Bright Memory: Infinite [Xbox Series X] | REVIEW

In the build up to the launch of the Xbox Series X, Bright Memory: Infinite was shown off as one of the console’s more visually impressive titles – something that was made all the more notable given that it was being developed by just one person. It also brought with it plenty of action-packed gunplay to go along with those fancy visuals, so it certainly seemed like it wouldn’t just be a case of ‘all style, no substance’ like a lot of similar titles have been.

Well, it has finally released, so how does it hold up on the console? It’s very pretty and the gameplay is a ton of fun, but a poor narrative, lack of environment variety, and short playtime do see Bright Memory: Infinite falter when compared to its big budget first-person shooting contemporaries.

Check out some screenshots down below:

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Bright Memory: Infinite takes place on New Year’s Eve, with protagonist Shelia sent to investigate some strange phenomenon that has hit the sky and caused storms. Well, it turns out that this mysterious presence causes more than just bad weather, but actually unleashes an array of nasties across the land that you’ve got to deal with. What are those nasties, you ask? Well, I’ll leave you discover those yourself in-game, because Bright Memory: Infinite took a MUCH different turn than I was expecting…

I’m going to be honest from the get-go: the story is lame. Whilst the concept itself is cool, the way it’s delivered just felt severely lacking – whether that’s with the stilted script, the lack of real character development, or just the fact that a lot of stuff didn’t make any sense. If you’re looking for a deep narrative that’ll hook you in, you certainly won’t be getting that here.

Thankfully, when it comes to action, Bright Memory: Infinite certainly delivers. The gunplay is quick-paced and slick, with the range of weaponry all enjoyable to use and packing some punch as you unleash bullets from afar. The melee weaponry is neat too, with the sword proving a satisfying means to slice up enemies and dish out some hurt when things get close and personal. There’s also room for upgrades and new abilities whilst playing, with players able to have their sword unleash shockwaves with each slice, launch out like some sort of wild homing-blade, or pull in enemies from afar with a tractor beam, just to name a few. The skills are as cool as they sound, and they certainly bring a stylish sense of flair to showdowns with enemies.

“The level of visual pizzazz found across the board is breath-taking – the world is full of detail, the lighting is outrageously impressive, whilst the startling weather effects just add to the atmosphere.”

Your manoeuvrability is just as expansive, with Shelia able to double-jump, wall run, or swing around with a grappling hook. It makes for some clever platforming in-between gunfights, with plenty of flexibility offered to players when it comes to figuring out how to approach set pieces and use the environment to their advantage. Add some ridiculous enemies that are fun to take down to the mix and it’ll quickly become clear that Bright Memory: Infinite really does get a lot right.

Unfortunately, there are some aspects of the gameplay where it can falter. The stealth sections are dull and frustrating for example, with each one taking away from the things that the game does best: allowing you to go on a killing spree and unleash hell upon enemies. Instead, it slows things down severely and punishes players for little mistakes. Then there’s the driving section, which offers a nice bit of variety that changes up the gameplay experience, but just felt a little boring to play through. It feels like Bright Memory: Infinite tries to spice things up across its adventure but doesn’t quite manage to find consistent quality across each different aspect of its design.

Check out some screenshots down below:

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It comes to an abrupt and swift end too, with the game easily beaten in around two hours. There’s not a whole lot to get players to return for additional playthroughs either, whilst the sharp pacing also made it difficult to fully indulge in the game’s upgrade system. Things come thick and fast so it can be hard to fully appreciate everything it has to offer.

Whilst flawed, there’s no denying that Bright Memory: Infinite is one heck of a beautiful game, even if it is guilty of featuring some samey environments that don’t change up too much across its runtime. The level of visual pizzazz found across the board is breath-taking – the world is full of detail, the lighting is outrageously impressive, whilst the startling weather effects just add to the atmosphere. How this came from just one person blows me away, because honestly, Bright Memory: Infinite betters the efforts seen from a ton of AAA studios with its visual design. It’s just beautiful.

Developer: FYQD-Studio
Publisher: Playism
Platform(s): Xbox Series X (Reviewed), Xbox Series S, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, PC
Website: https://playism.com/en/game/bright-memory-infinite/