Review: Infinity Nikki Is a Fashion Extravaganza

It's been years since the incarnation the Nikki series started with the mobile game Nikki UP2U, and although Infold cultivated a dedicated fanbase with the fashion anime-inspired titles, it never quite reached mainstream appeal. Each installment always entailed very linear gameplay, which is not inherently bad per se! But unless you're a massive fan of dressing up, there was not much else to do. That all changed with Infinity Nikki, as Infold went in a bold new direction and embraced an open-world environment that gives you so much freedom that it ironically turns one of its former weaknesses into its biggest strength.

There is so much to unpack with Infinity Nikki, but the story is a good place to start. For some background, this is technically a sequel to the previous title in the series Shining Nikki. However, if you've never experienced the series up to this point, no prior knowledge is needed to play. It is in an ideal position for newcomers. The story follows the pink-haired protagonist Nikki and her BBQ-fanatic feline companion Momo as they venture into the attic searching for the perfect outfit for an upcoming ball. While rummaging through the loft, they discover a gorgeous red dress hidden in the closet. Suddenly, before they can do anything, a mysterious force pulls them into a different world. They find themselves in an abandoned ruin. After wandering around the grounds, Nikki and Momo encounter a mysterious woman called the curator, who gives Nikki the Infinity Heart, an object that bestows special powers upon outfits. The curator then tasks Nikki with finding the Miracle Outfits in order to save the world.

The entire narrative encapsulates the feeling of an upbeat Studio Ghibli movie. Sure, there are a few cheesy scenes, but they add to the delightful and charming tone the game tries to achieve. I found it impossible not to have a goofy smile plastered across my face. Overall, the story is very enduring and kept my interest throughout. Nikki and Momo's dynamic is also downright adorable. It strangely reminds me a lot of Sakura and Kero from Cardcaptor Sakura. Of course, there are fundamental differences between the two, but the heroine is always the optimist, trying her best to help others, whereas the anamorphic animal companion has a sassy attitude and would have a good stab at trying to win an eating competition.

Infinity Nikki harbors a fantastic open world, and this is probably thanks to the Director Kentaro Tominaga, who previously worked on The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. It seamlessly blends fashion and RPG elements, almost like they are destined to go together like cereal and milk. In fact, the fashion elements can be seen in nearly every aspect of the gameplay, which is rather impressive. The most notable way this can be witnessed is by the outfits tied unique abilities unlocked via the Infinity Heart. Some of these powers will help you navigate the open-world environment, like floating in the air or purifying enemies (which is where you let out a blast to attack an enemy). This means every time you use a power, your outfit will momentarily change, which creates strong and distinctive imagery.

Other garments crafted by the Infinity Heart will allow you to participate in activities like fishing, catching bugs, and grooming animals. The resources you collect from these actions allow you to create new outfits and items, which will help you progress through the story. Think of it like Animal Crossing or Stardew Valley. As you can imagine, this inevitably leads to many detours, but there is a nice flow between the storyline and gameplay that adds a novel brevity to these tasks. Honestly, collecting the materials for the outfits was probably my favourite part of the experience, as there was a cathartic repetition to it all.

Whether you're traversing the land or gathering resources, the core gameplay loop is downright fun. I can firsthand attest that it is easy to quickly lose track of time. One thing that is worth mentioning is some of the combat and platforming are super straightforward and, dare I say, easy. But on this occasion, this is not (entirely) a bad word. Infinity Nikki is clearly trying to attract a more casual audience, maybe individuals who are not traditionally into gaming, and this ties into the free-to-play model. Anyone can give it a go without any commitment or major barriers. Naturally, Infold is hoping to entice you with the paid gacha content later down the line. But if you put that to one side, Infinity Nikki nails this delicate line, and I would even go as far as to say that it would be an excellent first video game for someone.

The story in Infinity Nikki is divided into eight chapters so far, each featuring an array of quests to complete. You begin your fashionista journey in the charming town of Florawish, a picturesque and rustic settlement surrounded by lush greenery. After exploring the town, you can spread your wings and traverse the land. The real fun of exploring begins here, as the world is surprisingly vast. Just like the beautiful outfits, the landscapes are truly stunning. Some areas will be temporarily locked until you progress further in the story, but there is still a wealth of treasures for you to uncover and a strong incentive to explore, as you never know what you might discover. There is so much to do, like helping the locals, riding hot air balloons, and competing in fashion competitions, which are almost like mini dance-offs. You can easily get distracted from the main story and find yourself meandering through the world for several hours.

The fashion also helps you feel interconnected with the protagonist, as you can choose what clothes Nikki wears and customize her appearance. This can range from the basics like t-shirts, dresses and shoes. But you can also edit minor details, like your desired hairstyle, bag or hand accessories, and skin color. It really does provide the ultimate window shopping experience, allowing you to browse the countless clothes you have collected and envision the ultimate outfit—all without running between different department stores. However, while many clothes are available to craft with the right resources, some are locked behind a gacha paywall. This means you can only obtain them through draws.

Now, it's important to point out that you can complete the game without engaging with the gacha. The primary advantage you will have by participating in the draws (besides having a more extravagant outfit) is you will gain clothes with higher stats much more quickly, which is helpful when facing challengers. If you're determined to get your dream outfit from behind one of the fashion-themed banners, then the harsh reality is you're going to have to part with some of your hard-earned cash or really grind events to earn the Diamond currency and save up. The good news is Infinity Nikki is far more generous with its probability odds than other gacha games. If you pull a duplicate item, you will receive some currency back, which you can reuse for future draws.

Usually, I wouldn't bring up a photo mode in a review. But oh my, I spent so much time taking photos on my adventure that I'm considering adding photography to my CV. Infold knows one of the Infinity Nikki strengths is the strong aesthetics, and the photo mode encourages you to spend even more time collecting clothes and traveling the world to find the perfect outfit and backdrop. The graphics beautifully bring this out as well, as everything is so visually appealing. Only on a handful of occasions did I suffer any latency issues on the PS5, but this was primarily during the first few days of its release. The music was another aspect I liked, as it's so elegantly crafted and reflects the story's highs and lows exceptionally well. But hands down, the best song by far is the English theme song, "Together Till Infinity," performed by the renowned artist Jessie J. The powerful vocals create such an uplifting mood that I hummed along every time I started the game. 

Infinity Nikki is part of a long legacy of games where fashion is a central part of the experience, and because of this, it may initially come across as it would only appeal to the "girly-pops". But beneath this facade lies an innovative, open-world experience that anyone who enjoys a lighthearted adventure can get behind. It gives you so much freedom that you will spend a lot of your time seeing what the world has to offer. Infinity Nikki completely blew away my expectations out of the water, and it's worth checking out, especially when you consider the game is free-to-play.

Infinity Nikki is now available for the PS5, PC, and mobile devices.

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