Infinity Nikki my new favorite release of 2024. Cotton candy of an open world game that offers more depth and variety than I expected. I enjoy the beautiful wardrobe, low key puzzles and interesting side quests. But the most amazing thing about it Infinity Nikki it was something I’ve been ignoring in games for years: portrait mode.
I didn’t expect this to be the highlight of Infinity Nikki experience. In fact, when a long teaching sequence came up during my first session, my first reaction was, “Oh great, something I can’t forget.”
Portrait mode has become a standard feature in AAA single-player games over the past decade. For those unfamiliar, this feature pauses the game to allow you to mimic someone doing something, make them a silly mug or hold up a peace sign. You can hit a filter or make minute adjustments to your focus, aperture and other details to capture a stunning image.
Over the years, I’ve seen people photograph Nathan Drake, Ellie and Joel, Aloy and many others in impressive heroic or comical situations. I appreciate those images if they cross my public servers. And as game graphics become more realistic, it makes sense that studios want to give players the tools to capture great moments when they happen. But every time I play a game with a photo mode, I find that after taking one picture that is required for the tutorial, I never turn on the camera again.
My issue isn’t that these games aren’t good enough to be written about. When I’m in the middle of playing something like this The Last of UsIt doesn’t occur to me to stop because I’m more focused on other instruments and goals of playing the game. Sure, there may be cool moments to breathe, but escaping your life in a post-apocalyptic wasteland is no time to casually browse filters. And in some games, taking pictures doesn’t feel like a job for a character to do. Come on, there’s no way Kratos is ever going to shoot himself.
Like all his predecessors, Infinity Nikki good game. Miraland has beautiful cities and scenic areas, equally beautiful in their sweeping views and hidden landscapes. Everywhere you look there are carefully crafted little interactions that serve no purpose other than to encourage you to make a beautiful photo. You press a button to ride in a hot air balloon or blow bubbles on a cafe table. It’s a step up from multitasking, where most you can do is sit on a chair or bench.
What hooked me completely into being a shutterbug, however, was a program where players were asked to take pictures of landmarks in Miraland. When I first found it, it was a green place where I ordered Nikki to sit on a log next to an underground pool. It was a beautiful setting, for sure, but what I was most excited about was that my dress matched the setting perfectly. So I didn’t just take a picture and move on to more important work. Taking time to look good is something a very important job.
There is no one-size-fits-all viewpoint Infinity Nikki. A few special ensembles offer in-game abilities, but most pieces are there to get the look you want. Nikki can be a silly anime character from a fantasy world in tulle and glitter. Or he could look exactly like someone you’d see streaming a game on Twitch or TikTok in an oversized hoodie. Or she can pair the top with jean shorts and thigh-high knitting boots if you prefer. (And yes, I wanted to.)
This game knows you are there at least to play dress up. It also knows that the obvious thing to do when playing dress-up is to make your perfect fit and photo shoot. that’s why Infinity NikkiPhoto mode doesn’t just sound fun, it’s important. It is a key part of the game loop. When I put together a new outfit, I want to find a good setting to take a photo. When I come to an interesting place, I think about what conditions will show it best.
Most of the time, the cameras and photo modes do little to improve my love for the game. They are the symbolic cherry on top of the sundae. With Infinity NikkiHowever, the picture mode is ice cream. And it’s fun.
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