Infinite Nikki is my favorite new release of 2024. It’s a cotton candy confection of an open-world game that offers much more depth and variety than I expected. I enjoy the fabulous wardrobe, low-key puzzles, and charming side quests. But the most surprising Infinite Nikki There was something I hadn’t known about in games for years: photo mode.
I didn’t expect this to become a highlight of the Infinite Nikki experience. In fact, when this came up in the long tutorial sequence during my first session, my first reaction was, “Oh good, something I can forget.” »
Photo mode has become a standard feature in single-player AAA games over the past decade. For those unfamiliar, this feature pauses the game to allow you to pose your protagonist like an action figure, having them mug with a silly expression or hold up a peace sign. You can apply a filter or make fine adjustments to focus, aperture and other details to capture a striking image.
Over the years, I’ve seen people capture Nathan Drake, Ellie and Joel, Aloy and many others in heroic or hilarious poses. I enjoy these images as they come across my social feeds. And as game graphics become more and more photorealistic, it makes sense that studios would want to give players tools to capture the beautiful moments as they happen. But every time I’ve played a game with a photo mode, I’ve found that after taking the photo the tutorial requires, I never open the camera again.
My problem isn’t that these games aren’t gorgeous enough to warrant documentation. It’s when I’m playing something like The last of usit doesn’t occur to me to stop for a moment because I’m so focused on the other game mechanics and objectives. Sure, there may be quieter moments to breathe, but running for your life in a post-apocalyptic wasteland just isn’t the time to casually flip through filters. And in other games, taking photos just doesn’t seem like an activity the character would do. Come on, Kratos will never take a selfie.
Like all his predecessors, Infinite Nikki is a beautiful game. Miraland features quaint towns and charming landscapes, equally charming in their panoramic views and hidden corners. Everywhere you look you’ll find tons of carefully constructed little interactions that serve no purpose other than to encourage you to put on a pretty picture. You press a button to take a hot air balloon ride or blow bubbles at a cafe table. This is a step up from most implementations, where all you can do is sit on a chair or bench.
What really sold me on becoming a photographer was a system where players are invited to take photos of notable locations around Miraland. The first time I found one, it was a leafy cave where I asked Nikki to sit on a log by an underground lake. It was a pretty place, sure, but what pleased me the most was that my outfit matched the decor perfectly. So I didn’t just take a photo and move on to a more important task. Take the time to be beautiful East the most important task.
There is no single point of view on style Infinite Nikki. A few special sets offer contextual abilities in the game, but most of the pieces are there just so you can look exactly how you want. Nikki is an absurd anime character from a fantasy land in tulle and sequins. Or she might look exactly like someone you might see streaming the game on Twitch or TikTok in an oversized hoodie. Or she can pair a top hat with denim shorts and knit over-the-knee boots if you like. (And yes, I wanted that.)
This game knows you’re there at least partly to disguise yourself. He also knows that the obvious thing to do when playing dress-up is to immortalize your best outfits with a photo shoot. This is why Infinite NikkiPhoto mode is not only nice, but essential. This is an essential part of the game loop. When putting together a new outfit, I want to find a good setting to take a photo. When I come across a striking place, I think about the poses that will best highlight it.
Most of the time, the cameras and photo modes don’t do much to enhance my love of gaming. They’re the metaphorical icing on the ice cream sundae. With Infinite NikkiHowever, the photo mode is ice. And it’s delicious.
