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INFAMOUS
Platform: PlayStation 3
86

InFamous Review

An electrifying experience

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Infamous is an open world video game for the PlayStation 3. It was developed by Sucker Punch Productions, known for their Sly Cooper series, and published by Sony Computer Entertainment. The game was released in May 2009, not long before another similar open-world title, Prototype. Because of the proximity of the release dates for these open world action games, many reviewers and players drained inevitable comparisons between the two. However, with Infamous being a PS3 exclusive, this review will focus on the game as a standalone and avoid comparisons to Prototype. If you do own a PlayStation 3, Infamous is a title you don’t want to miss.

InFamous PS3 game
Some of the attacks are simply devastating

Infamous is an open world action game that adds superpowers to the mix. Players take on the role of protagonist Cole MacGrath, a bike messenger that is doing a basic delivery in Empire City, which is based on New York. Suddenly, he is caught in the epicenter of an explosion caused by the package he is delivering. The explosion levels the surrounding city blocks, destroying the majority of electricity generators, and killing thousands of people, while spreading a deadly plague to survivors. When Cole awakens, he discovers that he has been granted a superpower that allows him to control electricity. His new powers allow him to shoot lightning out of his hands, draw electricity from the city’s power lines and do all kinds of explosive damage. Having only his trusted brother to support him, our character is faced with the decisions to either restore the city or take control over it. The overarching story is very solid, providing depth and insight to the various characters met along the way, as well as Cole himself. The ending is a great surprise twist that caps off an exciting narrative experience.

Throughout the game, Cole must decide whether to use his new powers for good or evil. The moral choice system in the game presents the player with various decisions and actions and impact the notoriety meter in either positive or negative direction. There are story-based decisions that impact the outcome of a mission and Cole’s rating, but there are also tons of side missions and even free-roaming actions that can help increase or decrease the meter. Depending on your good/evil level, new powers become available and the outcomes of missions are changed. The only concern with the game’s decision making is that there is no middle ground, with each choice presented being either good or evil. There is little point to keep switching between the two opposites, since your notoriety meter will remain in neutral, thus never unlocking any special powers for being very good or very evil. As such, the game offers at least two solid playthroughs – clocking in at over 10 hours each - both to discover the unlocked powers and see the different endings.

Infamous is very much a sandbox game, combining elements of platforming, shooting, puzzles, and role-playing. The city is divided into three islands, like the GTA games, and each island is unlocked after a certain story progression point. The whole city is filled with people, going about their business as best they can after the explosion. Later in the game, depending on the decisions made, the people will either vocally praise Cole for his actions or toss rocks at him, adding a passive but effective result to the choices the players made. Moving around is easy, as Cole is able to quickly climb all the structures around the city, and jump down from great heights. The platforming in the game is very intuitive and easy to execute, without ever feeling too light or wholly unrealistic. Later on, players unlock the ability to glide in the air and along power lines, further increasing the speed of travel. Cole spends a lot of time on rooftops; his movements feel quick and fluid, providing a fun and swift platforming experience.

InFamous PS3 game
Cole can either restrain defeated enemies or drain their life

When Cole arrives at his destination however, it is time for action. The action in the game is fierce, bright and loud, and what more could players ask for? All of the powers in our hero’s possession are based on electricity use. As such, there is an electricity storage meter that can is drained during firefights, but can be quickly replenished by draining a nearby electrical source. Clicking the L3 stick temporarily reveals all sources of electricity in the area, as well as on your map. In order to increase your energy capacity, Cole can collect some of the 350 blast shards throughout the city that are the results of the original explosion. Once in a firefight, Cole can either effectively melee his enemies or use his electrical powers. The powers all range in strength and energy requirements, ranging from basic lightning bolts to energy grenades to devastating power storms. The majority of the powers are unlocked as you progress through the story, while others are only available once you reach a certain good or evil rating. This was done to balance the game and only offer new abilities to the player when the enemy difficulty increases. The powers can then be upgraded, using points earned by completing side missions and open-world encounters.

The main story missions in Infamous are very well designed, offer unique experiences and multiple approaches. The game doesn’t spend a lot of time babysitting the player, instead providing you with an objective and letting you complete it as you see fit. There are very few annoying missions, such as those involving an escort or keeping an AI character alive. A number of missions take place in underground sewers, where Cole must find and restore the electricity generator in order to restore power to a part of the island – making your life on the surface much easier. The large number of optional missions is also intriguing, though they are not as varied as the main quest. The side quests range from escorting bad guys to prison, to performing specific stunts, to simply destroying enemy encampments. The basic structures of the missions do begin to replicate themselves towards the end, but they are spread out well enough not to become overly repetitive. There are neutral, evil, and good side quests that affect your rating respectively. Aside from the expected extra experience points, finishing side missions also permanently frees the area of the city from enemies, so it actually feels like the side quests have an impact on the world and your gaming experience.

As the action and setup of Infamous is original, so is the presentation. With some masterfully designed comic book style cutscenes, the game immerses the player in a setting where all hope seems to be lost as Cole struggles to control and understand his new powers. The city is bleak and colorless, at least until Cole restores power to a local generator. But even then, the setting remains moody and uneasy on the eyes. There are sick people in the streets, enemies open fire on the crown from automatic weapons, and Cole struggles to keep his love interest and his brother from abandoning him. The visuals in the game are not overly mind-blowing, but the artistic style and setting make up for what the game lacks in technical visual quality. The characters are all diverse, with their own goals, intentions, and personalities. Cole makes for a solid leading man, an underdog type character, who never wanted these powers and isn’t sure how to act now that he has them. Voice actors perform well, while the script is a bit on the simplistic side but still offers a compelling story. The game runs smoothly in 720p, with no pop-ins but some low resolution textures, and a few framerate issues when things get really busy.

InFamous PS3 game
Being evil takes a physical toll on the character

In a genre dominated by Crackdown, Grand Theft Autos and their imitators, Infamous manages to find its own solid ground. The story is interesting and has enough twists and turns to make it very worthwhile, along with the multiple endings. The moral choice system works well, though it pretty much requires two playthrouhgs in order to see all the game has to offer, as choosing a neutral path doesn’t allow the player to unlock some powers. The open world gameplay is both effective and enjoyable, as main story quests are varied and the side missions actually have an impact on the world. The action and destruction is fun and loud, with the game’s use of electricity presenting unique powers and energy management. The comic book cutscenes are drawn extremely well, the voice actors and characters are solid and overall the style of the presentation in Infamous is very enjoyable, if not impressive on a technical level. If you enjoy fun action in an open world setting and are looking for something unique on your PS3, you can’t go wrong with Infamous.

Our ratings for Infamous on PlayStation 3 out of 100 (Ratings FAQ)
Presentation
83
The visuals struggle on a technical level, but thrive artistically and creatively. Voice acting and characters are solid, and the story is well above average.
Gameplay
90
The platforming is smooth and controls are responsive, the game's moral choices are varied but lack an option for a middle ground. Main quests are varied, while side missions are great because they actually have an impact on the world.
Single Player
88
Depending on how many side quests are completed, the game can run anywhere between 8 and 15 hours. The opposite moral choices and unlocked powers provide for enough content to have an enjoyable additional playthrough.
Multiplayer
NR
None
Performance
82
The game's artistic roots make up for some visual issues. Low resolution textures and pop-ins make an occasional appearance, and the framerate suffers at times, but not enough for it to be a recurring problem.
Overall
86
With an interesting setting, solid characters, and some very fun gameplay, Infamous offers a viable and unique alternative in the open world action genre that's well worth experiencing.
Comments
Infamous
Infamous box art Platform:
PlayStation 3
Our Review of Infamous
86%
Great
The Verdict:
Game Ranking
Infamous is ranked #99 out of 1957 total reviewed games. It is ranked #10 out of 63 games reviewed in 2009.
98. Crysis 2
PC
99. Infamous
100. F.E.A.R.
PC
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Screenshots

Infamous
11 images added Jan 5, 2010 04:37
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