Review: Infamous: Second Son Shows What The PS4 Is Capable Of, And Nothing More | KSD

After 4 months of waiting – since the release of the PlayStation 4 only brought us just 2 Sony exclusives – developer’s Sucker Punch have added a 3rd game to the exclusive roster. Welcome to the next-generation of video gaming – it has finally arrived! inFamous Second Son is a new breed of Infamous game that see’s the departure of main protagonist Cole MacGrath, and introduces our new hero (or villain) Delsin Rowe. Set several years after the events of Infamous 2, the DUP (Department of Unified Protection) have sealed off the city of Seattle and are cracking down on conduits – people with special powers and abilities. After Delsin realises that he is a conduit himself, he decides to take it into his own hands to stop the DUP.

[colonel179]

I don't get why people judge this game as if it was the savior of the PS4. It's the first AAA game for the console from Sony, and there are a lot more coming that we can't even imagine yet. The game is great and fun just like the other 2 and it's about enjoying it. In any moment is it supposed to be the best game ever. Reviewers just keep grading Sony exclusives more strict than MS's and Nintendo's, I don't know why; but Sony keeps delivering.

Another thing, it's interesting to think that this game is showing what the PS4 can do, but we will look back from 2020 and laugh about how outdated the graphics of this game are. I can't wait to see what kind of games we will get at the end of this generation, but surely it's going to be a great ride in the meantime.

[Bathyj]

Reviewers always seem to have a point to prove on Sony games. Quite often they'll air a gripe right into the first paragraph and set up their conclusion that the game didn't do anything new, redefine the genre, or cure cancer.

I guess because so many gamers believe Sony consoles are better and Sony is a better platform holder, than they should be judged at a higher standard.

The problem is many bring baggage with them, and their views are formed partially at least, before they ever get there hands on it, and they'll just look for any negative (or even something lacking they hoped would be there) as a justification for enforcing that standard that only exists in their own minds.

[Infamous298]

Nitpicky reviewers are alot these days.

[johndoe11211]

Great post Bathyj. It boggles my mind how some reviewers would nitpick this game and say it doesn't do anything new when there has never been any game on any system like this and then they would turn and call titanfall "groundbreaking" and "original" when that game ,even though it is a lot of fun, consists of multiple ideas from multiple games slapped into one online experience.

After playing infamous last night and acquiring the neon powers, my mind was blown. The mechanics and abilities in that game are off the charts. The graphics and lighting are unreal. That game made the first two infamous games look like ps1 one games.

At the end of the day, everyone is entitled to their opinion. The problem is some of these reviewers seem to be using different standards when measuring sony games as compared to microsoft games.

[Silly Mammo]

Gameinformer does a pretty good parody of this exact attitude in a review of MLB: The Show in their April Fools section.

[Cupid_Viper_3]

What happened to inFamous Second Son is the same thing that happened to Heavenly Sword and the first Uncharted game on the PS3.

Compared to their peers, those games were easily 9/10 games. But you know when it comes to Sony games, the standards go up. It almost feels like most Xbox games are reviewed with a "Thank God it's Friday" mindset. And Sony games are reviewed with a "Faaack! it is only still Tuesday" mindset. For a Sony game to get the scores that Microsoft games get, it has to make sure that all "t's" are crossed and "i's" dotted. Look at Uncharted 2 and 3, countless awards, same with The Last of Us. Killzone 2 and 3 had to have graphics that challenges Titanfall in order to earn their deserved stripes.

The only real problem I have with the hypocrisy shown to inFamous Second Son is the simple fact that this is one of the Smoothest, most polished game we've seen released on consoles in a very long while. And when you think of the scale of the game, it makes it that much more impressive. And somehow, another game which released buggy, lagging, not graphically impressive for a next gen game gets all the pass.

I think that sends the wrong message to the industry. That we somehow don't really care if our games run smoothly, glitch-free, and polished. If a game is not optimized, your review should reflect that.

Could you imagine if a journalist reviewing cars did what the journalist reviewing games do.

"so we have this beautiful car, fully-loaded, leather interior, heated seats front and rear, navigation control, 0-60 in 3.5 seconds, great gas mileage, air bags every where, one of the safest cars around, all for $30,000 but it does nothing new" 3/5

"Now we have this other car, it is not quite as beautiful as the one we mentioned earlier(who cares right?), but it is an absolute blast to drive. 0-60 in 4 seconds, but what's half a second right? front and side air bags, and it has a parking camera which the previous car lacks, all of for the low price of $30,000" 5/5

Said journalist would be jobless very quick...

[Bathyj]

I could only give you a "well said" bubble cos it didnt have a "really really well said, total nailed it" bubble.

Funny you should mention Heavenly Sword sword, cos I've remarked at the similarities myself. Criminally underrated game. Great voice acting. Best facial motion capture for its time. Very likeable characters. Really fun gameplay.

And it came out at a time when everyone was saying Playstation has no games, (I guess Resistance and Motorstorm, two of the best launch games ever didnt count) and I've always thought once it did, PS3 turned a corner in many peoples eyes as far as outputting stellar content, and it never looked back.

I also think enough credit is not being given to the technical side of the game (or they all admit its awesome but dont reflect it in the score.) The particle effects are surely the best ever. The permanent damage? How often does that happen? You mentioned the smoothness. Does anyone even care that this game is "only" 30fps when the framerate is so rock solid, the action so intense, and the picture so clear. I mean that draw distance is incredible.

Yeah, theres not much here we havent played before, but never this well, and surely one must recognise that mastering a new technical beast will help unlock new gameplay possibilities. Expecting everything to turn on a dime in the first couple months is a bit much.

[Why o why]

What you's two have stated is how its been since there was a western contender for the western media to champion. Home team backing and all that. Double standards but because of this, sony studios just work harder and produce better experiences because their work is judged to a higher level.

The double speak reviewers use is documented and there for all to see. I'm no way saying either sony games are all great or that other platforms games aren't ever judged harshly, just that there is a pattern and predictability to how games are judged.

Personally I understand home team bias. I've pointed many times that there are different biases shown by different factions. If you look at edge for example... we all know how harsh their scores can be but look at some of the scores they have given to uk based devs regardless of platform... check out their scores for their neighbours/mates games like codemasters. You'll find they're on average above the average whereas all other titles are on average below it, coincidence¿

My biggest annoyance is that there are people here on n4g that believe bias doesn't exist at all.... How naive can you be to believe that. I'm not saying every journo is paid or bias or whatever, just that the culture of score manipulation is part n parcel of most medias including our gaming one.

This reviewer is entitled to their opinion so I'm not going to complain for the sake of it, I'll just check for consistency. If they are consistent then I'll gladly consider them reputable even if I dont like or agree with their opinion; if not then thats just another one ill take less notice of.

[BOLO]

Your comment is a homing missile on the hypocrisy of some reviewers. Well put.

[miyamoto]

Its business as usual.

Its that time of year.
PlayStation exclusives are the most awaited spectacles of console gaming. These bloggers view these games as equivalent to hits, clicks, business, money, revenue. They have to think of strategies to make the most clicks out of PlayStation exclusive games. That is how their twisted mind works & they are DESTROYING their credibility in the process. Good thing there is UStream, Twitch, YouTube, DailyMotion, Vimeo etc. where we can see and prove for ourselves how these games playout.

[koolaid251]

ps5 will be out in 2020 and the Xbox 2 lol

[mayberry]

If this article writer is implying Infamous second son and Killzone Shadowfall(it was mentioned in the article), are not "good" games, I disagree.

[badboy776]

Reviewers want hits.

[GW212]

I love Infamous. Love it. I planned on playing for an hour last night because I had some grown-up stuff to do later in the evening. Four hours later I finally put the DS4 down. Oops.

On KZ, I will say I don't love it. It's ok. Graphics were, at the time, the best on a console (Infamous wears that crown now) but I just couldn't get into the game itself.

[chrissx]

All these butthurt writers these days tho. Infamous 2nd son is an amazing game,both in gameplay,graphics and replay value. Def a true next-gen game

[GW212]

It's the first true next-gen game on either console. I agree with you there.

I'm not sure what's up with some of the reviews. Saying it's nothing more than a graphical showcase is flat out wrong. I believe there are some ulterior motives at work here.

Before any Xbox kids go off about opinions and my conspiracy theories, I'll say the same thing about Titanfall. I, at one point, thought it was only COD with mechs. Having logged meaningful time on it, I can say it is not. It annoys me when reviewers/commenters say that about Titanfall. I have my own issues with Titanfall, just like I do with any other game, but to try to put it down as some shallow knock-off is flat out wrong as well.

[BcozoftheImplication]

By the sounds of things this twat hasn't even played the game!! Meh...

[PhilJowns]

Problem this gen is that both consoles are basically PC in a box so the devs can pretty much push them to limit straight away.

Don't expect as big a graphical jump over time as was possible with previous generation. As for games in 2020 they will look better but you will be playing them on a PS5 or Next Xbox.

The law of diminishing returns.

[TKCMuzzer]

It does seem to be if your a Sony dev many reviewers expect you to change the world. First and foremost games are supposed to be fun and second son delivers. To many reviewers go into games with a pre thought of something spectaculer which they don't even know themselves.
Infamous has always got mixed reviews but that's good, that's what people want, devs to make their games and not bow to the masses just for profit.
Simple as this, Second Son is a great game and doesn't need to change the world in being so. I only hope reviewers keep their 'next gen's reviewing hat on for all platforms and stop being so selective. Alternatively, jusdge a game on what it is and not on something that doesn't exist.

[sin7279]

BUTTHURT WRITERS!

[leemo19]

I think some of this reviewers are rushing through it not actually trying to have fun with it. Sure side missions can be repetitive what open world game doesn't have that. ACIV was fun but side missions were the same repetitive stuff yet people didn't complain. People really need to stop rushing this game and enjoy the powers you get for change.

[Bathyj]

All games are repetitive. ALL OF THEM.

The trick is to make the thing youre doing over and over again fun. Infamous does that.

[ElementX]

While I enjoy playing Infamous, it's getting extremely repetitive. Go to an area, kill some guys, do some drug busts, follow a secret agent, destroy some device and get a new power, destroy the large bus communications thing, spray paint, repeat.

Also the powers are exactly the same as previous games, except this time they're fire/smoke based. Throwing fire balls instead of lightning, lobbing fire grenades instead of electrical, hovering in the air, jumping and slamming into the ground, even healing people and apprehending guys... it's all the same!

[Cupid_Viper_3]

Now I'm not against any of the things you just mentioned ElementX, but I want you to find me a game franchise, where the sequel is not doing the exact same thing you just mentioned for Infamous Second Son.

Let's start with Forza 5

The same cars, the same tracks, the same baked lighting. the really bad background, and the spectators. You race the same way you've raced since Forza 1, and you earn money, unlock new cars, rinse and repeat. 5/5 game, But Gran Turismo 6 gets an 8/10 yet being a more varied racer than Forza with weather, night/day, rally, snow, etc....

Let's move Dead Rising 3. The same zombies masked differently, the same weapons with different colors, the same one guy in a city surrounded by mindless zombies and trying to survive it all. Rinse and Repeat.

Let's move on to Halo 1, 2, 3, and 4. The same Master Chief, with the same weapons but slightly tweaked. The same go there shoot the same type of enemies, cut-scene, then shoot some more of the same type of bad guys. Go online and play on slightly different maps but shooting at the same amount of people, and in the same old similar ways, with the same old similar guns, but with a slight twists.

Let's move to God of War, or Gears of War, or the Millions of Mario games which scores nothing but 9s and 10s.

It has always been the same sh!t and rinse and repeat. But that point only ever gets brought up against Sony Exclusives. If sony exclusive don't redefine a genre, then you can expect it to get between 6s and 8s. If that same game was Xbox exclusive, expect 8s and 10s. And that is regardless of technical issues too.

God forbid is a Sony game has a few technical hiccups.

So please name me those games that are so unique from their predecessors that you've played that you've found to be completely different experiences.

[Tempest317]

@ ElementX

Bathyj nailed it perfectly

"The trick is to make the thing youre doing over and over again fun. Infamous does that."

It really does that...ALL the powers are damn fun to use, and each has its own playstyle with strengths and weaknesses. At the end of the day its STILL the game I want to play, and I got the platinum trophy days ago. It's a blast to play, and the DUP raids after the story are fucking intense! They're definitely challenging me to come up with new approaches. It's just icing on the cake that it's a feast for the eyes.

[ElementX]

I'm not saying either of you are wrong. I said I enjoy playing it, however I find myself switching to something else after an hour or so.

In addition to what I said, the AI is pretty bad. Enemies across the map will shoot at you when they couldn't have seen you, if you duck behind cover the enemies just lob what look like magma grenades at you, and I find the world rather boring. Sure there are people around, but there's nothing to do in the world, no minigames, no collectables to make exploration worthwhile...

I just think there could've been a little more variety, that's all. I know shooters are the same, DR3 is mostly the same, but in shooters you have different weapons, more enemy variety (except the Halo series), the AI gets improved...

Mario games are all pretty similar except they are varied in the experience with different mechanics, level designs, powers, etc. Gears and GoW are very similar also, I never played more than a couple hours of GoW 3 or Gears 3. GoW has a variety of enemies though.

I think Half Life 1 and 2 changed dramatically. The GTA games have always added more variety with each new iteration. I just got tired of Infamous 2 half-way though and I was hoping for more everything this time around.

[Tempest317]

I do agree that enemy variety is quite scarce, but I think we're experiencing two different a.i. I have never been shot at for no reason, and the enemies bounce all over the map trying to get to me. I go to a roof? Every one that has movement power will go to my roof, and all the surroundings, and likely aggro mobs in nearby areas. Some will stand back and shoot, some melee. They duck and cover when injured, and teleport all over the damn place. When I duck and cover, theyll toss a couple grenades, right before 2 or 3 of the jumpers land literally on top of me or halfway up the buildings around me to shoot from above. Once aggro'd the whole squad is on my ass like white on rice. The game has its faults (as you said lack of collectibles and enemy variety are a couple, as well as length) but imo the a.i. is pretty superb

[Drekken]

Ugh. Here we go.

1) Mario is getting extremely repetitive. Jump here, kill a turtle, the princess isn't here. Rinse and repeat.

2) GTA - Drive here, talk to this guy, kill another guy, do a drug deal, repeat.

3) GT, Forza, drive a car, turn, turn, break, gas, turn, repeat.

4) AC - Climb a building, get a quest, assassinate someone, repeat.

5) Every game ever - have a formula and use it until the game is finished. You sound extremely naive to how games work. Is Infamous the first game you have played? I mean I played Counter Strike for YEARS. Same maps, same guns, same amount of people... But it was FUN. World of warcraft... same stuff over and over. Years. Diablo 2 - More years... same farming. Same pvp. Super Fun. Infamous was a fun game. It was beautiful and the powers were FUN. I don't know what you guys want. Titanfall isn't repetitive? You enjoy it? CoD is the same stuff too, yet people play it over and over.

[Hicken]

Name a game that ISN'T extremely repetitive.

Now name a sequel that doesn't build on the mechanics of the original from a gameplay perspective and doesn't completely ruin the franchise.

I'll wait.

[Bobets]

Title should be more like

Infamous shows what PS4 is capable off while being a good game on its own.=D

[dale1]

i don,t know why they bother posting negatives on this game its solid, great fun.take titan fall thats fun as well but how many times have the servers gone down,cheaters ruining it as we speak graphics low spec but lets call it the next great fps because it has titans,mechs were used in killzone

[mayberry]

I agreee dale1. Some have said that the mechs in Killzone could be a stand alone hit itself! They were(are) a blast to play, and the controls, sound effects and visuals are spot on too.

[Father__Merrin]

this happened start of last gen, xbox games reviewed up and sony games reviewed down, but just like last gen no mater how these despicable people act they wont keep PlayStation down

although not a world beater, infamous second son is a very good game

[feraldrgn]

I'd say for an Infamous game, it's very very good.
Tops 2 easily.

[Whitey2k]

I think all reviewers talk smack as people stated its the most polished clean an first ps4 game to run smooth n reviewers dont care its prolly on a sony platform so they give it mediocre reviews its like when they were giving titanfall waving reviews which I completely disagreed with them when the game is full of bots dumb ai static environments problems with servers and severe lag on certain parts

[andibandit]

Why did MariaHelFututa even submit this, usually he only submits pro Sony articles....guess he didn't read the entire headline.

[TH3BR3W]

That's why maria's article history has just as many pro xbox as it does pro Sony..... I used to think Maria was a straight fanboy of sony then I used that little feature the site provides to see maria's history. Don't trip over your brain on your way over to the side of research and reason there bud.

[mogwaii]

I agree whole heartedly with this review. Enjoyable for the very breif play time also Beautiful but empty.

[Antwan3k]

At the risk of unnecessarily bringing "console wars" crap into this conversation, I simply have to mention something I've been noticing..

in a negative review of inFamous: Second Son (I personally enjoy the series), all I see are comments about how Sony games are held to a higher standard, reviewers want clicks so they are just making click bait, and "who cares if it's repetitive, it's FUN"..

but in a negative review of Titanfall, all of a sudden, it isn't about click bait anymore. All of a sudden, this one reviewer is the only reviewer giving an honest opinion.. Everyone else was bought off by Microsoft (even though the game is published by EA, but who cares about the details right?).. All of a sudden, simply being "fun" isn't good enough.. The list goes on and on but you get my point..

personally, I think both games are great at what they are trying to do.. It's just funny how hypocritical gamers are, especially these days..

[AtomicGerbil]

Unfortunately double standards are a part of human nature, but it still doesn't detract from the opinion that Microsoft are treated as the media's sweetheart despite being damaging to the gaming industry.

[Antwan3k]

Lol @ Microsoft being treated as the industry's sweetheart.. Microsoft, deservingly so or not, has been the gaming industry's whipping boy ever since the Xbox One has been announced.. On the other hand, Sony can't seem to do anything wrong in the eyes on the gaming media.. As time goes on, that will change back and forth, but as of right now, you can't use the "everyone is against Sony" excuse..

and damaging to the gaming industry?.. How so?.. Please elaborate.. Because last time I checked, the original Xbox brought standard HDD and broadband-only online gaming to console gamers.. Unified gamer tags and friends lists?.. That came from Xbox Live.. Who was the first to introduce the cross game chat, party chat, and cross-game join/invites that people are finally enjoying on PS4 since Sony didn't have the foresight to be able to implement those things last Gen on the PS3?.. Microsoft with the Xbox 360.. Indie arcade games?.. XBLA.. The list goes on sir..

Microsoft is a flawed company just like Sony is a flawed company, but "bad for the industry"?.. You might just need to take a long hard look in the mirror before you talk about "double standards" again..

[AtomicGerbil]

Where did i say Sony were perfect?

That's right I didn't!

As for damaging the industry, obviously this is an opinion:-
Parity clauses, stifling devs.
Timed exclusive dlc, fueling hostility and wasting money that could be spent on full games.
Attempted policies on X1 and blaming gamers for not understanding the message when they didn't give a clear one.
Charge fee for p2p network which annoyingly Sony has followed.
Pushing unwanted and near useless to gaming hardware.
In bed with the Nsa.
Graphics matter/don't matter flip flopping.
Denial of rrod until legal action.
Claiming non exclusives as exclusives.
Selling dashboard and Kinect to advertisers.

I could go on. In no way is Sony perfect but their track record is easier to swallow.

[idontcare]

i think the game looks really really boring ... even compared to I1 + I2 ... but to each their own. graphics won't save a boring game. but they can make an already fun game even better ... just look at Titanfall. It may not look like Killzone SF but the overall aesthetics and the level design is better than anything i've seen in quite a while. another thing that should be mentioned is the dialogue between the AI soldiers ... these are some of the most authentic ever ... you really feel like you're fighting along a big squad in Titanfall. they're talking about so many different things it never gets old.

just to bad that PS only fans will never enjoy this great game :(

[AtomicGerbil]

We can easily enjoy it without an Xbox. Have you forgotten it's not exclusive.

As for boring, I could say the same thing about Titanfall if I haven't played it, which I haven't so I won't.

[Antwan3k]

He obviously meant that you can't enjoy it on your PS4.. Hence, "PS only fans".. If the PS4 is where you do 100% of your gaming, why should other platform options matter?.. At the end of the day, YOU STILL CANT PLAY IT ON PS4..

sure you can play it on PC to varying degrees of performance depending on how much time/effort you've spent building your rig and surely for a higher cost that just buying an Xbox One.. Sure you can play a potentially watered down version on 360 that more than likely won't look or perform as well as the Xbox One version.. Or heck, you can just buy an Xbox One to play it along with your PS4.. All valid options..

none of these options changes the FACT that you, as a Sony fan, can't play this game on your Sony PS4 console.. Period..

for example, as an Xbox One fan, it doesn't matter that Final Fantasy XIV is on PC and PS3 as well as on PS4.. I want to play it on my system of choice.. If I wanted to play it so bad that I'd invest in a PC capable of running it at a higher level than the PS4 version, I'd just go buy a PS4 and play it.. I could play on PS3 but at lower quality and without all the sharing features I enjoy on Xbox One and without my XBL friends..

stop with the fanboy logic.. Titanfall is on Xbox One/PC/360.. Titanfall is NOT on PS4.. You can't play it on PS4.. Period.. End of discussion.. Smh at the excuses.. If you have a gaming PC and/or a 360, great.. You still can't play it over PSN+ with your PSN friends on your PS4 using your favorite PS4/PSN features.. PERIOD.. /rant

[AtomicGerbil]

@Antwan

Just wow!! All that to say I can't play Titanfall on Ps4, when at the end of the day I don't need one anyway.

In response to your Pc rant, by today's standards a low spec one will suffice.

[meday354]

The Infamous games are always great and Second Son didn't disappoint.

[prologic]

I would agree that it didn't disappoint, but it also didn't impress. Why is everyone so butt hurt over a review. Is it the insecurity? Is it the fanboy in every single one of you oozing out. Why should you care what they say if you enjoy it? Who cares! Everyone needs to just chill the F out and enjoy for what it is. When you try and prove a point it just makes you look weak and vulnerable. Reading this BS just proves how childish you are. Don't lower yourself to this nonsense. Sony has not proven itself in any way and has not delivered on its promise so far. Its been 4.3 months since release and where is the greatness?

I know every single one of you is itching to contest this statement, cause again you have something to prove, but there are no substantial evidence to back your reasoning. N4G is cesspool for this crap!