tri-Ace is known for putting out quality games. The makers of the Valkyrie Profile and Star Ocean series, it would be hard to imagine the company could put out a sub-par RPG, especially when it is once again backed by Square-Enix. Infinite Undiscovery throws that theory out the window.

While the name may offer images of grandiose, unexplainable events on par with some of the most imaginative stories told, the final product is anything but. A mixture of bland and blander, the game should be given credit for attempting to break the J-RPG mold, but at the same time reprimanded for falling so deeply into its own desire to be different that its attempted innovations pale in comparison to the game’s issues.

The story revolves around a flute player named Capell, who happens to look exactly like the hero and leader of a band of rebels, Sigmund. Sigmund’s rebels are traveling the world breaking the chains which tie the moon to the earth (so someone can steal the lunar power?) which upsets those in control. So naturally when the authorities find him, Capell is thrown in jail to serve penance for Sigmund’s crimes only to eventually be busted out by the good ol’ generic female lead, Aya.

What follows is a melting pot of JRPG clichés and issues thrown together in a way you’d expect to see in the latest RPG Maker hit, not a multi-million dollar project. The cast of characters is impressive (18), but the amount makes each of them non-noteworthy as there are so many other people to focus on and no one is really given time to shine. Sure, a couple stand out (Capell due to his incessant whining, for example) but overall the cast of characters is just too big for an RPG which lasts some 30-odd hours.

When characters are getting time in the game, it’s a mixed reaction. For every shining moment, an utterly inane one follows. Cheesy dialog, a shift in mid scene from spoken and read speech, and some poorly delivered voice acting? Those elements belong in budget title RPGs, not games of this pedigree. All of this detracts from the experience of the title, but most gamers won’t even make it far enough to be introduced to more than a couple characters due to the absolutely horrid opening hours.