Straight outta CES, Sony's offering two videos of its open-world shock-em-up, inFamous. On display here: open-world gameplay, various lightning attacks, and some grating sound effects (bzzt bzzt bzzt!).
What's really got us, though, is this: Sony first revealed Sucker Punch's inFamous in July 2007 at E3, just one month before Sierra (now Activision) took the wraps off of Radical's Prototype, an exceedingly similar concept. It's like when two movie studios, operating totally independently, plan big-budget movies about asteroids colliding with Earth. Just replace "asteroids" with "super-powered dudes" and replace "Earth" with "Empire City" and "New York City" respectively. Just like it.
CES 2009: inFamous videos show off a lotta lightning
by Christopher Grant 
on Jan 9th 2009 10:45AM
50
Reader Comments (50)
Posted: Jan 9th 2009 10:51AM MyAbsolution said
Crackdown meets the Force Unleashed?
looks cool.
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looks cool.
Posted: Jan 9th 2009 11:02AM (Unverified) said
I was going to say the same thing. Not just the effects, but the kid looks very similar, which isn't a good thing. He's looks like the type of teenager you just want to smack in the face, not sure why.
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Posted: Jan 9th 2009 11:07AM iHavePants said
Crackdown meets the Force Unleashed meets Assassins Creed, with all the climbing ability.
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Posted: Jan 9th 2009 10:55AM NaeemTHM said
What's more, both games look good!
Though (possibly for the first time ever) the PS3 gets a great deal since both Prototype AND inFamous are coming to the system.
Then again....I guess 360 can look forward to Crackdown 2, should that ever be released.
Hurray for super-dudes reeking havoc through Big Cities!
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Though (possibly for the first time ever) the PS3 gets a great deal since both Prototype AND inFamous are coming to the system.
Then again....I guess 360 can look forward to Crackdown 2, should that ever be released.
Hurray for super-dudes reeking havoc through Big Cities!
Posted: Jan 9th 2009 11:02AM baby sea tuna said
I was pretty amped (ugh, sorry) for inFamous before but nothing in the videos made me go "HOLY FUCK AWESOME!" like that Prototype trailer did.
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Posted: Jan 9th 2009 11:14AM SuperGayParade said
Lol. Put together the parts of Prototype trailer that are actual gameplay, then watch side by side, then smack yourself for being shallow and comparing cinematics to gameplay.
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Posted: Jan 9th 2009 11:22AM baby sea tuna said
Like the gameplay where the dude throws the same lightning bolt like 15 time in a row? Or the part where he does it WHILE HANGING OFF OF SOMETHING!!!!!1!
I trust SuckerPunch, I really do, but nothing in that game but I can't imagine anything in inFamous being more awesome than being able to punch straight through somebody's chest.
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I trust SuckerPunch, I really do, but nothing in that game but I can't imagine anything in inFamous being more awesome than being able to punch straight through somebody's chest.
Posted: Jan 9th 2009 11:29AM (Unverified) said
The player only does it once, but it looks like you can hold the lighting strike. Whoever has the controller just isn't doing it for some reason. Maybe an upgrade?
The video looked like lots of stick-wiggling and button mashing, so I'd like to think that the game will ultimately be more smooth than that.
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The video looked like lots of stick-wiggling and button mashing, so I'd like to think that the game will ultimately be more smooth than that.
Posted: Jan 9th 2009 12:02PM (Unverified) said
Hah, I just noticed the "m" for mario on your avatar. That's funny.
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Posted: Jan 9th 2009 1:30PM Spunky Monkey 190906 said
Prototype reminds me too much of a Marvel Game, running up walls and stuff. InFamous looks repetitive, but Prototype looks like it could become the same way fast as well :S
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Posted: Jan 9th 2009 11:14AM (Unverified) said
No one else thought that looked boring? Lighting Strike, Lighting Strike, Lighting Strike, Lighting Strike, Lighting Strike, Lighting Strike....
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Posted: Jan 9th 2009 11:17AM iHavePants said
It did get that way a bit, and the sound for the lightning bolt is very annoying.
However towards the end of the second video things branched out a tad and became awesome.
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However towards the end of the second video things branched out a tad and became awesome.
Posted: Jan 9th 2009 12:30PM (Unverified) said
First video left me a little bored. Second video started off the same way, but when he jumped off the building with the lightning charge and killed the bad guy I started to pick up a little excitement. Can't wait to see more.
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Posted: Jan 9th 2009 1:34PM Spunky Monkey 190906 said
I guess prototype and InFamous pick up depending on what mission you are doing and where you are going, the reason he only ever does lightning bolt moves is because the devs don't want to show anything else for some reason or another :(
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Posted: Jan 9th 2009 5:45PM (Unverified) said
I'm with you on that one bud...
This looks sooooooooooooooooooo repetitive!
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This looks sooooooooooooooooooo repetitive!
Posted: Jan 11th 2009 6:53PM Special Agent Steve said
I agree as well, repetitive- quickly. I'm going out on a limb here and giving it a 7.2. Good visuals, but damn that was boring.
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Posted: Jan 9th 2009 11:16AM Kleptomaniac said
From watching this video i'm pretty interested in the game. But i noticed some of the gameplay seems to be from earlier builds released a few months ago.
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Posted: Jan 9th 2009 11:23AM PedoJokerBear said
if i had lightning coming out of my hands, i will not attack my enemies by giving them an "air five"
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Posted: Jan 9th 2009 1:48PM Brett from Atlanta said
FYI, the air five is the new fist pound from Battlefield: Bad Company.
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Posted: Jan 9th 2009 11:45AM (Unverified) said
hmmmm lightning wasnt very fun in the force unleashed and this doesnt look different enough.
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Posted: Jan 9th 2009 11:49AM (Unverified) said
Posted: Jan 9th 2009 12:06PM (Unverified) said
That was worse. =\
I can imagine playing pretend like that if i were still around 7 years old, though.
I get it, 'LIGHTNING BOLT! LIGHTNING BOLT! LIGHTNING BOLT! LIGHTNING BOLT! LIGHTNING BOLT! LIGHTNING BOLT! LIGHTNING BOLT! LIGHTNING BOLT!'
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I can imagine playing pretend like that if i were still around 7 years old, though.
I get it, 'LIGHTNING BOLT! LIGHTNING BOLT! LIGHTNING BOLT! LIGHTNING BOLT! LIGHTNING BOLT! LIGHTNING BOLT! LIGHTNING BOLT! LIGHTNING BOLT!'
Posted: Jan 9th 2009 11:56AM Triscuit said
That time when he had five or six guys in a cluster, all shooting at him, would have been the time do something amazing. Like, oh, I dunno.... MAKING THEM INTO A GIANT LIGHTNING CHAIN CIRCUIT SO THAT THEIR HEADS EXPLODE! Then I'd be a little more impressed. Also, some hints or evidence of a soundtrack would have been nice.
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Posted: Jan 9th 2009 12:38PM 343 Guilty Fart said
That screenshot looks like it's from Half Life 2.
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Posted: Jan 9th 2009 1:43PM Spunky Monkey 190906 said
I hate superhero games where the character is overpowered, which is why I never purchase a hulk game (spiderman games just bore me, lol, personally I prefer being the villain, evil is more fun! >:D ).
I know PS3 owners get the best of both worlds, meaning I'd end up getting both either way, but I felt the need to compare them anyway, Prototype looks fun for a few minutes, but I think running up buildings and throwing cars would bore me after a while, I would prefer to gradually gain more power, in that case I give Infamous credit as they have thought about things quite smartly, areas without electricity, getting more power as you go along etc, however, there are fewer civilians in Infamous, prototype has the armies and police to chase you etc making it that bit more entertaining. Both open worlds look fun to mess about in but I'm not into running up walls and flying like superman, so I'd give my credit to InFamous in that sense, then again, Prototypes abilty to change form and rip things apart makes it look awesome, personally if they fused the two together, I think they'd make the perfect superhero/villain game, as they are now, they both concern me but I'll play them and judge again later :D
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I know PS3 owners get the best of both worlds, meaning I'd end up getting both either way, but I felt the need to compare them anyway, Prototype looks fun for a few minutes, but I think running up buildings and throwing cars would bore me after a while, I would prefer to gradually gain more power, in that case I give Infamous credit as they have thought about things quite smartly, areas without electricity, getting more power as you go along etc, however, there are fewer civilians in Infamous, prototype has the armies and police to chase you etc making it that bit more entertaining. Both open worlds look fun to mess about in but I'm not into running up walls and flying like superman, so I'd give my credit to InFamous in that sense, then again, Prototypes abilty to change form and rip things apart makes it look awesome, personally if they fused the two together, I think they'd make the perfect superhero/villain game, as they are now, they both concern me but I'll play them and judge again later :D
Posted: Jan 9th 2009 1:50PM Brett from Atlanta said
Wow, a lot of hate on here it seems. Does anyone else not think that this just looks like good, clean, mindless fun!? I for one am pretty excited about sinking my teeth into this.
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Posted: Jan 9th 2009 3:29PM Hyams said
Meh, it's an exclusive. They always attract hate. It's a PS3 exclusive too, which is even worse, although not as bad as a Wii exclusive.
Look at all the hate amazing exclusives like LBP and Killzone 2 got/have been getting. Sometimes people just feel like they have to hate all games they cannot play on their favourite console.
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Look at all the hate amazing exclusives like LBP and Killzone 2 got/have been getting. Sometimes people just feel like they have to hate all games they cannot play on their favourite console.
Posted: Jan 9th 2009 2:39PM (Unverified) said
Darth Sidious ain't got shit against this guy!
I think the game will be awesome...needs more variety in lightning powers not just shocks bombs and waves.I want:
-chain lightning
-stasis field
-magnetic impulse
-thunder strikes
-lightning speed (a really fast sprint O_o)
-more sound effects in the lightning powers
-i want the guy to pick up any fucking object and enhance it with lightning-then use it as a weapon (obviously)
-smart AI - difficult to kill and fun at the same time
-a good storyline
-etc....
i hope they won't fuck it up...i've got high hopes for this game...it looks very promising. :D
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I think the game will be awesome...needs more variety in lightning powers not just shocks bombs and waves.I want:
-chain lightning
-stasis field
-magnetic impulse
-thunder strikes
-lightning speed (a really fast sprint O_o)
-more sound effects in the lightning powers
-i want the guy to pick up any fucking object and enhance it with lightning-then use it as a weapon (obviously)
-smart AI - difficult to kill and fun at the same time
-a good storyline
-etc....
i hope they won't fuck it up...i've got high hopes for this game...it looks very promising. :D
Posted: Jan 9th 2009 2:50PM The Commenter Formerly Known as said
This game needs more hand-to-hand combat... cause if its starts rainning he's in trouble...
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Posted: Jan 9th 2009 4:20PM Spunky Monkey 190906 said
Yea, like grabbing someones head and exploding it with electricity :D
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Posted: Jan 9th 2009 4:18PM sector13 said
After watching those two clips I'm already bored with it. Running around killing people with the same force lightning over and over seems really repetitive. Prototype at least seems to have more variety.
Sony needs to get off their butts and fix allot things with the PS3 and how people interact with it and the online world. And Infamous is just one more thing to work on.
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Sony needs to get off their butts and fix allot things with the PS3 and how people interact with it and the online world. And Infamous is just one more thing to work on.
Posted: Jan 9th 2009 4:22PM Spunky Monkey 190906 said
And you don't think that after playing games like Hulk and Spiderman, Prototype isn't much the same? Just with a few indifferences here and there? To be honest both games are great and boring in thier own ways, prototype is no less repetitive or has no more variety I can see in the slightest.
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Posted: Jan 9th 2009 4:27PM (Unverified) said
I wonder what's in his backpack? Hopefully a new power...
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Posted: Jan 9th 2009 7:06PM jrejre said
I saw a behind the scenes vid on this a few weeks back. The main character is apparently a "badass bike messenger" and you go around exploring the city because before he got his powers he was "an urban explorer, who went around the city looking for things". I had to laugh my ass off because it just sounded like such a "this is what kids are into these days. Urban exploring and bike messengers are badass!"
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Posted: Jan 10th 2009 8:54PM BurntMeatloaf said
I love Sucker Punch, but my first impression is "Ratchet and Clank with only 3 weapons".
Nonetheless, I'm interested, and I want to see more of the story. Showing actual gameplay gets them 50 points.
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Nonetheless, I'm interested, and I want to see more of the story. Showing actual gameplay gets them 50 points.
Posted: Feb 8th 2009 4:35AM (Unverified) said
I want to blow the heads off of all the haters on here. Clearly no one here realizes that these couple of clips are really only the action side to the game. While you morons gripe about the game being so repetitive Sucker Punch doesn't want to show the more complex powers yet so things don't get spoiled. As you progress through the game depending on your behaviors you achieve different powers. I personally think the game looks incredible. Sucker Punch is my favorite studio so they can definetely count me in.
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Posted: Feb 8th 2009 4:39AM (Unverified) said
@Jrejre: Actually from what I've heard he's a rather non-badass bike messenger... but you gotta admit that urban exploration is at least kind of cool.
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