It has been a whole 5 weeks without an update! I have moved into my new place, but I'm still living out of boxes currently. Birthday week has passed, and we went out of town for 3 or so days and nothing has been able to stop me from grinding out 2 more platinum trophies! I know I said 4, but give me a break, I've been busy! This week I'll be giving you a full review for Infamous 2 and Sly Cooper and the Thievius Raccoonus, and that's not all! I told you all I've been busy, so I have trophy guides for both games as well! Unfortunately due to the moving I won't have any videos up for the next few posts, but hopefully soon!
All right we will start off with Sly Cooper review and trophy guide, and we will save the best for last. Sly Cooper was an old PS2 game that was created about 10 or so years ago. Like Most games back then Sly Cooper was a plat former, but it brought something new to the table, which was stealth. Although the game didn't capitalize on the stealth aspect as much as they should have it was still a decent plat former for it's time. Sony now fixed it up slapped some HD to it and resold all 3 of its games and put them into 1 collection. Does it withstand the test of time?
Sound: Were talking about an old game here nothing to fantastical about it. Simple tunes followed the theme very well, such as dark haunting music when in the swamp, and bouncy Asian themed music when in China. They also added the classic tiptoe noise from the old Looney tunes shows, which again brought up some great memories. In all honesty if you’re playing this game for the sound track (other that sentimental reasons) there is something wrong with you.
Gameplay: Was a very entertaining game for the most part, a lot of plat forming and such. Very little tutorials and that makes the game harder to enjoy as sometimes I was left at the point of... um okay what do I do now. A lot of different kinds of abilities and upgrades for Sly the further you precede through the game. The plat forming and stealth was a huge difference maker in this game. At the time this came out there were 3 or so famous plat formers currently being made. Sucker Punch made this game unique and different with it's stealth feel to it. The stealth would add features such as trying to drop onto platforms without stepping on lasers/alarms or being spotted by guards/spotlights, and it added a whole different feel to this game then any of the other plat formers. No choice in difficulty made the gameplay seem to easy at times, a lot of levels would have been more interesting if the difficulty was able to be spiked or what not.
Story: story was interesting but the horrible voice acting took away from a lot of the experience. You are a thief known as Sly Cooper and you are being hunted by a police officer that happens to be a fox (nice pun props for sucker punch) that Sly has a crush on, but she's determined to put him in jail. Well Sly has bigger plans and that is getting his ancestors combined work back together again. When Sly was a child his father had a book in his possession that held the secrets of all the coopers past secrets. His father was killed by the fiendish five (cliché I know) and they stole the book and split it up between each other. Now Sly is on a quest to find and kill the five to get his family's book back. Not much of an in depth story, but again the games back during this time were way more looked at for their gameplay then story. Other than that it is a very plausible story (for video games sake) and sometimes classic games, simple and to the point style, is a nice change of pace.
Replayability: One playthrough is all you really need to experience this game full potential, sad because it's only about 10 hours long if you go through each level and collect every clue. No difficulty change choices, so basically this game has zero replayability other than it is a collection with multiple games, but as Sly Cooper 1 goes absolutely no replay value.
Graphics: Really do I need to go over this? Back then I don't think you could get much better than this game, and comparing it today’s graphics would be unjustifiable.
Controls: Seems that Sucker Punch has not taking full advantage of the controller. To use your binoculars you would press L1 and R1, and you would have 8 or 10 special moves that was mapped to the triangle button. You would use L2 and R2 to change your ability on triangle, so you think that using L1 and R1 for the triangle moves would make more sense instead of the binoculars, which could be mapped to triangle or select. Switching through multiple moves was rather annoying especially when you had to change for a specific situation and forget to switch back and end up messing up resulting in death.
Overall for when the game was made it is really good, it brought back the old memories of growing up during the years of Crash Bandicoot and Spyro. I was excited to hear they were putting all 3 of these games into one collection with trophies! The story was decent the gameplay was a blast, and just a few annoying features to the game. Overall great experience and I can't wait to start the next Sly Cooper.
Sadly there not much to say here. It literally is one of the easiest games to platinum. 36 trophies that all relate to story progression and collecting all the clue to open the vault in each level. Do that for all possible levels and you have a platinum trophy, and the best part is you don't have to play through a harder difficulty. That's it for Sly Cooper review and trophy guide, so let's move onto the next game that is also by the great minds of Sucker Punch!
Another great game from Sucker Punch. Infamous 1 was just a blast, and I was excited to hear that number 2 was in production, but like most of you I wasn't sure about the new look for Cole. Cole looked completely different and it didn't feel like you were playing the same guy, but shortly after due to the fans (Wow fans do change developers minds) they went back to the drawing board to give him a classic new feel. unfortunately I wasn't fond of the classic new look that was in store for our heroine. Especially after playing I was disappointed that they toned down the intensity of how you looked when full good/bad karma. That's not a game breaker though and shouldn't be for anyone else. Taking place immediately after the first one Cole has all his powers at the start from when he left off. After a while Infamous 2 has taken some of what Infamous 1 was and improved. New moves, new environment, new mission types, and a little cherry on top with the user generated levels.
Sound: The sound really brought this game together. Sucker Punch added a great soundtrack to give this game a great Mardi gras feel to it. The game takes place in New Marais, which is based off New Orleans in Louisiana. The soundtrack takes the New Orleans feel and twists it to make it special and unique to Infamous 2. Traveling between islands and hopping onto the shores you get a unique feel and sound to this game alone, which in turn does a great job of making you feel like your there. On the other hand a lot of the original sound bites have been brought over from the first game. This can be good and bad at the same time. It was nice to hear the classic sounds of Cole grinding on telephone or electric rails, but this also led to a dampening effect making it less tolerable. It also took away from fresh a new sounds such as the enemies, The militia sounded exactly like the enemies at the beginning of the first Infamous, and the frost conduits sounded just like the ghost conduits in the first game. This felt that each enemy you faced was meshed together and had no uniqueness to them.
Gameplay: For gameplay it kept the general idea of the first game and enhanced it with some new features. In the first game it was somewhat like a plat former with a sandbox style, which is a great combination when looking for something fun to play that you won't beat in a few hours. The new added features were awesome and needed, such as the vertical launch poles that are generally found near the bases of the buildings. These poles are filled with electricity and when Cole jumps on them it will launch you vertically up the building allowing you to scale to the top of buildings in mere seconds rather than minutes. New moves and distribution of moves were created. You have good, neutral, and bad moves, and most of those moves have upgrades to do as well as stunts to unlock them. This gives you the chance to use each move and determine which suits you best as a player, and not one particular move outshines the other they all have uses and prefence of play style. On top of this we were given new mission types as well, as well as some classics such as picking a photo off a dead body to find a package of blast shards hidden somewhere around you. With these new mission types we were given User Generated Content (UGC) allowing the players to create their own mission and share like Little Big Planet adding a whole new level to replayability to this game.
Story: *Spoiler Alert* Leaves off directly after the first one when Kessler told you the Beast is coming. Your about to leave with agent Kuo to go to New Marais to meet up with a scientist who has been working on a device that is like a ray sphere, but an inhibitor instead. Your whole game is going to be based on you finding blast cores to enhance your abilities to charge this Ray Field Inhibitor (RFI) to take down the beast. Along your way you find out due to you unleashing the Ray Sphere at the end of the first game a plague has made it way down to New Marais and it effecting it's people, but luckily there is a rumor that the RFI will fix that problem as well. The beast finally makes it to New Marais and that’s when you have to decide to side with the beast to save the conduits or side with you friend to save his life by sacrificing yours and killing the conduits.
*End Spoiler*
All around this game didn't disappoint with its story, the dead drops added story starting back before this game and even previously of when the first game started. The dead drops even had specialized messages that changed all depending whether you decided to go hero or villain. The dialogue and character building in this game was just as phenomenal as Uncharted 2. Zeke your best friend who betrayed you in the first Infamous by attempting to use the Ray Sphere and become a conduit like you is back. You will literally fall in love with his character and think of him as a best friend by the end of the game. There is one cut scene that was just insanely good. Very little dialogue, but from when you watch it you feel a huge friendship between Cole and Zeke and it's nice to see knowing that the whole game Zeke has been trying to gain Cole's trust back and this scene shows Zeke finally did it.
Video courtesy of ExceedEdge
That's not all you have few more characters that you get a lot of dialogue and some sense of connection with whether you roll good or bad. Play the game and you'll know what I mean!
Replayability: I've already touched some basis on this, but first off this has been one of the longest single player games I've played in a while (minus ME2 because that game is ridiculously long). A game like this usually runs 7-10 hours long maybe, but it took me almost twice that to fully beat the game. I'm talking every side mission, collecting every dead drop, and every blast shard, and every possible move for my Karma choice. Now you could play again and get the different ending by switching your karma choices, and that could net you another 15 hours of gameplay if you decide to do every side mission again. Also the UGC that I mentioned before adds more replayability to the game after you've already finished beating the single player. You can create your own missions and share them or you can search through the filters to find levels that you enjoy. You are also given the opportunity to rate and tag your favorite to play again later or to have a friend try it when he comes over. The game can add plenty of hours even after beating the game. The game is worth a buy just on how much time you can spend playing it.
Graphics: Not much of an upgrade from the first Infamous, and I couldn't say for certain if their even was work done on upgrading the original. I believe Cole might have been rendered a little bit better to look smoother as he is your main character, but environment and cut scenes were similar to the first Infamous. There was still some issue with melting into buildings or the ground but nothing that caused you to get stuck or freeze. Not much to mention here other than if you played the first one that's what you should expect when playing the second one.
Controls: One thing that I had problems with in the first Infamous was the lack of use with the D-Pad. Well they finally put a use to it in this game. It was used as a quick link to menu's in your start menu. you could push right on the D-Pad to get into your moves menu for a quick link to buy or upgrade new moves when they became available. The left button of the D-Pad allowed you to switch between your unlocked moves on the fly. Everything else stayed the same, making the controls for this game near perfect. The only issue that I have with the controlling of your character isn't controller based. It's the lack of the movement through the environment. I found Cole getting stuck on curbs and random objects, and on top of that building scaling and jumping. there were times I would jump right at a vertical launch pole and it would by-pass it to grab a hold of ledge. A lot of issue with just scaling the buildings/structures seem to be annoying at times, but easy to look past and forgive for how great and fun this game is.
Overall this game has improved in some areas, but on the other hand have completely ignored issues that should have been fixed from its last installment. The good news is again the games story, dialogue, character develop and gameplay outweighs its issues by the butt loads. I would recommend this game to anybody who loves to play in depth story games, and don't mind the heavy gameplay aspect of a sandbox game. If you want to platinum this game... well good news for you I've done the work and can give you the best route to obtain this awesome platinum trophy to show off to your friends!
Playthrough 1: In this playthrough you will want to start off deciding which difficulty and which karma route you want to go with. I chose Easy/Bad and Hard/Good and the reason why is because bad karma tends to base itself around AoE damage and gaining electricity/buffs through bio leech. Great and all, but very situational and almost to situational for a Hard difficulty. The Good side is based on damaging one enemy at a time, but every successful basic bolt shot will refill your electricity. Not only that when you gain electricity it heals you from damage, so when you have a fight with enemies and your getting hit shooting them back will prolong your death allowing you to get more shots or escaping to safety. This is ideal to me for hard difficulty.
I chose the easiest difficulty first along with good karma so I could play through the game and enjoy the game for what it is, and I usually do that anyways. It also makes it easier to complete all the side missions, and allowed me to get through the game faster.
Good Karma: If your playing on good karma this is what you need to pay attention for. There are new event missions throughout New Marais that involve saving civilians from bad situations such as a robbery or kidnapping and such. When ever you see one of these pop up give it some attention as you will need 80 of these before you finish the your first playthrough (you can do this on your hard playthrough, but only the good deed missions count for this trophy. Doing good missions will lower you bad karma.) Make sure that you complete all good karma side and main missions. The end is very tricky and you must pay attention. Once you get to the end you will have to decide between Kuo who is normally good karma selection will be a bad karma choice and Nix who is normally bad karma is the good karma choice.
Bad Karma: If you’re playing on bad karma this is what you need to pay attention for. Look for a street performer whether it's a statue or someone playing an instrument and attack him, these will show up as side events that can be done during the game. Also work on killing 100 civilians for another trophy, pretty simple to do on either playthrough, but it's recommended to do it on the evil playthrough. Also make sure you do the evil side and main missions rather than the good ones.
Depending on which choice you have made you will obtain all story related trophies and the chosen karma related trophies. Keep an eye out for obtaining the following trophies as well...
Just One More - pick up ALL blast shard in New Marais: This will take some time to accomplish, but once you have completed every side mission a new ability will unlock that when ever you use your electric pulse (finds shards and electrical sources) will automatically show at least 1 on the edge of the map no matter how far you are.
With Great Power Comes Greater Power - Unlock and purchase all powers: This only needs to be on one side of the Karma. If your going for the good karma then you can obtain this by purchasing all neutral abilities as well as good karma abilities. This includes upgrades as well, you must the upgraded versions. You most likely won't have enough XP until the end of the game for this.
Well inFORMED - Collect all dead drops: There are 29 around New Marais whenever you come across one shoot it out of the sky and pick it up.
Back to the Bayou - Return to the swamp blockade: Once you get the static thruster upgrades head back to the Northwest corner of the first island you were on. This is where you entered New Marais now you must go back to obtain this trophy.
Mountaineer - Climb to the top of the 3 tallest building in New Marais: You must climb up the Cathedral that is found on the Main Island, Clock tower that is also found on the Main Island, and the Ice Tower and that is found in Gas Works. Once you reach the top of all 3 the trophy is yours.
Extreme Makeover - Destroy 30 verandas or other large objects: Verandas are the walkways that branch off the buildings in the Main Island. I would suggest to wait until Gas Works where you can throw a grenade at the fuel towers and destroy them. You know your working towards this when you get the "big destruction" xp bonus.
Watch That First Step - Defeat an enemy by destroying the object they stand on: This should be done right when you get to New Marais, shortly after you have to follow Kuo and there are enemies standing on the Verandas walkways branching off of the buildings. If you shoot all the legs then enemy will eventually fall to his death.
Finish What You Started - Perform 100 finishers or ultra melee combo: Once you gain the ability to purchase melee combat moves you will be able to purchase finishers and ultra melee combos. To do one hit an enemy 2-3 times and then press triangle when prompted to.
Knockout in the Blackout - Defeat 50 enemies in powered down areas while no missions are active: I did this very early to make sure I didn't miss my chance, because eventually you will run out of powered down areas. After finishing a mission before going to another mission go to a powered down area and kill enough enemies until this pops.
Go Long - Hurl 50 objects using Kinetic Pulse ability: Once you gain the ability to pick things up with R2 and throw with x or R1 then you will be able to obtain this trophy. I would keep this on mind I ignored it for the first half thinking it would come naturally, but truthfully you won't find yourself naturally picking up cars and such to throw at enemies.
Nothing Can Bring Me Down - Stay off the ground for 130 meters: Once you obtain the upgraded static thrusters climb the cathedral all the way to the highest point. Jump and then L1 + x all the way until you land on the ground (try to land on the ground rather then a roof or an object this will increase your distance.
Return to Sender - Send a Helicopter's rockets back at it using and blast ability: Simple while standing and rockets are being shot at you push L1 + x to send them back to the helicopter. I would recommend you do this to any rockets while playing it will increase your chances of living :D
Vehicular Manslaughter - Defeat 25 enemies by throwing cars at them: Try to do this trophy while working on go long. You will know if you’re doing this right when you see the "Special Delivery" xp bonus.
Take Them For A Spin - Shit at least 6 cars in a single Ionic Vortex: This might be obtain on accident, but if you want you can do this by going a main road with a lot of cars parked or stand in the middle of the road so cars pile up in a line and push down on the D-Pad (when available) to do the Ionic Vortex this should easily take out 6 cars.
Shock and Awe - Thunder drop into a group of 5 or more enemies: This can be easy to miss, but if your like me you love to thunder drop into large groups of people, if so this is cake. If not just make sure to keep an eye out for lots of enemies grouped up and to thunder drop hold square when in the air above the group.
Thunder Flop - Thunder drop from the highest place in New Marais: Once you get to Gas Works make your way to the giant Ice tower, you'll need to climb this anyways whether it's for a main mission or for the trophy, Mountaineer. Once you’re to the very top (yes even on this dinky looking metal pieces) then jump off and hold square :D
Head Hunter - Use the precision ability to rack up three head shots in rapid succession: When you get the precision ability (up on d-pad and it will scope in and slow down time) just aim at a group of people and try to get a 3 in 1 blow xp bonus using the precision ability.
I'm As Shocked As You Are - Defeat an enemy or civilian by stepping in water: Easiest to obtain in flood town... since it's flooded. All you do is step in water with an enemy/civilian and they will die.
Express Elevator - Ascend 50 vertical launch poles: Use these whenever you see one, they are awesome! These are just orangish poles on that can be mainly found on the bases of buildings.
Level Up - Create a new mission using the UGC level editor: Simple once you’re given the option to create your own level then go into it. Create an empty mission or a mission from a template, and once you’re in the editor then you can just exit and save your level.
UGC Veteran - Play 25 user-generated missions: Simple play 25 UGC missions, for a quick trophy just find a mission that takes a few seconds to beat and replay it over and over again.
Trail Blazer - Play 5 user-generated missions under the newest filter: just go into the filter options and choose newest then complete 5 of those and this trophy is yours!
If you don't complete all these don't worry you gain control of Cole after the game is complete and you can do whatever you missed with the exception of Knockout in the Blackout.
Playthrough 2: All you should have left is to beat the game on the hardest difficulty and the opposite karma mission trophies. Right from the beginning of the game when your able to control Cole hit pause and turn the game to it's hardest difficulty. You don't have to worry about neutral side missions, but make sure you do the karma side missions of your karma choice.
Alright! Exhausted and glad this blog is done. 5 weeks without a blog is not good, especially when you platinum 2 games in that time. While on this topic I think I have decided to knock this blog down from 4 times a month to a bi-monthly blog. This is mainly because I hardly get things complete in one week, and have nothing to talk about for the week. Hopefully this will time it better and I will be able to consistently put up content for you guys rather than you guys guessing if I will post a new blog this week or not. Thank you all for your eyes and your time, I'm sorry if your eyes are bleeding I have a friend currently working on some eye candy for my blog to ease the reading a bit. I know it can be hard to read walls of text. Again thanks and hope to see you guys back here in a couple of weeks!
