The grandfather of shonen manga, Akira Toriyama, is known for his iconic art style. In addition to Dragon Ball, Dragon Quest helped shape manga and anime fans. With Square Enix’s Infinity Strash: DRAGON QUEST The Adventure of Dai, new audiences and veteran fans can relive the story of the anime in action RPG form. By integrating scenes from the anime in both still images and some animated elements, this game has the potential to be a gateway into a series that has much to offer and represents a pivotal point for anime and manga.
Given that it’s an action RPG, Infinity Strash: DRAGON QUEST The Adventure of Dai offers a campaign mode; however, that is just one of two distinct modes, each of which has substantially unique gameplay features. In addition to the Story Mode, a traditionally progressing campaign, the Temple of Recollection allows players to delve into an evolving dungeon that changes with each play-through. I got the chance to play a bit of both of the game modes, and there is a lot to love.
While the main campaign offers a level of immersion for anime fans, my favorite element of the games was moving through multiple levels of the Temple of Recollection. There, I was able to beat the monsters in the temple, earning rewards that, if this wasn’t a demo, I could take with me into the main game. This connection helps drive the need to play both game modes and, ultimately, with each level getting harder as you progress and the Temple allowing you to choose which reward you fight for via doors that appear to help keep you fighting until you die. The Temple of Recollection is easily a mode you’ll be able to sink hours into, especially since each playthrough is never the same.
Additionally, I got to explore Bond Memories, which are accessories players can collect and equip. Each offers different abilities and stats of the character they are equipped to. The added element is that the time a Bond Memory is unlocked, scenes from the original manga clue the player into elements of the story. This element, coupled with the inclusion of the main campaign retelling the anime, can pull players into the Toriyama franchise even if they weren’t fans before. It’s one of the biggest strengths I can see and ultimately allows a new generation to stumble into the world of Dragon Quest without any prior expectations.
At this hands-on, we got the chance to play as Dai, Popp, and Maam, who each have a number of unique Attacks, Skills, and Coups de Grâce abilities players to learn how to use in combination as much as independently from each other. Dai, Popp, and Maam all complement each other in terms of a balanced team while offering enough variance for you, as a player, to have one you enjoy the most.
Dai is a close-combat character with knives and swords. His unique skill, “Draconic Aura,” buffs his stats, making it a great element to implement before using his Special Skill & Coups de Grâce, “Wave Slash” and Coups de Grâce “Avan Strash,” and thus deals more damage. As for Popp, he’s your magic user. With ranged magic attacks (which were my favorite), you can use movement to your advantage, especially when Dai’s close combat style is untenable with a boss. Popp’s unique skill is also a blessing for tight spots as “Meditation” shortens the recovery time between his skills. Popp’s Special Skill & Coups de Grâce are all about dealing direct damage with his ice-based special “Crackle” and his Fire Coups de Grâce “Kafrizz.”
Finally, no group is complete without a healer, and that’s Maam. Switching between her hammer spear and Magic Bullet Gun, you have the option to deal damage or support, respectively. By changing weapons, you change what you’re role is in your party, and this ultimately also impacts the way the Maam plays versus the way the others in the party do. While other characters can use their powers once the cool-down has passed, Maam needs to reload her gun, adding complexity to how she plays for characters looking for that element. Additionally, her Special Skill & Coups de Grâce are “Midheal” and Magic Bullet: Crackle,” respectively, with the first healing and the second dealing damage.
Overall, Infinity Strash: DRAGON QUEST The Adventure of Dai offers a combat diversity within one team that allows it to feel comprehensive without forcing characters into battle styles they’re not necessarily familiar with or care for. By pushing the player to switch between each character, you have a dynamic understanding of battles. Still, at the same time, it’s easy to see developing favorites. Add in the Temple of Recollection, and I can see people easily finding their niche in the team comp.
A fun time all around, Infinity Strash: DRAGON QUEST The Adventure of Dai’s strongest offering for newcomers and veteran Dragon Quest fans alike is its connection to the original story. Even just with my limited time with the game, it’s clear that the game is going to be able to offer nostalgia to existing fans of the franchise and also be an entry for those looking to get started. As a property, Dragon Quest has a long history, and with Infinity Strash: DRAGON QUEST The Adventure of Dai, Square Enix is going to be able to open it up to new audiences.
Infinity Strash: DRAGON QUEST The Adventure of Dai is now available for digital pre-orders and pre-purchase on PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.
