14 DAY TRIAL // 
Bright Memory: Infinite is like a summer block buster movie: it is shiny, fast paced, with a questionable story and lots of action. But this is not far from the recipes for many shooters from the 90’s. But can the Unreal eye candy carry an entire game? Read on to find out.
From the very beginning you can feel a strange duality in the game: some parts come across as high production value being in sharp contrast with elements that does not seem to fit the same narrative. You feel this from the menu of the game, where you can choose some skins for your hero and your weapons before you would even delve in the game. It reminds a bit of the Shadow Warrior series, with the difference that here any comic element is an accident rather than an intentional twist.
This can be attributed to the fact that this game started with a sole Chinese developer. The result is both impressive and disappointing. Bright Memory Infinite can look very good, it can be highly satisfying, but overall, it comes across as a very simple experience. Too linear and way too simplified to be able to become a memorable experience.
Beyond the strange faces of the characters and some of the extra skins, that would rather fit a fashion show walkway, than a battlefield, the problems start with the story of the game. Bright Memory Infinite promises a trip down the occult lane, that end up being an anemic background frame for all the actions. The occult part resumes to some weather anomalies that are tied to some ancient warriors and a mysterious black hole. There is no chance to make real sense of it all.
In the middle of it all you will find Shelia Tan, a lady who despite her looks proves to be a one-woman army. Although she has a limited arsenal, she compensates the lack of an armory with special moves and abilities. She will need all of these to face the challenge of opponents, that although not very bright, require different approaches. Some are better eliminated from afar, while others need a more personal and closer touch.
One of the most impressive weapons in her inventory is her sword, that can be used not only to hack enemies, but also to parry certain attacks and even to deflect bullets. By improving the default moves and unlocking new skills the game turns into a lethal yet fascinating ballet show, where your ability to combine the different offensive and defensive actions is rewarded with lots and lots of visually explicit gore.
But the fun of running on walls and raining down explosive bullets on everything that moves is not all. You will also encounter some portions of the game that require a more careful approach. Stripped of your equipment and relying only a knife picked up from the rice fields you will dabble in some stealth sections. The only problem is that they feel scripted in a bad way, and although they fit the narrative, the change of pace they implement feels rather artificial.
It is like the developer wanted to make a buffet that caters for the tastes of different action fans without having the time or the resources. As a result, the 2-3 hour long game feels rushed and does not offer anything beyond the combat system. The levels feel small and your way through most of them is completely linear. The evolution system of the main hero is very thin, and her new abilities although spectacular are not indispensable to make your way to the end. There is no real interaction with the environment, that seems to have been built from the same objects. Moreover, the limited objects always seem to have been placed following just one pattern.
Although at first look the game appears to be spectacular, at a closer look the issues are unmistakable. The facial design and animation are terrible and the only thing worst is the lip-sync. The developer must have been aware of this because the camera more often focuses on the body of our hero, rather than her face. And Shelia’s body follows the aspiration of any teenager boy who discovered the always slow-mo running lifeguards from Baywatch. The voice acting is equally terrible which is strange taking into account the soundtrack that fits like a glove.
The Good
- Some environments look convincing
- The combat system can be quite satisfying
- Varied opponents and tactics
The Bad
- The story cannot even be called basic
- Too short and empty of content
- The entire gameplay feels scripted
Conclusion
Unfortunately, the moments that disappoint are amplified by the hype that was created around the game. Although it has potential, Bright Memory: Infinite does not live up to the expectations of those were waiting for this game. It is way too simple, empty and short, with only a few moments of fun.
Review code provided by the publisher.
