InFamous Second Son reviews: Sony’s next-gen vanguard?

The reviews are pouring in for InFamous: Second Son, and as a PS4 exclusive, it’s obviously an important title for Sony in the early days of their next-(now)-gen console.

So, is it the new standard bearer for console gaming glory?

Here are the aggregate scores so far.

Metacritic: 80% based on 40 critics
GameRankings: 80.90% based on 29 reviews

So it’s not bad at all then. It’s interesting to note the range of scoring here, which may indicate a “love it or loathe it” kind of game. Destructoid tops the list with a whopping 95%, while Eurogamer gives it a middling 70%. In general, though, it’s getting solid 80% scores.

There are still a few hours left as of publication to pre-order the game if you’re keen on it – InFamous: Second Son pre-order price round up

Below is a selection of critique from reputable publications.

Destructoid – 95%

Second Son is by far the best inFamous yet. If you’re a fan of the series, then checking this one out is a no-brainer, and if you’re not, consider jumping in with Delsin. You don’t need any prior knowledge of the franchise to do so, and if you have any appreciation of open-world superhero games, you’ll enjoy it.

Joystiq – 4.5/5

Second Son is polished and refined enough to make previous series entries feel dated in comparison. It represents a great leap forward both in terms of gameplay and in graphical fidelity, and establishes a high standard for what players can expect from the PlayStation 4.

Delsin Rowe

GameInformer – 85%

I like the way that Infamous Second Son splinters off from the first two entries in the series. Delsin’s conduit ability creates uncertainty in the gameplay mechanics, and the choices he makes apply similar levels of ambiguity to the narrative arc. I never really grasped what was coming next from this tale, outside of knowing that the open world activities and encounters would be repeated ad nauseam.

GamesRadar – 70%

If you’re looking for a next-gen showpiece to demonstrate the power of PlayStation 4, inFamous: Second Son will definitely do the trick–it looks great, plays well, and gives you a dozen or so hours of city to explore. The gameplay itself isn’t all that revolutionary, but the stellar presentation and enjoyable characters assure you’ll enjoy your trip to Seattle–even if you’ll wish there was more to do there.

Eurogamer – 70%

As pretty and playable as it is, in no sense is inFamous: Second Son a post-Grand Theft Auto 5 open-world game. It’s just a tidier, shorter and shinier one. It’s easy to enjoy and has a winning personality, but it’s reluctant to deviate from a stale streetmap of game city. It’s no rebel, then. In fact, it’s a conformist.