Code Lyoko: Quest for Infinity
Score: 78% ESRB: Everyone 10+ Publisher: The Game Factory Developer: Neko Entertainment Media: DVD/1 Players: 1 Genre: Action/ Adventure
Graphics & Sound: Code Lyoko: Quest for Infinity's graphics are blocky and feel pretty low rez, actually it feels like it isn't much better than something you would see on the GameCube. While the various characters are distinct, the camera is pulled quite a ways back so you can't make out any real detail. Between missions, you appear in a hub world that is a panoramic scene with several people to talk to and doors to go into. Most of the time, the talks can be skipped and aren't necessary for furthering the story, but interacting with other characters could be fun for fans of the show. Code Lyoko's audio is present, but not really noticeable. Background music stays out of the way and is not anything you will find yourself humming once the game goes away. Character voices seem to be done by the same actors from the show and you will hear them not only during the levels, but also in the hub world while talking to other characters.
Gameplay: Code Lyoko: Quest for Infinity takes place after X.A.N.A. has destroyed Lyoko and William has switched sides and is now working with the virus group. He has been missing for a few days at this point, and his friends are starting to have problems cover for him. The game opens to Jeremy putting the finishing touches on the rebuilt Lyoko and Odd, Yumi, Ulrich and Aelita will go back into the virtual world in order to find and take back William. Each of the characters has their own benefits, which is really good because this game could have been have a lot worse if each one just felt like a visual variation of the others. Ulrich has a sword and you can use him to flip switches. Eventually, you will be able to split your character up into three clones that will be controlled by A.I. to help you fight or go though obstacles. Yumi uses fans as projectiles that can lock onto multiple enemies. When you find the necessary upgrades, Yumi will have access to telekinesis and be able to pass through some enemies untouched. Odd, the more animalistic of the group, can climb on certain walls and shoot laser arrows. His upgrade ability well let him slow down time, and he will also be able to jump higher than the other characters. Aelita can freeze enemies in place, as well as take flight for limited amounts of time and later she will be able to make bridges appear out of nowhere.
Difficulty: Code Lyoko: Quest for Infinity isn't really all that difficult. X.A.N.A. will throw a somewhat varied group of enemies at you, but for the most part, there isn't all that much thought involved when actually tackling the enemies. Obstacles and puzzles in the game are fairly straightforward and shouldn't cause a even bit of a challenge to the younger gamers. Most of the time, these obstacles involve an area filled with enemies or some switch that might be a little harder to get to, but like I said, nothing really troubling. A couple of the game's boss battles might cause some trouble, but it shouldn't take more than two attempts to get past, maybe more for the younger, target audience.
Game Mechanics: Code Lyoko: Quest for Infinity uses a control/camera scheme similar to Chicken Little: Ace in Action except you don't actually have control of the camera. It is on a fixed track through the levels. Basically, you use the Wii-mote to aim your projectile weapons. The analog stick on the Nunchuck is used to move the characters and (B) will fire your weapon. If you're playing Ulrich, you can swing your sword by swinging your Remote. As for how the controls felt, while each character's abilities are different, the controls' similarities make it easy to jump between the characters (an action you do with the D-pad). Like most games that don't give you control over the camera, there were a few instances where the angle wasn't optimal, but since the enemies are spawned in very specific locations, and they don't always move a whole lot, this is a minor problem, but I would have still preferred to have control of the camera. While Code Lyoko doesn't do anything that's truly innovative and doesn't necessarily have the most dazzling presentation, it is still a good bit of fun for people who are already familiar with the show and the characters in it. As for other players, it is definitely not for you.
-J.R. Nip, GameVortex Communications AKA Chris Meyer
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