 Seattle's greatest power struggle. Delsin was just a relatively normal teenager when, after a fight with an escaped convict, he discovers that he has superpowers. Unfortunately for him, these types of powers are outlawed for public safety. He must free Seattle from the iron grip of a tyrannical law enforcement group and establish it as a beacon for free "conduits" everywhere.
1. Gameplay
I liked the original two InFamous games, but they weren’t really my preference. I enjoyed the Prototype power trip far more than the more subtle, morally-inclined InFamous games. InFamous: Second Son, however, is a huge leap forward. I seriously enjoyed this game, so much so that I wish it had been longer. Instead of being stuck with one power and limited upgrade options, the game gives you the opportunity to learn and use four different powers, each of which is fairly strong and a number of which can change drastically depending on your moral alignment.  The choices are fairly black and white, but they're still interesting. Not only that, but Delsin, the main character, is funny and actually seems to enjoy his powers! This is exactly how I imagine myself treating these powers if I got them. It’s not about being tough or hardened or whatever, it’s about having fun with your abilities. Who cares if it seems irreverent, I might as well enjoy myself while I’m saving lives and kicking butt! Delsin's personality basically makes the game for me. He might not look like a teenager, but his attitude towards life sells it perfectly. The powers are cool and useful, but it wouldn’t be the same without that fun-loving free spirit.  Who wouldn't love this kind of power? This is a launch title, so the game makes use of a lot of the new tech-related gadgets included in the PS4. Sometimes this works well (like when the game uses the in-controller speaker), sometimes this doesn’t work so well (like when the game tries to use the six-axis motion controls during spray painting). The story is good, the characters are great, the powers fit well (even if trying to modernize them feels a bit forced). So what’s the downside? The game is too short. While there is plenty of content (enough for a playthrough on each moral alignment), the game felt far too short. It needed a third island. That isn’t a horrible thing, it’s mostly that I liked the game and its content enough to want even more. I haven’t played too many exclusive titles, but so far this is one of my favorite of the 4th-gen games. I’d highly recommend that any PS4 owners pick it up.
This is one of those games that’s really too short, but in a good way. I loved the powers, the main character was funny, the story made sense, but ultimately I felt there simply wasn’t enough content here. Granted, the story is designed to be played twice (once on the good karma path, once on the evil karma path), and the game has different quests and actions for each karma, but after I cleared out all of the collectibles and sidequests I was left feeling like there should have been a third island. The story was complete, but I felt like there could have been so much more. Not to mention the game never really gives me a chance to test out the concrete power the player gets at the end of the game. This game is definitely worth playing at least twice, but it’ll only take around 10 hours to complete each playthrough fully (campaign, sidequests, and collectibles).
This game was smooth, the mechanics were relatively easy to figure out and master, the powers were straightforward, and the game never seemed unfairly difficult. Aside from the strange controls involved with the spraypainting (that six-axis never seems to work correctly when the controller is sideways), I never felt an ounce of frustration in this game (which is, quite possibly, a first for any game ever). 2. Parental Notices
Violence in this game is very mild. No matter what power the player uses, there is never any blood or gore. Hits from almost every power result in bright flashes of light and energy that can send enemies flying.  Man, these effects are cool. These effects are the same for almost every attack, from the most basic hits with a chain or small balls of explosive smoke to the massive ultimate attacks that cause near catastrophic damage in the immediate area.  PIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIINK! Players on the good karmic path will constantly be challenged to take down enemies non-lethally. This usually involves stunning then wrapping an enemy up like Spiderman. It was very easy to pull off maneuvers like this, so I made use of them constantly.  Subduing enemies through lasers? Yes please. Evil karmic players will tend to kill enemies and civilians without any remorse. As with all of the other effects though, there is never any blood or gore. Violence overall is a fairly consistent element, but the flashy, power-based nature of it all keeps it fairly benign.
There is some very awkward sexual tension between the main character and Fetch, the former drug addict. This did not last long in the good morality cutscenes, and only became a minor factor during one evil morality cutscene. In it, the main character and Fetch start making out after an intense mission. Fetch asks if they should hook up. They briefly discuss foreplay, but the scene quickly fades to black.  If there was ever a face that expressed "ew", this is it.
One of the characters, Fetch, was addicted to some sort of drug. She ended up breaking the habit, but not before her boyfriend was killed because of her using the drug. Its exact nature isn’t really specified.
Gambling is not a factor in this game. 3. Other Factors
There are no modding tools available for this game.
Later in the game the player gains access to the power of “video”. This allows the player to use powers based on his karmic path. Light side players will gain the ability to call in an airstrike of angels (which is awesome). Dark side players will gain the ability to call in demons (which is also pretty awesome).  Video Angel sounds like a great song title. Angels and demons play into a few of the story missions, but technically these aren’t really angels and demons. They’re just projections of angels and demons that are pulled from television and video games. They are religious in that they are obvious symbols with religious importance, but they do not represent any sort of religion in this context.
Anti-law is a significant element in this game. Even if the player chooses the good karmic path, the player will be fighting against the major branch of federal law enforcement. Every action the player makes along the story is meant to undermine the D.U.P.’s authority in Seattle and the surrounding area.  Although it's probably best not to let that convict go. Evil karmic players will have the additional anti-law element of fighting against the local law enforcement. Police will fight a player who kills too many civilians or represents a threat to the community. While the player may not specifically target cops in the game, evil karmic players will have to take down cops in order to progress past certain areas.
There are no multiplayer modes for this game.
Extreme sports is a factor, but one that is blended with the “magical” elements of the game. For example, the player can scale tall building relatively quickly, but this is only possible because of his powers.  Who needs stairs anyway? This goes for many different abilities the player gains throughout the game. The player can glide through the air and land softly on the ground no matter how high the drop. The game doesn’t quite explain how all of this is possible (nor why the player lacks the ability to swim).  Having this would really solve my problems with traffic. These are consistent elements throughout the game, but it would be extremely difficult to replicate them in real life.
Magic is a pivotal factor in this game, its plot, and its mechanics. Every one of the main character’s abilities are magical even if they have names that make them sound like they’re based in technology (I’m looking at you, “video”). It doesn’t matter if the player is throwing fireballs or turning invisible, all of the player’s abilities are magical.  I'm a walking dance party! The player also has the ability to glide (it’s like flying, but isn’t really propelled and doesn’t last indefinitely). This is done via the video power. Essentially, the player can project himself into a satellite dish and then shoot himself high into the air, gliding over long distances. Once I obtained the power, I used it fairly frequently.  Now I'm a baby bird! Many of the enemies also have similar abilities. Almost all of these are based in the “concrete” power, but the effects are definitely magical. The magic involved in the main antagonist’s powers is clearly evident as well. She has full control of her concrete ability and can use it to transform herself and others.  There's a guy somewhere underneath that concrete. Without these abilities the game and its plot simply couldn’t exist.
Torture The main antagonist has a habit of encasing people’s limbs in concrete. This sounds like it would just be inconvenient, but evidently it’s also extremely painful. The torture of the main character’s friends and family is the driving motivation behind everything in the story. However, it is only really witnessed in the beginning of the game.  At least she doesn't have to worry about getting kicked in the shins, I guess?
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