Code Lyoko : Quest for Infinity (and cake)
By: The Almighty Bobfish Posted on November 8th, 2008 under Code Lyoko, Quest for Infinity, Wii>ORIGINALLY ONLY A moderately successful anime style series produced by the French company Antefilms some five years ago, Code Lyoko nevertheless made enough of an impact to warrant this swishdy little action platformer. Now, I haven’t actually seen the cartoon series myself (keep meaning to if that counts?) so I can’t comment on the relevance on a plot level, but I gather it takes place either between one season and the next, or some time shortly after the final episode. However, as the plot of the game seems to be entirely self-contained that shouldn’t spoil your enjoyment in any way. It certainly had no impact on mine.
I’ve never really been a fan of platform games myself (with the exception of some of the newer action/adventure types such as Tomb Raider which still feature elements of a platform game) but this one kept me entertained for many an hour. It’s very simple to play, with some straightforward use of the Wii’s motion sensing capabilities. Unlike some games which have you performing odd and unnatural contortions simply to show how “innovative” they are, this one keeps it really straightforward. A flick here, a wiggle there, nothing major.
This ease of access is continued in the difficulty of the game as a whole. Clearly, not one that was intended to be a huge, epic battle of wits and patience between you and your console, the whole thing can be run through fairly easily in a day or two. Though there is plenty of incentive to revisit previous locations (all of which are available from the scanner upon “completion” of the game) as you will notice that there are a number of obstacles along the way. Each of which you will ultimately find solutions for at later points as you find digital upgrade packages for your four heroes such as jumping from wall to wall, telekinesis and flight.
Basically, you play a bunch of high school students (five in total, though only four are actively playable as characters) that somehow or other have discovered a virtual world called Lyoko, which they have for whatever reason chosen to designate themselves as protectors to. Foiling the plans for world domination of a sentient computer program called X.A.N.A. All of this is explained in more detail in the cartoons so I apologise for my sketchy knowledge on the subject.
And that’s pretty much the long and the short of it.
During the progression of the game you visit (and often re-visit) a series of digital areas spread across a variety of environments, from forests to a volcano plateau. Initially, you can only reach one of them (a desert) but during the course of the first two or three levels you come across a vehicle which allows you to cross the digital sea and unlock more. This leads to a sort of sub-game where you control a funky little nav-skid type thing which offers a nice change of pace from the running around jumping on moving platforms and blasting the crap out of everything. Though, uhm, you have to shoot aquatic digital creatures or they’ll destroy your skid. But anyway, it adds some variety to the game. And between missions, you can head back to the Kadic school to catch up on the latest gossip with both teachers and other pupils alike.
It’s doubtful that the game will have much appeal to anyone other than fans of the series (and people like me who are suckers for cutesy, but grossly deformed, anime graphics). And that’s a shame, because it’s a much simpler game than the majority of the big titles and lacks the cloying intensity and sense of epic events. It’s a nice, simple, fun to play game, designed purely with entertainment in mind. Though it does also have a well scripted and involved plot as well. But hey, maybe you could at least buy it for your kids and sneak a little playing time for yourself when no-one’s looking. That way you get to play a great game and keep your hardcore gaming cred at the same time.
Graphics: 8/10
Gameplay: 8.5/10
Audio/Music: 8.5/10
Plot/Scripting: 8.5/10
Overall: 8/10
Hey, I like cake alright? I never said there was any in the game
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