So this is the last official entry to this blog for my writing class. I'm still debating on wether I want to continue this blog after I'm done with this semester. If I do decide to keep this blog going, I probably won't be able to make an entry every week, but we'll see what happens.
So this time I wanted to review a game that I really liked when it was released back in May of 2009. I know that it's not new or anything, but I like to review games that I've played and I really like. In my opinion, there is no sense in reviewing games that you don't like because I don't really feel like talking crap about anyones work.
I don't think that I've ever said much about me, but I'm a student at the University of Utah majoring in the EAE program. I'm currently a senior and I'm about to graduate, hopefully at the end of Spring semester. But before I can graduate, I have to help create a video game from start to finish. Right now we are in the process of finishing an alpha version of our game, you can see the progress of my video game here. I know that making a video game is not easy, so I don't want to talk bad about anyones hard work.
Sorry, for going way off track. Now I'm going back to the game.
So inFamous takes place in the fictional Empire City and you are able to roam freely with in the places that you've managed to unlock. There are a total of 3 areas in the game, each gets unlocked after beating a boss that controls that part of town. The city looks to be normal, not much going on. The story starts when the main character Cole MacGrath is caught in the middle of a great crisis.
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| Cole in the game cover. |
Cole is just a regular guy, working as a bike messenger in Empire City. One day he gets a special package that he has to deliver. A mysterious guy calls the agency that Cole works for and asks for Cole specifically to deliver a package. Once Cole gets to the place where he is suppose to drop off the package, it blows up and destroys a few blocks from Empire City. This immediately sends Empire City into a frenzy and the government loses control of the city as anarchy takes over.
The game starts right after the explosion occurs and the player takes control of Cole. Cole is barely alive and its your job to get him out of the epicenter and try to get him to safety. As your limping your way to safety, you can see that there is something different about Cole. He runs by some exposed power lines and Cole gets electrocuted. A normal person would've died on the spot, but Cole keeps on living. You get to the goal, but stuff keeps exploding around him until he just faints.
When Cole wakes up, he finds that he has the ability to control electricity and use it as a weapon. At first, he doesn't have much control over his powers and is only able to use his powers to shock people from far away. His enemies at first are a group of gangsters that have taken control of that part of the city after the explosion. The government isn't really doing anything about it because they decided to quarantine Empire city and they aren't doing anything to help the citizens that are in trouble.
Your first mission is to go to a nearby plaza to try and collect some food that was dropped off from helicopters. The thing is that the gang is also after the supplies, and its up to Cole to make sure the gang doesn't get their hands on them. Once you fight off the gang Cole comes to a decision point which is part of the games Karma system.
You get to decide what to do with the supplies. You can either choose to share them with everybody or you can choose to keep them for yourself. Depending on what you choose, it will impact the way that the people of the city view you, and what powers you will ultimately be able to use. There is several places throughout the game that you will come across decision points, each taking you deeper in the direction that you choose.
For example, if you decide to go the good route, the people will be happy to see you and help you at some points. On the other hand, if you are evil route, people will fear you and try to get you killed. TO highlight your faction, the color of your power changes. If you are good, it will be blue. If you are evil, it will be red.
When Cole tries to brake out of Empire City, he gets caught by a lady working for the government named Moya. She tells him that a group of terrorist is inside the city and that her husband was working on taking them out. But she lost contact with him after the explosion, and wants Cole to go back in and find him and takeout the terrorist. In return, she will help Cole and his friends.
Cole agrees and goes back into the city. Your job is to control Cole and get the city back to normal one piece at a time. Cole has to restore power to sections of the city by fixing power generators with in the sewer system. But every time he fixes one of the generators, Cole's powers increase and Cole has access to newer abilities.
Cole has to fight the man in charge of the terroris group known as the First Sons. He is called Kessler, and you don't really know much about him. He is able to move at high speeds and seems to know a lot about Cole. The first time they meet, Kessler completely defeats Cole and tells him that he will have to get stronger if he wishes to defeat him.
Overall, I think that it's a really good game. The story line is good, with a few plot twists that make the game interesting and keep you on your toes. The powers you get are interesting, and help you out to complete your missions. The map is also free roaming and you are able to go where ever you want or can go and are free to choose the order in which you want to do your missions.
I can't wait until inFamous 2 comes out. They haven't said when it will be, but I'm thinking sometime next year is certainly doable. If you haven't played this game, I recommend that you do because it's a good game and has ton of replay value.
Either way, thanks for reading.
