Here's a nice surprise. inFamous: Second Son isn't set to release 'til tomorrow (or midnight tonight if you're feeling antsy and grab the game from GameStop or download it via the PSN), but already the scores are coming in. So if you're still unsure about whether or not to pick it up, check out the scores below to see what the critics are saying:
Kotaku, Yes - "Second Son doesn't just do shinier versions of the things previous Infamous games did. It multiplies and extrapolates on those things, letting them intertwine in really satisfying ways. So you get some skills that have choice built in, like sniping that lets you automatically go for headshots (evil) or hobbling (good.) You're a hero-or anti-hero, if you so choose-who can change the nature of his super-ness on the fly. There's a brief sequence in the last third ofSecond Son where Delsin's powers glitch out. You're forced to run past folks getting beaten up and you can't help. It feels pretty horrible, at least if you're playing Delsin as a good guy. That feeling is testament to how much the game pulls you in. Second Son feels like a game made by a studio reaching the peak of its own powers, on a new console that it's helping come into its own."
PSU, 10 - "A couple concerns arose while playing inFAMOUS: Second Son. I even wrote them down, but as I kept playing, I crossed each one out as the game kept addressing them. Scaling buildings feels too slow? Pfft. Now you can run up walls. Retaking city districts from the DUP is getting repetitive? Here are new powers, an awesome story, and more impeccably detailed Seattle to explore. No game is perfect, but I have spent a lot of time trying to think of a reasonable, significant complaint to hold with Second Son. I can't think of a single one. inFAMOUS: Second Son looks brilliant, sounds brilliant, and plays like a dream. I just finished it, and I already want to play it again. Few games have made me put down my controller at the end and say, 'Now THAT was awesome.' inFAMOUS: Second Son has proven itself a rare gem by being one of those games."
Destructiod, 9.5 - "inFamous: Second Son takes everything that the series has done right, puts it in a blender, and delivers what is easily the strongest entry yet...Second Son is by far the best inFamous yet. If you're a fan of the series, then checking this one out is a no-brainer, and if you're not, consider jumping in with Delsin. You don't need any prior knowledge of the franchise to do so, and if you have any appreciation of open-world superhero games, you'll enjoy it."
EGM, 9 - "inFAMOUS: Second Son doesn't break a lot of new ground, but the new characters, diverse powers, and intriguing story are enough, particularly when combined with the power of the PS4. Fans of the inFAMOUS series will absolutely love diving into this new-gen iteration. It's definitely my favorite inFAMOUS game-and favorite PS4 title to date...This new-gen installment of the inFAMOUS franchise offers a new hero, a new city, and tons of new powers. But this is still inFAMOUS at heart, and it's filled with familiar-if refined-open-world gameplay. Protagonist Delsin Rowe's story is more interesting than former leading man Cole MacGrath's, and his powers are more fun to use, too. As far as I'm concerned, this is the first must-play PS4 title."
Joystiq, 9 - "Infamous: Second Son emphasizes the series' strengths in its debut appearance on the PlayStation 4, easily trumping previous Infamous games while showcasing the power of Sony's latest console. In the process, it drastically overhauls the series' defining elements, stripping away the weaker parts and focusing on what works best. If you found previous Infamous games more frustrating than fun, Second Son's gleefully destructive superheroics will win you over as a fan...Second Son is polished and refined enough to make previous series entries feel dated in comparison. It represents a great leap forward both in terms of gameplay and in graphical fidelity, and establishes a high standard for what players can expect from the PlayStation 4."
IGN, 8.7 - "Despite failing to believably marry the player's moral choices with the protagonist's own sense of right and wrong, Second Son hits some big high notes in both character interaction, and most importantly, open-world gameplay...Open-world superhero action games are about freedom and empowerment, and in these regards, Second Son is really impressive. Seattle is a big, beautiful playground for you to stomp around in with a set of devilishly fun and powerful toys at your disposal. It plays great, and it looks even better, but its advancements also beg it to be held to a higher standard, one that its overall story and morality systems struggle to reach."
Polygon, 8.5 - "Second Son may not hit as hard as it should have. But I was having so much fun blowing shit up that I almost didn't notice...Second Son is more of the Infamous I already loved last generation, prettier, with more powers and better writing. But Second Son still kept me excited to discover each new power set and happy to shoot fireballs at fascist thugs long into the night. Maybe it's not so bad to just let go of responsibility and blow stuff up once in a while."
Gamespot, 8 - "Second Son focuses on pure enjoyment. It communicates that through the excellent combat that forces you to concoct crazy tactics to overthrow the invading forces. It draws you in further through its incredible visuals that not only hint at the PlayStation 4's impressive power, but employ a sensible artistic touch that makes Seattle a place you want to explore. It uses a complementary score to underline dramatic moments, and the sound effects pop with flair. And yet, for all of the elements in which Second Son excels, the narrative fails to carry its share of the weight. Still, don't become mired in the negativity as Delsin so often does. Instead, just laugh at the cheesy dialogue and chortle at how extreme the morality system is. Second Son is a great game that knows exactly what it is, and sucks you in with its unfiltered fun."
Eurogamer, 7 - "Overall, it's good clean fun - so it's a shame that Second Son suffers from a consistent failure of imagination in how it's put together. There's not been much of an attempt to shake up the mission scenarios or structure of the game, leaving you with a very rote open-world adventure. Follow the waypoint marker, chase the suspect, investigate the scene, wipe out the jackboots; hunt the collectables and tick the boxes. You've been here many times before. The collectables and side missions all contribute to reclaiming districts from the DUP, which organises them into chunks and structures the reward usefully, and they've been judiciously pruned - but this is good admin rather than great game design. As pretty and playable as it is, in no sense is inFamous: Second Son a post-Grand Theft Auto 5 open-world game. It's just a tidier, shorter and shinier one. It's easy to enjoy and has a winning personality, but it's reluctant to deviate from a stale streetmap of game city. It's no rebel, then. In fact, it's a conformist."
Digital Spy, 6 - "Infamous: Second Son reveals a lot about the PlayStation 4's potential. For a game to look this good this early on in a console's life cycle, it leaves us excited about just how visually impressive future titles could end up becoming. But for all its visual flair, Infamous: Second Son suffers from gameplay that feels tried and tested rather than anything new...The city looks fantastic, especially at night, but lacks some of the character of other open world titles. There is a lot going on, but Seattle never really came to life for us as, say, Los Santos in GTA 5. Despite a mixed story and setting, missions have some standout moments - most of which are best left unspoilt - but one highlight sees a room sucked of electricity as you take the power for your own, letting you hunt in the dark to take down enemies. Infamous: Second Son looks great and plays well enough, but ultimately, the combat, world and story never proves gripping enough to come back for more. It's a game that makes the most of the PS4's visual capabilities, but whether it'll keep you entertained while your eyes are treated to its graphical flair is a less likely."
inFamous: Second Son releases exclusively on the PlayStation 4 tomorrow, March 21. It currently carries a score of 81 from aggregate score site Metacritic.
