inFAMOUS: Second Son was one of the first exclusives for the Sony PlayStation 4, and it turned out to be one of the better games that would drop throughout the entirety of 2014. Not only was it visually stunning, but it also featured incredible voice acting from the always-reliable Troy Baker. Throw in an open-world Seattle and player choice to be either good or evil, and you have a game that currently holds a Metacritic rating of 80 out of 100.
We can’t stress enough that inFAMOUS: Second Son is one of the better looking games that you can find on the next generation consoles, as are most of the PS4 exclusives, such as Killzone: Shadow Fall. Not only is it presented in a native 1080p resolution, but also the vibrant colors used to differentiate between the various powers available to the protagonist are deceivingly hypnotic. It also helps that Seattle is an absolutely gorgeous playground for it to unfold.
The replay factor with inFAMOUS: Second Son is also a big selling point, as players can choose to be either a hero or villain, and their actions will have a huge impact on how not only the game’s NPCs treat them, but also which of the endings will be available. That turns a 10 to 12 hour campaign into one that is almost 24 hours long, and even longer if you enjoy all the open-world activities that are available.
That’s where we got lost, and by lost we mean fully immersed. There is just so much to do when you’re not traversing through the game’s story, but yet not so much that it feels like an insurmountable task to complete. There’s incentive to explore Seattle, too, as clearing out the various sections of the city will make moving from one mission to another a little easier on the main protagonist, Delsin Rowe.
As good as the open-world, visuals, voice acting and flow of the game are, the gameplay itself is where you’ll find top value with inFAMOUS: Second Son. Not only do the developers at Sucker Punch Productions keep things fresh by offering three different superpowers in the form of smoke, neon and video, but the boss fights strike a nice balance between challenging and fun. There’s also just the right amount of them. Not so many that you feel like that’s all you’re doing, but enough that you seem to be working towards one at all times.
inFAMOUS: Second Son isn’t going to go down as the greatest game ever made, and likely not even the best of 2014, but it is a really great entry into the next generation of consoles. Although there is only single-player to speak of, it’s well done and offers ample content. It’s a must-have title for anyone who’s already a fan of the franchise, and not a bad option for anyone who enjoys a visually stunning, solid campaign.
You can check out our free walkthrough of inFAMOUS: Second Son, just in case you get tripped up in one of those boss fights.
Published: Dec 29, 2014 03:00 pm