I know I said in a previous entry that X-Men Origins: Wolverine was the next game I'd buy, and I still intend to get it very soon. But we decided to get this game instead after playing the demo available from the PSN. It's a PlayStation exclusive, and it is the best sandbox style game I've played.
You play through the game as Cole McGrath, a bike messenger in Empire City who is caught in the center of a devastating explosion at the heart of the city. He awakens from his ordeal with a bevy of electricity related powers. He can shoot bolts of lighting from his hands, knock enemies back with electric shockwaves, and fall from any height without injury. And that's only the beginning. As you play through you unlock many more powers, and can upgrade the powers you have as well.
The story revolves around Cole's mission to restore power to the city, and, more importantly, to discover the cause of the explosion and who was behind it. A recent push in video games has been to add more choice into the mix, and to make those choices have consequences. This game gives you very tangible rewards for the choices you make. You get to decide between the path of a Hero or a Villain. As you gain or lose karma, you unlock different powers related to your moral compass. And shared powers upgrade in different fashions. For instance, the evil path involves more destructive upgrades, whereas the good path involves upgrades that can heal Cole, or restrain enemies.
If I had one complaint about the karma system, it's that it has little bearing on the story. The story missions remain basically the same whether you're a good guy or a bad guy. There are moments where you get to make a karma choice, and that determines some small aspect of how the mission is completed. For example, in an early choice, you need to get past a barricade. You can either charge ahead of the crowd and single-handedly attack the guards, or you can start a riot from within the crowd to distract the guards. The first choice, in this case, is a bit more difficult, but you are rewarded with positive karma. But, after it's done, there really is no difference in the end result. You get through the barricade, and the story continues. It would be nice to have fully branched storylines to really make you feel the repercussions of your choices.
The real draw of the game is your interaction with the city itself. A large element of the game involves urban exploration. The gameplay incorporates free running into the mechanic, and that's where the fun really comes in. Cole is able to jump and climb any surface that has a handhold. And because he can't be hurt by falling (unless it's into water...lighting + water = bad bad things), there is no downside to trying crazy stunts and jumps. I could literally do this for hours. The only frustrating aspect to this is that sometimes it is a little difficult to jump where you intend. The game will actually pull you toward the nearest object that you can grab or stand on. When you are platforming across vast expanses of deadly water, this is definitely a good thing. But there are times when you aren't actually aiming for the nearest ledge or handhold. But whether you intend to or not, the game will pull you to whatever's closer. This can lead to some of the most frustrating moments of the game, especially when you are doing a timed mission or are low on health. But really, this is only a very minor inconvenience in most situations.Overall, this is one of the best games I've played in a long time. It's as enjoyable to watch as it is to play, so you can imagine that it's taken up quite a bit of our leisure time lately. There are three difficulty settings (Easy, Normal, and Hard) so it's playable by gamers of all skill levels. And, for the gamers obsessed with bragging rights, it is trophy-enabled as well. Voice acting is top-notch, the music is eerie and evocative, and graphically it's very pleasing to the eye. Definitely a keeper. So, go buy this game if you want to enjoy one of the most enjoyable games of the year.
