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Infamous is as much about the human condition as it is about science fiction (and you thought you were just playing a videogame). This latest game from developer Sucker Punch is a lot more than typical action genre fare. Aside from the explosions, the violence, and the extreme circumstances, inFamous is a game which plays on the frailty of human beings and exposes our truest nature in the face of adversity.
The thing about Cole, inFamous' electrically-charged protagonist, is that he's hated. Empire City, the game's fictional setting, was devoured in a sphere of destructive light, leaving its citizens infected with a malevolent plague and forgotten by the outside world. At the center of this madness is Cole because the explosion has gifted him with superhuman abilities. There is a lot to relate to about Cole's vulnerability; even his girlfriend has doubts about him. Being relatable is what make's Cole and his role in Empire City's future, so much more engaging than most action-game heroes.
InFamous plays the morality game very close to the player's sense of humanity. At times, it can be easy to fall into a bitter relationship with the citizens of Empire City as they constantly berate you and yell "freak" while you are faced with decisions that determine their very fate. An early instance, for example, will have you coming across a stash of food. Do you fry a few people in order to keep the mob in check, or do you share the stash with the group of hungry citizens? Aside from the story-driven decisions, Cole will come across injured citizens on the ruined streets of Empire City. Do you save these helpless folk or do you drain them of their life energy to replenish your own? This sort of thing had me seriously weighing my options and theorizing over what the possible outcomes of my actions could be.
Moral choices are not the only ones players must make. Sharing the attributes of a live wire, Cole can use his electrical abilities in a variety of ways. Let's say you are confronted with a group of infected thugs. You can use your most basic of abilities and shock them all, one at a time. Simple enough, but where's the fun in simplicity? You can also use your powers to push environmental objects into your advancing foes (such as a car or a large garbage can), leaving them confused and vulnerable, allowing you to either run from the disoriented group or pummel them with electrically charged punches as they get off the ground. You can also, and this is my favorite option, toss a handful of electric grenades into the crowd and wait for the fireworks. On top of all this, Cole can perform Stunts and earn extra points depending on just how much you want to show off. These range from having an enemy plummet to death from a tall building to using explosive-rigged foes to take out other groups. Playing with different ability and Stunt combinations is one of inFamous' best qualities.
Speaking of adversaries, expect to be confronted with an interesting bunch of characters. Reapers, your prime opposition in Empire City, are cloaked in red garbs. There are standard grunts, frequent foes armed with rifles to shoot Cole from afar. There are larger variants that toss explosives and ones who rush at Cole with suicidal intent. Then there are the Conduit, Reapers hooded in white cloth with superhuman abilities of their own. As Cole confronts these, as well as the other enemy types, one thing remains constant: these guys mean business. Enemy AI is a tricky thing to get right, but with inFamous, the bad guys are as intelligent as they are relentless. I really felt like I was being hunted at times because the Reapers track Cole with absolute bloodlust in mind. While running away could be the best course of action, players earn experience points for besting foes, allowing them to tap into the true potential of newfound abilities.
The game is broken up by a series of objectives, with markers on the map to indicate the next point of interest. Through a diverse group of small objectives and obstacles, players can achieve goals (most of which involve restoring power to specific portions of Empire City). The gameplay is never dull or predictable, adding to the enjoyment as well as complete immersion in the complexity of Cole and the dilemma of Empire City.
As Cole proceeds in his electricity-filled endeavors, Empire City will slowly gain some semblance of sanity. Areas will clear and will henceforth be off limits to Reaper activity, allowing players to walk around freely and pursue any of inFamous' side missions and search for collectables. Blast Shards, recognized by their shiny, blue glow, are used to lengthen Cole's battery meter. Collecting a bunch of these shards will extend your capacity for chaos, granting you with an extra orb of electrical storage to use of those bothersome reapers. Scavenger hunts like this can be a tad annoying, especially when you have a giant open world to explore, but in inFamous, you can often spot the shards during any missions, found in clusters and in plain sight.
Side missions and collectables aren't all that players have to look forward to for replayability. Because the burden of responsibility is heavy, inFamous plays out in two distinct ways: one of good nature and one of evil intent. Being a selfish bum will net players a different set of abilities than that of a kind-hearted hero. It will also grant access to a separate batch of side missions. You are essentially paying for two different gaming experiences, all amounting to one hell of a gaming package.
You've probably noticed by now that this review has been all praise, and justly so. While not perfect, inFamous has little to speak negatively about. In fact, aside from some minor qualms with enemies being on the aggressive side when the player is still learning the intricacies of Cole's abilities, the only other possible flaw I came across was with some of the game's platforming elements, specifically with precisely jumping onto narrow pipes as they crumble underneath your feet. Now, don't get me wrong, Cole is quite the agile hero, it just takes a bit of getting used to. Landing those jumps will eventually come with ease but expect a few accidental deaths as you leap over your intended target and fall to your demise. Oh, and you can't make contact with water. Makes sense given Cole's current abilities, but it does beg the question: "Just how exactly does this guy take a shower?" Think about that when the game takes place a full 14 days after the opening scene's initial explosion.
InFamous caters to the gamer in everyone. The casual fan can pick it up and easily put it down after doing a handful of missions. Hardcore folks will go nuts over the game's ample amount of content, such as where to spend those hard earned experience points and gathering all of Cole's upgrades. Sucker Punch has crafted a fantastic gaming experience that is really hard not to recommend. PlayStation 3 owners should not hesitate to pick up inFamous off their local game store's shelf. It is an electrifying title and will keep you well entertained throughout the long, hot summer to come.
Fun Factor: Cole is an electrified badass with a bone to pick with Empire City: those powers of his are nothing but fun.
Difficulty: While Cole's potential for destruction is off the charts, he is a slow start and enemies will come at you without mercy. Expect to die a few times, but overall, it's nothing gamers of all types can't handle.
Game Length: The main missions will take you about 10-12 hours to complete.
On the Negative Side: There isn't much to complain about here; even the voice acting is great. Cole's maneuverability takes some getting used to.
Bang for your Buck: With two paths to follow, expect to take a second stab at inFamous soon after the credits roll. Combine this with side missions and abilities to max out, and inFamous goes beyond what's expected of a conventional single-player action title. It is more than worth the asking price.
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