Prototype, Infamous, and Red Faction, Which One Leads the Pack?

 After GTA4 was released, many of us were disappointed and some of us, like me, were left with a bad taste in our mouths of what we see as the sandbox genre. Now, GTA4 is still my favorite sandbox game this generation, but it seems that something big was missing, something that these recent new sandbox games like Prototype and Infamous seem to have. So perhaps you are seeking a game that gives you what GTA4 barely gave. If you are that type of gamer, it looks like the time is now. There are currently three sandbox games that have been recently released as you may already know, but which one stands aside from the rest?

Notice how most of the time sandbox games are set in a fictional post apocalyptic city? Well it seems the guys at Volition inc. decided to break the mold and set Red Faction: Guerilla on planet Mars. Your objective in the game is basically to take over Mars(just to keep it short and simple). The game’s best aspect is that it features tons of destructible buildings which adds to the ongoing fun. Sure, sometimes at some points of the game it seems that the developers went a bit to crazy with that but in the end it is acceptable. The game’s weapons seem like they go hand in hand with what you set out to do(destroy everything). You can use your primary weapon which is basically a huge hammer (satisfying to use), your standard futuristic machine gun, rocket turrets, and remote charges(personal favorite).

Now on to our second contender. Announced in 2007 at Sony’s E3 press conference as a Ps3 exclusive, Infamous quickly gained hype but fell under the radar for some time. Now the game has been out for some time and the reviews seem to be generally favorable(according to the “trusty” metacritic). This game’s storyline in my opinion is the best one out of every next gen sandbox game that has been released. The main protagonist, Cole, has a variety of powers themed on electricity along with one heck of a skill at climbing buildings. The game also features a karma system which can determine the game’s ending. There have been claims that the game’s missions are repetitive, but I think all sandbox games have repetitive missions, some just have better variety. In the end, I think that it doesn’t stop you from enjoying the game. 

Moving on to our third recently released sandbox game, Prototype. Although it pretty much viewed as the most mindless fun-having chaotic sandbox game, it is also criticized for its' weak graphics and repetitive gameplay. The graphics is something that I can simply ignore, I don’t need graphics on par with Killzone 2 in order to enjoy it. The repetitive gameplay, however, is something that made me rather rent it than buy it. But aren’t all sandbox repetitive at some point? Yes, but with Prototype it seems you’ll reach that point in which you feel like “been there done that” more rapidly than the previous games I mentioned. Still, the game seems worth taking a look at.

Winner: Out of the few times I spent playing these games at my friend’s house along with playing the demos, I have to say Infamous offers the better storyline and best gameplay out of the three, but Red Faction has multiplayer, which in my opinion overshadows the repetitive side of the game. However, don’t take my word for it if, At the end of the day it is up to you and your taste. If you want a more reliable source rather than another N4G member, just pay a visit to IGN.com to see which of the three is best. To the few that read this, thanks for reading and happy gaming.