A Big Disappointment...
How very wrong I was.
Now from the offset- let me say that this is by no means a bad game. The point I'd like to make is that this game is no-where near as could as it could and should have been. It annoys me greatly that despite the 360's magnificance no-one has yet been able to create a game that involves and en-trances me like certain RPGs did on the PS2. And this what a good RPG should do, it's what Infinite Undiscovery doesn't do.
I think back to playing FFX for the first time all those years ago, and within 2 hours of playing it, maybe less, I was totally captivated, continually until the end, some 60 hours of play later.
Compare this to Infinite Undiscovery, a game that looked as though it would deliver all the above (and any Square-Enix title on a new platform must IMO) but just didn't. After two hours of playing I find the game annoying. I don't feel attached to any of the characters, partly due to the horrific voice acting and script. The levelling up, managing and equiping side of the game is not that intersting nor involving with the exception of the cooking and blacksmith elements. Also the environments, while they're not exactly an eye-sore, are not exactly rich, detailed and lushous, something that Square Enix have always done well.
The actual battles, for me, just do not work. If I want a button bashing extravanganza, I will by Ninja Gaiden, an old LOTR game, or suchlike. Or a 'Whack-a-Ghost'. Its fun in I.U for about 30 mins, but when you've heard the wimpy male protagonist yell 'SPINNING WALTZ' for the 10,000 time (yes, after 30 mins)it just isn't. I can see what the game's trying to do in making the button bashing a bit more technical with the 'Connect Skill' (allows you to link your wimpy male lead with another party member to use one of their skills manually, as opposed to auto AI) but you never really have to use this except for odd key moments.
And that's just it you see, even with addition of new characters, and they do come thick and fast, you will find yourself able to plow through huge portions of the game without having to make any changes what so ever, not to items, weapons, party members or skills. And this feels like blasphemy for Square-Enix. Half the fun of previous titles has been the strategy, the thought that must go in to each and every one of your characters. Hell, I even liked to make sure my characters looked good with certain weapons and armour, i liked the detail that much. I.U has no depth or substance, therefore I don't even try that kind of ****
I could go-on being picky. For the sake of an Xbox 'RPG' I guess this game isn't that bad. When I think that it's from the same people who brought us Vagrant Story, FF7,8,9,10,12 etc to name but a few that's when i can't help but feel disappointed.
Buy Lost Odyssey instead, this is better but still no FF and sould keep you satisfied until FFXIII is released. I can only hope to god this does not disappoint in the same way.