Reviewed on May 22, 2009
Dynamic, pinpoint-precise combat and a sprawling urban landscape define this great open-world action game from Sucker Punch.
Read Brad Shoemaker's full review
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inFAMOUS is a third-person open-world action-adventure game in which players take control of Cole, an urban explorer / bike messenger changed by a mysterious blast that grants him electricity-based superpowers.
Overview
inFAMOUS is an open world action-adventure game developed by Sucker Punch Productions, creators of the Sly Cooper series. The game was released on May 26, 2009 in North America, and May 29, 2009 in Europe. inFAMOUS has the player assuming the role of Cole McGrath, a bike messenger who gains electrical superpowers after a mysterious explosion.Story
inFAMOUS follows the story of Cole McGrath, a bike messenger and resident of the fictional Empire City. At the start of the game, a package that Cole is assigned to deliver causes a huge explosion that rips apart six city blocks, leaving behind a crater and Cole as the only survivor. The explosion grants Cole with several
Cole McGrath
According to inFAMOUS producer Nate Fox, the team wanted to have Cole as " a kind of an everyman", such that they could then "get into the head space of what it would be like to be a real human being who has been granted these exceptional abilities". While Cole is the main playable character, he is joined by two friends; Zeke, a fellow bike messenger, conspiracy theorist and survivalist who becomes jealous of Cole's powers, and Trish, Cole's ex-girlfriend and medical student who resents him due to her sister being killed in the blast but still helps in treating the injured, a "Lois Lane with syringes" as stated by Sucker Punch.
Gameplay
Cole's greatest strength and weakness comes from the source of his electrical powers. Cole's failure to generate his own energy to fuel his powers forces him to rely on the city's unreliable power grid, making players constantly manipulate the city's energy in order to use it for themselves. When Cole is in an area with power, he is able to constantly recharge his supply through the use of pay phones, lamp posts and other sources of electricity. However, according to Sucker Punch's Nate Fox, players must be wary of "rolling brownouts" that will randomly occur throughout the city, which prevents players from recharging Cole's powers. Players must be able to anticipate such blackouts and adapt when necessary. When Cole is in a blackout region of the city, his vision becomes blurred and he is unable to charge his powers from sources connected to the city's power grid. 
Cole using his electrical powers.
Sucker Punch has stated that Cole is unable to use guns or drive cars because the electricity in his body would ignite the ammunition and gas causing them to explode.
Cole also has powers that do not use electricity, such as his "post-cognition" power, which allows Cole to mend minds with recently deceased people in order to learn the cause of their death. Cole can also learn healing powers and "super navigation" abilities, which allows Cole to travel around Empire City more easily.
inFamous forces players to make moral decisions, as well. Cole can choose whether to help or hurt the civilians of Empire City, and his actions will not only affect how citizens react to him, but also affect which of the two endings the player can see. If Cole is kind to the citizens of Empire City, they will adore him and help him out whenever possible. But if players choose to attack civilians, the citizens will resent Cole and cower in fear. The player's karma status will have a visual effect on Cole's electricity based powers. For example, players with Good Karma will have blue lightning bolts, whereas players with "Evil Karma" will have red lightning bolts. Good Karma powers are more centered around catching bad guys alive and not harming civilians whereas the Evil Karma powers are more explosive and dangerous.
Powers
Throughout the game Cole is able to spend experience points to upgrade numerous powers that are acquired during the game. Most of the powers are the same for the good and bad archetype paths but have slight differences. For example both archetypes can use shock grenades, but the good archetype grenades increase enemy knockdown time while the evil ones split into multiple clusters which increases their blast radius.Lightning Bolt - Fires a single bolt of electricity at an enemy. This ability does not consume energy from Cole's battery cores.
Cole firing a Lightning Bolt.
Good Upgrades
- Righteous Blow - Cost: 800 XP. Restores some energy for each successful strike on a human target.
- Righteous Shot - Cost: 2900 XP. Head shots cause electricity to spread to nearby enemies and objects.
- Righteous Strike - Cost: 12000 XP. Restores significantly more energy for each successful strike. A successful headshot restores health.
Evil Upgrades
- Sadistic Blow - Cost: 400 XP. Affected enemies have a chance of exploding before dying.
- Sadistic Shot - Cost: 2900 XP. Increases the size of the explosion.
- Sadistic Strike - Cost: 12000 XP. Headshots automatically trigger the explosion.
Shockwave - Shockwave can be used to push enemies to the ground and off buildings. As well as push objects and reflect enemy rockets.
Cole firing a Shockwave.
Good Upgrades
- Reverse Magnetism - Cost: 800 XP. Affected human targets are suspended in air.
- Increased Force - Cost: 1800 XP. Shockwaves do more damage.
- Increased Range - Cost: 2800 XP. Shockwaves travel further.
Evil Upgrades
- Electrocution - Cost: 800 XP. All human targets are electrified.
- Increased Force and Range - Cost: 1800 XP. Shockwaves travel further and do more damage.
- Car Exploding - Cost: 3300 XP. Affected vehicles explode on contact.
Shock Grenade - Shock grenades are balls of energy that are thrown into groups of enemies. They only stick to enemies.
A Shock Grenade explosion.
Good Upgrades
- Knockdown Increase - Cost: 800 XP. Increases enemy knockdown time.
- Blast Radius and Damage increase - Cost: 1900 XP. Increases the blast radius and damage.
- Restraining - Cost: 5500 XP. Restrains knocked down enemies and increases damage.
Evil Upgrades
- Three Cluster Grenades - Cost: 1200 XP. Cluster of three Shock Grenades separate on impact.
- Five Cluster Grenades - Cost: 1900 XP. Cluster of five Shock Grenades separate on impact.
- Seven Cluster Grenades - Cost: 4600 XP. Cluster of seven Shock Grenades separate on impact.
Megawatt Hammer - A rocket that flies in a straight line and explodes on impact.
The Megawatt Hammer striking a car.
Good Upgrades
- Rocket Redirect - Cost: 800 XP. Allows the player to redirect the Megawatt Hammer by firing a Lightning Bolt at the target.
- Reverse Magnetism - Cost: 2500 XP. Temporarily suspends the affected enemy in the air.
- Blast Radius Increase- Cost: 5300 XP. Increases blast radius of Megawatt Hammer.
Evil upgrades
- Mini-Rockets - Cost: 800 XP. Adds a pair of mini-rockets that attach to their targets before exploding.
- Mini-Rockets - Cost:2500 XP. Adds four mini-rockets that attach to their targets before exploding.
- Mini-Rockets - Cost: 5300 XP. Adds six mini-rockets that attach to their targets before exploding.
Overload Burst - Fire a bolt that chains off conductive surfaces. This is only available to the player if they have Good Karma.
Good Upgrades
- Unlock - Requirement: Complete 5 Good Missions. The player can now use the ability.
- Double Damage - Requirement: Complete 10 Good Missions. Doubles the damage of Overload Burst.
- Damage Increase and Charge Time Decrease - Requirement: 15 Good Missions. Increases damage and reduces charge time.
Arc Lightning - Fires a continuous beam of energy that chains off conductive surfaces. This is only available to the player if they have Evil Karma.
Evil Upgrades
- Unlock - Requirement: Complete 5 Evil Missions. The player can now use the ability.
- Branching - Requirement: Complete 10 Evil Missions. Unlimited branching and increased damage.
- Explosions - Requirement: Complete 15 Evil Missions. Affected weakened enemies have a chance of exploding.
Thunder Drop - Holding down the square button in the air causes Cole to store up energy. When Cole lands that energy is released and creates a electric shockwave.
Cole charging the Thunder Drop.
Neutral Upgrades
- Blast Radius Increase - Cost: 800 XP. Increases blast radius.
- Electrocution - Cost: 1300 XP. Affected humans are electrified.
- Damage Increase- Cost: 3200 XP. Increases Thunder Drop damage.
Reduce Damage - Damage received from attacks and explosions is decreased.
Neutral Upgrades
- Damage Reduction - Cost: 600 XP. Reduces damage received by 10%.
- Improved Damage Reduction - Cost: 1800 XP. Reduces damage received by 20%.
- Maximum Damage Reduction - Cost: 2600 XP. Reduces damage received by 30%.
Melee - Close combat moves that encompass punches, kicks and other acrobatic attacks.
Neutral Upgrades
- Damage Increase - Cost: 600 XP. Increases melee damage.
- Significant Damage Increase - Cost: 1000 XP. Significantly increases melee damage.
- Maximum Damage Increase - Cost: 1500 XP. Increases melee damage to maximum amount.
Electric Drain - Ability to drain electricity from various sources to heal and restore energy to Cole.
Cole draining energy from a telephone.
Neutral Upgrades
- Drain Speed Increase - cost: 800 XP. Increases the draining speed.
- Induction Yield - Cost: 1400 XP. Automatically recharges energy when Cole is grinding on rails.
- Karmic Overload - Cost: 2000 XP. When Cole reaches maximum Karma for either alignment. The player can trigger a Karmic Overload giving Cole limitless energy for a short period of time.
Polarity Wall - Creates a electric shield that can only stop bullets.
Cole avoiding gunfire with the Polarity Wall.
Neutral Upgrades
- Recharge - Cost: 1600 XP. Converts blocked damage into energy.
- Size Increase - cost: 3000 XP. Increases the shield size.
Pulse Heal - Pulses of electricity that heal civilians. When used, it increases Cole's Good Karma.
Cole using Pulse Heal on a civilian.
- This power has no upgrades.
Arc Restraint - Electric wrist and ankle restraints that render targets immobile. When used on enemies, it increases Cole's Good Karma.
Cole immobilizing a Reaper with Arc Restraint.
- This power has no upgrades.
Bio Leech - Drains the energy from downed enemies and civilians. It fills up Cole's battery cores and heals all damage at the expense of the victim's life. This act also increases Cole's Evil Karma.
A Reaper falling victim to Cole's Bio Leech.
- This power has no upgrades.
Precision - Gives the player zoom functionality and slows time when firing Lightning Bolts.
Exploding an enemy's head with Precision.
- This power has no upgrades.
Lightning Storm - Calls a huge lighting storm that the player can direct using the controller's SIXAXIS functionality.
Cole annihilating enemies with Lightning Storm.
- This power has no upgrades.
Gigawatt Blades - Electric gauntlets with large blades. The Gigawatt Blades must be equipped by pressing right on the directional pad before using. Cole can only use the blades once before having to re-equip them. While this is a downside, most enemies will be killed after one attack.
Evil Cole equipped with Gigawatt Blades.
Neutral Upgrades
- Damage Increase - Cost: 800 XP. Increases damage of Gigawatt Blades.
- Significant Damage Increase - Cost: 1000 XP. Significantly increases damage of Gigawatt Blades.
- Maximum Damage Increase - Cost: 2000 XP. Maximizes damage of Gigawatt Blades.
Pre-order Bonuses / Uncharted 2 Multiplayer Beta
Uncharted 2 Multiplayer Beta Logo
Players will also receive a code to access the Gigawatt Blades power upon pick-up of the game if they pre-order from GameStop in the U.S. or buy the special edition in Europe or Australia. GameStop.com describes the power as being able to "annihilate any foe and transforms Cole's hands into instruments of sheer destruction, yet still gentle enough to allow for the occasional tickling."
Demo
inFAMOUS developer Sucker Punch released a demo on May 21, 2009 for the PlayStation Network on the North American, European, and Hong Kong PlayStation Stores. The demo features two story missions and two side missions. Two missions feature Cole with Hero status while the other two have Cole with Infamous status, therefore allowing the player to experience both sides of the karma spectrum. Players who download the demo from the PlayStation Store will receive an added bonus of a Cole costume set for use in PlayStation Home. Sony has stated that the costume will be unlocked within a week after the game's release.Soundtrack
The music in inFAMOUS is composed by Amon Tobin (who has previously worked on the score for Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory), Jim Dooley, JD Meyer and Mel Wesson. It was performed using a range of found objects, such as rubbish cans and bungie cords, alongside more conventional instruments used in unconventional ways.The soundtrack featuring this music was released on the iTunes Store on May 21 2009, and includes the track Silent Melody by Working For A Nuclear Free City, which was commissioned specifically for the game's Power Trip trailer.
Infamous: Original Soundtrack from the Video Game track list:
- Rabble Rouser - Amon Tobin
- Stampton Bridge - Amon Tobin
- Meet the Reapers - Amon Tobin, Jim Dooley
- The First Sons - Jim Dooley
- Alden Strikes - Amon Tobin Jim Dooley
- The Escape - Jim Dooley, Mel Wesson
- Dinner With Sasha - Jim Dooley
- The Courier - Amon Tobin
- Secrets Revealed - JD Meyer
- Rampage - Jim Dooley
- Tent City - JD Meyer
- Hunt for the Ray Sphere - Amon Tobin
- End of the Road - Jim Dooley
- Anything for Trish - Amon Tobin
- Stranded - Amon Tobin
- Mysterious Signals - JD Meyer
- The Truth - Jim Dooley, Mel Wesson
- Genesis - Amon Tobin, Jim Dooley
- Pleasant Empire - Jim Dooley
- Silent Melody - Working for a Nuclear Free City
Characters
Cole
Zeke
Trish
Trish Daily - Cole's ex-girlfriend. Trish is a doctor who is attempting to help the wounded civilians trapped within Empire City's quarantine zone. Trish asks Cole to perform various tasks such as freeing bases and procuring supplies. Despite his help, Trish still holds Cole responsible for the death of her sister.
Moya
Moya - An FBI Agent who assigns Cole the task of restoring power to different areas of the city. Moya is desperately searching for John who has been trapped in the quarantine.
John
NSA when the quarantine started. He left numerous encoded messages on satellite receivers, called Dead Drops.
| Game Name | inFAMOUS |
| Platform(s) | |
| Publisher(s) | |
| Developer(s) | |
| Genres |
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| Themes |
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| Original US Release |
May 26, 2009
need a fuzzy date? |
| Original US Release |
June
2009 know the real date? |
| Aliases | True Hero |
| OFLC |
OFLC: M
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| CERO |
CERO: Z
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| ESRB |
ESRB: T
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| PEGI |
PEGI: 16+
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inFAMOUS Trophy List
Just a quick list of all of the trophies in inFAMOUS. This includes the secret trophies as well, so do not read if you do not wish to be spoiled.
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We don't have any info about inFAMOUS's franchise games.
