Infamous – PlayStation 3
Description
inFamous is a PlayStation 3 game developed by Sucker Punch Productions and published by Sony Computer Entertainment and was released in North American on 26 May 2009. It is a sandbox-style video game where gamers assume the role of the protagonist Cole MacGrath, who attains super powers after escaping an explosion he unknowingly delivered in a packaged. The game features up to 70 electrical-based powers that a player can attain right to the end of the game.
These include the basic ability to shoot electricity from his hands to nearby targets to creating an electricity-based shield to repel enemies. Both living targets and inanimate objects within the game react to these electrical powers. inFamous allows players to adapt to Cole’s evolving powers through out the game play, required players to discover, grow and use a wide range of electricity-based super powers (for good or bad); as well as grasp the responsibility that comes with it. Gamers will encounter battles where actions taken by them will decide the course of the game. This is done through the Karma System which will ultimately influence the type of growth of Cole’s powers and affect how the citizens react to Cole. Another feature on inFAMOUS is the Open Dynamic World with a reactive environment and population that allows users to explore an open interactive city. The game allows players to choose between saving or destroying Empire City; allows urban exploration that lets players to scale the cityscape for vantage points and employ a vertical combat system. Players are challenged to use their climbing skills in both offensive and defensive combat options; and the game features a city where both the citizens and city react to Cole based on a players’ actions.
Reviews
Being an open-world game, inFamous provides a vast play area (in Empire City) for gamers to explore, view, shoot and destroy (if they so choose). One of the best points in the game is Empire City itself. Empire City turns Cole into an urban explorer. With his skills for climbing just about anything in the game; run up a wall, cross power lines, jump from roof to roof; the game is a fully scalable area. It is a very tactile city with people doing about their own business or getting involved (albeit ending in a bad outcome by getting mowed down) with the action. The outcome of the character’s development, Cole, is in the hands of the gamer. How the denizens of Empire City react to Cole also depends on the deeds that he (the gamer) does. Whether one makes choices for the good or the bad, all decisions taken will effect the game, appearance and powers. The game can be played one way of another, so that you know what it is like when taking on a different role which will influence the outcome of the mission and stories. Within the game itself, there are varying missions, spanning exploration, combat, escorting and more. inFamous is a visually engaging game, with somewhat realistic details, good animation and shading. The interactive city detail uses a lighting model called “deferred shading”. Deferred shading provides the game with a tactile environment that cast lights in the scene, moving, flickering, or changing colours as the situation requires it. It has to be noted though that while the main protagonist is well rendered, the other characters do not have the same fluid animation as Cole. Graphical glitches are also present and jagged edges present through out the game. It is however still a game with much promise of entertaining gameplay. With so many abilities to attain and utilise, a tactile story line to follow (or not to follow depending on choice), and a plethora of missions some flows in fluidly in game, inFamous will keep you entertained.
