tri-Ace president Yoshiharu Gotanda signed on as the game's lead programmer. Scenario was handled by ORG Ltd., including Ryo Mizuno
and Shoji Gatoh. The game's characters were designed by Yukihiro Kajimoto.
scored the game.
The English dub was the first title released from New Generation Pictures
Shanghai
Studios. As such it features voice-over actors from Texas and Los Angeles, as well as a large helping of new talent from Shanghai.
In Japan, Famitsu
gave Infinite Undiscovery a total score of 32 out of 40 from four reviewers (9, 8, 8, 7). Abroad, Infinite Undiscovery has received mixed to positive reviews from the critics, with an average of 67.98% on GameRankings and 68/100 on Metacritic
. IGN
gave it a 7.1 saying "This isn't a game marred with horrendous bugs or unplayable combat. And it's not boring. It's just misguided. The story is intriguing enough that RPG fanatics should at least give this a rental." 1UP.com
gave it a B saying "Undiscovery is absolutely worth playing through at least once, with the regrettable caveat that it really could've been so much more." GamePro
gave it a 3 out of 5 saying "In the end, Undiscovery isn't a bad game but it is seriously flawed. I'd recommend renting it before you invest your hard earned cash on a purchase, especially if you're new to the RPG genre." GameSpot
awarded the score of 6.5 ("Fair") but felt it was too flawed to reach its potential. GamesRadar
gave it a 7 out of 10 saying "When it’s acting like a run-of-the-mill JRPG, it feels clichéd, but reasonably enjoyable. When it tries to be innovative, however, its unsatisfying combat, superfluous subsystems and wasted ensemble cast make the whole experience feel half-hearted." X-Play
gave the game a 4 out of 5, praising its addictive and fast paced action and multi-party battles, while criticizing its "ridiculous" name, its annoying protagonist, and slow story line. X-Play explained that while the story is slow at the start of the game, once you push through for a few hours, the game and story are actually very entertaining.
Action role-playing game
Action role-playing games form a loosely defined sub-genre of role-playing video games that incorporate elements of action or action-adventure games, emphasizing real-time action where the player has direct control over characters, instead of turn-based or menu-based combat...
video game developed by tri-Ace
Tri-Ace
is a Japanese video game development company formed in 1995 by former Telenet Japan employees Yoshiharu Gotanda , Masaki Norimoto and Joe Asanuma . The name is a play on words regarding the "three aces" who formed the company...
and published by Square Enix
Square Enix
is a Japanese video game and publishing company best known for its console role-playing game franchises, which include the Final Fantasy series, the Dragon Quest series, and the action-RPG Kingdom Hearts series...
exclusively for the Xbox 360
Xbox 360
The Xbox 360 is the second video game console produced by Microsoft and the successor to the Xbox. The Xbox 360 competes with Sony's PlayStation 3 and Nintendo's Wii as part of the seventh generation of video game consoles...
. The game was released during September 2008 in Europe, Japan, and North America.
Gameplay
Infinite Undiscovery envelops the player in a real-time world where individual decisions can unveil numerous discoveries and affect other encounters, without the need to transition to another screen and can occur at anytime, even while the player is going through inventory in the menu. The action based battle system allows up to 4 characters to be on the field at once. The player controls the main character Capell from a third-person perspective while the other 3 characters are controlled by AI; however, with connect actions Capell can use another character's skill. Faced with a variety of episodic situational battles, the player is meant to try various methods to defeat the enemy, where the most obvious solution is rarely the right move. Certain battles require the player to divide the whole of the cast (said to be up to eighteen characters) into teams due to the sheer size of the situation.The game was meant to transition between day and night about every 10 minutes and the player was to use this to their advantage. For instance, at night the player might have had a better chance of infiltrating an enemy base stealthily as opposed to barging in during the day. However, this system was later found to be removed from the final product. Light stealth elements like this are hidden throughout the game, director Hiroshi Ogawa explains: “As an example, when you’re running away from a hunting dog, you can distract him by dropping apples from the trees. However, the guards may catch you when they hear the thud of the apples.”
Characters
There are two types of characters that can be selected during party selections. Primary characters can be used in the main party, led by Capell. Secondary characters can only be added to secondary and tertiary parties, which are utilized occasionally.Primary characters
, age 17, is the main protagonist and the character that players control throughout the game. Capell's character is shaped by his status as an "Unblessed". Born on the night of a lunar eclipse, Capell did not receive a lunaglyph, the powerful magical symbol that allows most humans to use magic. As a result of being unblessed, Capell was abandoned as an infant. His personality is heavily shaped by his low status. At the beginning of the game, Capell is unmotivated and uninterested in helping others. This attitude gradually changes, mainly with prodding from his companions.At the beginning of the game, Capell is rescued from a secret prison by Aya, a member of the Liberation Force. He was imprisoned and subsequently rescued due to his uncanny resemblance to Sigmund the Liberator, the leader of the Liberation Force of which Aya was a part. It quickly becomes apparent that Capell is one of an exceedingly small number of people that can cut the chains binding the moon. It is heavily implied that this is due to his lack of a lunaglyph. Sigmund is the only other person known to have the ability to sever chains. Capell is also Sigmund's son which is found out later in the game, Sigmund having requested to have his lunaglyph removed shortly after Capell's birth, thus reverting him back to a baby. Many battles are then thrown at the Liberation force. He gradually becomes interested in Aya but doesn't share his feelings with her, and Feina tries to make a move. However it is not meant to be as Feina and her younger brother Leif are killed by the Vermiforms invading Sapran. Soon after, Aya tells Capell that she wishes to fight for him, thus showing Capell that she loves him, and it is implied that the two spend the night together. The two then could be said to be in a relationship with each other.
They head off to the Underwater Palace the next day with high hopes. Only to find out that at the top of the Palace that the chain was the other way around and that it could only be broken from the moon itself. The three powerful Aristos within the group perform a spell which forms a stairway to the moon. Once they are there they meet Various monsters until eventually are confronted by the great moon god Veros. Wisely, Capell declines Veros' request of partnership and fights his loyal servant, the new god Leonid. Capell and his party eventually defeat Leonid and face off with the mighty Veros shortly afterward. Once he is deceased, Aya becomes upset as she realises that the love of her life has to stay behind to cut the onyx chain; which is exactly what he does to save the world and protect the ones he loves. Capell remains on the moon after severing the Onyx Chain (apparently), but during the epilogue it is revealed that Capell is in fact alive. He is seen entertaining some children with his flute, and is reunited with Aya who runs into his arms, crying of joy.
(It is rumored that the SHE who Veros mentioned near the boss fight actually came and teleported Capell to Earth and then gradually made his way back to Sapran. The SHE could be a reference to the absolute final boss, the Ethereal Queen, who is found at the end of the post game dungeon, the Seraphic Gate, having the appearance of Feina.)
, age 16, is the next of the five central characters in the game. Strong willed and aggressive, Aya's constant prodding is often the only thing capable of motivating Capell to action. Aya worships Sigmund, however gradually becomes interested in Capell, a fact which Capell seems to miss. Once Aya warmed to Capell she became overprotective of him, demonstrating extreme jealousy. She is revealed to be the princess of the emirate of Fayel, although her position in the Liberation Force is not in any official capacity. Aya and her father spend the majority of the game on somewhat unfriendly terms, as Aya would rather fight alongside Sigmund rather than act as a proper ruler.
She becomes increasingly interested in Capell and eventually admits her love for him near the end of the game during a cut scene. They are from then on considered to be in a relationship with each other. She assists Capell in his attempt to reach the top of the Underwater Palace and destroying the chain. She also blames herself for Capell having to remain on the moon to cut the Onyx chain; she exposes her distress and her feelings during the end cutscene as well. She begs Capell not to sever the chain, but he does anyway after telling her that he loves her. In the game's epilogue, Aya is now Queen of Fayel and overseeing the rebuilding of Sapran. She witnesses Capell entertaining children with his flute and runs into his arms, reuniting with him.
, age 17, referred to as "The Liberator", was the first person to demonstrate the ability to sever the chains binding the moon. He was raised by Svala, the Empress of Halgita. He grew up in the Halgita palace alongside Eugene, Touma and Komachi. Ever since as a child Sigmund's personality was one of perpetual calm. He does not appear to be an effective motivational speaker, however he is an excellent leader. Sigmund was originally known as Volsung, the King of Casandra, however he underwent a ritual that removed his lunaglyph, which reverted his age back to the day of his birth. It is revealed that Volsung was Capell's father, and it was because Capell was born an unblessed that he decided to remove his lunaglyph.
, age 17, the fourth of the five core characters, views himself as Sigmund's right hand man, a position he feels Capell is challenging. Edward constantly trains out of a desire to reach Sigmund's level. Edward is short-tempered and does not tolerate people questioning him, but when the party's life is on the line, he makes for a capable leader. After nearly becoming a Vermiform, he grudgingly regards Capell as Sigmund's successor, showing that he does indeed have a soft side. He also begins to respect and view Capell as a friend. In the game's epilogue, Edward is the King of Burgusstadt.
, age 26, is the fifth of the five core members of the Liberation Force. He was one of the original members, as he grew up with Sigmund in Halgita. He is the most knowledgeable member of the group, as well as the one possessing the most common sense. In the immediate aftermath of Sigmund's death, Eugene's logic and counseling is all that keeps the group together. Eugene is generally a kind person, although he is more than willing to make and carry out difficult decisions if the need arises. In the game's epilogue, Eugene is Prime Minister of Halgita.
, age 35, is a great man who wields a battle axe, but has the personality of a child rather than a brute. He accompanies the Liberation Army out of respect for Sigmund, the only person to best him in combat. Sigmund promised Balbagan a rematch after the chains were destroyed. Balbagan abandons the group upon Sigmund's death, as the death crushed his wit and sapped his motivation to fight. Balbagan seems simple-minded and is decidedly single-minded, but is a likable person. He acts as the protector of the twins and seems to be the most friendly of the adults towards the twins. In the game's epilogue, Balbagan takes Rico and Rucha under his wing and patrol the roads outside Casandra to stop bandits.
, age 10, is the son of the priest of a small village. He is a beast tamer, although not a particularly effective one. After the death of his father, Rico and his twin sister join the Liberation Force take down the Order of Chains and avenge their father's death. Rico is a perpetual optimist, and other than the scene in which Rico and Rucha discovered their father had died, Rico is also perpetually cheerful. Rico is the only character capable of speaking to animals, and several optional quests make use of this ability. In the game's epilogue, Rico and Rucha work with Balbagan to patrol the roads of Casandra to stop bandits.
, age 10, is Rico's twin sister. She is a summoner, although the vast majority of her spells do not truly involve summoning. After the death of her father, Rucha joins the Liberation Force with her brother to take down the Order of Chains and avenge her father. Much like her brother, Rucha is perpetually cheerful and optimistic. In the game's epilogue, Rico and Rucha work with Balbagan to patrol the roads of Casandra to stop bandits.
, age 21, is a beautiful woman slightly older than most the majority of the Liberation Force. She loves Sigmund tremendously, to the point where it became a detriment to the group. It is unknown however whether Sigmund reciprocated that love. Extremely strong willed, but with a loving personality and a kind heart, Michelle frequently puts her life at risk to heal others. Upon learning of Capell's tragic past, she decides to become his big sister, although this affects little in the game and is only mentioned once. In the game's epilogue, Michelle encounters a group of bandits in Casandra and follows them, over time making them begin to soften up. She is later reunited with Balbagan, Rico, and Rucha after they demand the bandits "release" her.
Gustav is a giant bear of a rare and possibly endangered red variety. He is Aya's longtime pet and protects Aya fervently. Gustav is so powerful that he takes up two slots in the party selection, the only character to do so. In the game's epilogue, Gustav is the one who hears Capell playing his flute for the children and leads Aya to him.
Komachi, age 15, is the female ninja in the service of Halgita. She is the daughter of Genma. It appears that she deeply loves Touma, her superior. This often leads to Komachi making a fool of herself in conversations, as she goes overboard trying to defend herself if she believes that she even implied that she had feelings for Touma. In the game's epilogue, Komachi lives with Genma and welcomes Eugene into their house for tea.
Touma, age 15, is the head of the Nightwhisper Guild, who are ninjas in service to Halgita. He is an Aristo, placing him in the highest social strata. Touma is an old friend of Sigmund's and is one of the few people who knew that Sigmund did not have a lunaglyph. Touma acts in a dignified manner and has a strong moral compass, but is somewhat naive. Much like Capell is with Aya, Touma has no idea that Komachi has feelings for him, even though it is apparent to everyone else. In the game's epilogue, Touma, along with every other aristo, falls into a deep sleep and has not yet awoken.
Vic, age 12, is a young information seller living on the streets of Kolton. Over the course of the game, Capell gradually comes to realize that despite Vic's mannerisms, Vic is a girl. For reasons that the game does not specify, Vic hides this fact. Vic claims that her motivation for joining the Liberation Force is that it offers the potential for profit, however it is later revealed that she had a brother that died from a lunaglyph overload, much like what Edward suffered, and therefore Vic has a personal interest in the quest to restore the moon. In the game's epilogue, Vic is apparently Edward's assistant as he is King of Burgusstadt.
Secondary members
Savio is an Aristo well known for ability to see the future, an ability for which he has gained the title of Starseer. Also a powerful mage, Savio was the mentor for both Kiriya and Held. Savio serves as a confidant and adviser to Sigmund, although it is never explained how they knew each other. In the game's epilogue, Savio falls into a deep sleep and has not yet awoken.Dominica, age 27, is a female mercenary in orange armor. She has red hair in a ponytail, and uses a spear though she equips great swords like Edward. She has known Aya for quite some time and is acquainted with the staff of the castle of Fayel. Fights to protect what is important to her, she does what she can while knowing her limits. She seems to know her way around the kitchen, and loves watching the people she cares about having fun. Always serious though with what matters she is able to take the horse by the reigns if necessary. In the game's epilogh, Dominica is a loyal servant of Queen Aya and assists her in Sapran's reconstruction.
Kiriya, age 22, is a wizard with extremely long, blond hair wearing Japanese style clothes. Kiriya is a hermit living in the Timberlands and was an apprentice to Savio. He has a rather sharp tongue and only treats Savio with respect. Kiriya was in fact a researcher even during his youth and was the one asked by Sigmund to find a way to remove a Lunaglyph. Kiriya has a noted androgynous appearance, his character model being similar to a female's, and his poses and mannerisms similar to a female's as well. Doesn't get along with everyone at first and still doesn't really at the end, but he does cooperate an a comrade type of relationship. His character artwork even appears female, and many people mistook Kiriya for a female at first. In the game's epilogue, Kiriya is seen striking a deal of sorts with The King of Burgusstadt Edward.
Seraphina, age 20, is a beautiful, elegant woman, who wears white armor with a blue and white dress. Looks acts extremely emotionless and calculating, she is actually pretty shy and funny in her own way. She and Kristopher seem to have fought together side by side for the kingdom of Kolton, and since then have kept a comrade relationship in her eyes, but secretly and unknowingly she has feelings for him. She doesn't appear to wield any sort of weapon during battle, though she can equip books like Michelle. Her Japanese name is spelled Serafima. In the game's epilogh, Seraphina falls into a deep sleep and is watched over by Kristopher until the day she awakens.
Kristopher, age 29, is a brown-haired wapman with a rough appearance, and a design similar to an aviator, a rather modern design compared to the others. He is skilled with machines and was in fact a weapons designer in Kolton, though he became disgusted upon seeing their deadliness, agreed to go with Seraphina to join the Liberation Force. He and Seraphina fought together in a battle for Kolton where ever since then they have maintained a type of flirtatious relationship in Kristopher's eyes, where he declares she is his one and only true love everyday. He wields a crossbow in battle, though he equips regular bows like Aya. His Japanese name is spelled Kristofor. In the game's epilogue, Kristopher has taken up the duty of protecting the sleeping Seraphina and remarks he hopes she is happy to see him when she awakens.
Supporting cast
Svala is the empress of Halgita. Soft spoken and kind, Svala nonetheless is fiercely protective of Halgita. She was the person that performed the ritual to remove the lunaglyph, reverting the former King of Casandra to the baby Sigmund. Because of this, Svala raised Sigmund, keeping his status secret. Her financial backing and sway over the other Aristos is a major factor in the Liberation Force's success.Genma is a member of the Liberation Force, and a powerful Nightwhisper Clan ninja from Halgita. He serves as Sigmund's intelligence gatherer and scout, and relays important messages between Sigmund and Svala.
Faina is a teenage girl with a crush on Capell. Like Capell, she is an unblessed, and therefore she is exiled because of it. She lives in Sapran, a town of exiled unblesseds. Faina appears several times, apparently following Capell, and at one time takes up the merchant's trade in order to support herself and assist Capell. Faina dies in Capell's arms in Sapran when a Vermiform attacks her from behind.
The Ethereal Queen in the Seraphic Gate is a modified version of Faina's character model, the only difference is that the Ethereal Queen has wings. Whether this is a coincidence, or related to Faina herself, is unknown.
Leif is Faina's younger brother. Capell rescues Leif early on after he gets separated from a group of refugees that Aya and Capell are escorting. After Genma rescues Leif and Faina in Halgita Leif decides to train to join the Nightwhisper Guild. Leif is killed in the next attack on Sarpan along with his sister.
Gabriel Celeste in the Seraphic Gate is a modified version of Leif's character model, similar to how the Ethereal Queen takes Faina's build.
Sarleaus is the guardian of the Dragonbone shrine. Rico and Rucha's father was Sarleaus's priest, and died in defense of the shrine. Sarleaus is an extremely powerful dragon, he is nonetheless enslaved by the Order of Chains. Capell frees Sarleaus by slaying his overseer. Sarleaus grants Capell the sacred flute that serves as Sarleaus' eyes and ears through Capell, as well as a powerful medicine that Capell uses to cure Aya.
Emir Sharukh and Sawotir rule the emerate of Fayel, and are Aya's parents. Both of them are aristos, and cannot understand why Aya is resistant to undergoing the ritual that would make her an aristo. Despite their frequent bickering with Aya, they love her very much. Sharukh eventually sacrifices his life to save Aya at Kolton.
King Miro of the winter city of Kolton acts in a cold and calculating manner, always trying to maximize the gain he can get in any type of transaction. Despite this, he cares for Kolton and its people, and is an effective ruler. Once Miro makes a decision, he does not allow others to attempt to convince him to change it.
Nestor is mayor of the town of Burgusstradt, and a powerful aristo. He grants Sigmund a lunaglpyh in a special ritual, after which Sigmund confides in Capell that Sigmund can no longer cut the chains that bind the moon. It is believed that Nestor did not know that the lunaglyph would have this effect, and was instead trying to bestow a great reward on Sigmund.
Iskan Du Bal is a former knight of the ruined kingdom of Casandra. Though he is seen as an enemy at first, Iskan serves Cassandra rather than the Order. He turns out to be one of the only people who knows about Capell's mysterious past.
Antagonists
, who has enslaved the moon with chains, is the game's foremost antagonist. He is known as the Dreadknight and created the Order of Chains. He is deeply devoted to Veros, the moon god, and vies to be his faithful servant for eternity. He guards the Onyx Chain.Held is a knight of the Order who guards the Amber Chain. He is also the first former apprentice of Savio, with the other being Kiriya; Held betrayed them and joined the Order, now carrying out Leonid's orders. He use powerful dark magic arts in battle.
Saranda is a seductive, red-haired woman who wears an elaborate dress the same color as her hair. She is Leonid's closest confidant and will do anything for him. She is rather sadistic and enjoys taunting her foes. Saranda guards the Ashen Chain, revealing herself to also be a knight of the Order, but is ultimately killed by Capell and his party.
Veros the Crimson is the god of the moon and "blesses" the world with Lunaglyphs.
Niedzielan is the arrogant, dreadlocked knight of the Order who guards the Cerulean Chain. He uses water magic in battle and wields the power of the tsunami meant to destroy Port Zala. He is killed by Capell on the Zalan Coast.
Dimitri is the knight of the Order who guards the Crimson Chain. He uses teleportation and wields a crossbow in battle, and seems to be the most trusted knight of Leonid, as he is allowed to stay atop Verplume Tower. He is defeated by Capell in battle, and meets his end when he steps in front of Sigmund's blade to save Leonid.
Lester is the knight of the Order who guards the Azure Chain. He wears blue armor and wields a sword in battle. Given special power by Saranda, he grows black wings and wields deadly powers against the Force. He is killed by Sigmund while guarding the Chain.
Sembreras is the knight of the Order who guards the Orange Chain. He uses magic black orbs and a sword in battle. Quite confident of himself in battle, he is defeated and killed by Sigmund and Capell.
Development
Infinite Undiscovery was announced in September 2006 by FamitsuFamitsu
is a line of Japanese video game magazines published by Enterbrain, Inc. and Tokuma. Currently, there are five Famitsū magazines: Shūkan Famitsū, Famitsū PS3 + PSP, Famitsū Xbox 360, Famitsū Wii+DS, and Famitsū Wave DVD...
. Initially it was believed that Microsoft
Microsoft Game Studios
Microsoft Studios is the video game production wing for Microsoft, responsible for the development and publishing of games for the Xbox, Xbox 360, Games for Windows and Windows Phone platforms. They were established in 2002 as Microsoft Game Studios to coincide with the release of the Xbox, before...
would publish the game, however at TGS
Tokyo Game Show
The , commonly known as TGS, is a video game expo / convention held annually in the Makuhari Messe, in Chiba, Japan. It is presented by the Computer Entertainment Supplier's Association and the Nikkei Business Publications, Inc...
2007, Hajime Kojima and Hiroshi Ogawa stated that Square Enix took over publishing duties because they have more "know-how" with RPGs. However, since Microsoft was the original publisher, it holds the trademark for the game and shares the copyright with Square Enix.
According to tri-Ace co-founder and R&D programmer Yoshiharu Gotanda, this game is set to contain 10 years worth of ideas that can finally be realized by the power of the Xbox 360 and that with it, "RPGs will undergo a true evolution." tri-Ace wishes to achieve this by putting the player through "situational battles" that will lead to "unknown discoveries" and cause permanent changes to the world.
The game was directed by Hiroshi Ogawa
Hiroshi Ogawa
is a former Japanese pitcher of the Chiba Lotte Marines and murderer.On November 18, 2004, Ogawa murdered a 67-year-old woman Kazuko Nishiuchi. The murder shocked the Nippon Professional Baseball. His uniform number 26 has been retired since 2005 though the Chiba Lotte Marines did not say that the...
and produced by Hajime Kojima, both of which are credited in the tri-Ace titles Star Ocean: Till the End of Time
Star Ocean: Till the End of Time
is the third main game in the Star Ocean series. The game was developed by tri-Ace and published by Square Enix for the PlayStation 2 console. It was released in Japan, North America, and the PAL territories. The original Japanese release date was in February of 2003 by Enix, its penultimate...
and Valkyrie Profile: Lenneth
Valkyrie Profile: Lenneth
is a console role-playing game developed by tri-Ace and published by Enix for the PlayStation. It was released on December 22, 1999 in Japan and on August 29, 2000 in North America...
. tri-Ace president Yoshiharu Gotanda signed on as the game's lead programmer. Scenario was handled by ORG Ltd., including Ryo Mizuno
Ryo Mizuno
is a Japanese author and game designer. Mizuno created Record of Lodoss War, Rune Soldier, Sword World RPG and Starship Operators. He was also involved with the Galaxy Angel manga. Mizuno recently worked on Tri-Ace and Square Enix's action-RPG Infinite Undiscovery. He has shown talent in both...
and Shoji Gatoh. The game's characters were designed by Yukihiro Kajimoto.
Audio
tri-Ace music director and composer Motoi SakurabaMotoi Sakuraba
is a Japanese composer of video games, anime series, and television dramas as well as independent progressive rock albums.-Biography:Motoi Sakuraba was born in Akita Prefecture, Japan...
scored the game.
The English dub was the first title released from New Generation Pictures
New Generation Pictures
New Generation Pictures is a visual media production company based in Beverly Hills, California. The company was founded in 1992 by Reiko Matsuo and Jonathan Klein. They offer services in ADR voice production and translation. In the past, they often dubbed anime for Geneon USA, however recently...
Shanghai
Shanghai
Shanghai is the largest city by population in China and the largest city proper in the world. It is one of the four province-level municipalities in the People's Republic of China, with a total population of over 23 million as of 2010...
Studios. As such it features voice-over actors from Texas and Los Angeles, as well as a large helping of new talent from Shanghai.
Reception
As of September 30, 2008, Infinite Undiscovery has shipped 120,000 copies in Japan, 200,000 copies in North America, and 90,000 copies in Europe. In Japan, the game sold 96,000 copies by its third week.In Japan, Famitsu
Famitsu
is a line of Japanese video game magazines published by Enterbrain, Inc. and Tokuma. Currently, there are five Famitsū magazines: Shūkan Famitsū, Famitsū PS3 + PSP, Famitsū Xbox 360, Famitsū Wii+DS, and Famitsū Wave DVD...
gave Infinite Undiscovery a total score of 32 out of 40 from four reviewers (9, 8, 8, 7). Abroad, Infinite Undiscovery has received mixed to positive reviews from the critics, with an average of 67.98% on GameRankings and 68/100 on Metacritic
Metacritic
Metacritic.com is a website that collates reviews of music albums, games, movies, TV shows and DVDs. For each product, a numerical score from each review is obtained and the total is averaged. An excerpt of each review is provided along with a hyperlink to the source. Three colour codes of Green,...
. IGN
IGN
IGN is an entertainment website that focuses on video games, films, music and other media. IGN's main website comprises several specialty sites or "channels", each occupying a subdomain and covering a specific area of entertainment...
gave it a 7.1 saying "This isn't a game marred with horrendous bugs or unplayable combat. And it's not boring. It's just misguided. The story is intriguing enough that RPG fanatics should at least give this a rental." 1UP.com
1UP.com
1UP.com is a video game website owned by IGN Entertainment, a division of News Corporation. Previously, the site was owned by Ziff Davis before being sold to UGO Entertainment in 2009....
gave it a B saying "Undiscovery is absolutely worth playing through at least once, with the regrettable caveat that it really could've been so much more." GamePro
GamePro
GamePro Media was a United States gaming media company publishing online and print content on the video game industry, video game hardware, and video game software developed for a video game console , a computer, and/or a mobile device . GamePro Media properties include GamePro magazine and...
gave it a 3 out of 5 saying "In the end, Undiscovery isn't a bad game but it is seriously flawed. I'd recommend renting it before you invest your hard earned cash on a purchase, especially if you're new to the RPG genre." GameSpot
GameSpot
GameSpot is a video gaming website that provides news, reviews, previews, downloads, and other information. The site was launched in May 1, 1996 by Pete Deemer, Vince Broady and Jon Epstein. It was purchased by ZDNet, a brand which was later purchased by CNET Networks. CBS Interactive, which...
awarded the score of 6.5 ("Fair") but felt it was too flawed to reach its potential. GamesRadar
GamesRadar
GamesRadar is a multi-format video game website featuring regular news, previews, reviews, videos, and guides. It is owned and operated simultaneously in the UK and US by worldwide publisher Future Publishing...
gave it a 7 out of 10 saying "When it’s acting like a run-of-the-mill JRPG, it feels clichéd, but reasonably enjoyable. When it tries to be innovative, however, its unsatisfying combat, superfluous subsystems and wasted ensemble cast make the whole experience feel half-hearted." X-Play
X-Play
X-Play is a TV program about video games, known for its reviews and comedy skits...
gave the game a 4 out of 5, praising its addictive and fast paced action and multi-party battles, while criticizing its "ridiculous" name, its annoying protagonist, and slow story line. X-Play explained that while the story is slow at the start of the game, once you push through for a few hours, the game and story are actually very entertaining.
External links
- Official UK website
- Infinite Undiscovery at Xbox.com
- Org Ltd.