Disney Infinity 3.0

Disney Infinity 3.0
Developer(s)	Avalanche Software Additional work by: Ninja Theory Studio Gobo Sumo Digital United Front Games
Publisher(s)	Disney Interactive Studios LucasArts
Series	Disney Infinity
Platform(s)	Microsoft Windows PlayStation 3 PlayStation 4 Xbox 360 Xbox One Wii U iOS Android Apple TV
Release date(s)	August 28, 2015 PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, Xbox One, Wii U EU August 28, 2015 NA August 30, 2015[1] Android, iOS INT September 29, 2015 Microsoft Windows INT October 29, 2015
Genre(s)	Action-adventure, sandbox, toys-to-life
Mode(s)	Single-player, multiplayer

Disney Infinity 3.0 is a 2015 action-adventure sandbox video game published by Disney Interactive Studios and LucasArts for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Wii U, Xbox 360, Xbox One and Apple TV, and is the third installment in the toys-to-life Disney Infinity series. It was developed by Avalanche Software, with additional help from Ninja Theory, Studio Gobo, Sumo Digital, and United Front Games. In contrast to how Disney Infinity 2.0 focused on Marvel characters and playsets, 3.0 has a focus on the Star Wars franchise. The game was announced on May 5, 2015, and was released on August 28, 2015 in Europe and on August 30, 2015 in North America.

Gameplay

A group of attendees at the EB Games Expo 2015 play Disney Infinity 3.0 with featured Star Wars figurines.

Disney Infinity 3.0 features similar gameplay mechanics to Disney Infinity and Disney Infinity: Marvel Super Heroes. Although sharing many key elements, the game's combat system has been redesigned to become more in-depth and complex.^[2] The game's combat system is influenced by the Star Wars: The Force Unleashed and its sequel, Kingdom Hearts, Devil May Cry and most of the Spider-Man's aerial combat-themed video game series (from Sam Raimi's Spider-Man 2 until Spider-Man: Edge of Time (except Ultimate Spider-Man)).^[2] Lightsabers have been integrated into combat, due to the inclusion of Star Wars characters. Characters who use lightsabers in combat can utilize additional weapons. For instance, playable character Luke Skywalker has the ability to use a blaster and a lightsaber, which used together can juggle enemies in the air.^[2] Full combos have been integrated, which allows the player to pause mid-combo and branch off into another variation of the combo.^[2] Playable characters with the ability to use the Force, in Star Wars mythology, have the ability to push and pull enemies during combat.^[2] Special attacks, which were introduced in Disney Infinity: Marvel Super Heroes, have returned. Only a close-ranged type weapons (like the Lightsabers and other close-ranged type weapons), including the characters who has their own primary close-ranged weapons (like Mulan, whose primary weapon is a staff like the Jedi and Sith's own primary Lightsaber), and a characters who can fly are able to perform an aerial combos^[3] Instead of waiting for a bar to fill up for the a special attack to be performed, a new feature allows the attack to be released early, but the effects of the attack are not as strong.^[2] Auto-lock when firing ranged weapons at targets has been enhanced, so players no longer have to move closer to enemies in order to auto-lock on their positions.^[2]

Plot

Twilight of the Republic

The Twilight of the Republic Playset storyline is based on the era of the Star Wars prequel trilogy. Set during the events of Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Anakin Skywalker, Yoda and Ahsoka Tano discover a reactivated Droid factory on the planet Geonosis.^[2] The four Jedi then decide to find out who is the mastermind behind the newly minted droid army.^[4] As the story progresses, the pair cross paths with General Grievous, Jabba the Hutt, Cad Bane, Mace Windu, Sebulba, Padme Amidala and the main antagonist Darth Maul, and travel to planets Coruscant, Naboo and Tatooine.^[2]

Rise Against the Empire

The Rise Against the Empire Playset storyline is based on the events of the classic Star Wars trilogy, with some differences. The Playset revolves around Luke Skywalker, his sister Leia, Han Solo and Chewbacca finding themselves locked in battle with Darth Vader.^[4]

The Force Awakens

A playset based on Star Wars: The Force Awakens was released in December 2015; it was announced at the D23 Expo that the playset would feature Finn and Rey from the film. Kylo Ren and Poe Dameron were later confirmed as playable characters.^[5][6]

Inside Out

In the Inside Out playset, Riley falls asleep watching a horror movie and chaos ensues in her subconscious. This scatters some of Riley's memories all over Imagination Land and the five emotions must find and return them to headquarters before Riley awakens.

Marvel Battlegrounds

A play set featuring Marvel characters fighting each other on a series of levels. The story sees Loki working together with Ultron to manipulate all of the universe's heroes into fighting each other while they steal one of the six Infinity Stones from the Asgardian vault. All Marvel characters from Disney Infinity 2.0 will be playable in this playset, along with Hulkbuster and Ultron. This is also the first play set to use four-player local gameplay.

Toy Box Takeover

When Syndrome gets his hands on Merlin's Wand, he teams up with all the other villains, and it's up to the player to assemble every Disney, Marvel and Star Wars character to stop him before he destroys the toy box.

Characters

The following is a list of character figurines that have been released and announced for Disney Infinity 3.0. The starter pack, which includes the game and Infinity Base, contains figures for Ahsoka Tano and Anakin Skywalker, and one playset based on Star Wars. Additional figures and playsets are sold in special packs, whilst certain figures are sold separately.^[7] In addition to these new characters, who were introduced for this game, all previous character figures and Power Discs from previous game series will be compatible with this current game, similar to Disney Infinity 2.0.^[8]

Non-playable characters that are included within the game include: General Grievous, Jabba the Hutt, Padme Amidala, C-3PO, R2-D2, Admiral Ackbar, Cad Bane, Mace Windu, Lando Calrissian, Aayla Secura, Plo Koon, Jar Jar Binks, BB-8 and Merlin.

^b : Timed exclusive at Walmart.
^c : Timed exclusive at Target.
^d : Timed exclusive at GameStop.
^e : Timed exclusive at Amazon.com.
^f : Originally exclusive to PlayStation Vita for Disney Infinity 2.0.
^g : Timed exclusive at Best Buy.

Development

Since Disney Infinity, there have been hints of Star Wars joining the line of games. The "ultimate unlocks" in the first two Infinity games were a lightsaber and a landspeeder, respectively. Prior to the release of Disney Infinity 2.0 in 2014, series producer John Vignocchi hinted that a future installment could have characters from Lucasfilm.^[9] The title's existence was first revealed following a leak from Chinese retailer Taobao showing potential character and figure designs for the third installment.^[10] German retailer Saturn would later leak images of the game's Starter Pack featuring the characters of Anakin Skywalker and Ahsoka Tano from Star Wars: The Clone Wars.^[11] The game was officially revealed by Game Informer on May 5, 2015.^[12][13]

Studio Gobo and Ninja Theory were among development groups that worked on the game's Playsets.^[4] In order to create a more complex combat system, compared to the first two installments, Disney decided to also have Ninja Theory revamp the game's combat, after LucasArts had expressed interest in working with the company.^[2]

Release

Disney Infinity 3.0 was released on August 30, 2015 in North America. The Starter Pack, which includes the game disc, Anakin Skywalker and Ahsoka Tano character figurines, one playset piece (Twilight of the Republic), one web card and the Disney Infinity Base, was released on the game's launch. The game also received a digital download release.^[4] Exclusively in Europe, Disney Infinity 3.0 had a game disc only release without the figurines, web cards and Disney Infinity Base, that are included in the Starter Pack.^[4]

A "Saga Bundle Starter Pack" was available at launch for the PS3 and PS4. It contains the basic starter pack, Rise Against the Empire playset, and Boba Fett figure. Boba Fett is a timed exclusive to this pack, and will be available on his own in the first quarter of 2016.

Power Disc Packs, which unlock additional content in the game, are no longer sold in blind packs, contrary to the use of blind packs in the previous two Disney Infinity games.^[4] Instead, power discs will be released in identifiable packaging.^[4]

A special Power Disc, based on Mickey Mouse's Kingdom Hearts role, was given out at Disney's 2015 D23 Expo. Controversially, it is an expo exclusive and will not be sold in stores. Despite this, it does not affect a player's chance to get 100% completion. ^[14]

Reception

Disney Infinity 3.0 received very positive reviews from video game critics who praised the refinements to the toy box, playsets, combat and reduced bugs.

Awards

References

External links

• Official website