Infamous plays better while Prototype looks cooler
One of the hotly debated arguments around the gamer circle is over which game is better: Infamous or Prototype. No doubt, these two games have received comparisons due to their similar open world style. However, that is where the similarity ends as both games are truly worlds apart.
I’ve had some hands-on time with Prototype at Comic Con and have seen Infamous in action as well. Both games look really good with its distinct art style. From a technical perspective Infamous looks better than Prototype with highly detailed textures. However, Prototype is much flashier and cooler looking with on-the-fly action. In Prototype you can have giant claws ripping through the ground to mutilate several enemies on the fly at will.
Prototype is definitely more accessible to a broader audience as it is a true pick-up and play action game like Dynasty Warriors. You will be body surfing in no time while mutilating enemies left and right. The character also has the ability to take the form of an enemy to confuse everyone else. This ability reminds me of the HoloBob capability in Destroy All Humans, which was a blast to use. Prototype runs on an updated version of the Titanium Engine which was used for The Incredible Hulk: Ultimate Destruction on the GameCube several years ago.
I know many people like to compare Prototype to Infamous, but the latter is a completely different beast altogether. In contrast to Prototype, which plays like a hack-and-slash, Infamous plays like a RPG/third-person shooter. The game feels like a cross between GTA and Mass Effect.
In the similar vein of GTA, Infamous will have tons of missions all over the sprawling Empire City. You will have the option to take on side vigilante type missions as well as main story missions. Similar to Mass Effect the main character will struggle with morality issues all the time and even have a paragon and renegade type karma menu system in place. If you go the renegade route your decisions will manifest itself into the gameplay. Cole, the main character will start to look sinister while accumulating different game changing abilities and outcomes.
Infamous also has a RPG system where players will level-up their powers as you progress, which adds a rich amount of depth to the game. Overall, I would say that both games ultimately cater to different audiences.
If you like hack-and-slash games with over-the-top gore, Prototype is the game for you. However, if you like a game that plays like a third-person shooter with a cover system like Uncharted and is a bit deeper with RPG elements, Infamous is for you. Personally, I will be getting both games as I like both styles.
Related Posts:
36 Responses to “Infamous plays better while Prototype looks cooler”
Leave a Reply:
You must be logged in to post a comment. Don't have an account? Register today!
May 5th, 2009
I already paid in full on GameStop for my copy of inFAMOUS. I might download Prototype for my Xbox 360. inFAMOUS will no doubt be better.
May 5th, 2009
Most previews I have read have said that inFamous is very ‘samey’. It could explain the lack of hype this game is getting.
May 5th, 2009
Harry can you please link us to the source of these reviews. I can’t find them and metacritic hasn’t got any review scores yet.
May 5th, 2009
harry sachz:
Stop making false claims. Lack of hype lmfao yeah right sure.
When i went to pre-order the game at GameStop i asked the guy selling it, i want to pre-order inFAMOUS and he asked me what system and i said is only for PS3 he felt like a fucking idiot. I bet they wouldn’t have done that if it was a Xbox 360 games. They are all seriously clueless.
May 5th, 2009
Although Harry we have seen what happens with over hyped games ??
May 5th, 2009
Bourne, go take a look at Joystiq, I recall them saying it. And I didn’t say ‘review’, i said ‘preview’. Limey bum sniffers invent a language and they can’t even read it…!
We have indeed Spidey. Haze, Lair and Too Human come to mind (even though I did enjoy Too Human, a guilty pleasure).
May 5th, 2009
So maybe they are trying to buck the trend and “under hype” and they may actually have an excellent game ?? lol
May 5th, 2009
I personally have never heard of the game until yesterday. Prototype, now there is a game that is going to fly off the shelves.
May 5th, 2009
“we have seen what happens with over hyped games ??”
-I guess GTAIV and Fallout 3 were “hyped just right” then? Heheh. Broken Steel is here and on my hard drive. Oh yeah.
May 5th, 2009
lol. much more flasher.
This made me want Infamous even more. I didn’t know it had RPG like elements.
May 5th, 2009
Harry you think the lack of hype is down to a negative preview from 1 source? Its down to Sony and their marketing. I’m waiting for proper reviews and a play on the game before commenting. I’ll be buying this game either way.
May 5th, 2009
Bourne & Harry – Joystick seems to really like it…
joystiq.com/2009/02/10/nycc-hands-on-infamous-ps3/
May 5th, 2009
infamous looks like something I would own while prototype looks like something I would rent. The former comes out a month earlier so it probably won’t be an issue anyway.
May 5th, 2009
“I’ve had some hands on time with Prototype at Comic Con and have seen Infamous in action as well”
“Infamous plays like a RPG/third-person shooter.”
Did you get a chance to play it Mike? Or did you just mean “looks like”?
May 5th, 2009
i agree with phran – i will buy inFAMOUS and rent prototype. Prototype loooks too repetitive for me -don’t ask me why, but i just don’t feel too drawn to it.
May 5th, 2009
Bourne, that was one example of a website saying it looks ‘samey’. If you’re so concerned about it, why don’t you google it yourself rather than asking me to do it for you?
May 5th, 2009
I was actually thinking the same thing, Charlie.
May 5th, 2009
Barnabe,
Here is a quote from your linked article, and they seemed rather more hopeful than liking it, as you say, by the end:
“The abilities at Cole’s disposal are rather simple at first, replicating the mechanics found in other first- and third-person shooters: throwing an electric bolt is like shooting a gun, pushing an electric shock is like using Half-Life 2′s gravity gun, and throwing a grenade is … like throwing a grenade. The one-to-one translation of Cole’s powers to other common game mechanics is what most likely keeps Infamous looking rather uninspired.”
They followed up a month later with this:
“New inFamous trailer heavy on story, light on gameplay”
by Ben Gilbert { Mar 5th 2009 at 8:50PM }
“In this, the latest trailer for body-surfing, open-world action game inFamous, we get a glimpse at more of the story, though a straight up plot remains inFamous-ly absent. What do we know? There’s a little girl who’s scared, maybe of you, maybe of everything else. There’s an explosion and some kick flips. Oh oh, and plenty of electricity.
It might not be the most intellectually stimulating game coming from Sony on the horizon but it sure “has the potential to be far more substantial and rewarding” — at least we thought so back at New York Comic Con.”
joystiq.com/2009/03/05/new-infamous-trailer-heavy-on-story-light-on-gameplay/
May 5th, 2009
IGN’s Playstation Team has a much more positive (and updated) progress report here:
ps3.ign.com/articles/977/977291p1.html
May 6th, 2009
@Carl,
Yup, had some hands on time with Infamous as well. Even though Cole shoots electricity the aiming and firing feels like Gears of War/Uncharted. The cover system is great as everything becomes a cover even a electric sign hanging 6 stories up. I like how it has the Paragon vs Renegade system like Mass Effect.
If you like third person shooters/cover system/RPGs – you will like Infamous
Prototype is fun as well, it plays like a hack-n-slash. You could say its similar to the Hulk game. You can run around and smash the ground to bits. It can get like Dynasty Warriors when you have an army attacking you it can turn quickly into a button mashing killfest.
Like I said you shouldn’t compare the two as they are completely different.
May 6th, 2009
Oh please don’t say it’s like the Hulk game!!!
May 6th, 2009
Hulk SMASH!!!
Anyway Mike, sounds like a winner if it can keep from being too repetitive throughout the game.
May 6th, 2009
@harry,
I’m talking about The Incredible Hulk: Ultimate Destruction on the GameCube. It was made by the same team that that is making Prototype.
I would have to say that is probably the best Hulk game ever made.
May 6th, 2009
There’s actually good Hulk games out there? Ok, I’ll take your word for it!
May 6th, 2009
I have the Hulk game on PS3 and I Like it.
So does my 3 year old LOL.
May 6th, 2009
haha @ norm.
May 7th, 2009
yo arvis, on VC is there any point where your in control of more then just the one tank you start with? im up to the start of chapter 5, just had my tank go under water to re-take the bridge out side the castle?
its alot, lot better then J-SRPG’s i’ve played before, but OMG its so hard to get an S ranking for a battle
May 7th, 2009
Mick,
Are you asking if you get another tank at some point in the game?
And yeah, S-ranking is really difficult. But it’s entirely based around how many turns you take to win. Once you start analyzing how you can get to your objective as quickly as possible, it becomes slightly easier. One of the later skirmishes requires you to win in ONE turn to get the S rank.
-Arvis
May 7th, 2009
yeah, i find it slightly annoying that you can come up against 4-5 tanks yet you only have the one, yeah i know its lik ownage compaired to theres, but i’d like the chance at a smaller light tank of some sort,
yeah i did the first skirmish in one go with only taking my first turn then having the comp move the 2 guys he had left in sight of my 4 shocktroopers, yeah those 2 scouts didn’t last long
May 7th, 2009
Just keep a repair dude behind the tank
May 7th, 2009
I have to admit, out of all the exclusive PS3 games, VC is the one that I would really love to come across to the dark side.
May 8th, 2009
LOL @ harry… even he admits MS is evil
SW yeah i’ve been doing that, just means that every 2nd turn to move the tank takes 3 AP…
you people telling me at no point, you are in control of another tank aside from the Eldiwes… aww i wanna do the whole “bring in the tanks” thing and have 5 come over the hill
ill just stick to basicly point blanking there guys with lancers 
May 8th, 2009
wtf needs moding in that post?
May 8th, 2009
LOL @ harry… even he admits MS is evil
SW yeah i’ve been doing that, just means that every 2nd turn to move the tank takes 3 AP…
May 8th, 2009
you people telling me at no point, you are in control of another tank aside from the Eldiwes… aww i wanna do the whole “bring in the tanks†thing and have 5 come over the hill ill just stick to basicly point blanking there guys with lancers
May 8th, 2009
“i’d like the chance at a smaller light tank of some sort”
I think you’ll find that this game is not very good at disappointing the people who play it…
-Arvis