Disney Infinity PS3 review – Expansion figures highly in the House Of Mouse’s latest

Like so many of my generation, I spent many a happy, slack-jawed childhood hour in front of Uncle Walt’s finest VHS tapes. These days, however, kids can get their Disney fix in interactive digital form thanks to Infinity. The wonders of modern technology, and so forth. In the mould of Activision’s megaton Skylanders franchise, this is a cheerful, child-friendly action-adventure, with plastic figurines you slot into a base to unlock various elements. It’s a nicely detailed trip into some well-loved franchises, albeit rather biased towards more recent characters and with a steep price tag.

Disney Infinity PS3 review

The game’s starter kit comes with the USB-powered base unit, as well as three figurines: Sulley, Jack Sparrow and Mr Incredible, and each of the trio boasts its own full storyline. There’s stealthy clambering, pranking and scaring your way around a rival university’s campus as a monster; you take to the high seas in your own galleon with the pirates; and there are Omnidroids aplenty to be smashed as you face off against Syndrome. Each character has a pleasingly distinct feel to their movement, from Johnny Depp’s slightly mincing gait as Sparrow to Sulley’s heavy lumbering. Sadly, though, you can’t slot a character into a different universe for cross-franchise funtimes.

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Once you’ve exhausted the three initial worlds, you can purchase extra playsets to expand your game, with the likes of The Lone Ranger dropping you into a Wild West town with your trusty six-shooter. And then there’s Toybox mode. Essentially an LBP-esque sandbox, you’re given a decent-sized plot of terrain in which to run riot. This is the one place you can mix things up, as you arrange collectibles picked up throughout your questing. Want to see Barbossa zipping about in Mr Incredible’s sportscar? Here’s your chance. What’s more, a pal can hop in, too, using any figure they like.

The missions are split up into bite-sized chunks, and you’re frequently showered with confetti for achieving even the most minor of objectives. It’s clearly – and successfully – designed to foster a sense of constant progression for kids. It does start to get a little repetitive, however, and anyone who’s reached their teens is likely to yearn for something a little more meaty to sink their teeth into.

 There’s no getting away from that pricing.
£55 for the starter kit, each additional playset
is around £30, & extra figures cost £12

And there’s no getting away from that pricing. While it arguably contains a wealth of content, you’re looking at somewhere around £55 for the starter kit. On top of that, each additional playset is around £30, and even individual extra figures cost £12. Once pester power enters the equation (and you can be sure it will) you’re looking at quite the hefty outlay. Still, Skylanders has proved immensely popular at a similar price point, so there’s clearly a receptive market out there. Don’t bet against this becoming the latest playground must-have come Christmas. It’s a clever use of Disney licences that kids will absolutely adore, even if grown-ups will be less enamoured by the mission – and merchandise – structure.

Our Score