- Platform: PS5
- Publisher: Blowfish Studios
- ESRB Rating: E10+
- Release Date: September 21, 2021 Metadata by Giant Bomb
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The space sim! It’s a classic genre; really, it’s one of the pillars of the video game industry that never truly goes out of style. Think back to Asteroids – what was that but a space sim? R-Type? Space sim. Gradius? Space sim. We can probably squeeze other games into the subgenre, really. Pokémon? Maybe a space sim if you take out the space and sim parts, but let’s not get distracted with details.
With Subdivision Infinity DX, though, there’s no question about it – this is a light space sim with crunchy arcade flavor. Originally released on mobile platforms and showing up on consoles and PCs later on, it’s been prettied up even further for lucky PlayStation 5 users to strap in and head to space.
You’ve got a ship that you can gear up to your liking and you’re going to take it out to blast baddies. There’s a plot, but it’s so minimal as to be nonexistent – you end up joining the combat team Subdivision Infinity and battling the local space baddies with the help of your robo-pal. Your ro-bro, if you will. Anyway, that’s not the focus here. We’re mostly paying attention to the space combat and ship customization.
Ship customization largely focuses on acquiring new ship models and weapons. There’s a fair amount of different gear to dig up, with most of it gated by your character’s experience level and purchasable with coins obtained as you complete missions. You can upgrade your gear, helping your favorite pieces last a little bit longer than they might otherwise. Weapons generally vary in terms of speed and power, with both energy and kinetic weapons available, and you’ll also want to consider fitting a mining tool when you go out searching for ore.
Once you’ve got your chariot ready to go, it’s time for combat, which is pretty straightforward. Subdivision Infinity DX has pretty aggressive aim assist, so you’ll be an ace marksman so long as you put a little effort into pointing toward the baddies. This lends a sort of chill, casual feel to the gameplay. On the defensive front, you’ve got a recharging shield and, hopefully, the ability to dodge incoming shots to allow that recharging to occur. Outside of boss battles you’re rarely in a lot of danger so long as you keep up with your gear.
That’s largely it, really. Shoot some dudes, shoot more dudes, shoot turrets and so on, that’s your lot. You’ll also want to make sure you take some time out to do exploration missions to load up on resources or you’re going to fall behind in terms of gear and that’s going to be a serious issue. It’s a pretty simple setup that suits the mobile format well but might not feel as great to players who are used to a more refined console experience.
Subdivision Infinity DX looks surprisingly good for a game that originated on mobile. It’s not going to redefine space shooter presentation or anything, but it’s a perfectly acceptable experience on PS5 where it’s surrounded by some of the most high-fidelity console titles. One unfortunate note is that there isn’t any voice acting for the cutscenes, which was a little disappointing since they’re not especially lengthy.
It’s not going to win any Game of the Year awards – and it’s not exactly the best demonstration of the PS5’s prowess – but Subdivision Infinity DX is a perfectly passable space shooter that’s fun while it lasts. Even if it’s not the most inspiring game around, there’s not much to complain about with regards to a game that’ll run you a reasonable $15. If you want to relax with a snack and blast some baddies for a while, Subdivision Infinity DX will suit your needs just fine.
