Open world action done right
I generally don't care too much for open world action games. I tend to feel that what they gain in scope, they lose in focus. In other words, they're kind of a jack of all trades, but master of none. And while inFamous fits this bill for the most part, its tight controls and interesting story are good enough to make it stand out from the pack. As a result, this is one of the better open world action games that I've ever played.
That being said, inFamous does complete the requisite checklist of tired open world necessities. Large, accessible city filled with innocent bystanders and eager foes, both of which are simply there to get in your way whenever possible? Check. Hordes of repetitive side missions? Check. Tons of pointless collectibles? Check. inFamous has hit all the staples, and for the most part it doesn't pull off the open world aspects any better or worse than most games of the genre. As a result, exploring the actual world in inFamous made me feel like I was simply going through the motions, running silly errands all over the place. It doesn't help matters any that, like most games as sprawling as this, the production values are often sub par. Much of the scenery is pretty bland, and certain details (most notably the characters' faces when they're talking) just look weird. I also found a few technical blemishes, such as clipping and misplaced invisible walls, though these bugs tended to be fairly minor.
While inFamous remains totally mediocre when it comes to a lot of aspects of open world action games, it manages to perform splendidly in a few key areas. First off, the controls are great. Open world games are generally sloppy in this regard, but inFamous has gotten it just right. Everything from the platforming to the shooting controls is just really snappy, and makes using Cole's wide array of super powers a blast. Speaking of super powers, inFamous has a great selection of them. There's enough variety to keep things interesting, and they all seem to have a purpose at some time or another- there really aren't any throw away powers to be found. Finally, the story in inFamous is awesome, even with its contrived moral choices. The characters are likable, the comic book style cut-scenes are really cool, and the plot keeps you guessing all the way until the end. Perhaps best of all, inFamous has managed to create a surprisingly deep and intricate world. There's lots of room for expanding this narrative, and I'm already interested in the prospect of a sequel.
In the end, that's where inFamous wins out. Even with all its mediocrity in the open world department, its strong aspects are good enough that I still want more. The controls and powers lend themselves to some fast paced action, but it's the story that ultimately won me over. inFamous is a solid start to what could end up being something amazing, making it a game that shouldn't go overlooked by any fan of open world action.
For additional information on my review style and scoring system, click here.
