REVIEW: inFAMOUS: Second Son

inFAMOUS: Second Son

Platform: PS4

Reviewed By: Giuliano V.

Gameplay: 8.5

inFAMOUS: Second Son heavily expands on the arsenal of the previous games in the series, with Delsin having the ability to control four unique abilities: smoke, neon, video and concrete. This gives the game a much fresher feel and allows you to constantly change your style of play. This also allows for an increased difficulty. In previous inFAMOUS games, electricity was everywhere, and absorbing it would refill your power and health. In this game, while there is usually always a power source close-by, it may not always be the element you are using, which means that you will have to change your arsenal mid-battle if things should get sticky. 

An unfortunate part of the game is the lack of mission types. While the previous games had various side-missions, this game is only composed of main missions and small side-objectives that have no incentive other than for an achievement. The boss battles, however, are quite unique and innovative and are definitely a strong-point for the game.

Story: 8

inFAMOUS: Second Son tells a solid story from start to finish. While it is nothing amazing, it is a solid and personal story that is a satisfying follow-up to the previous games. However, the two karmic routes barely change the outcome of the story. In addition, Delsin's "evil" persona does not seem genuine, and seems to conflict too much with how the story portrays the character, making it much less believable to be "evil" than it was for Cole. 

Sound: 8.5

inFAMOUS: Second Son is loaded with some intense tracks that use a variety of electric instruments. It never ceases to provide an epic and "badass" feel to the game. The voice-acting in the game is also top-notch, with Troy Baker providing another excellent performance. 

Presentation: 9

Graphically, this game is one of the best available on consoles. The environments are heavily detailed and the characters look very realistic. The effects and abilities also seem to mix well with the environment, giving off a truly stunning look. However, the entirety of the game takes place in Seattle, so you just get a whole lot of city with very few memorable landmarks. Also, almost every enemy in the game is a member of the DUP, unlike the previous games which had three factions each. This is quite a step back for the series, as killing the same soldiers all game can get quite old.

Lasting Appeal: 8

inFAMOUS: Second Son will take roughly 10-12 hours to get 100% in one play through. However, as with most inFAMOUS games, many will choose to try both sides of the story, which means the game will last you close to 20 hours. Sucker Punch has also introduced the unique Paper Trail mission that uses a mixture of online and console gaming to figure out a mystery, which will at least add a little bit more to the post-game.

Final Verdict: 8.6 / 10

inFAMOUS: Second Son is definitely a fun experience and a great start to the next-generation of gaming. However, the game fails to live up to the brilliance of its predecessors in many ways, making it feel less polished. Despite this, inFAMOUS: Second Son is a must-own title for any person with a Playstation 4 and will definitely be a great game to replay down the road.