Set in a bombed out urban city this is an almost – open world game that has the flavor of Saints Row mingled in with the bio- weaponry of Bioshock. Cole is a guy who’s bad luck caused more than a bad day for everyone in town when he unknowingly delivers a package containing ‘the big one’. Now he’s cursed with the ability to toss lightening bolts around. That is literally a blast, and for the most part this is a fun game. There are some restrictions on movement through Empire City as you solve puzzles and escape gauntlets that manage the quarantined areas. The movement of the character in the game feels far from realistic as he floats around. Pumped and propelled by the X button as if he were lighter than the air, or floating because he’s a human super -conductor. He goes from one dizzying perch to the next with alarming ease. The character will look like he’s up so high that you’ll jump in your seat when he does fall. He can climb and hang, and he’ll swing around like a mad monkey. It is important to have a good check point and save system in a game that has this much jumping. They didn’t fool around to irritate gamers, they just provided plenty of check points and the Save function is always enabled. When he dies, he’ll come back in a convenient location so you aren’t wasting your time at all.

You can’t fast forward through the cut scenes. Many of them have a comic book look. It is fairly well drawn and would be effective for the demographic they are after. It seemed a little bland. The fighting action and the unique weapons are enough to carry the game.

Obviously there isn’t a playable female avatar. Cole’s girlfriend deserts him. That’s about it for the consideration of female gamers. There is none. Why not a gritty female character instead named Colby for instance? Different nuances and social issues would arise with having a female hero. That would have been more interesting. The best way to have dealt with this game would have been to provide character generation. That creates a more immersive experience for anyone playing, not just the one stereo type.

The first missions are tutorials that add on new abilities. The game attempts a focous  on moral choices good karma standing or a bad karma results in different stats for your powers and abilities. Using your powers for good makes the electrical aura blue. Those powers are more controlled than that of the bad boy Cole whose red bolts are more explosive.

This game is different enough from the rest and yet familiar enough to enjoy. There are gangs to deal with, items and weapons to aquire, and enough of a story to keep you wondering what will happen. You may even want to run through the game again as good and bad versions of Cole. This game is definately worth the rent. The game is heavily derivative and may be too short to buy. It lacks the depth of humor and personality that make games like GTA4, Resident Evil 5, and Saints Row keepers. The cheaply made cutscenes show the lack of confidence and style it would have needed to make it a great game rather than an average one. I give Infamous 6 shock waves out of 10.