inFAMOUS [PS3]

[C']

I read that you were fully upgraded in the demo - is that the case? I hate it when developers do that, why bother playing the full game?

Yes, you are much weaker when you start than you are in the demo. You don't have the grenade, glide abilities etc. It makes it a lot less overwhelming as abilities/upgrades are gradually introduced rather than everything being flung at you at once.

Having fun so far.

->Open Spoiler<-

Very early on you're presented with a choice which will give you you first taste of either being adored or hated. I chose to be nasty and straight away the news is out via massive TVs on buildings. I'm being pelted with rocks and I now have to get out of the city

I'm getting mauled out there.

I chose the 'Good' option for the very first moral choice and the end result was pretty much the same.

The entire good/infamous thing feels very forced to me. It's not really organic based on how you play but is totally based on specific set pieces where the game pauses and Cole's voiceover goes over the 2 choices and you make your choice.

However, just exploring the city and the free running aspect is very satisfying. The game is very forgiving when it comes to hitting the ledges, power lines etc. (kind of like a platforming version of auto-aim) but it lets you focus on identifying your route to best approach your target.

Certainly not going to win any game of the year awards but based on ym first sesion last night, I think I will enjoy my playthrough.

[Number45]

I'm going to play through good first time on normal, then play through the hard campaign just mauling everything that moves.

[hudson]

Damn, it's addictive. Doing the quests, getting XP and buying powers.

Really enjoying it.

[Dazzyman]

Just from testing game is 720p only and has proper 7.1. Game cutsout install at around 22&#37; so dont worry about that as it seems to have its own cache system. This seems to be linked to the save system as Ive quit out after doing just first run and get food mission and saved it and its spat me back to start of that level on reboot. Also on game loadup the checkpoint story cant be skipped. The CE gives you a blade powerup but not seen it in my control scheme so must be a unlockable for later. Game defaults to normal difficulty and inverted for camera for some reason so might want to alter that and do restart for hard level if you want the cheeve incase it shows changing it ingame is a nono lol

Thats the bad but the good is the game eases you in now and is much better for it. I think the graphics are really descent. Main graphics arent outstanding and it has a lot of jaggies so if you have sharpness enhancers your really going to want those off on your telly but for me the beauty of it is the lighting effects and everything thats going on around me.

The demo had a negative affect on me as it gave me way too much and didnt let me understand it well this is the oposite and looks like it has loads to unlock and learn.

Anyway back to it

[hudson]

I rather like the Counter-Surveillance side quests. It simply involves you

->Open Spoiler<-

climbing about a building looking for cameras installed by the enemy

.

[prinnysquad]

Gamecentral gave this 6/10 this morning. Their main gripes were:

- The objectives are bland until later in the game.
- The graphics lack inspiration.
- The controls are a bit flaky.
- The powers are totally unimaginative, they just really have the same effects as guns, rocket launchers and grenades, i.e., there is no ingenuity in the way you use them.

It'll be interesting to get a more balanced opinion from you guys when the full retail version is out.

[hudson]

Gamecentral gave this 6/10 this morning. Their main gripes were:

- The objectives are bland until later in the game.
- The graphics lack inspiration.
- The controls are a bit flaky.
- The powers are totally unimaginative, they just really have the same effects as guns, rocket launchers and grenades, i.e., there is no ingenuity in the way you use them.

It'll be interesting to get a more balanced opinion from you guys when the full retail version is out.

I've done about 15 side quests and 5 mains so far. Can't say they're bland. I like grindy type quests, providing they're fun. They've been short and sweet so far.

Graphically, it's decent. If a little too browny-grey. Draw distance is not as good as other sand box games, but it's seems to hide the fact pretty well.

Controls seem ace. I like the assist system for climbing/jumping about. Can't say I've fumbled much with the controls.

The lightening powers could simply be a gun and grenades so far, but I think other uprades such as the Emperor Palpatine force lightening attack will mix it up a bit.

Seems solid so far, not really going to win any awards due to lack of originality, but for me, it's been fun and very playable so far.

[Dazzyman]

For me this could have gone either way and even though Ive been looking forward to its release the demo left alot of reservations for me. I guess it giving too much and putting me in the action without knowing what was going on didnt help.

Full game though its totally gripped me and Im just faffing doing a side mission. Their looks like theirs alot of look and climb style side stuff like find x amount of x high up so you can either leave it or get climbing. This is what Im hooked on as the climbing is easy enough to do but at the same time its not too automated and I feel more incontrol and not a superhuman for doing it like in say Assasins Creed or even Crackdown. It makes me work more for the bits but at same time I enjoy it more for it. To add to this it has a very unique ping system like sonar that it will show up locations of side quest stuff by either a grey style general arc on the compass point of the map (never shows exact location) and as you get closer it gets more pronounced or say a blue dot. A thing about the ping system what I think is really well done with the graphics is it pings up all leccy areas and lights em up which I think is very well done. Ive never had a single issue with the controls either.

Save systems still abit odd it spits you back to the starting rooftop even though it keeps your side stuff found on reload. Apart from that Im really enjoying it and a heck of alot more than I thought I would and enjoying unlocking stuff and enjoying the story.

So far so good for me

[prinnysquad]

The lightening powers could simply be a gun and grenades so far, but I think other uprades such as the Emperor Palpatine force lightening attack will mix it up a bit.

Yeah, they mentioned that as a more interesting weapon. I think their main gripe was the general lack of application for the lightning powers. I dunno, maybe they have a point? They maybe meant things like electrocuting things in contact with conductive surfaces, fusing things together to make new weapons/objects, and whatever else. But at the same time, reading it, they just didn't seem to understand the joy of lightning powers that, yes, maybe are just similar to conventional weapons in their effects, but they sure look and sound different!!!

[hudson]

Yeah, maybe they thought about being clever with the electricity, but maybe it would slow the fighting down? I dunno. I imagine what I'd do if I was charged to the sack with leccy... probably just thrust out my arms yelling diiiiiiiiie! Emperor style

There's a trophy for killing a number of enemies using water, so there's a little bit of cleverness using electricity. Ain't tried it yet, though.

[prinnysquad]

That sounds good

From what I've seen and read, some of the criticisms seem rather harsh.

[Dazzyman]

Isnt leccy weird though in how it does stuff? I mean look at when something gets struck by lightning like a house sometimes it destroys them othertimes it does nowt same with people. I personally like how its used with the more Star Wars style I guess. I suspose it beats running around with your tackle out shouting come on touch sparky

[Tig]

I had a go on the demo, and I was really impressed by the controls. Very, very intuitive and fluid platforming... The game does a great job of minimizing button presses, and using context sensitivity to 'guess' (correctly) what the player is trying to do. I 'got' the control scheme pretty quickly, and didn't need to check the buttons after that... I was stylishly wrecking stuff straight away


Compare and contrast with GTAIV.. I still fumble trying to climb ladders and stuff in that game! I think the control scheme in that is pretty awful by comparison. Devs take note!

[C']

I’m really surprised at how much this has grabbed my attention. The demo did nothing for me but by that point I already had the game on pre-order (and I’ll be honest, that was only to get the Uncharted 2 beta).

Hoolak mentioned the Counter-Surveillance side missions and I have to agree. They really shouldn’t be as interesting as they are but it’s a nice change of pace, sort of like a pseudo-puzzle game trying to work out how to clamber around the building to get next to the surveillance devices.

The combat is a lot more engrossing than I felt it would be based on comments in reviews. Taking out o a group of Reapers by sending a car flying into them or using high ground to gain a tactical advantage then using Thunder Drop all feel very satisfying. And battling the Conduits is so intense. Seeing their shockwave attack snaking towards and performing an evasive roll and countering with your own attacks – instant satisfaction.

[Daragon]

Well I'm sure glad I bought the special edition now - I don't think I've ever seen a more insulting art "book" before - the instruction manual had more pages to it!

****ing sucker punch, won't be buying any more of your special editions ever again...