inFAMOUS
Second Son Review: PS4’s 1st true Next-Gen Title?
When I hear the word “infamous,” 3 things come to mind: 1. Cole MacGrath, 2. Super powers, and 3. The choice to become good or evil. The “inFAMOUS” series started back in 2009. Cole Macgrath was a bike messenger delivering a package when a huge explosion occurred wiping out the most of “Empire City,” (inFAMOUS’ version of New York). When he awoke he had super powers. He had the ability to drain electricity and fire it from his hands. From the start of the games, you choose whether or not you want to be a hero or a villain offering different choices to be made. That’s all I’m going to go into detail with the first game in the series just in case anyone who’s reading this hasn’t played the first game. The sequel to the game was even better, but I suggest you play it for yourself.
On to the important part. “inFAMOUS: Second Son” stars a new hero, Delsin Rowe. After the events of the second game, like I said; not going to spoil it, the world is fully aware of conduits, what super powered beings are called in the inFAMOUS series, and they are not wanted. The D.U.P., a government sanctioned military force has taken control of Seattle, Second Son’s location. Delsin is a bit of rebel; he spray paints around town, and has been arrested by his own brother numerous times. After an attack on his hometown, he and his brother, Reggie, set out to Seattle so Delsin can take down the leader of the D.U.P., Brooke Augustine. I will go over the main aspects of the game in this review; powers, graphics, combat, side missions, story length, and replayability.
First, the powers. There are 4 sets of powers in total, but I am only revealing the first 2 for those of you who haven’t played the game yet; they are smoke and neon. Most of the powers have different attacks, a melee, a “karma attack,” a “charge up” attack, a stun attack, and a single shot. Smoke is the first power you obtain in the game. Its drainable sources include rooftop vents, cars (after they have been blown up), even campfires and barrels with fires. Smoke’s melee attack is used with the chain wrapped around Delsin’s wrist. You slash enemies with the smoke-infused chain. The karma-attack is called the “Orbital Drop,” which I am not going to spoil. The charge up attack is pretty self-exclamatory. The stun attack is when you throw out these “power-grenades", stunning your enemies so you can either subdue or kill them. The single shot is also self-explanatory. Smoke’s means of travel include disintegrating into smoke particles and dashing one at a time and even traveling through vents, then forming back together right after.Neon is the second power obtained in the game. Its drainable sources include pretty much every colorful sign you run into around the city and lights from the under carriages of cars. Neon’s melee attack turns Delsin’s chain into a “neon sword”. The karma attack, again I will not spoil. Neon’s means of travel include running at super speed and leaving behind a trail of colorful lights.
Second: the graphics. The game’s broad cityscape filled with neon signs, noticeable references to real-life Seattle, and skyscrapers all around make for quite the “look and drool” at the gorgeous design. Sucker Punch has outdone it with the look of the game. Delsin’s reflection can be seen in puddles, certain buildings, etc. Delsin’s powers look crisp and clean with clearly visible and beautiful particle effects. I would have to say that the most beautiful power would be Neon; its bright and colorful streaks of light are astonishing to look at as Delsin sucks the power out of certain sources. After you fire smoke, you can actually see lingering strands of it.
Third: the combat. There isn’t much to explain considering that the powers are the combat, so the only thing I will say is that it is fluent and fun.
Fourth: the side missions. You can do them at any point during the game. Some included are spray painting, taking down secret agents, raiding D.U.P. controlled areas, and collecting “tracker drones” to upgrade your powers.
Fifth: story length. The game’s length clocks in at about 10-12 hours depending on what path you choose, good or evil. The evil play through is a bit shorter.
Sixth and final: replayability. The game has two different paths, which automatically made me want to play it twice. I don’t know about you, but making the different choices and seeing who lives, who dies, is quite interesting. A week or so after the game’s release, Sucker Punch released a free dlc exploring a new conduit and their origins. A few weeks later, they also released a patch containing a new game feature called “photo mode“ that allows the player to pause the game’s screen during whatever they are doing and take a screen shot, making for some amazing pictures. But the games replayability is slightly downgraded due to a severe lack of anything to do once you’ve beaten the campaign and all of the side missions.
In conclusion, “inFAMOUS: Second Son” is a tremendously beautiful game, with an awesome protagonist with super powers that will make you scream with giddiness when you play it. I give the game, a super-powered 9 out of 10.
On to the important part. “inFAMOUS: Second Son” stars a new hero, Delsin Rowe. After the events of the second game, like I said; not going to spoil it, the world is fully aware of conduits, what super powered beings are called in the inFAMOUS series, and they are not wanted. The D.U.P., a government sanctioned military force has taken control of Seattle, Second Son’s location. Delsin is a bit of rebel; he spray paints around town, and has been arrested by his own brother numerous times. After an attack on his hometown, he and his brother, Reggie, set out to Seattle so Delsin can take down the leader of the D.U.P., Brooke Augustine. I will go over the main aspects of the game in this review; powers, graphics, combat, side missions, story length, and replayability.
First, the powers. There are 4 sets of powers in total, but I am only revealing the first 2 for those of you who haven’t played the game yet; they are smoke and neon. Most of the powers have different attacks, a melee, a “karma attack,” a “charge up” attack, a stun attack, and a single shot. Smoke is the first power you obtain in the game. Its drainable sources include rooftop vents, cars (after they have been blown up), even campfires and barrels with fires. Smoke’s melee attack is used with the chain wrapped around Delsin’s wrist. You slash enemies with the smoke-infused chain. The karma-attack is called the “Orbital Drop,” which I am not going to spoil. The charge up attack is pretty self-exclamatory. The stun attack is when you throw out these “power-grenades", stunning your enemies so you can either subdue or kill them. The single shot is also self-explanatory. Smoke’s means of travel include disintegrating into smoke particles and dashing one at a time and even traveling through vents, then forming back together right after.Neon is the second power obtained in the game. Its drainable sources include pretty much every colorful sign you run into around the city and lights from the under carriages of cars. Neon’s melee attack turns Delsin’s chain into a “neon sword”. The karma attack, again I will not spoil. Neon’s means of travel include running at super speed and leaving behind a trail of colorful lights.
Second: the graphics. The game’s broad cityscape filled with neon signs, noticeable references to real-life Seattle, and skyscrapers all around make for quite the “look and drool” at the gorgeous design. Sucker Punch has outdone it with the look of the game. Delsin’s reflection can be seen in puddles, certain buildings, etc. Delsin’s powers look crisp and clean with clearly visible and beautiful particle effects. I would have to say that the most beautiful power would be Neon; its bright and colorful streaks of light are astonishing to look at as Delsin sucks the power out of certain sources. After you fire smoke, you can actually see lingering strands of it.
Third: the combat. There isn’t much to explain considering that the powers are the combat, so the only thing I will say is that it is fluent and fun.
Fourth: the side missions. You can do them at any point during the game. Some included are spray painting, taking down secret agents, raiding D.U.P. controlled areas, and collecting “tracker drones” to upgrade your powers.
Fifth: story length. The game’s length clocks in at about 10-12 hours depending on what path you choose, good or evil. The evil play through is a bit shorter.
Sixth and final: replayability. The game has two different paths, which automatically made me want to play it twice. I don’t know about you, but making the different choices and seeing who lives, who dies, is quite interesting. A week or so after the game’s release, Sucker Punch released a free dlc exploring a new conduit and their origins. A few weeks later, they also released a patch containing a new game feature called “photo mode“ that allows the player to pause the game’s screen during whatever they are doing and take a screen shot, making for some amazing pictures. But the games replayability is slightly downgraded due to a severe lack of anything to do once you’ve beaten the campaign and all of the side missions.
In conclusion, “inFAMOUS: Second Son” is a tremendously beautiful game, with an awesome protagonist with super powers that will make you scream with giddiness when you play it. I give the game, a super-powered 9 out of 10.
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