inFamous 2: More Dynamic Karma System Detailed

Karma's a bi***.

But it can also be lots of fun. When playing inFamous 2 - and you know you're gonna - you're going to be faced with some difficult choices, and that Karma System is the subject of new discussion at the PlayStation Blog. It's about "the relationship between power, responsibility and the test of character that powers bring." Sucker Punch will be improving the dynamic nature of this system for the sequel, in that our decisions will have more impact and meaning:

"When we spent time thinking and designing the improved Karma system, we ultimately concluded that there was a way to make these choices both clearer and much more believable: to make your Karma decisions more about relationships and less about the specific choice at hand. So instead of a question that really didn’t relate to our primary gameplay (e.g. 'should we take this food or give it away?'), in I2 we let the player decide who to ally with on a quest, or choose between Kuo’s surgical strike or Nix’s no-holds barred assault. You aren’t just choosing a mission, you’re choosing an ally and alienating another person. This was both clear for players, and more real."

They've got some footage that illustrates this point and it involves Kuo and the Militia. Cole needs to rescue Kuo and he could mount a full-frontal assault...but wait, Zeke proposes a new plan. Captured police officers are being led around the city; if Cole can bust up a convoy and save those officers, he will have allies during his rescue mission. But this will also mean more cops will end up on the streets...maybe not the best plan for vigilantes. Get it?

And that's not the only possibility, either. You could go with Nix's plan: load up a car with explosives and jam it down the throat of the bad guys. All of this sounds so bad-ass, it's tough to contain our excitement...

Related Game(s): inFamous 2

Tags: infamous 2, sucker punch, infamous 2 karma

2/11/2011 12:32:57 PM Ben Dutka

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Comments (59 posts)

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maxpontiac
Friday, February 11, 2011 @ 12:49:06 PM
Reply

I like the sound of that. Has an Alpha Protocol vibe about it.

2 up, 0 down

WorldEndsWithMe
Friday, February 11, 2011 @ 1:09:08 PM

I know what you mean, but be careful using that name. Not everybody knows it had possibilities for greatness, they just know the bad part (the scores).

2 up, 0 down

PorkChopGamer
Friday, February 11, 2011 @ 1:27:09 PM

Hey, World, we agree again. Alpha Protocol is great and it's plusses FAR outweigh it's minuses.

I hope that your choices actually affect the overall story and missions in inFamous 2, not just suggestions and a different ending. It was weird destoying a cop station for Sasha one mission THEN assisting cops a few blocks away to help keep Alden secure the next. It helped that I had played through Good Karma first, but I'd still like to see more consequences than some lady throwing a rock at me.

Last edited by PorkChopGamer on 2/11/2011 1:28:05 PM

2 up, 1 down

Ben Dutka PSXE [Administrator]
Friday, February 11, 2011 @ 2:17:31 PM

The concepts behind AP were great.

The game itself was broken.

3 up, 1 down

maxpontiac
Friday, February 11, 2011 @ 2:36:38 PM

World - Oh, I had a ton of fun with Alpha Protocol. If that game had the polished graphics, I believe the rest of the mistakes would have been forgiven.

Pork - I agree. The positives outweighed the negatives in that game. The timed decision making and the weapon customization were top flight in my book.

Ben - Broken? Possibly in certain instances, but far from being unplayable or enjoyable.

0 up, 1 down

Looking Glass
Friday, February 11, 2011 @ 2:48:39 PM

@PorkChopGamer

Weird? Maybe. But I suppose one can explain it away by thinking of it as a choice of pure pragmatism on the part of the NPCs.

Case in point: Trish asked Cole for help on one mission even though she was mad at him at the time. When he asked her why, she simply said "you're the only person I know with superpowers".

Still, I guess it would be nice to not have to explain things away in the first place.

2 up, 0 down

kraygen
Friday, February 11, 2011 @ 6:56:54 PM

So many of you would suggest alpha protocol, I thought it looked really cheesy and cheap quality. What was fun about it that made it great?

1 up, 0 down

WorldEndsWithMe
Friday, February 11, 2011 @ 8:09:52 PM

It wasn't great, it just had great ideas behind it. It snatched defeat from the jaws of victory.

2 up, 0 down

Highlander
Friday, February 11, 2011 @ 12:52:53 PM
Reply

Sounds good, I liked the karma system, I hope that even though ti's more subtle and 'real' that it's still a clear choice to players between two paths that lead to alternative outcomes.

2 up, 1 down

Ultimate_Balla
Friday, February 11, 2011 @ 12:56:09 PM
Reply

Snap! That did me in.

2 up, 1 down

NazzyQ
Friday, February 11, 2011 @ 1:03:42 PM
Reply

I really hope this new karma system delivers. The karma system was the only blemish on the otherwise excellent original game. I'd be jumping around on roof tops, taking out enemies, sliding on powerlines and then this karma moment would come which essentially boiled down to ' Good/ evil. CHOOSE.' It kind of killed the immersion for me. That's why I'm excited to hear that Sucker Punch is promising to make your choices really meaningful this time round.

2 up, 1 down

slugga_status
Friday, February 11, 2011 @ 1:03:44 PM
Reply

I need a release date..This game is going to be great. I like what they've done with the Karma system. It isn't based upon the "fork in the road" options as the first. I'm gonna play through the first one again so I can begin the new one with InFamous Karma..

1 up, 0 down

spiderboi
Friday, February 11, 2011 @ 1:09:30 PM
Reply

Shapin up real sweet! I need more convincing though..

Anyone know how this is gonna implement Move controls?

0 up, 0 down

WorldEndsWithMe
Friday, February 11, 2011 @ 1:16:49 PM

Thankfully I don't believe it will. They would need to simplify the gameplay significantly and that's bad in my book.

4 up, 0 down

WorldEndsWithMe
Friday, February 11, 2011 @ 1:16:01 PM
Reply

Love that Uncharted 2 quote.

inFamous has to be the best new IP this generation. I'm "amped" for this. Consider it a preorder. Or maybe I'll just load a car full of explosives and smash it into wherever they manufacture the discs to get my copy and call that a preorder.

This is how you grow a game, no reskins here. On a related note I heard there will be a Kessler skin, so maybe we can even get an authentic old cole skin too. This guy is close but ten years younger and skinny is still kinda weird.

From the sound of it if Elvis, I mean Zeke is offering the careful approach I'm guessing he learned a thing or two in Empire City.

Whatever the critics say, this will be the only competition that Uncharted 3 has for GOTY.

1 up, 1 down

Deleted User
Friday, February 11, 2011 @ 1:24:18 PM
Reply

This game can't come soon enough. The people at Sucker Punch are diligent and improve their IPs over the course of their existence. I expect this game to blow away the original because that's what Sucker Punch does constantly: better themselves.

0 up, 0 down

DjEezzy
Friday, February 11, 2011 @ 1:25:27 PM
Reply

No offense world, I just don't agree with needing to make the controls more simple with the move. The only thing move is missing is the right analog stick. Move with killzone 3 doesn't seem dumbed down or simplified at all. It's actually much harder but man is it satisfying. Again i mean no offense.

0 up, 0 down

WorldEndsWithMe
Friday, February 11, 2011 @ 1:51:02 PM

No offense taken, I thought of that before posting, but decided that an FPS is just by its nature better suited to Move. Perhaps it could be done, but I think with inFamous you are manipulating all the controls constantly during a battle so it could get difficult to roll the camera where you need to see, aim Cole at what he needs to blast, and quickly access the Dpad for special moves while pressing the necessary aim, fire, jump melee buttons.

Could be a clusterf*ck, Uncharted is a lot more deliberate and slower paced and even ND isn't considering Move for U3. I could be wrong or maybe I'm just not as fast as I used to be but that's my take.

0 up, 0 down

ABUrabad
Friday, February 11, 2011 @ 1:31:52 PM
Reply

The first game was one of the best ever games for the PS3 and the second release will also one of the best ever and most probably it will be much better than the first one
this game will be mine on my D1

0 up, 0 down

Lord carlos
Friday, February 11, 2011 @ 1:45:44 PM
Reply

Can't wait for this,gonna be some good times destroying everything in sight AHAHAHA.
Shame they replaced the original voice actor though,loved the first time you use the lighting strike(evil karma)and he say's DIE!! in a bad a$$ voice.
Awesome

Last edited by Lord carlos on 2/11/2011 1:46:50 PM

2 up, 1 down

WorldEndsWithMe
Friday, February 11, 2011 @ 1:53:24 PM

lol, me too. I don't think any gravelly voiced hero can match the way he said that single word "Dieee."

I would payed the original guy double if he wanted it.

1 up, 0 down

Shams
Friday, February 11, 2011 @ 5:25:11 PM

Original guy: Jason Cottle. Wish he was back. The new voice actor sounds like he's tried his level best to emulate his voice in the most recent voice-overs, but still...kinda like having Uncharted without Nolan North. Wouldn't be the same w/o him.

You know who else uttered "dieee" so cool? Vergil from DMC3se.

0 up, 0 down

Pandacastro
Friday, February 11, 2011 @ 1:59:19 PM
Reply

I think its time for me to get the first one.

1 up, 0 down

WorldEndsWithMe
Friday, February 11, 2011 @ 3:44:16 PM

I concur.

1 up, 0 down

ABUrabad
Friday, February 11, 2011 @ 4:48:00 PM

I should mention that this should be considered as the game with the longest campaign among all other games , so you will need a long time working on finishing it

0 up, 0 down

Danny007
Friday, February 11, 2011 @ 2:26:16 PM
Reply

All the gameplay looks great, but I can't tell if Zeke got an extreme makeover or if he needs one.

0 up, 0 down

WorldEndsWithMe
Friday, February 11, 2011 @ 3:44:39 PM

I'm thinkin both.

0 up, 0 down

sirbob6
Friday, February 11, 2011 @ 3:20:20 PM
Reply

Sounds pretty sweet. Now I'm curious if they will let you upload your inFamous 1 save. I am also waiting to see if Sasha will return.

1 up, 1 down

Wrote
Friday, February 11, 2011 @ 3:40:16 PM

Im 100% sure Sasha will return. Alden too. They were both cool bosses and they didn't die. Also sasha was connected to kessler so she has an undying hate for you, but also she loves Cole. Its complicated.

0 up, 0 down

Wrote
Friday, February 11, 2011 @ 3:34:43 PM
Reply

ugh I wrote out a comment but it didn't post.. I read about this stuff a week or 2 back. It sounds alright, there wasn't anything wrong with the 1st games system. I think the 2 chicks in this game look like buttfish, like the graphics look good but not on the people really. As long as they made the full game and added move later that'd be fine, it'd make me want a move more. I agree that the old voice actor was the sh!t, I hope this ones fine. Im really excited to get on wit the story of this game, I cant wait to fight the beast! The 1st one is my favorite ps3 game ever, it makes uncharted 2 look bad to me, its why I think this'll be better then u3, I hope it doesn't get pushed back to 2012, either way it'll probably be my personal goty. If there was a release date id go put 60 bucks down on it right now. I wonder if there'll be dlc for this one, like a kessler skin maybe. The story for the 1st one blew me away *slight spoiler* the fact that u are the main antagonist blew my mind.

0 up, 0 down

WorldEndsWithMe
Friday, February 11, 2011 @ 3:47:03 PM

^Heavy spoiler up there.

And there will in fact be a Kessler skin. I read that somewhere, though I can't remember where.

Last edited by WorldEndsWithMe on 2/11/2011 3:48:40 PM

0 up, 0 down

WorldEndsWithMe
Friday, February 11, 2011 @ 3:56:33 PM
Reply

So, guys (and the occasional gal) what's our shortened nickname for inFamous 2 gonna be?

i2?
iN2?
iF2?
I2?
etc and so forth.

0 up, 0 down

Shams
Friday, February 11, 2011 @ 5:36:54 PM

Mine? GOTY. Alright, U3 will certainly and deservedly take that honor, but i know it's gonna be my GOTY.

0 up, 0 down

WorldEndsWithMe
Friday, February 11, 2011 @ 5:51:22 PM

It will probably be mine too. Uncharted is too good for descriptive words but inFamous takes the cake in the badass department this generation.

1 up, 0 down

Shams
Friday, February 11, 2011 @ 5:58:15 PM

Check out the vids posted today on IGN, and you might see why I changed "probably" to "undeniably".

0 up, 0 down

WorldEndsWithMe
Friday, February 11, 2011 @ 6:17:38 PM

I just saw it over at PSU, I'm so excited I'm trying my best not to make a fist with somebody's neck in it!

0 up, 0 down

Alienange
Friday, February 11, 2011 @ 4:22:01 PM
Reply

Sucker Punch doesn't really have to say anything to make me want part 2. inFamous was a great story and some really fun gameplay. Anyone who's played the first knows the second is a no-brainer.

0 up, 0 down

NazzyQ
Friday, February 11, 2011 @ 4:29:13 PM
Reply

Plain old I2 is alright with me. Simplest one to write too. I suppose someone might confuse it with iodine gas, but that's unlikely :)

0 up, 0 down

Wrote
Friday, February 11, 2011 @ 4:40:20 PM
Reply

0 up, 0 down

Nickjcal
Friday, February 11, 2011 @ 6:55:47 PM

Well I might need a lecture...I haven't played it yet. The demo just didn't hit my spot, but now that I just upgraded my ps3 hardrive to 320 gig I might buy it. Or rent it off gamefly

Last edited by Nickjcal on 2/11/2011 6:56:02 PM

0 up, 0 down

WorldEndsWithMe
Friday, February 11, 2011 @ 7:07:45 PM

The demo can't even begin to illustrate the addictive quality of the game.

0 up, 0 down

Gamer Girl Gemo
Friday, February 11, 2011 @ 10:20:38 PM

@Nickjcal

Get the game now! It's a greatest hits and you can probably easily find it for $20. Maybe even less used. Either way, it's a great invest and worth every hour you spend on it.

0 up, 0 down

Wrote
Saturday, February 12, 2011 @ 12:08:12 AM

I never really rent games but if you have gamefly try it out. There's also a trial of it on ps+ if u have that. But its really a game id wanna own, some games I trade, but I keep all the ones I really like and will play again in the future, and infamous is an own, if u rent it you will see it.

On another note, I hope there's ice and fire for respective karmas like I've heard. That'd be cool for extra stuff other then lightning.

Peace

0 up, 0 down

Lawless SXE
Friday, February 11, 2011 @ 4:42:25 PM
Reply

I know the karma system of the original was super simple, but I actually liked that it was so clear cut. That's not to say that I won't enjoy the subtlety of this new system. To hear that they're making it relate to the way you play the game is cool; it reminds me of the second Karma choice in the original where you had the option of getting the crowd to fight the cops, or just doing it yourself.

Anyway, this became a D1P by the time I was about a quarter of the way through the original. Honestly the most fun that I have yet had with a game. It had it's issues, but in the grand scheme of things, they could easily be overlooked.
Peace.

0 up, 0 down

Wrote
Friday, February 11, 2011 @ 4:47:46 PM
Reply

I've been calling it i2 since I heard of it. If there's anyone on this sight that hasn't played the original, ya really gotta. I guess its not for everyone but its just amazing, its only 20 bucks nowadays so there's no excuse.

@ world: I've gotten like every scrap of info about this one and I havent heard about the kessler skin, but I hope ur right, id use it. And oops I guess that is kinda a big spoiler,my bad, I figured only people that have played the 1st would be on this thread, so oh well.

Cant wait to beat the sh!t outa that beast, should be a really epic battle. Kessler wasn't hard enough, and I've only played i1 on hard mode, so I hope for epic bosses and a very hard mode.

0 up, 0 down

NazzyQ
Friday, February 11, 2011 @ 5:04:27 PM
Reply

@Wrote. I believe that the Kessler skin will be availible with the 'Hero' edition of the game which was detailed (and then hastily removed) by Amazon.

0 up, 0 down

Wrote
Friday, February 11, 2011 @ 5:38:40 PM

your exactly right about the hero edition. Too bad its 100.. I love infamous but 60 is what im paying for it. The other extras aren't worth 40.

Peace

0 up, 0 down

hadouken
Friday, February 11, 2011 @ 5:18:26 PM
Reply

I loved the karma system in the first one.

Ben I liked your article but did you really have to say the name of the worst video game character of all time Zeke?

Last edited by hadouken on 2/11/2011 5:18:41 PM

0 up, 0 down

WorldEndsWithMe
Friday, February 11, 2011 @ 5:39:45 PM

At least he's only a supporting character.

1 up, 0 down

Lord carlos
Friday, February 11, 2011 @ 9:24:22 PM

I thought zeke was fairly funny

0 up, 0 down

Gamer Girl Gemo
Friday, February 11, 2011 @ 10:19:02 PM

I didn't think Zeke was at all horrible! He was good for a laugh or two. Gotta have those supporting characters, ya know?

0 up, 0 down

WorldEndsWithMe
Friday, February 11, 2011 @ 5:55:54 PM
Reply

Some of you may check PSU for straight up news, they've got dual Karma trailers up. I won't link cuz of the moderation process but you can guess the address.

Rapture Reminder: The action in those trailers may give you a nerdgasm.

Last edited by WorldEndsWithMe on 2/11/2011 5:58:19 PM

0 up, 0 down

kraygen
Friday, February 11, 2011 @ 7:01:40 PM
Reply

I'm really glad to hear this, the karma system was what I considered to be the weakest point in Infamous. Not that it wasn't a good idea, it just didn't have enough of an effect on the story.

0 up, 1 down

Gamer Girl Gemo
Friday, February 11, 2011 @ 10:17:52 PM
Reply

I'm glad we continue to hear little tidbits of info on this game. I'm really excited for this number and it just needs a final date on it. Yeah, it's great to know it's coming out this year, but er... When exactly?
I need to know so I can start saving up accordingly and hope to have enough by the time it gets here! Thanks for keeping us up-to-date on all the inFamous 2 news, Ben! :D

0 up, 0 down

Gamer Girl Gemo
Friday, February 11, 2011 @ 10:31:56 PM
Reply

Another thing, did anyone else notice that Cole's voice sounded... Like Cole? Watching Zeke's karma video on the Playstation Blog, Cole talks here and there and it sounds like the good old Cole we know.
Did they change voice actors again, or did they just find that much of a sound-a-like?

0 up, 0 down

Kiryu
Saturday, February 12, 2011 @ 3:00:50 AM

I thought it was the same new crappy voice.

0 up, 0 down

___________
Saturday, February 12, 2011 @ 12:53:12 AM
Reply

ok, im sold.
i want this game now!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

0 up, 0 down

0_o
Saturday, February 12, 2011 @ 6:55:06 AM
Reply

"Karma's a bi***." That's what Drake says in Uncharted 2 ;)

I want to see a girl superhero or just another guy with Cole that helps him along plus it would be great fo co-op!

0 up, 0 down

Zorigo
Saturday, February 12, 2011 @ 10:42:49 AM
Reply

OHHHHH wow that sounds good!

0 up, 0 down

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