Sucker Punch proves once again why they are at the top of the gaming world with this fantastic superhero experience.
You play as Cole. A simple bike messenger whose delivery package explodes in his hands and bestowes him with electricity-controlling superpowers. As you progress, you gain more and more powerful and useful abilities. At the beginning you can only shoot lightning bolts, but by the end, you can hover and grind along subway rails like a real superhero.
The greatest achievement in INFAMOUS is by far Empire City. Open ended worlds are commonplace these days, but for some reason, empire city feels more genuine than a Liberty City or Vice City. Every street bustles with activity and news flashes on TV. "The Voice of Survival" TV show being a personal favorite.
One of the more interesting features in INFAMOUS is the moral choices you face. It's obvious from the outset that you'll end up a hero or live long enough to become the villain, but the choices provide great segways into your moral journey in the game. Each moral ground (evil or good) has its own unique powers which can make you a better captor, or more brutal and viscious killer.
The Boss Fights are another true standout. While you only encounter three true bosses in INFAMOUS, all three fights are epic and memorable. The final battle being a true tour de force of spectacle and combat.
The graphics in INFAMOUS do, however, leave something to be desired. The in-game cinematics do no justice to the amazing game this is. Facial animations are spotty at the best of times, added with simple in game motion capture. It would be awesome to see more "Naughty Dog-esque" cutscenes in INFAMOUS 2. Also, some clipping and glitching does occur when travelling at great speeds...but it does nothing to take you out of the world.
In terms of sound, the effects in INFAMOUS are a great asset to the game. From flickering lamp posts to machine gun turrets to the bizzare sounds of hovering high above the city, the sound is beautifully rendered. The only qualm I have with the sound is the voice of Cole. What is it with main characters and raspy voices these days?
INFAMOUS is another great example of an open ended environment. Full of choice and morality, this game is a game you'll play and replay time and time again.