Kantor on 17 May 2009
Thanks to Nordlead for the permission. And thanks to Makingmusic476 for the sticky.
GOOD OR EVIL?
Shape your appearance, personality, powers and the world with the simple choices you make.
What is InFamous, you ask? Well, quoted from Wikipedia:
inFamous is the story of a man named Cole who is given an assignment to deliver a package that is secretly a bomb. Cole survives the massive explosion and develops electric based powers. Soon, Cole discovers that his city has fallen into chaos under the rule of gangs and factions and must fight back against them to restore order. The game allows players to choose what path they would like to follow. Players taking on more good deeds will receive more helpful and exact powers while those who do bad deeds will have more destructive powers.
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Here's what our own VGC Game Database says about the game:
A massive explosion rips through six square blocks of Empire City, annihilating everything and everyone in its path. Everyone, that is, except for a lone man who not only survived the blast, but has been transformed by it. From the creators of the award-winning Sly Cooper® series, Sucker Punch brings you inFAMOUS, the first open-world
action-adventure title exclusively for the PLAYSTATION®3 system.
Experience what happens when a normal person suddenly begins to develop super powers.
Will they go on a mindless rampage, choose to protect the innocent, or do little of both? Those are the situations gamers face while being immersed inside a richly interactive and organic living city, a place where actions create broader reactions in the citizens and landscape around them. inFAMOUS lets players unravel an evolving mystery, experience fame and/or infamy and battle powerful, iconic villains…all the while feeling what it is like to become a modern day superhero.
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BASIC INFO
Developer: Sucker Punch Productions
Publisher: Sony Computer Entertaiment America
Genre: Sandbox Action Adventure
Console: PLAYSTATION ®3
THE GAME ON DIFFERENT WEBSITES
VGC: http://www.vgchartz.com/games/game.php?id=13108®ion=All
IGN: http://ps3.ign.com/objects/800/800208.html
GameSpot: http://www.gamespot.com/ps3/action/infamous/index.html?tag=result;title;0
Metacritic: http://www.metacritic.com/games/platforms/ps3/infamous
OVERVIEW
inFamous has you playing as Cole McGrath, a messenger from Empire City (perhaps based on the Empire State of New York), who is delivering a parcel one day when it explodes. The majority of the people in the city are are killed, though there are some survivors. Cole, however, has a special reaction to the explosion: he gains electrical powers.
You can climb and grab onto just about anything in the game world- signs, buildings, water towers, you name it. Cole was a parkour fan pre-blast, and his electrical powers improve his climbing ability.
An important part of the game is Karma, the choice to be good or evil. This will have many repercussions- the city will change, your appearance will change, people will have different attitudes towards you, and most important of all, you will receive different powers.
Estimates put the campaign at 12-15 hours in length, with a replay to follow the opposite Karma path. Stunts and collectibles can be found in Empire City, as well as many side quests, so this game will last you quite a while.
RELEASE DATE
A demo is due to be released on PSN on 21st May 2009.
The game releases on 26th May in NA, 29th May in Europe and the UK, and 4th June in Australia.
IMAGES
TRAILERS
Many more trailers can be found on GameTrailers: http://www.gametrailers.com/game/infamous/5157
REVIEWS
VGChartz Review By Torillian (Karl Koebke)
VGChartz Score: 8.2
Presentation - 7.5
Gameplay - 8.5
Value - 8.5
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IGN Review by Greg Miller
IGN Score: 9.2
| 9.5 | Presentation This city is alive and you'll feel like you're a critical part of it from start to finish. The easy to upgrade powers, story-expanding Dead Drops, and more wrap you up in the experience. |
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| 8.5 | Graphics The city looks great with its destroyed buildings and people dying in the streets. Cole's powers dazzle at times, but there is some pop-in, repetitive environments, and framerate dips. |
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| 8.5 | Sound The soundtrack is great, the ambient noise of the city makes you feel like you're there, and the sound effects are solid. Still, why is Cole's voice soooo gravely? |
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| 9.0 | Gameplay Cole's powers are stunning and fun, but the real joy is zipping around the city and unraveling the story. I could've gone for a few more enemy types and better Stunt explanations. |
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| 9.5 | Lasting Appeal It took me about 25 hours to go through both storylines, but I've put in a total of 30 hours searching for Blast Shards and my Platinum Trophy. All that, and this still isn't old. |
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| 9.2 |
OVERALL (out of 10 / not an average) |
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100
Giant Bomb
It's the quality of the central action in InFamous that I keep coming back to. Everything else would be fancy window dressing if Sucker Punch hadn't nailed the basic gameplay elements, the simple moving and shooting, as precisely as it did. InFamous feels like a game designed from the very ground up to be fun to play, so I guess it's no surprise that as soon as the credits finished rolling on my good version of Cole, I started up an evil one to play it all over again.
100
Play Magazine
This is simply a superb genre defining experience with two unforgettable endings.
100
ZTGameDomain
Sucker Punch achieves what should be every developer's objective: creating an engrossing game experience that is focused on, above all, fun. inFAMOUS delivers explosive action within an extensive sandbox, a veritable playground of electrified mayhem.
100
AceGamez
With a strong storyline, a stunning and expansive world, inspired level and mission design and a hefty amount of time required to see it through to completion, inFAMOUS is an essential PS3 release.
95
AtomicGamer
As it turns out, main character Cole's abilities are much cooler to wield than your typical electricity-spewing hero's, but it's some of the other goodies packed into this title that give it a real jolt.
95
NZGamer
inFamous is amazing. The feeling of "ability" engendered by the game's openness and the soft-lock system that allows you to go exactly where you want to and land precisely where you intended is genre-defining.
93
GameZone
I will tell you that inFAMOUS does possess a mess load of fantastic looking graphics and incredible sound. I will only play this game cranked up on the surround sound because it makes everything seem so much more involved. Great sound effects, great voice acting and it all comes together beautifully.
92
Console Monster
Scaling buildings and objects just works perfectly, you rarely miss a jump or ledge, and this helps enhance the gameplay further, letting you concentrate on navigating or shooting your foes. Some gamers may cry out for a multiplayer mode, but a game of this type just doesn’t need it.
92
IGN
Cole's powers are cool, the graphic novel cutscenes are stunning, the story is intriguing, and the city is alive.
92
Extreme Gamer
inFAMOUS takes everything you’ve come to expect from a well done super-hero tale and presents it in the shell of a video-game.
92
Pelit (Finland)
An excellent GTA-style superhero-sandbox. There's nothing major to complain about – it doesn't need any multiplayer-modes. [June 2009]
91
1UP
Simply put, inFamous is the kind of game that when I'm not playing it, I'm constantly thinking about doing so. Heck, I already know what's going to happen right after I finish this sentence: I'm going to go back and play more as "superhero lightning cop" Cole.
91
Gaming Age
The audio in inFamous is incredible, especially when piped via HDMI to a capable 5.1 receiver.
90
IGN UK
While not wholly original, the game's blend of open world ideals with superhero powers is done with a verve that’s unsurpassed, and the mesh of platforming and freeform combat is uniquely satisfying.
90
Game Informer
A nice balance between run-and-gun action and fleet-footed platforming. [June 2009, p.86]
90
Playstation Official Magazine UK
The combat's deep and spectacular, the climbing is slick and intuitive, and the story's got enough depth behind the flashy hero/villain hook to fully merit that all-important second playthrough. There's genuinely nothing else like inFamous on PS3. [June 2009, p.82]
90
WonderwallWeb
It’s hard not to be impressed by inFamous, the way it is presented and the amount of ways you can play just blows you away.
90
GameTrailers
Thanks to its fluid, genre-crossing gameplay and action-packed scenarios, inFAMOUS has established itself as an electrifying new addition to the PS3 library.
90
D+PAD Magazine
It’s a euphoric example of tight, well-constructed narrative and strong game design, and ultimately a title that won’t only be remembered as the best superhero game to date, but also as one of the PS3’s finest moments.
90
Playstation Universe
The shifting good vs. bad storyline provides a solid foundation that the gameplay builds upon, and therefore missions and side objectives feel genuinely refreshing. Empire City provides an excellent base for exploration and Cole's skills make the third person "shooting" feel fresh and exciting.
90
GameSpot
Incredible freedom of movement, intense combat, and an enthralling story make Infamous an impressive open-world action game.
90
Cynamite
Great visuals, nice controls and electrifying action - That's how it's supposed to be. Granted, it’s not an innovation masterpiece but it delivers some great hours of fun.
90
Level7.nu
Sucker Punch, known for the phenomenal Sly Cooper series, has introduced one of the best PS3 games to date and what could very well be the best superhero game ever. The storytelling, although aesthetically impressive, is executed somewhat hastily and could have been a bit more fleshed out. This is just a minor flaw in a game that does everything else extremely well. The controls are flawless and the electrical powers are absolutely awesome. The city is grand - to take a leap from a tall building is nothing short of exhilarating - and it feels very much alive. Having superpowers in a game has never been as cool as this.
90
GameDaily
The attractive graphic novel cut scenes, devastating electrical attacks, a moody soundtrack and a sprawling post apocalyptic metropolis make inFAMOUS a welcome addition to the PlayStation 3 library.
90
Da Gameboyz
With solid graphics, solid sound, and some great gameplay elements (e.g. Karma Moments), Sucker Punch did Sony right by offering up a great PlayStation 3 exclusive title.
90
ImpulseGamer
The developers have successfully created an interesting open world with a strong super hero theme that works very well. The story is great and the characters are quite relatable with a variety of twists and turns as you progress through the game.
90
GamingExcellence
There isn’t too much here that we haven’t seen before but the experience itself is worth exploring. It’s when the whole picture starts to come together that some of the seams begin to show. But if you persevere then you will be rewarded by a great story with rich characters and fun gameplay.
90
LEVEL (Czech Republic)
Small compact worlds, varied missions, side quests, free movement, special abilities – that’s what we want from superhero type games. And inFamous gives it everything with style. [June 2009]
90
XGN
This game is, due to its provoking story, beautiful graphics, realistic sounds and the huge amount of possibilities, almost a perfect title. If the game had a multiplayer feature as well, it probably would have earned the full ten points!
90
GamePro
Great game, minor faults, a lot of fun to be had, terrible story but the gameplay holds up despite it. Maybe this "sleeping on it" thing has some merit, after all.
90
Multiplayer.it
Quotation forthcoming.
90
GameFocus
The overall quality of the game is not as high as I expected because I love the Sly Cooper games but as the first game this generation from Sucker Punch it makes this a must buy for PS3 owners. Just do not expect anything stellar or new in terms of gameplay, as we have seen much this game has to offer before and done slightly better.
90
Eurogamer Portugal
inFAMOUS is simply one of the most fun games I've played this generation and probably the most fun game I've played this year. If you cannot buy it you've got to borrow it because you'll have a lot of fun. Sucker Punch manages a balanced result with fine arguments to attract the player and cole, the city and his story gives us a lot of pleasure to meet.
90
TotalPlayStation
inFAMOUS is many things; a superhero epic, a decent into indulging one's dark side, a comic book fable and an electrically-charged shooter. Above all else, though, it's a next-gen platformer -- something the PS3 was lacking until now.
90
DarkStation
Infamous is one of the best games so far in 2009 and if you have a PS3 you owe it to yourself to check it out.
89
3DJuegos
inFamous is as electric as its main character. A brilliant videogame in every side of its gameplay that demonstrates the charm of its creators and the love they brought into its development.
89
GamingXP
This title comes up with a very good story, many plot twists, a “thinking” city and a very charming protagonist with style. A very well done open-world title that offers lots of hours full of fantastic gameplay!
89
PSX Extreme
inFamous plays extremely well, and has an unusually fun character to it, on top of an addictive one. It boasts a massive game world that you can scale fully and interact with extensively, on top of a game engine that makes it all happen with minimal issues.
88
Cheat Code Central
The extremely user-friendly controls, deep open-world, loads of missions, and outrageous powers combine to make this one of the best titles to hit the PS3 to date.
88
Vandal Online
It is not "Fable" and it does not try to be, it just takes these elements and combines them with some others to create very fun videogame, with its own personality and a well-achieved and told story, perfectly integrated with its gameplay. A more than recommended buy.
88
HellBored
A sandbox game that turns you into a superhero, maybe, is a surprisingly entertaining jaunt despite it not immediately capturing our imagination. inFamous does a lot of things right.
88
InsideGamer.nl
If you like sand-box games, you have to play InFamous. It's got a good story, unique powers and a city where you can explore a lot. It is a great debut for Sucker Punch on the PS3!
86
IGN AU
Most importantly, the movement and combat mechanics are fantastic, while the firefights (and the starring role of electricity) are a true spectacle. In this game the city is both your playground and your plaything, and you'll feel like a bad-ass.
86
Games Master UK
Who knew messing around with electricity could be so much fun? [July 2009, p.68]
85
Gameplayer
While it certainly isn’t the graphical revelation it has been hyped to be, this is a game that is very much deserving of any PS3 owner’s hard earned cash. Or, to put it another way, Infamous can successfully generate 1.21 Gigawatts of fun, without the danger of setting anybody’s eyeballs on fire.
85
Computer and Video Games
It has its frustrations and we miss burning around in a car or the rumble of some good old-fashioned gunpowder, plus we think "Crackdown" pips it in the open-world action game league. But that won't stop you having a very amusing 25 hours of gaming (play it through twice, once good and once evil, and it's even longer).
85
Kikizo
With its karma-driven electric fisticuffs, open-ended parkour antics and stylishly broody ambiance, InFamous is a game worthy of Sucker Punch's slick PS2 releases, and a great addition to the PS3's increasingly formidable exclusive line-up. Shame about the story, but there's plenty to do by the wayside.
85
Gameplanet
inFamous is an all-encompassing superhero tale told with care and attention. Sucker Punch Productions have created a fantastic title that will push your superhuman skills to the limit.
85
Meristation
InFamous is a superheroes' different history. Cole handles the options and power that the electricity has given him, and with them he can do the good or get squarely into the dark side. With a few excellent controls, many power unlockables and the freedom complete to move and to use them for Empire City, this game is the "sleeper" PS3 game of this year. At least it has demonstrated a quality and an amusement within reach of few games.
85
Play.tm
It may not reinvent the wheel as far as the open-world genre is concerned, but in crafting a suitably compelling and eminently playable title, Sucker Punch have shaken off the child-friendly shackles of their Sly Cooper games and produced something distinctly dark and mature, that simply demands to be played.
83
SpazioGames
Quotation forthcoming.
83
The Onion (A.V. Club)
Cole is well-drawn, but Empire City is the game’s most compelling character. In spite of some cookie-cutter neighborhoods, the burg has real personality.
83
Game Revolution
But the real reason to buy inFamous is that, regardless of your morality, it's just plain old fun being super-powered Cole in a city full of helpless mortals. And if you're a 360 owner lamenting the PS3 exclusivity, don't worry about it - just go pick up a copy of "Crackdown" instead.
81
Play UK
inFamous is a weird game – it’s entertaining and well developed, but lacks polish. Even though it’s really enjoyable, for the most part, it’s great but feels rough around the edges.
80
DailyGame
The core game and concept are solid, but InFamous is a bit too repetitive for its own good, both in gameplay and environmental surroundings.
80
Video Game Talk
Infamous is a well-realized game.
80
PALGN
inFamous hits all the right notes but sometimes tends to miss. An electrifying experience well worth buying.
80
Gamer.nl
InFamous is, in a nice way, a new type of game. The climbing onto building-part is truly from another level, your electric superpowers more than okay and Empire City a place that gives you goosebumps. The basics are so good that it lets you forget the minor flaws with ease. InFamous is a must buy and will offer hours and hours of gameplay.
80
Boomtown
As frustrating as it can be to constantly have to keep your eye out for sources of electricity, the power it gives you is particularly enthralling. With an intriguing story and original, if painfully skillful, enemies, the game offers engagement through both narrative, likeable characters and respectable challenge.
80
Playstation: The Official Magazine (US)
An entertaining, colorful, occasionally terrific romp that provides a solid basis for what we hope is an ongoing, evolving franchise.[July 2009, p.66]
80
Wired
inFamous suffers from a host of little problems, but all those minor missteps get smoothed over by the fact that you never want to stop playing the game. The makers of inFamous obeyed the cardinal rule of good game design: They kept everything fun.
80
Thunderbolt
Surprisingly for a game with such a strong comic book feel, it sometimes feels like the world and characters lack personality, but if in future installments the developers can address these few flaws and perhaps develop the narrative in a more evocative environment, they could easily have one of the best games in the genre on their hands.
80
BigPond GameArena
The other thing hampering this games replayability - and playability - is the repetitive nature of the side missions. While thought has definitely gone into the main story missions, the side missions are taken from a stack of about ten different options - kill 14 of these guys, find 12 of these transmitters - and they tend to get tedious fairly quickly.
80
Telegraph
From the beautiful storyboard cut-scenes, to the outstanding voice-work, to the stunning soundtrack (courtesy of the highly talented Amon Tobin), to the compelling plot, the classic gameplay, the incredible environment; you start to become overloaded by the praiseworthy content. It is by no means flawless, but inFamous is a compelling, incredibly enjoyable video game and an essential addition to any PS3 owner's game library.
80
VideoGamer
Had the first half of the game matched the far more entertaining later sections (where the super powers really come into their own) and the story been a bit more engaging throughout we'd be looking at one of the best open-world action games of all time.
80
Total Video Games
Insanely intense action, a fantastic control setup and decent missions, make for a thoroughly entertaining PS3 exclusive - apparently the format's first in the sandbox genre.
80
Gameplayer Sweden
Despite its rough edges and somewhat lacking story, inFamous manages to grab the player and offer a compelling and action filled gameplay experience that surpasses most other super hero games out there.
80
Gamervision
A solid first effort for a new franchise. The game’s overall package is a bit uneven, but it’s easy to strike that up to growing pains, particularly since this is Sucker Punch’s first next-generation effort.
75
Everyeye.it
Great potential, but not a flawless realization.
71
Gamers' Temple
Much like with Assassin's Creed, people will herald inFamous as great about 5 minutes before they realize that the game gets just plain boring after you've done it all once or twice.
70
games(TM)
The tragedy is that inFamous contains flashes of something approaching brilliance, yet when we finished all that remained were memories of the cracks in its surface. [July 2009, p.112]
70
Edge Magazine
At its best, Infamous is an amped-up Crackdown - a game about bounding across a cityscape, discharging your enemies however you please. Even if ropey execution impedes its appeal, Infamous still has this essential spark. [June 2009, p.88]
70
Eurogamer
There is more charm to inFamous than Cole's face and voice suggest, but basking in the glow of the end credits, there are also a lot of painful memories to recall; of too many missions that funnel you into shooting galleries, of difficulty spikes and enemy-spamming, and of staring at the upgrades page rather glumly, aware that for the most part you're only being invited to make things strike harder or across a broader range.
70
Games Radar (in-house)
InFamous shows huge potential, but it’s ultimately held back from greatness by too-sticky controls and its surprisingly bland ruin of a city. It’s still fun, but there’s a lot of room for improvement in the strongly hinted-at sequel.
70
TheSixthAxis
Recall your fondest sandbox memories: discovering The Truth, learning to fly, or climbing the central tower in Crackdown. There’s nothing like this in inFamous. Sure, there’s some nice boss battles, some great shoot-outs and, when it’s all said and done, a decent overarching story, but the moments, the single sections that must piece together to form a whole, are rarely that enjoyable and you certainly won’t be discussing most of them with friends around the watercooler.
70
PS3bloggen.se
It's difficult not to like inFamous. The open air feel more than makes up for the uninspired story, with repetitive quests and average boss battles, and the uneven quality of the graphics. However, the karma system is flawed and Empire City is hardly bustling with life, but at least the game is fun while it lasts. And the scale of the city is very impressive, especially when you perform a Thunder Drop from high altitudes.
65
GameCritics
It never feels as though it's doing much more than going through the motions, and as a result, neither did I. Lacking the joy and spirit intrinsic to truly inspired projects, inFamous may have painted by the numbers correctly, but technical success is not the same thing as creating a brilliant masterpiece.
Warning: Crappy Review Follows.
60
Teletext GameCentral
Disappointing superhero sim, whose meagre set of powers prove to be far less exotic than you'd hope.
Metascore: 85%http://www.metacritic.com/games/platforms/ps3/infamous
Score Range: 40%
Policy: I will say this now. No Maxim, No Variety. Even if they give it 10/10, I am not including them. I do not deem them reviewers.
Well, I'm getting this game for sure! What are your thoughts about the game?
Please let me know if there are any reviews I need to add or if there is anything else that could improve this thread (within reason)
EDIT: It's impossible to list all of these reviews individually by typing, so I'll copy-paste from Metacritic.
(Former) Lead Moderator and (Eternal) VGC Detective 
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