inFAMOUS
Brandon Sears
STUDIO: Sucker Punch Productions
PLAYERS: 1
CONSOLE: PS3 Exclusive
A few years ago, Activision released the movie-tie in video game adaptation of Spider-Man 2 and was met with high praise. Spider-Man 2 took what was popular with games similar to Grand Theft Auto, the open world design, and integrated it into the superhero genre. The particular style of game began to be known as "the sandbox" genre or "non-linear" in which a player can basically decide if they want to advance in the game - storyline wise - or just run around and do whatever they wish, which is how Infamous plays out.
It took the Sucker Punch team a total of 3 years to complete and this is even with 60 people on board to craft the game. People seem to forget how much work goes into a game of this size and style. There's a lot to do.
Story
In Infamous, you take control of delivery boy, Cole McGrath who becomes caught in a devastating electrical explosion that destroys a large chunk of Empire City (a city similar to New York). Due to the accident, Cole reluctantly begins to develop side effects from the massive explosion handing him powers enabling him to control and distribute electricity as a powerful weapon. As the game progresses, you stop powerful gangs from taking control of the damaged city, forge relationships with new allies and probe into what has happened to you and who was initially behind the explosion all while developing new and destructive powers.
Presentation
Empire City looks beautiful, in a strange way. The game designers are supposed to make the city look dilapidated and destroyed but do damn good job in the process. There is so much detail, right down to the store windows showing TV programs either documenting the city's progress or damning Cole as a vigilante menace. The soundtrack is very well done, a well known and established electronic musician was commissioned to complete the soundtrack and breathe life into the games already fantastic atmosphere.
GamePlay
In my opinion, Sucker Punch has done a much better job or at least a ridiculously better improvement on the open world superhero genre than Spider-Man. Granted, they were working on a past gen system with Spidey 2 came out, Infamous just has a more alive and fun city to play around in. Cole moves around with excellent precision and jumping from building to building while gliding across power lines and grabbing a hold of basically anything and everything in sight just felt cool. There are points where you can initiate a power similar to "force push" from Star Wars which you can use to throw cars, dumpsters or anything that's basically lying around in the direction of your enemies.
You have three basic areas within Empire City that were affected by the blast and are controlled by three different rival gangs. While the game progresses, you travel to each area of the city and while each one is integral to advancing in the core story, you also have the daunting task of ridding each district from enemies altogether. While on this journey, Sucker Punch has given the player a choice. You can either become respected and revered as the cities savior or become feared and despised as the cities most powerful villain. So far, I have completed the "good guy" arc but have not ventured back to become evil as of yet but will be doing that soon.
Conclusion and Replay Value
Infamous is a fantastic addition to the original superhero genre in video games, which I am guessing is not a very large number of games. Due to the enormity of the game and the hours of game play that need to be logged to complete said game, its bound to feel a little repetitive at times. As far as replay value goes, there are two different ways to finish the game as well as a lot of side missions, a stunt list and several other objectives to complete so this game should keep you busy for quite some time. I whole heartedly recommend Infamous to anyone who enjoys time consuming, often obsessive game play. The bad news, PS3 exclusive.
Now, I sit back and wait for Uncharted 2.
Brandon Sears is an insurance salesman by day and a superhero by night (not really). He has been writing for Modern Distraction since 2004. He lives in Sydney Mines with his wife, Ashley and his dog Toby.