Disney Infinity revew

For Xbox 360, Wii, Wii U, Playstation 3, 3DS, PC*, and iPad*. *=Unreleased Disney Infinity has an unusual nature to it as it requires a USB plug in Power Base and figurenes for the Play Set mode you want to play in. For example, the starter pack includes Pirates of the Caribbean, Monsters University, and The Incredibles. Two platforms are where you place the matching figurines whereas the other Polygon shaped platform is where you place the orb that allows you to play the Play Set mode. Examples include Jack Sparrow as Player One in Pirates and another matching Player Two. Play Set mode is like a story mode for each franchise and the story modes are very well detailed. Play Set mode unlocks objects and sets for Toy Box mode. Characters much match franchises but you will need a mini-figurenes with the franchise logos on it. The character figurenes have circular bottoms and is two player while the access figurene is polygon shaped. Toy Box mode is a freestyle mode in which you can play any character you have as a figurene placed on the circular figurene base. Content for Toy Box can be unlocked via the Play Set mode. Toy Box mode is more convienent to play as it doesn't require matching figurenes for franchises. However, you will need to place a figurene to play as. Gameplay mechanics, graphics, and sounds all do great as there are no problems concerning these but I feel that having to have figurenes and an Infinity Power Base to activate characters will leave you either stuck with no more than few characters or spending even more money for additional play sets and characters. Why couldn't it have been that at the start of the game you have just Three play sets(Pirates of Caribbean, Monsters University, Incredibles) and the starting characters to go with them(Jack Sparrow, Sulley, Mr. Incredible) and unlock Worlds, Characters, and new Powers as you progress? It seems like the creators of this game wanted people to spend more money on additions than giving them more of a challenge that is seen in many other games. Kevin VanOrd of Gamespot and Nick Cowen of The Guardian were right to criticize the game in it's alternative system of content access by respectively saying "a platform designed to keep you spending money." and "get ready with those wallets." It's ridiculus that the game plus additions cost a total of AUD$460 at launch! Other criticisms include Characters repeating dialog too often and having a very very limited soundtrack, despite voiceovers and music sounding great. What could have been a great game thanks to amazing gameplay and graphics turned out to either leave you with little content or a burning hole in your wallet/pocket. The Sand Box mode however is a joyful experience of freedom in any game being much like Minecraft, building great structures and gameplay. The Sand Box mode surely expands the time gamers will want to be playing for. To be fair, Play Set mode does have great stories and they can get you more content for Sand Box mode. What ruins this game is the requirement that you use the USB plug-in power base which was unnecessary for the game developers to put in as the game would have worked out better just having starting stories and characters while all others could be unlocked via progress in the Play Set mode. For future games, game developers shouldn't make the same mistake they made with the dreaded Power Base.