Before Sucker Punch Productions created the critically acclaimed Ghost of Tsushima, it developed a superhero franchise of its own. The Infamous series was a PlayStation exclusive franchise that was inspired by superhero comic books. The first two games in the franchise followed Cole MacGrath in a world filled with powered people and a government that wanted to control this. The third entry introduced players to Delsin Rowe, a man who discovered that he too had powers in this world. However, since 2014, Sucker Punch has not made another entry in the franchise.
The Infamous series was a lot of fun, and has garnered a bit of a fanbase. If there is one thing that the franchise showed audiences, it is that Sucker Punch knows how to make a superhero based game. Currently, Marvel and DC are thriving in the game medium, with many game studios getting to play around in the superhero space. While Sucker Punch has not revealed the next chapter in the Infamous saga, maybe it should try its hand at crafting a game in the Marvel or DC playground instead. Not only would the studio be able to leverage what it has learned to make a pretty fun game, but it could also help further build out PlayStation's Marvel video game series, or give the company a stake in the DC landscape.
Sucker Punch Has Made Superhero Games in the Past
Sucker Punch's Infamous series first started back in 2009 on the PS3. The series was an original superhero tale set in a brand-new superhero universe. The series began by following Cole MacGrath after he gained electricity powers from an explosion in Empire City, a city inspired by New York City. He gained these powers at the expense of many lives, and the government quickly quarantined the city. Organized crime ran rampant throughout the city streets and a war for control of Empire City ensued. Throughout all of this, Cole attempted to recover a sphere of immense power so that he could escape the city. However, there was so much more at play than he realizes.
The second game in the Infamous franchise came out two years later and continued the story of Cole MacGrath. This game took place in the city of New Marais, a city inspired by New Orleans. Cole had to combat the Militia as he tried to learn the truth about the sphere that caused so much harm in the first title. He must also prepare to do battle against The Beast that threatened to destroy everything. Throughout the story, players discover answers to many questions from the first title while being left with even more.
In 2014, the third entry to the franchise launched for the PS4 and was titled Infamous Second Son. This time, players took control of a brand-new character named Delsin Rowe. Delsin had the power to absorb the powers from prime conduits, and thus gave players a larger arsenal of powers to mess around with. The story took place in the Infamous version of Seattle. Delsin had to track down a prime conduit to save his hometown, all while being dragged into a much larger battle. Infamous: Second Son also received a DLC called Infamous First Light that gave players control over Abigail Walker and her neon powers before the events of the main game.
Infamous Would Lend Itself Well to Marvel or DC
Not only was the Infamous series a pretty good superhero story, but it also gave players some fun superpowered gameplay and an interesting moral system that would lend itself well to other superhero games. One of the major aspects of the Infamous series is the Karma system, a morality system that is present in every entry. This system lets the players chose just who Cole and Delsin. Players can make choices about whether Cole and Delsin use their powers for good or for evil. This gives them different powers, and it also changes certain aspects of the story.
The gameplay of the PlayStation exclusive Infamous series is also a lot of fun for superhero fans. Players get to use various superpowers to beat back their enemies and traverse the environments. They use certain powers to parkour up buildings and fly across the skies. However, the powers are not unlimited and players have to absorb energy from various objects around them if they want to continue to be a powerhouse. The games truly make players feel like they are heroes, or villains, and that would translate very well to a game based on a pre-established IP.
Sucker Punch Could Further Build Out PlayStation's Marvel World
Right now, Insomniac Games is working on two new Marvel based projects set in the same universe: Marvel's Spider-Man 2 and Marvel's Wolverine. This comes fresh off the heels of two other Marvel based video games: Marvel's Spider-Man and Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales. Sony and Insomniac, seem committed to further expanding this franchise and making the PlayStation the go-to console for Marvel fans. If Sucker Punch were given the ability to make a Marvel game, then it could build out this franchise even more.
With the skills that Sucker Punch learned through the Infamous series, it seems like an easy win to let the studio make a Marvel game. Insomniac Games should not be the only one keeping the Marvel fanbase alive on PlayStation; Sony should give Sucker Punch a shot. The studio could use its expertise make a game based on Ms. Marvel, Moon Knight, Shang-Chi, Iron Fist, or even Doctor Strange. This would not only further build out the franchise, but it would also allow another studio to lend its creative vision to Marvel.
Sucker Punch could also make a pretty good DC-based game if it was given the chance. While Sony's focus seems to be on Marvel video games, DC games are also pretty popular. Maybe the studio could kick off a brand-new DC based franchise for the console with Superman, Shazam, or Black Adam. This is far more unlikely as WB Games seems to be the main DC games publisher, but it could be a lot of fun.
Right now, Sucker Punch seems committed to Ghost of Tsushima, but it should also consider doing Marvel or DC project. Many fans would most likely rather see the return of Infamous, but if Sony wants to further expand its Marvel's game universe then Sucker Punch would be a great studio to tap. It has shown that it is very capable of making action-adventure games and superhero titles; it just has to be given the chance to do it in some of the world's biggest franchises.
