inFamous: Second Son

 PlayStation 4
  • Publisher: SCEA
  • Release Date: Mar 21, 2014
User Score
8.0

Generally favorable reviews- based on 4171 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 3,118 out of 4171
  2. Mixed: 745 out of 4171
  3. Negative: 308 out of 4171
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  1. madojora
    Apr 17, 2014
    4
    Yes it looks fantastic, BUT...obnoxious American characters with laughably bad attempts at Naughty Dog-esque humour, a pointless bit of pink fluff and the must have cliched nerd-who-has-trouble-fitting-in.
    Gameplay is near identical to the first two games with far too many boring collectables. Shards are useless in the sense that you can end up with dozens of surplus shards that you can't    Yes it looks fantastic, BUT...obnoxious American characters with laughably bad attempts at Naughty Dog-esque humour, a pointless bit of pink fluff and the must have cliched nerd-who-has-trouble-fitting-in.
    Gameplay is near identical to the first two games with far too many boring collectables. Shards are useless in the sense that you can end up with dozens of surplus shards that you can't spend on power-ups until the story lets you. Boss battles are embarrasingly bad.
    You'll only buy this because you need to justify your PS4.    … Expand
  2. Melopahn
    Apr 3, 2014
    4
    As the game opens, we see our hero rebelling like any normal angst filled teenager, making "elaborate" graffiti work on pictures of his loving family. Just don't mind the fact that he is well over twenty and his antics are the definition of childish.

    The opening of the game says everything you would need to know. It is an under developed child trapped in an adult body. Visually you will    As the game opens, we see our hero rebelling like any normal angst filled teenager, making "elaborate" graffiti work on pictures of his loving family. Just don't mind the fact that he is well over twenty and his antics are the definition of childish.

    The opening of the game says everything you would need to know. It is an under developed child trapped in an adult body. Visually you will be deceived but as you become acquainted you quickly grasp just how underdeveloped and mentally lacking the game truly is.

    The game brings nothing new to the infamous table, the protagonist gets 4 powers each of which contains the same spells: A ranged attack (like a gun), a sprint, a ranged power attack (grenade), and a melee attack combo, and a finishing move that removes all difficulty or thought. The only thing that each individual power does is change the particle effect surrounding that move. I guess they also add an extra grind to the game farming all 5 of your moves 4 times is a much cheaper way to make a game then giving you 20 unique powers... so I gotta give the developers their points for that. Cole brought a lot to the table in the previous games with more abilities in his 1 conduit power. Delsin brings a small fraction to the table with 4 powers, he makes up for this though with his angst and hipster beenie. 1.0

    Graphically the game is definitely the beginning of a next gen, its very polished and runs smoothly but nothing mind blowing, it pulls out the bare minimum it should be with the power it has behind it. Other games have already pushed the graphics and frame rate to much higher calibers then this game dares to. It is a let down as they had so much potential but left it high and dry. 1.0

    The sound work in the game is definitely the best part, it does not disappoint in the slightest, each power gets a unique sound set, the different sounds are integrated beautifully and play simultaneously in a way that makes the world feel more realistic then any previous game could hope to do. The voice work is acceptable with some of the cheesy or cliche writing getting in the way, but over all this is the most inspiring part of the game. Its just too bad they couldn't pick some better songs and give it a story. The sound is good but it has no backbone to stand with. 8.0

    The game starts fairly strong giving you new powers and pushing you along, but forgets major portions of what a game must have. A purpose, the game is so lacking in this point. early in the game the antagonist has the hero trapped and tortures his people. Augustine is a no holds bar villain from the very beginning a cruel woman that tortures innocent villagers to learn of your secret conduit abilities. Yet she does NOTHING with this information. She simply leaves you in your bed, because why not. The game doesn't have just 1 glaring inconsistency, it seems each mission was written by completely different people with nothing but a cliff note to go off of for previous missions and story. By the end of the game there was no way of knowing what the intended story was supposed to be, large chunks of the story seem to be missing completely. Delsin is tasked with doing something to help bring down the DUP but is quickly met with a new mission talking about new characters and developing a new plot line which is left to dry on a clothesline and never returned too. A good 60% of the game has nothing to do with the main story, just a side character wanting help with their problems then you jump back to main story which has progressed without your involvement or knowledge. I would call it a story but was left with jay dropping shock by the blatant disregard to keep anything consistent. 0

    Finally the part everyone cares about. Game play and replay - I finished the game with a playtime of 5:47 minutes. I fully unlocked 4 of the (I wanna say 13 zones but can't be bothered to turn it on... just too disappointed) I left all the other zones at the final step before they are clear (the showdowns). I had a friend come over and just play the story at streamlined speeds. It was incredible how fast he finished a whopping 4 hours and 12 minutes. The game play is lacking entirely there are 4 types of missions 1 that require you kill DUP agents, and the 3 that require nothing but quick filler. As far as replayability goes these missions are it a whopping 4 mission types that you have to do 13 times each. Thats the entire game. THey force some of them on you to prolong the story as you cannot unlock certain story missions until you have killed some DUP forces. So if you want to play wheres waldo in a 20 foot circle with 7 people or spray paint 13 walls with tags, then what are you waiting for this game literally has everything you've ever wanted. There is a set of missions where you listen to audio logs but they are independent and completely pointless.

    In all I'd say wait it out the game is not worth $60 and is not a good start for the PS4's life.    … Expand
  3. silasbodnick
    Mar 21, 2014
    4
    What I can say for sure is the graphical leap from the last generation on display in this game is spectacular and I also absolutely loved the music. however there are some significant problems with the AI in this game and things tend to get rather repetitive towards the latter half. also the story is nothing to write home about. I suppose when a game joins the elite games of any generationWhat I can say for sure is the graphical leap from the last generation on display in this game is spectacular and I also absolutely loved the music. however there are some significant problems with the AI in this game and things tend to get rather repetitive towards the latter half. also the story is nothing to write home about. I suppose when a game joins the elite games of any generation every one of these elements have to be polished. I am very much looking forward to what this development team can do with the sequel to this game.… Expand
  4. btimothj
    Mar 22, 2014
    4
    One word. Unoriginal. Maybe next time inFAMOUS. I was really hoping this game would end the PS4 game drought. I was wrong. Beat it way too fast and honestly I don't have any desire to play through it again.
  5. matthewjoseph25
    Mar 22, 2014
    4
    The game is very mediocre in my opinion, it feels unpolished and rushed to the market. I think they could of spent more time on this game and it could of been better. I own both xbox one and ps4 I am not some butt pirate fan boy. But this game isn't enough to justify someone purchasing a ps4. Hopefully the order,gow,uncharted, last of us sequel will.
  6. Volgrinn93
    May 8, 2014
    4
    Was super hyped for this game unfortunately I was disappointed. Hated 1 and 2. Guess I never was meant for the series. Graphics are pretty good, but the story was well.....
  7. BOWi
    Nov 4, 2022
    4
    Aged poorly. The last arc (last couple of missions) rob the player from the freedom because we are forced to use specific powers. It's also waves after waves of enemies, mini-bosses, and even BOSSES (plural). It's as if the final arc had been developed be a different team.

    The story is poor too. Seriously, don't put this game at the top of your backlog. I uninstalled "First Light" and I    Aged poorly. The last arc (last couple of missions) rob the player from the freedom because we are forced to use specific powers. It's also waves after waves of enemies, mini-bosses, and even BOSSES (plural). It's as if the final arc had been developed be a different team.

    The story is poor too. Seriously, don't put this game at the top of your backlog. I uninstalled "First Light" and I won't even play it. (prequel)    … Expand
  8. Shishka
    Aug 12, 2014
    4
    This game is just... nothing. It has nothing to do with the first two chapters, having a story that doesn't follow the main storyline.
    From my point of view it has only good graphics, but the amount of powers is highly reduced -yes, you have different kinds of powers, but they all do the same things in a slightly different way, come on, some bring some variety!
    The game is very short and    This game is just... nothing. It has nothing to do with the first two chapters, having a story that doesn't follow the main storyline.
    From my point of view it has only good graphics, but the amount of powers is highly reduced -yes, you have different kinds of powers, but they all do the same things in a slightly different way, come on, some bring some variety!
    The game is very short and the story is not catching, it's just... Nothing special.    … Expand
  9. Mosh603
    Sep 18, 2014
    4
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. PROS: Graphics and scenery are beautiful. That is basically it.

    CONS: First off, the man character is corny and lame. He comes off as too giddy and fearless. The character development sucks. The storyline was so incredibly shallow, it was surprising. It was easy to see from a mile away that the Policeman brother will die. The powers were all cookie cutter. Each power had a rapid fire mode, an ammo-based power attack, and a super blast charge-up power. Also, the storyline was predictable and repetitive.

    Overall, very glad I borrowed this game from a friend and did not buy it.    … Expand
  10. AndyPatterson96
    Nov 14, 2014
    4
    A terrible storyline punctuated with annoying characters and infuriatingly bland and repetitive gameplay make Infamous Second Son one of the worst and most dull sandbox games I've played in a long time. This is not a good launch title by any means and a massive step down in the series.
  11. murdersto56
    Dec 11, 2014
    4
    Worst game in the series, it feels like it is set in an entirely different universe to the first 2, in every aspect. There is a massive step back in gameplay, you are given multiple boring super powers instead of 1 fleshed out/ good power. The game world is very boring and I often walk through streets with no NPCS or vehicles. But what really killed the game for me is the fact it isWorst game in the series, it feels like it is set in an entirely different universe to the first 2, in every aspect. There is a massive step back in gameplay, you are given multiple boring super powers instead of 1 fleshed out/ good power. The game world is very boring and I often walk through streets with no NPCS or vehicles. But what really killed the game for me is the fact it is boring, repetative and has none of the qualities of previous games in the series. The game just feels really dead in comparison to the last 2, no returning characters, no interesting quests, a boring/short main story, the list goes on. I will give the game credit for its impressive graphics and sound/music. Even though the graphics are realistic , they are very grey and have no colour, in the end they make the game look very dark and depressing.… Expand
  12. HeyCruelWorld
    Jan 11, 2015
    4
    My score is for the visuals of the game, wich are nice. The game itself.. Well. I tried the first one, the second and this. I just can't like this, it's one of the worst games i played in 2014 together with WATCH_DOGS and Destiny.
  13. Blackout542
    Mar 1, 2015
    4
    While beautiful, Desmond feels liked a heavily nerfed version of Cole. Often lacking any real meaningful special abilities. Smoke and Neon both feel around 50% as powerful as lightning. If you want to be a badass, don't pick this up, for the first half of the game you will be getting torn to shreds by automatic weapons and are forced to hit generic enemies 4-6 times for a kill. I playedWhile beautiful, Desmond feels liked a heavily nerfed version of Cole. Often lacking any real meaningful special abilities. Smoke and Neon both feel around 50% as powerful as lightning. If you want to be a badass, don't pick this up, for the first half of the game you will be getting torn to shreds by automatic weapons and are forced to hit generic enemies 4-6 times for a kill. I played and LOVED the first 2 games, the pathetic lack of content, and no content creator means this game has little to no replay value.… Expand
  14. InsanelySane
    Mar 11, 2015
    4
    This game will likely divide people - it'll get praise from younger gamers, I suspect, and those who like light playing in a sandbox semi open world with easy superhero powers without much effort or worry about story or character development...

    It'll get lower marks from gamers like me - gamers who cant stand being made hostage to cutscenes you cant skip (replayability would suck to    This game will likely divide people - it'll get praise from younger gamers, I suspect, and those who like light playing in a sandbox semi open world with easy superhero powers without much effort or worry about story or character development...

    It'll get lower marks from gamers like me - gamers who cant stand being made hostage to cutscenes you cant skip (replayability would suck to have to sit at the mercy of the forgettable dialogue but even first time playthrough was painful having sit through these scenes - and my gaming time is limited as it is).... characters you'll find wanky (try-hard skater bro down with the system yo lead character isn't inspiring) and yet surprisingly empty cliche'd personalities throughout... and gameplay mechanics I found felt they lacked punch and weight, simplified game mechanics in general which can work when other elements hold it together. In Infamous Second Son I found myself rolling my eyes, not caring, going through the motions..

    If the concerns above would irritate you, this game wont hold your attention and wont get better as the game progresses. You'll be sighing and thinking you could be spending your time doing something better with your life.. never a good thing if a game does that to you from the start...    … Expand
  15. ps4sucks-pc-ftw
    Jun 14, 2015
    4
    This game starts off well, visually impressing you and the way it is made gives you hope that Sony has put up a good exclusive for once, but then the the limitations and repetitiveness push over you, meatslapping your face with anger until it burns and gives you skin damage. Sony failed again to deliver greatness. All the obese gamers won't last long to finally experience something decent enough.
  16. ANTI-COMMIE
    Jan 14, 2016
    4
    When I first watched the trailer I thought. OMFG! This is going to be an amazing spectacular game. This is the kind of story we need. Second son had everything to be an awesome game. But critical thinking isn't allowed. This seems to be written by a 13 year old kid. Actually this is a pretty much a watered down Politically correct PG-13 GAME. This game calls you stupid since theWhen I first watched the trailer I thought. OMFG! This is going to be an amazing spectacular game. This is the kind of story we need. Second son had everything to be an awesome game. But critical thinking isn't allowed. This seems to be written by a 13 year old kid. Actually this is a pretty much a watered down Politically correct PG-13 GAME. This game calls you stupid since the beginning. when Augustine leaves without arresting Delsin. There isn't a good villain and the establishment created isn't scary enough for you to feel that you have to fight against. Another serious flaw is that you're jumping here and there and sometimes there's no reaction of the passers by to get to the point that I exploded the ground close to some passers and them didn't even stop drinking their coffee. Like infamous 2. We saw some guys strolling around while monsters were wrecking the **** out of the city. This is just ridiculously stupid.… Expand
  17. hughanderson
    Oct 1, 2019
    4
    Just boring......................................................................
  18. tommydlbass
    Sep 19, 2021
    4
    This game aged really bad and the game is overall the worst of the saga. The story is not good and the main character feels very distant to the player, and the gameplay got stuck into the ps3.
  19. ElCaptain
    Jul 19, 2020
    4
    One of the weaker Sony games. Plot is incredibly plain and weak, gameplay is borderline average and characters are annoying
  20. joao_mrodrigues
    Oct 26, 2020
    4
    A fisica do jogo me incomodou bastante, não me senti preso pela historia sequer um segundo, não curti as batalhas, não gostei da vilã também e a minha expectativa com o game era alta.
  21. PanthersFanStev
    Apr 5, 2014
    3
    Updated graphics, meh story, no multiplayer. Character is bland and unoriginal. Repetitive game with great graphics. Better options out there for your gaming $.
  22. Lozsta
    Apr 1, 2014
    3
    Bland. Repetitive. Clunky. Detestable Hipster main character. Not a patch on the previous Infamous games.

    This feels a lot like a proof of concept rather than an infamous game. I cannot describe how much fun Infamous 2 was, and this is nothing compared. Could easily have been a PS3 game, the graphics are polished but what are polished graphics with no underlying gaming fun.    Bland. Repetitive. Clunky. Detestable Hipster main character. Not a patch on the previous Infamous games.

    This feels a lot like a proof of concept rather than an infamous game. I cannot describe how much fun Infamous 2 was, and this is nothing compared. Could easily have been a PS3 game, the graphics are polished but what are polished graphics with no underlying gaming fun.

    Another PS4 flop as far as I am concerned.    … Expand
  23. FiveCentDimes
    Mar 22, 2014
    3
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Not even half of what it was hyped up to be. Other than the graphics (which were impressive), this game is a boring mess that fails to deliver in every way imaginable. For a game that is supposed to be centered around having superpowers, it certainly doesn't make you feel powerful at all. Too often you are surrounded by a horde of enemies that haven't both guns and, for some reason, superpowers (which is stupid, considering that they're supposed to be hunting down anybody with superpowers). I found myself being forced to run away from fights while I wait for my health to regenerate. Seriously? The combat itself feels broken and forces you to play a certain way. Mêlée combat, though available, is almost never an option because you just get shot by more enemies when you attempt it, forcing the game to become a shooter with weak shooter mechanics. If there were at least some kind of targeting system, it might have been more bearable. Additionally, the gameplay is repetitive. Time after time you are forced to go to some D.U.P. controlled area, wipe out the enemies, and blow something up, all while fighting the same boring enemies. The powers which you are given make little sense. Even though it is supposed to be a comic book style game with super powers, that doesn't mean the powers should be something stupid. Video powers? Are you serious with that? There is a power set that lets you drain the power out of TVs and summon creatures from the screen. It makes no sense at all. Finally there is the story. It is poorly written and weak in almost every aspect. I found it to be predictable and full of plot holes. As mentioned previously, the primary antagonist, which is tasked with hunting down conduits/bio-terrorists are themselves people who possess superpowers. This already shows that there is a giant hole in the foundation of the plot. On top of that, the characters are boring, generic, and not memorable in the slightest. The back and forth nature of the relationship between Delsin and Reggie that switches between being Reggie being supportive of Delsin and treating him as a freak because of his abilities makes no sense, and bugged me throughout the entire game. For all that Infamous: Second Son tries to do, it fails in almost every way. Not at all worth buying.… Expand
  24. 1337_h4x0r
    Apr 14, 2014
    3
    The introduction to the game was impressive, with the cut scenes and the beautiful Seattle scenery. The water looked really nice. But I feel like it was designed in a way to sell.

    The gameplay is very repetitive and shallow with an arcade game feel. Also it seems cartoony and I find the main character annoying and childish. The dialog is cliche and unintelligent. In terms of the feel,    The introduction to the game was impressive, with the cut scenes and the beautiful Seattle scenery. The water looked really nice. But I feel like it was designed in a way to sell.

    The gameplay is very repetitive and shallow with an arcade game feel. Also it seems cartoony and I find the main character annoying and childish. The dialog is cliche and unintelligent. In terms of the feel, the character runs too fast, and when jumping, it feels like the gravity level is too low. You can pretty much climb anything get anywhere with little to no effort, there is no real challenge. Shootouts always get interrupted because your smoke guage drains quickly and you have to go out of your way to find a smoke stack to recharge your ammo. There are issues with the AI. Occasionally I would see enemy soldiers caught in a loop running around in small circles really quickly. I really just played this game for an hour, didn't feel anything, and decided to pass it on.

    The sound effects are cheap. They've very light sounding, not realistic and didn't capture my imagination. I'm convinced that the game was underdeveloped and rushed so it could be placed on the market before any good games come out, and therefore increase its chances of selling.    … Expand
  25. Basada
    Apr 20, 2014
    3
    Goof graphics to show off PS4. Good Voice acting. Cool powers mostly. Unfortunately that's about it. Everything you do in the game is the exact same stuff, destroy D.U.P. base, fight same drug bad guys, hunt for shards then boss fights, repeat for next several hours to complete. Feel I wasted my money on this, so boring.
  26. Ludbig
    Apr 25, 2015
    3
    An open world game with a lifeless open world, weak story, lack of enemy variety, worthless sidequests, lack of interesting things to do and a short storyline. Infamous: second son is a step backwards from the excellent infamous 2 in nearly every way.
  27. Ashbelthor
    Jan 20, 2016
    3
    inFamous Second Son is a tech demo for the PS4. I can hardly think of this game as a labour of love from the developers. It just feels like some out of touch executive was the main force behind it all.

    Graphics-wise, it's very bland. There's facial mo-cap like in L.A. Noir, and some skills are flashy and all. But the city is very bland and you see the same enemies and citizens all over.    inFamous Second Son is a tech demo for the PS4. I can hardly think of this game as a labour of love from the developers. It just feels like some out of touch executive was the main force behind it all.

    Graphics-wise, it's very bland. There's facial mo-cap like in L.A. Noir, and some skills are flashy and all. But the city is very bland and you see the same enemies and citizens all over.

    There's no re-playability. The story is filled with plot holes, and is just very uninteresting and uninspired.
    Protagonist is a whiny little stereotypical teenager that you can't connect with on any sort of level.
    Side missions are a chore. Choices in this game are a complete joke - 'evil' choices make no sense.
    The worst part is you can't skip the story since it's tied to how the game loads (no blank loading screen just playing the game). To be honest, having to sit through it again - I'd rather just have a loading screen.

    Combat can be a bit interesting, but definitely not a game seller - especially when it's so un-challenging.

    The 'Red Faction: Guerrilla' progression in the game is dated and feels forced on you.

    The gimmicky graffiti sections just seem to add to your distaste with Delsin. I bet no one thought it was a good idea except for that executive producer that read in some 90s magazine that kids like graffiti. On that note - I'm surprised this game doesn't have skateboards.

    Honestly, if you get this game for free with your console - then who cares right?
    But this isn't worth your money. Don't be fooled by other reviews. I have no idea who are these 2000 people that thought this warranted a high score...    … Expand
  28. iihackerii
    Mar 2, 2021
    3
    This game is nothing like infamous !!!!!! Garbage textures , poor shadows even though my brightness is set to highest! , repetetive full of stupid side missions!!!!!! Really bad game and i mean it , frustrating gameplay. Slow upgardes ,No good city design , no skycrapers like the 1st infamous (the prison) so many unused abilities , game feels mixed with stuff that doesn’t fit the storyThis game is nothing like infamous !!!!!! Garbage textures , poor shadows even though my brightness is set to highest! , repetetive full of stupid side missions!!!!!! Really bad game and i mean it , frustrating gameplay. Slow upgardes ,No good city design , no skycrapers like the 1st infamous (the prison) so many unused abilities , game feels mixed with stuff that doesn’t fit the story !!!! I hated the time i spent beating this game although i loved the first infamous game , this is nothing compared to it. The identity of the game is slowly vanishing!… Expand
  29. Fortunaa
    Jan 5, 2021
    3
    Прототайп на минималка переоцененный шлак прошёл через силу хорошо что не покупал
  30. dazza
    Jun 8, 2014
    2
    This game is just complete and utter rubbish.
    First, the characters are idiotic, including the main character. Whoopidy freaking doo I'm massacring thousands of soldiers holding a city down in martial law, let's make a funny joke about that. AHAHAHA no.
    The main character is just a cliché typical "bad boy". And when the girl came into the story I was like "oh god this isn't going to end    This game is just complete and utter rubbish.
    First, the characters are idiotic, including the main character. Whoopidy freaking doo I'm massacring thousands of soldiers holding a city down in martial law, let's make a funny joke about that. AHAHAHA no.
    The main character is just a cliché typical "bad boy". And when the girl came into the story I was like "oh god this isn't going to end well" The story is very badly made. I felt nothing for any character, and there was a real lack of superpowers in this game. Overall, it's just bad bad bad but I give it 2 points for it's use of the controller sound thing and the alright visuals.    … Expand
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Awards & Rankings

41
#41 Best PS4 Game of 2014
5
#5 Most Discussed PS4 Game of 2014
10
#10 Most Shared PS4 Game of 2014

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
80

Generally favorable reviews - based on 90 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 69 out of 90
  2. Mixed: 20 out of 90
  3. Negative: 1 out of 90
  1. CD-Action
    Jun 28, 2014
    80
    It definitely isn’t one of those games you talk about years after its release, but it showcases PS4’s capabilities well and in contrast to Killzone: Shadow Fall also does something else – guarantees fun from the beginning till the end. [CD-Action 05/2014, p.58]
  2. LEVEL (Czech Republic)
    May 16, 2014
    80
    Fun romp, beautifully rendered and executed. Fantastic superpowers make up for the lack of depth. [Issue#241]
  3. Pelit (Finland)
    May 11, 2014
    87
    inFamous: Second Son is not a bad sandbox game at all! Serves as an interlude while waiting the heavy hitters to arrive. [Apr 2014]
See all critic reviews »