Before Delsin Rowe became the poster boy for the Infamous franchise on PlayStation 4, players had Cole MacGrath. Cole made his debut in the original Infamous on PlayStation 3 in 2009. Once a bike messenger, Cole was given electricity-based superpowers after being caught in a massive explosion in Empire City. Depending on the players' actions, Cole can use his newfound powers to help those in need or be a power-hungry megalomaniac.
The first Infamous was successful enough that Sucker Punch Productions created a sequel to Cole's story. Infamous 2 has Cole and his best friend Zeke travel to the fictional city of New Marais to find a way for Cole to grow more powerful. A being of immeasurable power known as The Beast is wreaking havoc around the coastline, and it is up to Cole and his friends to find a way to defeat it. Cole's appearance in Infamous 2 doesn't deviate much from his design in the first Infamous; he still retains his chiseled face and bald head, but his clothing has changed so that he can adapt to the humid weather of the New Orleans-inspired city. Players might not think much of Cole's Infamous 2 look, but things were different back when the game got announced.
A Very Different Cole MacGrath
When Infamous 2 made its debut in E3 2010, Sucker Punch Productions showed some new things players could expect from the sequel. Story-wise, it showed a new villain who was bent on eradicating Conduits (the franchise's term for superpowered humans). Gameplay-wise, new ice-based powers and a cattle prod-looking melee weapon for Cole that players now know as the Amp were unveiled in addition to his more advanced electricity-based powers.
Of all the things shown in the E3 2010 trailer, Cole MacGrath's redesign stood out most. The character sported a black T-shirt, jogging pants, and Tabi shoes - an attire more suited to his freerunning abilities. The switch to a short-sleeved shirt also unveiled Cole's arm tattoos, which players at the time didn't know were affected by his Karma level. The last and most striking of his physical features were his face and hair. Cole never stood out much in the sea of Caucasian protagonists filling out titles like Call of Duty, but his bald head made him easier to distinguish. Removing his iconic chrome dome only made him look more generic.
Fan Feedback Made a Difference
Needless to say, Cole's redesign looked very little like Infamous, and it wasn't well-received. Fans took to online message boards and social media to vocalize their dislike of the new Cole. Some even likened him to a superpowered Nathan Drake - a character who was enjoying the recent success of Uncharted 2. In response to the backlash, Sucker Punch Productions went back to the drawing board and gave Cole another makeover. Cole 2.1 was made to look like a cross between his Infamous design and the design that received criticism. The Cole players see in Infamous 2 has a scruffy chin and a scar on his face, as well as a yellow T-shirt and a completely bald head.
Looking closely at the scrapped Cole design and his final appearance in Infamous 2 reveals there isn't much of a difference between the two. The face may be a little different, but the clothes, shoes, and equipment he uses are still the same. Even the tattoos remain, albeit with a few changes to make them more subtle to fit with the game's Karma system. Sucker Punch Productions has stated that it changed nothing about Cole other than his outward appearance. He is still voiced by Eric Ladin and goes through the same story beats that were planned for Infamous 2.
Change Can Be Good And Bad
While it is good to see developers listen to their fans, too much fan reception can mess with the game's vision. Though it can be risky, developers who stick to their guns can make the final product more original. Ninja Theory's DmC: Devil May Cry was a drastic departure from Capcom's original series. It changed the story and characters, as well as made big adjustments to the game's aesthetics and playstyle. Fan feedback during the initial reveal of DmC: Devil May Cry was mostly negative, but Ninja Theory decided to complete the game with its vision intact. The final release may not have been a big success, but it was unique enough that players remember it.
Cole's original Infamous 2 design wasn't as big as the changes in DmC: Devil May Cry, but it was integral to Sucker Punch Productions' vision at the time. One can only imagine what players would think about Infamous 2 now had Sucker Punch Productions kept the hairy Cole. Haired or not, it is good to know that Infamous 2 kept Cole's personality intact.
