A bold sequel that improves upon it's predecessor in amazing ways
Pros:
-Good Storyline and Characters
-Open world environment is fun to explore
-Good variety of powers
-Some moral decisions are tough to make
-Good freedom of choice
-High Replay Value and Lot's of content will keep you busy for a while
Cons:
-Not the best looking game on PS3, doesn't show off it's power.
-Combat can be frustrating and awkward when fighting multiple enemies at once.
-Some other moral choices are too black and white
Infamous 2 is the sequel to the smash hit "Infamous" from the brains behind Sly Cooper, Sucker Punch. Infamous 2 is a bold sequel and it expands upon it's predecessor in just about every single way, and while there are few gripes here and there, Infamous 2 remains a very enjoyable experience and one that is well worth your money.
Infamous 2 picks right up after the events from Infamous 1, Cole fails to defeat the Beast and leaves Empire City (New York) for New Maria in the south (New Orleans), where there is a scientist who has made a device capable of defeating the Beast. Upon his arrival the city has been locked down with a local fascist militia running the show, nothing is allowed in or out, and they especially hate "freaks" like Cole Mcgrath (hint: Your not the only one with powers this time around). Right from the start you get to experience what the combat system is like, some if it will feel similar to Infamous 1 but it has been much improved, though the melee fighting is very different. Now you fight with an electronic amp which you can generate your electricity through, but it's only focused on one enemy at a time. This is an issue with Infamous 2's combat, it can be awkward to fight off multiple enemies at once. Many of your attacks are focused on just one enemy at a time, you have a few like an electric "push" you can use, but it's not very effective until later on in the game. There is also a dodge and cover system, which work alright but they are not the most refined.
Infamous 2 does boast quite a large arsenal of powers for you to save (or reek havoc unto if you so choose) people with. You have your standard electric shots, electric grenades, electric rocket-like attacks, a drain ability, and plenty more. You also get supportive abilities as well like a hover ability or an electric tether to get around the world with. Later in the game you also get Ice or Fire powers (you can only choose one), both of these are fun and offer a unique new game play style. There are also new abilities now called "Iconic Powers", these are only usable when you collect the energy of a conduit, and when absorbed you can unleash a VERY powerful attack. You can unleash a giant electric tornado that rips through the city, you can unleash massive bolts of lighting from the sky, or send a giant ice storm to freeze people or an Iconic Drain which sucks the life out of everyone in the area, and more! There is a good enough variety of powers to unlock and they are all fun to use.
The graphics of Infamous 2 are not the best, the PS3 is far more capable of doing better graphics and Infamous 2 does not show it off. A shame too because Infamous 2 is exclusive only to PS3, and Sucker Punch should have taken advantage of the PS3's extra power. But that isn't to say Infamous 2 is a bad looking game, far from it. It has a nice art direction, with the sun rising/setting over a marshy swamp, mardi gra like lights go on at night time around the city, the world looks and feels alive, people will go about their day but when the tension starts to set in (or the danger) people will change and be more chaotic. The world it's self is fun to explore, you can climb the roof tops of the city, go to "flood town" (an area without an power), go explore a creep backwater swamp, and more. The game also offers good incentive to explore it's world, blast shards and dead drops ect....all make you a little stronger every time you find them.
The storyline of Infamous 2 is a good one, it has likable characters like the returning Zeke, and it has a huge plot twist just like Infamous 1 did. All of the characters have some amount of depth to them, which makes them more complex. The game also has a similar moral system like Infamous 1 did, these decisions range from easy black and white to being thought provoking and hard (especially later in the game). It's a shame not all of the decisions could be hard to make, but it works for what it does. You have freedom just like Infamous 1, you can kill who you want, go where you want, and basically do whatever you want. The world has plenty to offer you, so if your a fan of open sandbox games then you can't really beat Infamous 2.
Infamous 2 also offers plenty of replay value and content, you will stay busy with this game for a while. You can replay the game after you beat the story and make the other decisions you never made the first time around, you can do all the many, and I mean many, side missions the game offers. You can finish all the free roam type game missions such as finding all the blast shards or finding secrets, and if that doesn't do it for you then you should try out the UGC missions, User Generated Content. With Infamous 2 you can create and design your own missions and share them in the world, some are better than others and the tools are a little complex at times, but once you get the hang of it you'll be having plenty of fun.
Final Verdict:
Infamous 2 may have a few problems, but none of these things take away from the core experience, a fun open world game letting you play as someone with super powers and freedom to make decisions for yourself and living with the consequences. It's a good solid sequel and one you will play through multiple times, it has more than enough content to justify a purchase. If you own a PS3, you owe it to yourself to checkout Infamous 2.
Infamous 2 get's a 4/5
