In 2009, Sucker Punch stepped outside of its comfort zone. By this point, the company had become well known among PlayStation fans as the team behind the Sly Cooper games, and many fans expected more. Sly had become a staple series for the PlayStation brand, and Sly 3 left fans wanting more. With the then-upcoming PlayStation 3, many believed that the series would continue into the next generation, but they soon learned that wouldn't be the case.
Almost four years after the release of Sly 3, Sucker Punch made its return; however, instead of releasing the expected Sly 4, they introduced a completely new series called InFAMOUS. Unlike the platformers before it, InFAMOUS was an open-world, superhero-based sandbox game. It let players take control of a man named Cole MacGrath, who received electricity-based powers from a package he was paid to deliver. The package exploded, Cole gained his powers, the city was put into lockdown, and players were given the ability to choose Cole's path in life. The game was built on making moral decisions and featured different endings based on Cole's Karma.
Despite having some issues—such as slippery controls and a lack of variety in the mission structure and city sections—InFAMOUS gained popularity and received a sequel a couple of years later. This time, Sucker Punch ensured there was a wider variety of content, featuring new powers for Cole, unique city districts, a broader range of missions, and even a custom level editor. The game was a turning point of sorts for the series, but it was also a game that left players wondering if there would even be more. With no news of a possible sequel and a closed ending, InFAMOUS 2 left people questioning the fate of the series for years. That is, until the PlayStation 4 was announced.
When Sony finally showed off the PlayStation 4, InFAMOUS: Second Son was one of the first games announced. According to Sucker Punch, the game was going to be a sort of "reboot" for the series. The story was set seven years after the ending of InFAMOUS 2 and featured a brand-new main character in a new city with a new central plot; it was also a game designed to show off the power of the PlayStation 4. For many fans, this game alone became a selling point for the console, but is it really worth it? Just how good would the game actually be, and how would it compare to previous entries in the series? Well, as always, how about we find out?
The Story:
InFAMOUS: Second Son takes place seven years after the ending of InFAMOUS 2. Most of the people who possessed the "Conduit" gene—which granted them special powers—had been killed by the actions of Cole, but some still remained in the world. Now branded as "Bio-Terrorists," a military force called the "DUP" has formed to bring all Conduits under its control. By taking control of cities and imprisoning innocent people, this force rules with an iron fist, and almost all freedom is lost. People live in fear, and the DUP director is the source of it all.
The game's story begins with a young graffiti artist, Delsin, vandalizing a billboard. After finishing his work, his brother—who just so happens to be the Akomish reservation sheriff—shows up. Delsin tries to make his escape, but to no avail. Shortly after being stopped by his brother, Reggie, the two get into an argument about Delsin's way of life. At this point, it becomes very clear that Delsin has always been a sort of troublemaker, and Reggie would like nothing more than to see his brother turn his life around. In the vein of past InFAMOUS titles, this is something players actually have control over, and the story slightly changes from this moment on based on the player's actions.
During the argument, an armored car crashes right in front of Delsin and Reggie, and both head over to see if everyone is alright. Although most of the area is on fire, Delsin still manages to find someone in the wreckage and attempts to help them; however, by doing so, his fate is changed. The man was a Conduit with smoke-based powers, and for some reason, Delsin received them too. Upon touching the man, Delsin saw his memories and awoke as a Conduit himself. Unsure of what had just happened and scared, Delsin chases after the Conduit and winds up back at the building with the billboard. The building soon catches on fire, and once again Delsin decides to attempt a rescue—this time to save the owner, an old woman named Betty.
Upon entering the building, Delsin has a fight with the man who gave him his smoke powers, and both escape the burning structure. Although Delsin manages to save Betty, all three come face-to-face with the leader of the DUP, Brooke Augustine, just outside. Like Delsin, she too is a Conduit, and she uses her concrete-based powers to kill the escapee. After taking care of the original problem, she turns her attention to Delsin and asks about his involvement. Suspecting that he too may be a "bio-terrorist," she uses her concrete powers to immobilize him and then moves on to question the other tribe members. When they refuse to give up their own, each tribe member is pierced by concrete shards and left to suffer.
Weeks later, Delsin awakes only to find that his wounds have completely healed due to his powers; however, the others were not so lucky. The tribe members are dying, and the only way to save them is to remove the concrete. Sadly, the only way to do so is by using the same power that put them there in the first place. Considering the DUP would not return to heal them, everyone was as good as gone—that is, until Delsin decides to head to Seattle to make things right. It was his fault the others were hurt, and if he truly had the ability to copy powers, he was the only one who could save them. So, with that, he and Reggie set out into the unknown. Both knew a long road was ahead, but the fate of their people hung in the balance.
From that point on, the story can play out in different ways. Delsin is faced with choices that are considered to be either "good" or "evil," and by choosing different sides, the story slightly changes. Although the main events will still play out the same way, some missions are slightly different, and the way people view Delsin will reflect his choices as well. The game also features two different endings, so it requires two full playthroughs to truly get the whole picture.
The Gameplay:
The gameplay in InFAMOUS: Second Son is very much like its predecessors. It is an open-world sandbox game that takes place in a large city, and players are free to do just about anything they want. You can walk through the streets, jump on cars, climb buildings, complete random events, or take on story missions; however, things aren't quite the same as they used to be.
While past games had side missions you could perform to take control of different sections of the town, Second Son does not—at least not in the traditional sense. Instead of helping people or completing unique extra goals, the side missions in Second Son all revolve around getting rid of the DUP. Simply by attacking one of their strongholds or going to a marker that triggers basic "find the hidden camera" or "find the undercover agent" missions, you can slowly eradicate the DUP. Sadly, these missions are very basic, and they do become repetitive very fast. Once you have taken over most of an area, you can access the district's showdown, but these too are nothing more than large-scale battles where you must defeat a wave of enemies.
The other two types of missions aren't directly related to getting rid of the DUP, but they do add to the story and make the city a better (or worse) place. As for the story-related side missions, these simply have you follow a radio signal to a recorded message. These messages provide background information and give you a bit more of an inside look at the game's events, but they are not truly key to the story. As for the latter, these missions allow you to use the controller's motion controls to spray-paint designs on a wall, similar to the opening scene. These missions are both very repetitive—even more so than some of the missions from previous games.
On top of the DUP missions, there are some random events as well, but they too are not a major focus. At times, you'll be able to stop a drug deal; other times, you'll be able to free someone locked in a cage. Or, if you're feeling evil, you can attack a street performer or break up a protest. These events exist mainly to help raise your Karma level and are completely optional. They give you a reason to walk around the city, but other than that, they are really only there for trophies.
Although the game can be repetitive in its side content, don't let that fool you! The real fun in this game actually comes from the main story and Delsin's powers. While the side content is repetitive, the main game always mixes things up to avoid that issue. Delsin's powers are very fun to use, and there are multiple types at that! At the very start of the game, you only have smoke-based powers, but new ones are unlocked very quickly, and upgrades for your current abilities help keep them from getting stale. Just when you start to get tired of your current skills, something new comes along, and unique story missions surface to keep the progression interesting. You never really get tired of the main story itself, but sadly, it is also very short. With only a handful of missions on each side of the story, the game flies by and can easily be beaten within a few sittings—unless, of course, you decide to use your powers to the fullest!
Outside of the main story and side missions, you have an open world to explore and a wide variety of powers to play with. While each power has a basic hover/glide, a standard projectile, and a melee attack, every element features a unique variation of these moves along with several exclusive abilities.
For example, while the Smoke power can shoot clouds to suffocate enemies, the Neon power allows you to target specific regions of an enemy's body to either kill them instantly or trap them in place. The melee weapon for Smoke is a glowing chain used like a whip, while the Neon power manifests as a fast-moving sword. When it comes to mobility, Smoke allows you to dash through the air in a cloud and pass through gates or exhaust fans, whereas Neon allows you to run at high speeds, which in turn lets you sprint directly up the sides of buildings.
These are just a few examples of what Delsin's first two powers can do, and there are even more to unlock and experiment with. it is very easy to spend hours just messing around in this open world, and there are plenty of hidden Blast Shards to find as well. Considering these shards are used to purchase new abilities, they are well worth seeking out.
Should you play it?
InFAMOUS: Second Son is a lot of fun. Although it isn't perfect, it does a lot of things right, and it is very impressive for a console title. The graphics are excellent, featuring high-quality textures, detailed facial animations, impressive particle effects, and a target of 60 fps. It looks amazing and is filled with plenty of eye candy.
As for the gameplay, it has been greatly improved since InFAMOUS 2. The controls aren't quite as slippery, and Delsin's jump is much better than Cole's, which would often lock onto a platform and cause you to land in the wrong spot. Delsin's wide variety of powers really helps change things up, and the game's story is interesting enough to keep you hooked; the occasional comedy helps a lot as well.
The game's rendition of the city is also fun to explore, allowing you to visit several of Seattle's real-life landmarks, and you can find various easter eggs and cameos throughout. From references to Sly Cooper to a large banner that reads "FRASIER," the city is full of secrets to find, ensuring that exploration is consistently rewarded.
Sadly, on the negative side, the game also has some issues. It is short—even with two playthroughs—and the side missions suffer from a lack of variety and become repetitive. Additionally, the trees and plants are still made up of 2D objects, which are an eyesore compared to the high quality of the rest of the game. Sucker Punch did promise that more content would be released for Second Son in the future, but as for the base game, it is a bit lacking.
Overall, InFAMOUS: Second Son is a great game that is held back by some of these issues. It is very much worth playing, but it may also be one of those games you'll complete and earn a Platinum trophy for in less than twenty hours—possibly around ten to fifteen if you are fast enough. Even so, the game is well worth the experience.
VERDICT: Recommended
Reviewed on PlayStation 4
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