Square Enix released a free interactive graphic novel today called Imaginary Range, and it has me asking questions about what this thing really is. Is it a graphic novel with minigames? Or is it a game, with graphic novel cut scenes? Both? or neither?
You follow the story of Cid and Ciela, the two protagonists who are tasked with saving France from a mysterious enemy called Omega. Interspersed between panels are different minigames that have you tracing missiles to destroy an enemy, or finding hidden shapes within the panes themselves.
Imaginary Range is a collaboration between writer Souki Tsukishima (Emeth: Ningyo–tsukai no Shima) and artist Toshiyuki Itahana (Final Fantasy Chrystal Chronicles), and was overseen by by Motomu Toriyama (director of FINAL FANTASY® XIII). The look of the artwork is top notch, and the writing is very well done.
What’s nice about it is that you can save whenever you leave the program, and pick up where you left off the next time you come back to the game. Finishing the game once will unlock extra comic commentary, and the ability to play the game parts separately. The game is locked to a vertical orientation, both for reading the graphic novel and playing the minigames.
Square Enix is calling it a ‘game-comic hybrid’, and plans to release an Android version this month as well.
Imaginary Range is available now for the iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad.
Article Via Kotaku
