The popular dress-up role-playing game series Nikki, created by Infold Games, the international arm of China’s Papergames, has amassed over 100 million players.
A dress-up-focused action game might seem more appropriate for casual gamers. But the most recent game in the series, Infinity Nikki, which will be available for PC, PlayStation5, and mobile devices, is an open-world title with a strong emphasis on platforming action. Both newbies and followers of the series were taken aback by the first trailer, which showed the main character Nikki exploring a large open environment while wearing a variety of clothes.
Gamexta released our impressions following a three-hour demo in May. The entertaining and distinctive nature of Infinity Nikki’s open universe pleased us. It feels fantastic to play, from its user-friendly controls and engaging action and combat to its rewarding crafting and exploring mechanics. Dressing up in your best attire and exploring new places are integral components of the experience. For this reason, Infinity Nikki is more than just a thrilling journey in a fantastical setting. It blends the freedom and immersion that come only from video games with an awareness of the real world.
Kentaro Tominaga, a game designer for The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, is a subdirector attached to Infinity Nikki. To find out more about Tominaga’s plans for Infinity Nikki, we conducted an interview with him in Kyoto, Japan, the location of Infold Games’ most recent office.
“I spent roughly six months working with the development team in Shanghai,” Tominaga says. I was able to get to know them by doing this. I am currently collaborating with the team back in Shanghai while working from our new office in Kyoto.
The first person to work in Infold Games’ Kyoto headquarters was Tominaga himself. Currently, the office employs about ten individuals, while Infinity Nikki’s development team comprises approximately seven hundred personnel.
Exploration and Platforming
One of Tominaga’s main priorities while adapting this well-liked dress-up game series into an open-world setting was to ensure that players with little to no action game expertise could still enjoy the gameplay.
“Discovering undiscovered mysteries while exploring a vast environment is a significant aspect of the experience in open-world games,” he claims. “I believed that this exploration component combined with platforming would make for a delightful new kind of experience.”
As Tominaga suggests, a major component of what makes open-world video games so compelling is finding new locations of interest and figuring out how to get there. The platforming elements in Infinity Nikki are a major factor in providing that special feeling of fulfillment.
Nikki can learn a variety of skills by donning Miracle Outfits, which are unique clothes. She may stay in the air longer and reach higher altitudes, for instance, by just pressing the jump button to make her float thanks to the Floating Outfit.
“You may find the next area you wish to examine by looking down at the environment from wherever you reached through platforming traversal, and once you reach that point, you will find still another place to explore,” explains Tominaga. “We designed the game such that platforming and exploration blend organically to produce a flow that keeps the player engaged and inspired.”
“You may find the next area you wish to examine by looking down at the environment from wherever you reached through platforming traversal, and once you reach that point, you will find still another place to explore,” explains Tominaga. “We designed the game such that platforming and exploration blend organically to produce a flow that keeps the player engaged and inspired.”
Dress Up, Level Up
The player can upgrade the Heart of Infinity, which serves as a talent tree, by earning Whimstars by donning garments with skills. You can find Whimstars all around the open globe.
According to Tominaga, “among other things, upgrading the Heart of Infinity allows you to unlock more Miracle Outfits.” It essentially serves as character advancement. In between the major plot points of the game, the player can search the field for additional Whimstars. We established a strong gameplay cycle by including features that incentivize exploration in addition to the platforming fundamentals. These components give life to the Nikki series’ characters and setting. The player can explore a wide range of diverse landscapes in the expansive open world, and they are free to take pictures in various settings while dressed in their attire.
I always remind the staff that the four most crucial components of Infinity Nikki are worldbuilding, photo mode, exploration, and platforming.
A few Miracle Outfits let the player collect various kinds of supplies for crafting. Nikki can fish by the water in a charming dress, and she can collect insects in flowerbeds with an outfit that allows her to wield a butterfly net. Nikki can collect loose animal hair by brushing creatures she finds in the towns and grasslands of the game while wearing the Bye-Bye Dust attire. Nikki loves to brush the animals, and when she does, they get attached to her. Originally proposed by Tominaga himself, this feature quickly won over the hearts of many beta testers.
Moments of Joy
A few of the activities Tominaga and his team designed to bring those happy moments include dressing up in your favorite outfit in a lush green environment, interacting with kind people, touring stunning locales, and snapping pictures. Even though many of these experiences are available in other open-world games, Infinity Nikki satisfies that urge with the manner it delivers them.
At the moment, Tominaga’s primary objective is to release Infinity Nikki to players and then build upon that universe.
“I want to give Infinity Nikki my whole attention,” he declares. “I am hoping to create an enjoyable game with lots of happy moments.”
Infold Games opened operations in Kyoto in response to Infinity Nikki. Many employees are learning from Tominaga during the production of Infinity Nikki, which will help them in their work on the game and the next projects.
When it comes to the players Tominaga expects to see playing Infinity Nikki, we ask him finally.
He says, “I hope Infinity Nikki becomes a game that everyone can enjoy.” The exploring and platforming mechanics we developed, which are meant to be gradually adapted by players, are something I firmly believe in. You should be able to appreciate the allure of Infinity Nikki by dressing up your avatar and locating photogenic settings. We created it with players of all ages in mind, so I sincerely hope you will visit and enjoy your happy moments.
Releases of Infinity Nikki are planned for iOS, Android, PC, and PlayStation 5. To learn more, visit the official website.
