Prototype (Playstation 3)

This is another good game that stands on the concept of giving you control of a character with super powers. Many people try to or think that this game and Infamous are at odds with each other and wish to compare them or see which is the better game, but the truth is they are both very different games and have two VERY different styles of play, as well as what makes them fun.

For Prototype, I found it very engaging to watch the cut-scenes alone. They are beautiful and for a sandbox game they weren't bad to watch at all. Most games that let you do just about anything you please lose a little in the story, as it's hard to know what the player would want to know, do, or even get to in ways of having the story actually "fit" the players' styles. Prototype does this better than most by having you on a continuous sidequest (though you can skip much of this as well) to find your own memories, as you simply awaken on a morgue table, thought to be dead.

This game has a tremendous amount of powers and things you can use. It isn't always about going in using the same attacks over and over, as almost every enemy has weaknesses and you can find fun in just about any of the attacks given by each of the powers. You also can implement two different defensive powers, and each has its own drawbacks and uses. There are even vision powers to be used, though sadly I found that, aside from in a couple of missions and one or two of the ranked "trials" that the game has, that the vision powers don't have much use, but still, they are pretty cool to use here and there if you get tired of running, jumping, gliding, flying, driving and walking through a very beautiful and constantly changing New York City (good luck with that, the getting bored part I mean).

My biggest complaint in this game is that it sadly has some pop-up and fading issues. Don't misinterpret what I'm saying, the game does look incredible, but when looking for various items hidden throughout New York you'll sometimes see one, watch it fade out of veiw then see it again as you get closer. It's not a terrible problem, and if you're just playing the game it isn't really a problem at all, just something that bothers me as I do like to collect everything possible in games.

I very much enjoyed this game, and am still playing it to look for new things and try out it's very wide assortment of moves, combat moves, and overall things you can do. As for if this game is a "must own", well, that may be up to you. For those of you that like the Spider-Man and Hulk: Ultimate Destruction games, then this may very well be a game you can't do without owning. If you didn't like those two (more closely related to the Hulk: UD game). I will say this game is a MUST PLAY for anyone that likes the sandbox style of gaming or for those with a need for some Mature-rated super-heroics. Overall, if you're playing this game you are probably happy, but for those that are on the ropes, you won't waste money renting it first to find out for certain.

Overall view:
Rent? Yes, it's pretty doubtful you wont like this one even if just to wreak havoc with the powers/abilities.
Own? If you liked Hulk: Ultimate Destruction and it's play style, and enjoy even more added cutscenes, things to do, and diversity, with a mature rating, you may want to own this one, though a long enough rental of it could fill you as well.
Personal Rating (out of 10): 8.3

Infamous (PS3)

This game has got to be one to own, in my opinion. I'll summise the game in that it is a "sandbox" style of gaming with three total "islands" within the city that you begin in only one, and open others up and eventually can go wherever you want and do just about anything you want as well.

Infamous sets its core on the premise of one thing: What would you do if you woke up and had superpowers? Would you go about life doing as you please, making sure no one would push you around or would you try to use those powers to help others and make things better? In the game there's good reason and good fun in doing BOTH! (though I highly recommend you chose one path at a time, you actually can go back and forth on good and bad with the karma system they've developed, but if it's your first time, I suggest picking one and going with it all the way through.)

You play as Cole, a bike messenger who awakens after an explosion tears through Empire City and is standing on the only area that seems untouched, somehow alive and, while wounded, wanting to get the heck to safety! As the game goes on (I won't spoil anything if I can help it), you can get more and more powers, upgrade them to be more dangerous or precise, and find new uses for them. Cole was already an urban explorer so he is very good at climbing and getting around, over and just going anywhere he needs in the city, and the controls are very good.

This game, again, is a MUST OWN in my book, but more than that, it has a very great method of pulling you in and letting you get away from things by simply letting you chose what you do as Cole. The sub-missions and sub-plots inside the game also make for some good fun that you can lose yourself into and I am happy to have this game be my first suggestion for those that would like to get away from it all by saying..."Go and get yourself quarantined in Empire City!"

Overall view:
Rent? If you don't own it, yes!
Own? If you can afford a game and even mildly like hero style games, this is one you'll want to own.
Personal Rating (out of 10): 9.6


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