inFamous: Second Son
- March 21, 2014
- Sucker Punch
Visual splendor and gameplay brilliance frame a memorable story with expressive characters. inFAMOUS: Second Son is a PS4 masterpiece.
In inFamous: Second Son, players become Delsin Rowe, a young man who has discovered superhuman abilities, in a locked-down Seattle where superhumans are feared and hunted. Fight against the oppressive Department of Unified Protection, while making choices that affect the city and people around you, leading to different consequences. Experience an action-packed adventure as you push your newfound powers to their limit.
Reviews
- Stunning graphics and visual effects that showcase the PS4's capabilities.
- Engaging gameplay with a variety of unique powers that keep combat fresh and exciting.
- The moral choices add depth to the story and encourage replayability with different outcomes.
- The story feels somewhat shallow and lacks the complexity of previous entries in the series.
- Side missions can become repetitive and do not offer much variety.
- The protagonist, Delsin, can be annoying and lacks the charm of earlier characters.
- story170 mentions
- 24 % positive mentions
- 69 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The story of "Infamous: Second Son" is engaging, featuring a compelling protagonist, Delsin, whose journey of self-discovery and rebellion against an oppressive government is shaped by significant moral choices that enhance replayability. While the narrative is praised for its interesting premise and character interactions, some reviewers note that it lacks depth and complexity compared to previous entries in the series, with a relatively straightforward plot and repetitive side missions. Overall, the game offers a visually stunning experience with a decent story, though it may not leave a lasting impression.
“The story is interesting and gives you good vs evil choices at key story moments that will have me replaying the game to see how the current choices change.”
“The moral choices presented in the game have a significant impact on the storyline and character development, adding a layer of depth and replayability to the game.”
“From its captivating storyline to its stunning graphics, the game has left me thoroughly impressed and thoroughly entertained.”
“The story felt smaller and less important, more like a secondary story within the same world.”
“The protagonist is difficult to identify with because he's a jerk to everyone he meets, and the story is just a revenge quest of sorts.”
“The story is not even redeemable, it's a rip-off of X-Men.”
- gameplay49 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 43 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Infamous: Second Son" is widely praised for its engaging mechanics, seamless traversal, and the variety of powers available to the protagonist, which keep the experience fresh and exciting. While the open-world environment of Seattle is beautifully rendered, some players noted that the gameplay can become repetitive and that managing powers can be cumbersome. Overall, it is considered a standout aspect of the game, making it a recommended choice for fans of action-packed adventures.
“The gameplay mechanics are seamless, making it a joy to traverse the vast and beautifully rendered open-world environment of Seattle.”
“Each power set – smoke, neon, video, and concrete – offers unique abilities and combat styles, keeping the gameplay fresh and exciting.”
“You certainly have the most maneuverability of any of the Infamous games, which makes the gameplay faster-paced than the previous titles.”
“The mechanic for switching between the powers is rather annoying; you gain different source types you can drain to recharge the different types of powers, and you can only use the power type you most recently drained.”
“Some gameplay activities can be finished in under a minute and don't have as much depth as they could.”
“You certainly have the most maneuverability of any of the Infamous games, which makes the gameplay faster-paced than the previous titles, but the gameplay does get to be a bit repetitive.”
- graphics46 mentions
- 63 % positive mentions
- 30 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers describing them as stunning and a visual masterpiece that fully utilizes the PS4's capabilities. The vibrant visuals, particularly the neon and particle effects, are highlighted as breathtaking, although some critiques mention that certain aspects can feel underwhelming or mediocre in comparison. Overall, the game's graphics are considered a standout feature, enhancing the overall experience despite some minor flaws in other areas.
“From its captivating storyline to its stunning graphics, the game has left me thoroughly impressed and thoroughly entertained.”
“Graphics and visuals: the game is a visual masterpiece.”
“Graphics are just breathtaking, particularly the neon and particle effects, and really shine on the PS4 hardware.”
“Graphically it seemed underwhelming and I wasn't too crazy about the controls or story.”
“The graphics are about on par with GTA, being kind of mediocre until a super power effect has more dazzling graphics than the rest.”
“However, it seems that none of the games that I've purchased have really brought out the potential in the system's graphics and have truly utilized its unique features.”
- replayability6 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
The game's replayability is enhanced by its moral choices, which significantly influence the storyline and character development, encouraging multiple playthroughs. However, some players feel that once the main content is completed, the game lacks substantial replay value, despite offering a lengthy experience through side missions and different character paths. Overall, while there are elements that promote replayability, opinions vary on its long-term value.
“The moral choices you make significantly affect the storyline and character relationships, adding replay value.”
“The moral choices presented in the game have a significant impact on the storyline and character development, adding a layer of depth and replayability to the game.”
“With all the side missions, blast shards, trophies, and playing through as both a hero and criminal, the game has a pretty long playtime and is well worth the price.”
“This one, however, is the first infamous game that has no real replay value for me, and I won't be keeping it.”
- music6 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 67 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The music in the game is highly praised for its top-notch sound design and dynamic soundtrack, which effectively enhances the action and mood. Many players specifically highlight the exhilarating soundtrack during the final mission as a standout moment that adds to the overall experience.
“The sound design is top-notch, with a dynamic soundtrack that complements the game’s action and mood.”
“I really liked the soundtrack for this game; the music in the last mission especially had me pumped.”
- humor6 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is generally well-received, with many praising the witty dialogue and realistic character relationships that add depth to the experience. However, some players feel that the protagonist's focus on humor can overshadow more serious narrative elements, leading to moments that are both funny and somewhat clichéd. Overall, the game strikes a balance between comedic moments and emotional storytelling.
“The humor and dialogue are great; the relationships formed between characters in the game are realistic and really touching.”
“Made me laugh so much during one of the missions.”
“Funny at times, but stereotypical, eye-rolling, anti-establishment punk at many others.”
- emotional4 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its fantastic story and the impactful moral choices that evoke deep feelings, ranging from heartbreak to beauty. Players appreciate the realistic and touching relationships between characters, complemented by great humor and dialogue, which enhance the overall emotional experience.
“The story is fantastic, the moral choices they force you to make are heartbreakingly beautiful or devastatingly morose, and the world is much, much bigger than the previous games.”
“The relationships formed between characters in the game are realistic and really touching.”
- grinding4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game, such as collecting power-shards and completing side missions, to be enjoyable and engaging, often overshadowing the main gameplay. However, some criticize the boss battles and fighting mechanics as tedious and poorly designed, detracting from the overall experience.
“I'm not sure what it says about a game when the 'grinding' portion of the game (completing side missions, collecting shards, spray painting on the side of buildings, etc.) is a lot more fun than the actual game itself.”
“They are so tedious and add nothing to the gameplay.”
“How about the tedious and terribly designed boss battles and fighting system.”
- character development2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is heavily influenced by moral choices, which not only shape the storyline but also enhance the depth and replayability, allowing players to experience different outcomes based on their decisions.
“The moral choices presented in the game have a significant impact on the storyline and character development, adding a layer of depth and replayability to the game.”
- optimization2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
While the voice acting, especially Troy Baker's performance, is praised for its authenticity, the game's optimization suffers from issues like texture pop-in and stuttering, which detract from the overall experience.
“So overall, it's a great masterpiece of a game that almost gets ruined by texture pop-in and stuttering.”
- monetization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect of the game is perceived as overly promotional, with some users feeling that it serves more as an advertisement for Seattle tourism than a standalone gaming experience.
“If I didn't know any better, I'd say that the game was written as an extended advertisement for the Seattle tourism bureau.”
“The monetization strategy feels more like a cash grab than a fair way to support the game.”
“It's frustrating to see so many features locked behind paywalls, making it hard to enjoy the game without spending extra money.”
Critic Reviews
Infamous Second Son Review
Second Son is easily the best game in the franchise that not only contains superior gaming mechanics but it has some spectacular graphics and special effects!
92%Infamous: Second Son Review
Second Son is a focused open-world game that offers terrific graphics and enjoyable abilities, but it would definitely benefit from a little more variety.
80%inFamous: Second Son Review
Sucker Punch has struck gold once again with Second Son, putting the PlayStation 4's power to good use and providing gamers with a rich, satisfying experience. Slow start and samey missions aside, the spectacle of the main character's arsenal alone is reason enough for new PS4 owners to put this at the top of their shopping list.
90%