8Bit/Digi

The weekend at Anime Expo 2023 was not just about learning what is new in the world of the anime industry but also about the games industry. During the weekend, I got to try some titles that are set to launch soon or sometime in the future. One such game I got to demo was Infinity Strash: DRAGON QUEST The Adventure of Dai.

Infinity Strash: DRAGON QUEST The Adventure of Dai is an action RPG based on the manga of the same name and set in the world of Dragon Quest. This is my first-hand experience of playing the game during a special session at Anime Expo 2023. 

The Adventure of Dai

Infinity Strash: DRAGON QUEST The Adventure of Dai is a video game adaptation based on the anime and the manga series, The Adventure of Dai. Set in a world that has been at peace for some time, the tale commences with Dai becoming a pupil of the renowned hero, Avan De Zinuar III. This peace is shattered when Demon King Hadlar returns. After Avan sacrifices himself to save his students, Dai along with Maam and Popp vows to avenge their master and restore peace to their world. 

If you want to watch the anime series just to have a good idea of the story, the 2020 remake is available on Crunchyroll. 

Playthrough of Infinity Strash

During Anime Expo 2023, I was invited to a special demo session hosted at the Hotel Figueroa. Here I got to experience the PlayStation 5 version of the game during an hour session. This allowed me to have a good idea about the source material, understand the gameplay mechanics, and sample what players could expect upon launch.

During my playthrough session, I got to experience all of Chapter 3. Each stage begins with selecting my party along with giving each character a perk that could boost their abilities. During my session, I had the core characters of Dai along with Maam and Popp. Each the characters has their own special abilities that can be an asset based on the situation along with the player’s preferred style.

Chapter 3 begins with Dai and the party fighting off the enemy forces in the area. This is also a great opportunity to become better familiar with the combat system and to practice some moves. The real challenge begins with the arrival of Hyunckel, who has vowed to hunt down all of Avan’s students. Fighting him was not an easy task as I learned right away. I was able to finally defeat him after four additional attempts. The overall chapter ends with Crocodine coming to rescue Dai and Popp while Maam becomes a prisoner.

After completing Chapter 3, I opted to play the Temple of Recollection. This side game has players battle through over 100 rooms full of monsters, demons, and more. Players are then rewarded with better gear and valuable loot.

Final Thoughts on Infinity Strash

Even though I’ve played a few Dragon Quest games in the past, I was not that familiar with The Adventure of Dai. I approached this session with an open mind. I also avoided trying to compare the game to other titles in the series. My overall impression was that the basic gameplay was easy to grasp, but mastering the combat required some trial and error. Visually it does capture the essence of an anime with its design choices. 

Infinity Strash: DRAGON QUEST The Adventure of Dai is set to launch on September 28th, 2023. It will be available for the PlayStation 5, Xbox Series, Nintendo Switch, and the PC. 

Did you get a chance to check out Anime Expo 2023? If so then share your story in the comment section below.

Disclaimer: Anime Expo provided me a pass for the weekend.

8Bit/Digi is an independent media outlet that provides insight into the gamer community of the San Francisco Bay Area.