INFAMOUS 2

inFamous 2 -

Positives

A much improved and longer story.
Improved graphics with a brighter and more alive city.
Two different endings and plenty of collectables mean excellent replayability.

Negatives

The camera swings a bit in tight areas.
The good and evil missions are a little too black and white.

Full Review

Infamous 2 is the sequel to the successful superhero sim bearing the same name and improves on its predecessor in every way. Infamous was a strong contender for Game Of The Year with its excellent mix of Uncharted-like climbing and open world roaming which was unlike anything on the market (apart from Grand Theft Auto) and the game's surprisingly deep karma system and strong fighting system were a huge hit and the result was one of the best superhero games ever.

Infamous 2 begins where the last game left off with the imminent arrival of the prophesised Beast. The behemoth is tough as nails and the game does a brilliant job of showing this at the start of the game. The first game was all about getting to grips with your powers and trying to defeat a man named Kessler. The interesting twist at the end was a surprise I wasn't expecting and I strongly recommend everyone to play the first game before playing the second. Although the game does have a recap, the result is not the same.

Infamous 2 starts you off with all the powers you gained in the first game which is a nice touch as you already feel powerful when the game starts. The Beast arrives at the start of the game and after a decent boss fight and getting to grips with the controls (and also getting your arse handed to you in the process), Cole McGrath retreats to New Marais to prepare for the imminent fight with The Beast and get stronger. I won't give away much but suffice to say-the story is just as strong as it was in Infamous.

The karmic choices return again and compliment the story well. The two different endings is a nice touch but Nix and Kuo are a little too black and white in their approach which is a shame as I would have liked to see more rounded characters that would make you think whether you're doing the right thing or not-which the first game did do. Having said that, the system in plays works and is largely untouched from the first game which, to be fair, didn't need tampering with anyway.

Infamous 2 plays almost identically to the first game with the big difference being the melee which is an excellent addition and although not as deep as say Batman: Arkham Asylum, is still a good addition and definitely improves the game, adding another layer to the fighting system. All the usual abilities are in play here with a few surprises being either ice or fire attacks to add to Cole's arsenal. There's enough variety here to tackle fights from every angle and in every different situation which is good as fights do vary from monsters to militia and ice men-which all require a different strategy to fight and the variety is excellent.

The graphics are excellent here and can't be faulted. The drab browns and greys are gone from Empire City and instead are replaced with splashes of greens and blues amid a thriving and genuinely more alive city. The neon lights are also a brilliant touch and the variety on the palette of colours is much more refreshing to see and really does make New Marais pop.

The sound effects and music are equally good and although aren't groundbreaking or amazing-they do add to the atmosphere and the latter in particular is excellent during hectic action sequences. The trophies are also of a good variety and stay true to form after the excellent trophies on offer from the first game.

Overall, Infamous 2 is an excellent game that improves the first game in every way possible. After playing through the game its clear to see how much work has gone into this one to improve it compared to the first game. Almost every single aspect of the game has been improved from the longevity of the story, to the number of collectibles all the way up to the improved melee and colours in-game. Although the camera is a little irritating at times and swings wildly when in tight spaces, Infamous 2 is a great game and one that should be on everyone's lips when they utter the words "Best Superhero Game ever." A must buy!

Conclusion Scores

Graphics -

A huge improvement over Empire City in the first game and the inclusion of more colours is a welcome change.

Story -

A much longer story than that of the first game and one that is just as strong. The inclusion of two endings is a nice touch and one that warrants two playthroughs.

Gameplay -

Plays exactly like the first game but the good and evil sides could have been a little less obvious to work out. The improved melee is excellent though and the new powers are equally good.

Trophies -

An excellent bunch of trophies ranging from collectables and purchasing all powers, to testing out those powers in clever ways.

Sound -

The sound is good with the crackling electric powers and the ambient music improved over the previous game.

Lasting Appeal -

With two different endings and a slew of unlockables, not to mention the never ending user generated content- Infamous 2 is a game with excellent replayability.

Overall Score -

Infamous 2 is one of the best games released this year and improves on every aspect of the first Infamous. I said that Infamous was the best superhero game out there and in many ways it was. However, Infamous 2 shrugs that aside and rightly takes its place as the best superhero game on PS3 and a worthy sequel to the first game. A must have exclusive.

DJ Gregsta Homepage