Infamous 2 Review
Cole's adventure in New Marais warrants your attention.
I'm a sucker for sandbox games and solid third-person action titles, but Infamous didn't intrigue me leading up to its 2009 release. Superheroes and comic books aren't my thing, and I figured I would be just fine ignoring it while waiting for something more alluring to come through. But I was wrong. Having been tasked with writing the IGN Guide for Infamous, I jumped into an experience I thought wouldn't interest me and ended up loving every second of it. I beat Infamous four times. No matter how many times I played, Infamous never got old, and it quickly became one of my favorite games of the entire generation.
I'm happy to report that, in many ways, Infamous 2 is even stronger than its predecessor.
Infamous 2 Video Review
Tangible allusions to Infamous are scarce in Infamous 2, and there's an expectation that you're already familiar with the events of the first game. So you should definitely play the former before you play its sequel. Having survived his time in the quarantined metropolis of Empire City, Cole MacGrath -- with powers imbued to him from a mysterious device known as the Ray Sphere -- finally faces off against the prophesized Beast. He gets his butt kicked and retreats to the American south to lick his wounds and follow-up on the very real possibility of becoming more powerful in the town of New Marais.
Infamous 2's story is a deep, character-driven affair -- Cole's best friend Zeke is back and joined by a new foil named Bertrand and his anti-Cole Militia -- but what good would it be without great gameplay to accompany it? Infamous 2 plays nearly identically to how the original played, and that's a good thing. You'll once again control the electric superhero (or supervillain as you get to choose your moral alignment) in third-person. You'll once again have the ability to use his superpowers as well as take advantage of his increased melee capabilities thanks to a weapon called the Amp. And experience points can be used to unlock new, more powerful attacks, allowing Cole to inch closer and closer to the strength necessary to take on The Beast.
New Marais invokes New Orleans everywhere you go.
All of this boils down to gameplay that is superb. Cole handles smoothly, and better yet, he feels powerful. Cole in Infamous 2 is a continuation of Cole from the original, so he should feel like a powerhouse, and he does. Certain skills you had to learn in the original Infamous, such as the abilities to float and grind, are already learned as Infamous 2 gets underway. The goal here is simply to make Cole even more outrageously powerful than he already is, as opposed to starting again from scratch. This is definitely a nice touch. And while melee combat isn't as strong as it could be (and in fact causes Infamous 2's most serious problems in terms of a wonky camera), fighting is still incredibly satisfying.
Aesthetically, Infamous 2 pleases both the ears and eyes. Sucker Punch has created a telltale art style that fits perfectly in this series, and the game's overall look, including animations, is improved from the original. The sounds of New Marais are also great, from the basic sound effects of a bustling city to the voice acting. I certainly miss Cole's original voice, but the voice acting in Infamous 2 is still top-notch.
New Marais is a totally unique location that is a more living, breathing locale than Empire City ever was. There's real diversity in New Marais from the neon-lit red light district to the Katrina-like devastation of Floodtown, and it is all there for you to explore with the game's trademark parkour and climbing moves. Plus, there are plenty of enemies to fight, with a more robust cast of foes in both type and size. There are normal pedestrians who will rebel if you go the evil route to massive ice creatures looking to pulverize anything and everything.
Naturally, working your way through New Marais fighting enemies with no objectives is fairly pointless, and that's where Infamous 2's primary focus comes into play. Heading through Infamous 2 requires you to work your way through a plethora of main missions as well as a slew of optional side quests. Main missions advance the story, and completing side quests will eliminate hostile threats from a small section of New Marais. As you work to complete both types of quests, the city will become progressively safer, and you'll work further and further through the main story. Completing certain quests in certain ways will also allow you to become closer to Kuo or Nix, two female characters that represent Cole's best and worst instincts. Befriending one or the other through your actions will eventually lead to the use of her special fire or ice-based attacks to add to your electrical arsenal.
Infamous 2 Mission Commentary
The hallmarks of Infamous 2, like the original, are its freedom and decision making points. To see everything the game has to offer, you'll have to play through it twice, making completely different decisions each time. Decisions are at times made on the fly, while at other times you'll get to carefully consider what you're going to do. Having the option to make choices that affect the game's outcome is pretty awesome, especially when it gives Infamous 2 inherent replay value and two great (and extremely different) endings.
But what Infamous 2 does best is give you a feeling of progression. There's an incredible amount to see and do in New Marais, and all of it will keep you busy for at least 20 hours per playthrough. In addition to the aforementioned story missions and side quests, there's simply much more to do. To increase Cole's power meter, you can find hundreds of Blast Shards strewn around the city. Like Blast Shards, audio diaries called Dead Drops make their return, though you'll find them on pigeons this time around. Stunts are back, though instead of doing them simply for experience points or Trophies, you'll do them to unlock special powers for Cole to purchase and use. Even your progress in the original Infamous carries over to Infamous 2.
This guy doesn't like Cole very much.
Additionally, User Generated Content (or UGC) is introduced in Infamous 2 and gives the game what can be perceived as endless replay value. Any gamer with a copy of Infamous 2 and access to the PlayStation Network can create his or her own special missions, share them online, and see other creations pop up around the map along with primary missions and side quests. When a UGC mission is undertaken, gamers can earn experience points and rate the mission, which will allow the best content to rise to the top. Though I wasn't blown away by any of the pre-loaded UGC from Sucker Punch, this is an awesome addition to Infamous 2 that has virtually unlimited potential. I'm very excited to see what the Infamous faithful do with these tools, even though they can be extremely cumbersome and will require some technical prowess and a whole lot of time spent learning in order to use them effectively.
Closing Comments
Everything in Infamous 2 is cleverly interconnected. If you neglect side quests, the city will be less safe (making the game more difficult) and you’ll have fewer skills to purchase. Neglecting to collect Blast Shards gives Cole less electricity to work with. Ignoring Dead Drops will keep the story darker and more nebulous. And refusing to work with UGC not only forces you to miss out on easy Trophies but also removes a welcome community feel to Infamous 2 that the original lacked.
Nothing exists in Infamous 2 just because, and that’s something developer Sucker Punch should be commended for. When combined with how well-executed just about everything in the game is, the overall package is one of PlayStation 3’s best and a must-play for fans of the first game. Don’t be deceived by niche subject matter like I was when the original Infamous first came out. This is a rock-solid third-person action game with an incredible story, great characters, meaty gameplay and – above all else – a string that effectively ties everything together.
IGN Ratings for Infamous 2 (PS3)
Presentation 9.0
Infamous 2’s storyline is contingent on having played the original, but it’s a well-delivered tale with two totally different endings. There’s plenty to discover in terms of plot.
Graphics 8.5
The original Infamous was a good-looking game, but Infamous 2 cleans things up considerably. It looks great and runs well, and the animations are fluid.
Sound 8.0
Cole’s original voice actor is missed here, but the new guy does well enough. A great, moody soundtrack compliments a solid roster of voice actors.
Gameplay 8.5
Infamous 2, like its predecessor, is a hell of a third-person action game. The only thing that holds Infamous 2 back are camera issues and lackluster melee mechanics.
Lasting Appeal 9.5
Expect to spend 20 hours beating Infamous 2; twice that much if you want to do everything again. There are myriad collectibles to find, and User Generated Content galore to mess around with.
OVERALL 9.0 (Amazing)
I'm a sucker for sandbox games and solid third-person action titles, but Infamous didn't intrigue me leading up to its 2009 release. Superheroes and comic books aren't my thing, and I figured I would be just fine ignoring it while waiting for something more alluring to come through. But I was wrong. Having been tasked with writing the IGN Guide for Infamous, I jumped into an experience I thought wouldn't interest me and ended up loving every second of it. I beat Infamous four times. No matter how many times I played, Infamous never got old, and it quickly became one of my favorite games of the entire generation.
I'm happy to report that, in many ways, Infamous 2 is even stronger than its predecessor.
Infamous 2 Video Review
Tangible allusions to Infamous are scarce in Infamous 2, and there's an expectation that you're already familiar with the events of the first game. So you should definitely play the former before you play its sequel. Having survived his time in the quarantined metropolis of Empire City, Cole MacGrath -- with powers imbued to him from a mysterious device known as the Ray Sphere -- finally faces off against the prophesized Beast. He gets his butt kicked and retreats to the American south to lick his wounds and follow-up on the very real possibility of becoming more powerful in the town of New Marais.
Infamous 2's story is a deep, character-driven affair -- Cole's best friend Zeke is back and joined by a new foil named Bertrand and his anti-Cole Militia -- but what good would it be without great gameplay to accompany it? Infamous 2 plays nearly identically to how the original played, and that's a good thing. You'll once again control the electric superhero (or supervillain as you get to choose your moral alignment) in third-person. You'll once again have the ability to use his superpowers as well as take advantage of his increased melee capabilities thanks to a weapon called the Amp. And experience points can be used to unlock new, more powerful attacks, allowing Cole to inch closer and closer to the strength necessary to take on The Beast.
New Marais invokes New Orleans everywhere you go.
All of this boils down to gameplay that is superb. Cole handles smoothly, and better yet, he feels powerful. Cole in Infamous 2 is a continuation of Cole from the original, so he should feel like a powerhouse, and he does. Certain skills you had to learn in the original Infamous, such as the abilities to float and grind, are already learned as Infamous 2 gets underway. The goal here is simply to make Cole even more outrageously powerful than he already is, as opposed to starting again from scratch. This is definitely a nice touch. And while melee combat isn't as strong as it could be (and in fact causes Infamous 2's most serious problems in terms of a wonky camera), fighting is still incredibly satisfying.
Aesthetically, Infamous 2 pleases both the ears and eyes. Sucker Punch has created a telltale art style that fits perfectly in this series, and the game's overall look, including animations, is improved from the original. The sounds of New Marais are also great, from the basic sound effects of a bustling city to the voice acting. I certainly miss Cole's original voice, but the voice acting in Infamous 2 is still top-notch.
New Marais is a totally unique location that is a more living, breathing locale than Empire City ever was. There's real diversity in New Marais from the neon-lit red light district to the Katrina-like devastation of Floodtown, and it is all there for you to explore with the game's trademark parkour and climbing moves. Plus, there are plenty of enemies to fight, with a more robust cast of foes in both type and size. There are normal pedestrians who will rebel if you go the evil route to massive ice creatures looking to pulverize anything and everything.
Naturally, working your way through New Marais fighting enemies with no objectives is fairly pointless, and that's where Infamous 2's primary focus comes into play. Heading through Infamous 2 requires you to work your way through a plethora of main missions as well as a slew of optional side quests. Main missions advance the story, and completing side quests will eliminate hostile threats from a small section of New Marais. As you work to complete both types of quests, the city will become progressively safer, and you'll work further and further through the main story. Completing certain quests in certain ways will also allow you to become closer to Kuo or Nix, two female characters that represent Cole's best and worst instincts. Befriending one or the other through your actions will eventually lead to the use of her special fire or ice-based attacks to add to your electrical arsenal.
Infamous 2 Mission Commentary
The hallmarks of Infamous 2, like the original, are its freedom and decision making points. To see everything the game has to offer, you'll have to play through it twice, making completely different decisions each time. Decisions are at times made on the fly, while at other times you'll get to carefully consider what you're going to do. Having the option to make choices that affect the game's outcome is pretty awesome, especially when it gives Infamous 2 inherent replay value and two great (and extremely different) endings.
But what Infamous 2 does best is give you a feeling of progression. There's an incredible amount to see and do in New Marais, and all of it will keep you busy for at least 20 hours per playthrough. In addition to the aforementioned story missions and side quests, there's simply much more to do. To increase Cole's power meter, you can find hundreds of Blast Shards strewn around the city. Like Blast Shards, audio diaries called Dead Drops make their return, though you'll find them on pigeons this time around. Stunts are back, though instead of doing them simply for experience points or Trophies, you'll do them to unlock special powers for Cole to purchase and use. Even your progress in the original Infamous carries over to Infamous 2.
This guy doesn't like Cole very much.
Additionally, User Generated Content (or UGC) is introduced in Infamous 2 and gives the game what can be perceived as endless replay value. Any gamer with a copy of Infamous 2 and access to the PlayStation Network can create his or her own special missions, share them online, and see other creations pop up around the map along with primary missions and side quests. When a UGC mission is undertaken, gamers can earn experience points and rate the mission, which will allow the best content to rise to the top. Though I wasn't blown away by any of the pre-loaded UGC from Sucker Punch, this is an awesome addition to Infamous 2 that has virtually unlimited potential. I'm very excited to see what the Infamous faithful do with these tools, even though they can be extremely cumbersome and will require some technical prowess and a whole lot of time spent learning in order to use them effectively.
Closing Comments
Everything in Infamous 2 is cleverly interconnected. If you neglect side quests, the city will be less safe (making the game more difficult) and you’ll have fewer skills to purchase. Neglecting to collect Blast Shards gives Cole less electricity to work with. Ignoring Dead Drops will keep the story darker and more nebulous. And refusing to work with UGC not only forces you to miss out on easy Trophies but also removes a welcome community feel to Infamous 2 that the original lacked.
Nothing exists in Infamous 2 just because, and that’s something developer Sucker Punch should be commended for. When combined with how well-executed just about everything in the game is, the overall package is one of PlayStation 3’s best and a must-play for fans of the first game. Don’t be deceived by niche subject matter like I was when the original Infamous first came out. This is a rock-solid third-person action game with an incredible story, great characters, meaty gameplay and – above all else – a string that effectively ties everything together.
IGN Ratings for Infamous 2 (PS3)
Presentation 9.0
Infamous 2’s storyline is contingent on having played the original, but it’s a well-delivered tale with two totally different endings. There’s plenty to discover in terms of plot.
Graphics 8.5
The original Infamous was a good-looking game, but Infamous 2 cleans things up considerably. It looks great and runs well, and the animations are fluid.
Sound 8.0
Cole’s original voice actor is missed here, but the new guy does well enough. A great, moody soundtrack compliments a solid roster of voice actors.
Gameplay 8.5
Infamous 2, like its predecessor, is a hell of a third-person action game. The only thing that holds Infamous 2 back are camera issues and lackluster melee mechanics.
Lasting Appeal 9.5
Expect to spend 20 hours beating Infamous 2; twice that much if you want to do everything again. There are myriad collectibles to find, and User Generated Content galore to mess around with.
OVERALL 9.0 (Amazing)
Comments
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Just pre-ordered the Hero Edition.
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Not copping I bought the 1st beat traded it immediately. I may rent it though.
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Just played the demo. Huge improvement in the graphics and the powers and more refined now. Can't wait to get it now.
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Just played the demo. Huge improvement in the graphics and the powers and more refined now. Can't wait to get it now.
You know the beta is still up and available to download? -
it plays just like the 1st, u have the option to carry over stuff from the 1st one, since i never beat it, i started a new game.......
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funkdocdamc wrote: »You know the beta is still up and available to download?
Yea, I never got a chance to try out the beta since I downloaded it before the outage. When the store came back on Wednesday night, I set the demo to download, but flew out of here first flight Thursday morning and only got back here late yesterday afternoon. -
im copping as soon as i finish the first one lol
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finna pick my copy up now and give it a spin before i got to work
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its a must cop 4 me
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why they change coles voice though?
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Waiting on my wife to get here with it now. I'm tired of playing the demo.
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This ? is dope as ? . I couldn't stop playing. I like how you can continue from the 1st one. I just wish they would have kept the old dead drops. Those damn pigeons are hard as ? to see.
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Yeah, it is a dope ass game. Graphics wise, it's way superior than part 1. The reason I stopped playing part 1 was because for a PS3 exclusive the game was hands down the worst looking exclusive title on the PS3 IMO.
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Dead @ the "Red Ring Electronics" store. Repairs in only 12 weeks! LMBAO!!!!!
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Michael_Malice wrote: »Dead @ the "Red Ring Electronics" store. Repairs in only 12 weeks! LMBAO!!!!!
alot of shots fired in the this game lmao @ Hey Low Reach -
alot of shots fired in the this game lmao @ Hey Low Reach
Yeah this ? is killing me. "Call of ? " lol -
You all stop it. I haven't got my copy as yet. lol
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i think i am about half way done the beast is like 300 miles from me ... but question how the hell do you bounce rockets and missles i cant unlock that one power because of it ! But this game is way more entertaining than the first thats for sure!
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i think i am about half way done the beast is like 300 miles from me ... but question how the hell do you bounce rockets and missles i cant unlock that one power because of it ! But this game is way more entertaining than the first thats for sure!
When they shoot the grenades and rockets at you use your Kinectic pulse to send them back. I think it's L1 plus X or something. -
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need to play this game
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I just beat the game as good
Ending got a ? teary eyed
word beat it last wednesday now i'm about to beat it on hard and evil so far he seems alot stronger with his evil abilities i can take them damn ravengers out in like 30 seconds with the double grenade -
Sucker Punch has released Update 3 for Infamous 2.
New features include being able to use Devourer and Titan bosses in user-made missions; being able to chain together user-made missions via Mission Linking; and being able to write short reviews for user-made missions. "I thought it was good," for example.
There are nearly 80,000 user-made Infamous 2 missions, you know.
Sucker Punch has also tweaked, added and fixed. These nips and tucks include:- Relative Health - You can now change Health and Cole's Energy modifiers as percentages
- Volume/Monitor Reset - New Reset When option on Volume and Monitor logic objects lets you change how or when they can be reset after being triggered
- Author Mission Search - Search results will now display the level author's name.