Infamous

PlayStation 3 (M)

Pros: Electricity as a weapon is hardly a new concept to gaming, but the new open-world PlayStation title Infamous - from cartoony-rendering masters Sucker Punch, responsible for the Sly Cooper games - makes it the star. You play bike courier Cole, a bloke who wakes up next to a smoking crater in Empire City with no idea what has happened. The hole was made by an electrical bomb, and Cole is left with powers that just increase with time. The city is in ruins, with gangs and factions taking control, so Cole needs to restore order. You can choose to be a nice bloke and use your powers for good, or become an ultra-powerful villain - or both. Powers can be used to great effect as weapons - lightning bolt to blow enemies away, a Mega Watt which does the same with gusto, shock grenades (self-explanatory), and Thunder Drop (the best way to kill everything fast). To fuel powers, Cole needs to drain electricity from wherever he can, and clicking the left thumbstick will highlight nearby sources - the more electricity, the more hardcore powers are available. And with some of the epic battles with multiple enemies, keeping charged up becomes a longevity necessity.

Cons: Some of the levels get a bit repetitive, and sometimes controls (particularly L1 and R1) can be a bit unwilling, although the ability to attack from almost any position - including firing at enemies while jumping around between buildings - makes up for any clunkiness.

Verdict: Graphically excellent, especially the lush cutscenes. Frantic gameplay, mind-blowing weapons and only a few niggles - worth adding to the collection.