SCI FI PI

PS3
Rated M





InFAMOUS has you playing as bike messenger Cole MacGrath, stunned survivor of a mysterious energy blast that has laid waste to Empire City. You've been given super powers - the agility to climb (and jump off) tall buildings without any physical damage, and best of all, the ability to discharge lightning from your hands. Working with his best friend, layabout Kyle, and hard bitten female FBI agent Moya, Cole has to complete missions that gradually restore power to the ruined city.





At the same time, you have to fight off baddies, like the Reapers, who have taken over the wasteland and run the city through fear. You also have to discover the mystery behind the initial explosion, and defeat the other people who've been altered by the mysterious explosion. As the game progresses, you come against other enemies, each with their own style of fighting, and each with their own unique talents. They are, however, only human, giving you an edge. Still - bullets hurt - and you're not invincible.





What you can do is leap from building to building, using handy telephone/electrical wires, window ledges, cranes and fire escapes. As you explore the city, you discover great vantage points to defeat your enemies, using sustained bursts of lightning, or bolt like 'shots' to hit them over long distances. You can recharge from electrically powered objects around you, and if in real trouble, can jump off very high buildings with little ill effect.





What you do have to watch out for are the 'karmic' moments, where you choose to do the right thing, or the wrong thing. In InFAMOUS, being the hero is optional - you can complete the game, but you don't always have to be the good guy. For gamers with experience of Star Wars Jedi games, this won't be hugely new, as your powers reflect if you head towards the 'dark' or the 'light'. Bad powers create more destruction, but have more collateral damage. Your lighting changes from blue to red.





Gameplay is a combination of exploring, puzzles, fighting and role playing. It's a satisfying mix, with play levels easily adjustable for your standard of skill. Three districts of the city give three different backgrounds to play against. Missions give the game focus, but you can go and explore wherever and however you want.





If you enjoy the challenge of post-disaster urban survivalism (with superpowers) then this game is definitely worth a look see.