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Infamous First Light
Infamous First Light
Infamous First Light
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Infamous First Light
DeveloperSucker Punch Productions
PublisherSony Computer Entertainment
DirectorNate Fox
ProducerBrian Fleming
ComposersMarc Canham
Nathan Johnson
Brain
SeriesInfamous
PlatformPlayStation 4
Release
  • NA: August 26, 2014
  • PAL: August 27, 2014
GenreAction-adventure
ModeSingle-player

Infamous First Light is a 2014 action-adventure game developed by Sucker Punch Productions and published by Sony Computer Entertainment for the PlayStation 4. The game is a standalone companion to Infamous Second Son and serves as a prequel. It was announced in June 2014 at E3 2014 and was released digitally in August 2014, with a physical release only being released in Europe, Asia, and Australia in September 2014.[1]

Played in a third-person perspective, the player takes control of Abigail "Fetch" Walker (introduced as a supporting character in Second Son), a young woman classed by the Department of Unified Protection as a "conduit" who possesses superhuman powers. In custody of the D.U.P., Fetch is ordered to tell the story of the events leading up to her capture. The player can use their Neon powers to defeat enemies and traverse the environment while completing the game's levels. The game primarily takes place in the streets of a fictionalized version of Seattle and in and around the prison, Curdun Cay.

Infamous First Light received generally mixed reviews from critics, who praised the protagonist Fetch, with some commenting that she was a better character compared to Second Son protagonist Delsin, while the visuals, controls, gameplay, and challenge arenas were also commended. Criticism was aimed towards the game's story and combat mechanics.

Gameplay

[edit]

Infamous First Light is an action-adventure game set in an open world environment and played from a third-person perspective, similar to Infamous Second Son; players complete levels, defeat enemies and finish side missions. The player takes control of Abigail "Fetch" Walker, a young "conduit" who possesses superhero-like 'Neon' powers. With a few exceptions, Abigail's powers play identically to Delsin Rowe's Neon powers, but First Light introduces several new features. In Neon races, Fetch can chase down floating balls of Neon gas and Conduit energy called "Lumens" that reward her with skill points to increase her powers. The graffiti mini game from Second Son is present; it has been aesthetically altered to match Fetch's Neon style. In Arena Challenges, both Fetch and Delsin can fight against hordes of holographic enemies. Completing challenges rewards the player with skill points that they can use to upgrade their abilities. Exclusive to the arena is a new enemy faction: Demons, with their own unique powers and abilities.[2][3]

Plot

[edit]

Abigail "Fetch" Walker, a young conduit in the D.U.P.'s custody in their prison Curdun Cay, is ordered to give a demonstration of her powers to one Brooke Augustine by battling holographic foes created by fellow Conduit Eugene. Once that is done, Fetch is told to tell the events that led up to her arrest.[4]

Seven years earlier, Fetch was one of the first of the new Conduits who emerge following the Beast's rampage across the countryside. Although her parents tried to cope at first, they were left with few options after Fetch injured one of her classmates by mistake. Fetch's older brother, Brent Walker, immediately grabbed Fetch and ran away with her; the pair turned to drug use to cope but Brent eventually got clean, even going as far as to hide Fetch's stash to help her get clean as well. Brent also made Fetch keep the use of her powers to a minimum to avoid suspicion. For years, Brent worked for gangs to acquire enough funds to buy a boat and sneak across the border from Seattle to Canada, where the D.U.P.'s authority does not extend. However, a gang of Russian mobsters known as the Akurans destroyed the boat, took Brent hostage, and nearly killed Fetch with a bomb.

Using her powers, Fetch survives and begins looking for Brent. Fetch soon meets Shane, one of Brent's old contacts and a small-time drug lord also looking for Brent. Shane takes advantage of Fetch's naivety to use her to win a gang war with the Akurans almost single-handedly. When they find Brent, Shane takes him hostage and forces Fetch to help him cement his hold on Seattle's drug trade. Back in the present, Augustine theorizes that the new powers Fetch develops may be a reaction to extreme trauma to help her cope. On the condition that she show her all of her powers, Augustine allows Fetch to fight holograms of her D.U.P. troops. Once the task is completed, Fetch continues her story.

Another employee of Shane's working for the city's tech support department, named Jenny, offers to help look for Brent. Jenny has narrowed down where Shane is keeping Brent to four shipping crates dotted around the city. Finding the crates not only does Fetch discover that Brent is not in any of them but Shane, already on to them, hunts down and kills Jennifer. Shane has Fetch help him force the police's favor by having her slaughter the police force while he has a sit-down with the chief. The police chief agrees to Shane's terms, on the condition that Fetch leaves Seattle and does not come back.

With this, Shane sends Fetch to pick up her brother. Unfortunately it turns out to be a trap where Shane attempts to kill Fetch with a homemade gas chamber; Fetch however is able to pull through and escape. Back in the present, realizing that Fetch is still holding out on her, Augustine decides to send her to another new arena. Taking inspiration from Eugene's love of the Heaven's Hellfire game, Augustine has Fetch fight her literal Demons. Once the third arena is completed, Augustine has Fetch finish the story. The still-alive Fetch "negotiates" a new deal with Shane, he hands over Brent, alive and intact, and she stops tearing apart his gang and operation. Shane has Fetch meet him at the Crocodile where he sticks her with a drug filled needle. In the resulting drugged haze, Fetch accidentally kills Brent, leaving her emotionally distraught and defenseless as the D.U.P. closes in on her.

Back in the present, Augustine reveals that she had known Fetch's story all along, and reveals that she has Shane in custody, while offering Fetch the chance to kill him. Accepting Augustine's offer, Fetch attacks Shane, destroying part of the prison wall in the process. Shane survives and escapes by hijacking an APC, with the D.U.P. and a freed Fetch in hot pursuit. With the D.U.P.'s unwilling assistance, Fetch catches up to Shane and violently kills him, avenging her brother. Augustine, after hearing that Shane had been executed, states that Fetch is 'ready'.

Alongside Eugene and another Conduit named Hank Daughtry, Fetch is released into the military's custody. During the drive, Hank reveals he has smuggled in a bent paper clip to use it to pick their restraints, hijacking the truck, and crashes it at Salmon Bay. Fetch and Eugene escape, while Hank is left behind as Delsin Rowe approaches him, leading to the events of Second Son.[5]

Development and release

[edit]

The game began development shortly after the release of Infamous Second Son.[6] Nate Fox said it was an "easy" decision to make First Light. He said protagonist Fetch's "conflicted history and overall attitude made her the perfect fit for a standalone game."[6] Fox also said that making the game was "really fun", and that "everyone already knows how to do everything development-related and the tools are all already in place, so you can go directly to making content." Sucker Punch felt that Fetch's powers were different enough from Second Son's Delsin's powers to warrant a separate game.[6][7] Even though Fetch's different powers alone provided gameplay variety, during development, Sucker Punch ensured that they felt "fluid" and "very different".[6] Another focus for Sucker Punch was to make the overall tone darker than Second Son. Sucker Punch put Fetch in plenty of harsh situations where she is forced to be herself and fight her way out.[6]

During development, Sucker Punch placed a heavy emphasis on the characterization of protagonist Abigail 'Fetch' Walker.[7] Sucker Punch worked extensively with Fetch's voice actress Laura Bailey throughout the development of the game, often asking for her input in specific situations.[7] The game's director Nate Fox stated: "When it came time to put in dialogue or talk about motivations, we called Laura Bailey or texted her. She would tell me what would be Fetch's view so it was accurate to the character, but also accurate to a woman's experience."[7] After the release of Second Son, Sucker Punch felt "compelled" to make a game about Fetch; Fox stated: "We made a game about Fetch because we liked Fetch."[7]

The game was announced at E3 2014[8] and was released worldwide digitally via the PlayStation Store on August 27, 2014. It was later released at retail only in Australia, Asia and Europe on September 10, 2014.[9] Players who pre-ordered the game received a bonus costume for protagonist Fetch called "D.U.P. Fetch".[10]

Reception

[edit]

Infamous First Light received "mixed or average" reviews from critics, according to review aggregator Metacritic.[11]

Destructoid's Chris Carter gave the game a positive review. He scored an 8.5 out of 10 and stated: "Full stop, inFamous First Light is more Second Son, which is a good thing. Although I wasn't nearly as invested in Fetch as I was with Delsin's story, this is a great way for fans to return to the super-powered world of Seattle, and an even better way for newcomers to get a taste of the series."[12]

Eurogamer's Dan Whitehead gave the game a mixed score of 6/10 saying: "First Light's weird, limbo nature makes it a hard one to pin down. Considered as a DLC add-on, it's pretty generous and fans of Second Son will certainly appreciate the extra backstory and another chance to romp around Seattle. As a standalone game, it earns points for trimming the fat from the open-world template, but is also as generic as they come. First Light is an adequate diversion for fans but unlikely to dazzle anybody else."[13]

Andrew Reiner of Game Informer gave the game a positive score of 8/10 in his review. He summed up his review by saying: "InFamous First Light lacks some of the punch of Second Son in its campaign battles and familiar narrative marks, but is still a welcome addition to the series. Fetch is a fantastically written character, and the conclusion to her origin story is worth seeing in its entirety – even if you already know what happens. Sucker Punch did a phenomenal job with the finale."[14]

Kevin VanOrd of GameSpot gave the game a 6/10 in his review. He called protagonist Fetch an "engaging heroine", said the "Silky-smooth combat and locomotion make it a pleasure to move around Seattle", and said "blasting Department of Unified Protection guards and digital demons, is an absolute blast". He did however criticize the game for being too easy, saying: "Once you max out your homing missiles you can sleepwalk your way through challenge arenas." He also called the mission design "uninspired" and disliked the characterization and dialogue.[16]

VideoGamer.com's Jamie Trinca scored the game a 7 out of 10, writing: "First Light is Second Son with most of the fat trimmed, making it ideal for newcomers." Trinca had positive comments about protagonist Fetch; he mostly praised the character for not being a generic male who is tasked with saving the world, writing: "I like Fetch. She's infinitely more interesting than Delsin Rowe — she's a flawed anti-hero, who has come to be defined by some extraordinarily bad decisions." Trinca also thought the visuals were among the best on PlayStation 4, and complimented the cheap price, but felt the game lacked variety and featured repetitive gameplay.[19]

Dan Stapleton of IGN gave the game a 7.5 out of 10, praising the challenge maps, the story, the protagonist, Fetch, and the new powers. He summed up his review by saying: "InFamous First Light is a decent story around a better character than Second Son, but its battles don't have the same scale or superpower variety that Second Son's do. After the short campaign, its challenge maps put a new spin on combat by taking away your ability to escape danger on a whim, making it much tougher."[17]

Polygon's Philip Kollar gave Infamous First Light an 8 out of 10 in his review. He said: "Despite how nicely their stories slot into one another, the ideal scenario for playing InFamous First Light is to have never touched Second Son. This works best as an introductory package for newcomers to the Infamous series, a tightly-wound, dramatic story with solid action and very little in the way of excess. It's not different enough from the Infamous game that released earlier this year to totally stand out, but it doesn't suffer much for that similarity."[18]

Daniel Bischoff of GameRevolution gave the game a glowing review. "That inFamous First Light echoes the main game's themes of siblings and what it means to lose family struck me deeply," Bischoff said, "especially as brotherhood has taken on different meanings for me over the years. With it written into the character's backstory, fans might know what to expect; still, I can't help but feel for Fetch above all else. Her imprisonment and Sucker Punch's use of a familiar location at the crux of this story breathe new life into neon-powered gameplay loops that had already proven themselves one of the best open-world mechanics yet." Bischoff scored the game a 4.5 out of 5.[15]

Despite the mixed reception, the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences commended the characterization of Abigail "Fetch" Walker with a nomination for "Outstanding Achievement in Character" during the 18th Annual D.I.C.E. Awards.[20]

References

[edit]
[edit]
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Infamous First Light

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from Grokipedia
inFAMOUS: First Light is a action-adventure developed by and published by Computer Entertainment exclusively for the PlayStation 4. Released on August 26, , it functions as a standalone expansion to inFAMOUS Second Son, bridging events in the inFAMOUS series by exploring the backstory of protagonist Abigail "Fetch" Walker. The game's narrative centers on Fetch, a young conduit with neon-based superpowers, who is interrogated in the superhuman prison facility Curdun Cay, forcing her to relive traumatic events from her past in . As she recounts her experiences, players control Fetch in open-world environments, utilizing her abilities to navigate, combat enemies, and seek vengeance against those responsible for her family's tragedy. Core emphasizes Fetch's neon powers, including rapid dashes, telekinetic blasts, and grenade-like projectiles, which evolve through skill trees and are used in both traversal and large-scale battles against police and rival conduits. Moral choices influence the story's outcome, aligning with the series' karma system, though the game streamlines combat compared to its predecessor for a more focused experience. Development began shortly after inFAMOUS Second Son's launch, with Sucker Punch aiming to expand on Fetch's character after positive fan feedback, resulting in a title that can be played independently without owning the base game. Upon release, inFAMOUS: First Light received mixed or average reviews, earning a Metascore of 73/100 from critics who praised its storytelling and character development but criticized repetitive gameplay and shorter length. It later became available via PlayStation Plus and supports enhancements on PS4 Pro and PS5, including and HDR.

Gameplay

Core mechanics

Infamous: First Light is a third-person action-adventure game featuring an open-world environment set in a fictionalized version of northern Seattle, Washington, divided into distinct districts such as Seattle Center. The gameplay emphasizes exploration within this confined urban landscape, where players control protagonist Abigail "Fetch" Walker, navigating a mix of flashback sequences in Seattle and present-day arena challenges on Curdun Cay island. Arena challenges on Curdun Cay provide combat trials that reward skill points and advance the narrative. Progression follows a mission-based structure, comprising 14 main story missions that advance the narrative through linear objectives interspersed with open-world freedom. Side activities expand gameplay variety, including hostage rescue operations that involve stealth or direct confrontation, and Lumen Races that test traversal speed across rooftops and streets. Collectibles encourage thorough exploration, such as absorbing scattered throughout districts to gain skill points, destroying Police Drones for additional rewards, and activating installations that trigger interactive light shows and yield skill points upon completion. The combat system integrates third-person and elements, with a focus on environmental interactions to enhance tactical depth. Players can utilize cover from urban structures like walls and vehicles to avoid enemy fire, while destructible objects such as barrels or sources can be manipulated to deal area damage or replenish during engagements. Neon powers serve as extensions of core combat, allowing ranged attacks and mobility boosts that complement these interactions without relying solely on abilities. Navigation mechanics promote fluid movement across the verticality of Seattle's skyline, incorporating parkour-style climbing via wall-running and dashing along surfaces. Players can perform air dashes for mid-air corrections and glide short distances by constructing neon gas clouds to maintain momentum after jumps. Unlike broader traversal systems in related titles, is unavailable, requiring manual navigation or reliance on speed-based dashes to traverse districts efficiently.

Neon powers

In inFAMOUS First Light, protagonist Abigail "Fetch" Walker wields neon-based powers derived from her conduit abilities, enabling her to manipulate energy for combat and traversal. Her core power revolves around neon-based , which allows her to grab and hurl objects or enemies at range, often by channeling neon to lift and propel targets with precision or force. This ability serves as a foundational mechanic for environmental interaction and , such as flinging debris at foes or redirecting projectiles mid-air. Fetch's secondary abilities expand on this core, including Neon Dash for rapid, high-velocity movement and evasion, enabling her to streak across distances, scale buildings, and dodge attacks at near-light speeds. Bolt provides ranged precision strikes, firing concentrated neon projectiles to snipe weak points from afar, while Stasis Blast delivers area-of-effect damage through stasis fields that trap multiple enemies before detonation. These powers integrate seamlessly into combat, allowing tactical combos like dashing into a group followed by a hurled blast for maximum disruption. Power upgrades are purchased using Skill Points (SP) earned from collecting neon lumens or completing challenges, with powers evolving through story progression for enhanced potency. Upgrades expand ability behavior, such as increasing telekinetic range or stasis durations. For instance, upgrades to Neon Bolt might increase accuracy for disarming shots or boost damage output. Later levels require story progression for advanced enhancements. Resource management is central to sustaining these powers, relying on neon shards absorbed from environmental sources like signs and lights via Neon Drain or collected from defeated enemies and neon clouds. Draining replenishes a finite meter, with upgrades expanding capacity by up to 100% across four levels, preventing overuse that could leave Fetch vulnerable in prolonged fights. Tactically, players must balance draining during lulls with aggressive combos, as depleted energy limits dashes and bolts to basic . The powers evolve progressively through the campaign, beginning with rudimentary in early missions for simple object throws, advancing to sophisticated chains like a Dash into a stasis-trapped group followed by a telekinetic hurl into hazards. By mid-game, ultimate abilities such as Singularity emerge, condensing to pull and crush clusters of enemies before scattering remains, rewarding skilled resource juggling and playstyles. This progression encourages experimentation, turning initial survival tools into devastating arsenals by the finale.

Story and characters

Setting

Infamous First Light is set in a dystopian, fictionalized version of Seattle, Washington, placed under the oppressive control of the Department of Unified Protection (DUP) in the aftermath of the 2011 Beast's rampage that empowered many conduits with supernatural abilities and led to widespread chaos. The city's atmosphere evokes a sense of isolation and surveillance, with curfew-enforced zones patrolled by DUP forces, abandoned piers shrouded in fog, and neon-lit urban thoroughfares that pulse with vibrant energy amid the gloom. This blend of gritty realism and futuristic elements highlights the tension between everyday urban life and the hidden world of conduits evading capture. The game's world-building extends to environmental storytelling, where DUP propaganda—manifested in towering billboards and loudspeakers broadcasting warnings against conduits—clashes with subversive tags from groups, revealing layers of societal division. Hidden lore items, such as audio logs and documents scattered throughout , provide glimpses into the broader of conduits and the DUP's rise to power, enriching the immersive narrative without advancing the main plot. The technology reflects a near-contemporary aesthetic, incorporating holographic advertisements that flicker across rain-slicked streets and advanced surveillance systems that underscore the DUP's authoritarian grip. Temporal elements span from Fetch's childhood flashbacks depicting her early life and personal hardships before her powers manifested, to the main events set seven years before the events of Infamous: Second Son, where the city's districts serve as dynamic backdrops for conduit activities. plays a crucial role in the atmosphere, with persistent enhancing neon reflections on wet pavement to create a moody, reflective sheen, while day-night cycles alter visibility—dusk and night amplifying for stealthy maneuvers and power enhancement, and daylight exposing the stark realities of DUP dominance. These cycles not only influence practical navigation but also deepen the thematic immersion in a world where light and darkness symbolize conduit struggles.

Plot

The story of Infamous: First Light is framed as an interrogation of the conduit known as Fetch by agents of the Department of Unified Protection (D.U.P.) at the remote prison facility of Curdun Cay, where she relives pivotal moments from her past through involuntary flashbacks. These recollections detail her escape from and her transformation into a vigilante operating in the shadows of . At the heart of the narrative is Fetch's desperate search for her missing brother Brent amid the city's criminal underbelly, which pits her against both the militarized D.U.P. forces hunting conduits and the Akurans, a ruthless Russian syndicate involved in Seattle's drug trade. Major events unfold across dual timelines: in the past, Fetch and Brent's escape plan to is thwarted when the Akurans destroy their boat and kidnap Brent; Fetch allies with drug lord Shane to fight the Akurans, locates Brent but faces betrayal, including the murder of her friend Jenny and a trap in a ; the search culminates in Brent's accidental death at Fetch's hands during a confrontation, leading to her capture by the D.U.P. In the present, following her interrogation, Fetch kills Shane and escapes Curdun with fellow conduits Eugene and Daughtry, setting up her role in Infamous: Second Son. Moral dilemmas in mission choices challenge her sense of justice. The plot delves into themes of rooted in personal hardship, unwavering loyalty driving Fetch's quest, and systemic against conduits in a fearful society, all building toward direct connections with the events of Infamous: Second Son. Player decisions influence Fetch's karma, leading to branching endings that alter her path—good or evil—and ultimately shape her alliance with Delsin Rowe in the broader storyline.

Characters

Abigail "Fetch" Walker serves as the of Infamous: First Light, a conduit who possesses the ability to manipulate as her . Growing up in a troubled environment marked by familial abuse after manifesting her powers as a , Fetch turned to as a coping mechanism, shaping her street-hardened, impulsive personality. She is voiced by , whose performance captures Fetch's vulnerability and ferocity through motion-captured emotional scenes. Fetch's older brother, Brent Walker, acts as her primary protector and moral anchor, having fled with her after their parents alerted authorities to her powers, leading them into Seattle's criminal underworld. Brent becomes entangled in the local drug trade to support them, highlighting his self-sacrificing role in Fetch's life. He is voiced by David Stanbra, emphasizing the siblings' deep bond in key interactions. Among the antagonists, Brooke Augustine, the commander of the Department of Unified Protection (DUP), oversees the interrogation of conduits like Fetch, representing institutional oppression against powered individuals. Voiced by , Augustine's authoritative presence drives conflicts rooted in government control. Shane, a cunning locked in a gang war with the Akurans, exploits Fetch's vulnerabilities in territorial disputes, serving as a personal betrayer in her criminal entanglements. provides Shane's voice, infusing the character with manipulative charm. Supporting characters include Jenny, Fetch's childhood friend from the streets, who offers glimpses into her pre-conduit life and provides emotional support amid the chaos. Voiced by Ashley Johnson, Jenny's role underscores themes of lost innocence. Fetch's interactions with others are influenced by her moral choices, altering perceptions and alliances in ways that reflect her internal struggle between vengeance and redemption. Eugene Sims and Hank Daughtry, fellow conduits, aid in her escape from Curdun Cay, bridging to events in Infamous: Second Son.

Development

Production

Infamous First Light was developed by , a studio based in , as a standalone expansion to Infamous Second Son, allowing players to experience the story without owning the base game. The project began shortly after Second Son's launch in March 2014, leveraging the existing engine and assets to accelerate production while introducing new environments like the prison island of Curdun Cay and enhanced neon-based mechanics tailored to protagonist Abigail "Fetch" Walker. Technical optimizations, such as improved shaders for water effects and reduced demands from omitting large-scale fortifications, enabled smoother performance at and 30 frames per second compared to its predecessor. Directed by Nate Fox, the game emphasized emotional storytelling centered on Fetch's origin, exploring themes of heartache, addiction, and abandonment to deepen the Infamous series lore without the expansive open-world scale of Second Son. The narrative team focused on Fetch's vulnerabilities and fear of rejection to create a relatable character, with Fox noting, "That fear of rejection moves her forward… she’s human." New neon powers, including bursts for crowd control and jetting for mobility, were designed to reflect Fetch's agile, street-smart personality, building on Second Son's conduit abilities while introducing standalone challenges like battle arenas. The game's announcement at E3 coincided with contributions from partners like Digital Domain for animation and Laura Bailey as Fetch's voice actress, whose input ensured authentic female perspective in dialogue and motivations. Development faced challenges in balancing the title's independence from Second Son with meaningful ties to its lore, as well as portraying a strong female lead without stereotypes; Fox collaborated closely with Bailey to refine Fetch's responses, stating, "She would tell me what would be Fetch’s view so it was accurate to the character." This approach prioritized diverse representation, making Fetch the series' first female protagonist driven by genuine interest in her character rather than broader industry trends.

Release

inFAMOUS First Light was announced at the 2014 on June 9, with an official trailer introducing protagonist Abigail "Fetch" Walker's neon powers and her as a standalone expansion to inFAMOUS Second Son. A subsequent gameplay trailer debuted at Gamescom 2014 on August 12, further showcasing combat mechanics and traversal abilities centered on Fetch's abilities. The game launched digitally as a paid standalone DLC for the on August 26, 2014, in and August 27 in , priced at $14.99 or equivalent. A physical retail edition followed exclusively in , , and on September 10, 2014, at approximately €19.99 or £19.99. It was also bundled with inFAMOUS Second Son and other DLC in digital complete editions available on the shortly after launch. Marketing efforts centered on PlayStation's official blog and YouTube channel, featuring multiple trailers that highlighted Fetch's backstory, emotional narrative, and ties to the Second Son universe, often promoted alongside the parent game's campaigns to leverage existing fan interest. Shortly before launch, on August 19, 2014, Sony confirmed layoffs at Sucker Punch Productions as part of a workforce reduction. Following launch, Sucker Punch released several patches addressing bug fixes, stability improvements, and minor gameplay balance adjustments, including a day-one update and later enhancements for the Pro in 2016 that added HDR support and improved visuals. No major expansions or additional content were developed post-launch.

Reception

Critical response

Infamous: First Light received mixed or average reviews from critics, earning a Metacritic score of 73 out of 100 based on 70 reviews, with praise centered on its compelling story and character development. Reviewers highlighted the emotional depth in Abigail "Fetch" Walker's arc, portraying her as a more engaging and charismatic figure than those in the base game Infamous: Second Son, with strong by enhancing her tragic backstory. The powers were commended for their refined , offering satisfying traversal and ability upgrades that felt focused and fluid compared to the broader power sets in Second Son. Critics also appreciated the game's concise 5-7 hour length, describing it as a polished, self-contained experience that delivered high-quality content without unnecessary filler. Despite these strengths, the title faced criticisms for repetitive mission structures, which often recycled objectives like combat arenas and basic platforming without much variation. Many noted the limited open-world scale, presenting a smaller, more linear environment that lacked the exploration depth of Second Son, making the experience feel constrained. At launch, some reviewers mentioned minor technical issues, including occasional frame-rate stutters and loading glitches, though these were not seen as severely detracting from the core gameplay. Notable reviews included IGN's 7.5 out of 10, which lauded the narrative drive and Fetch's personality but critiqued the reduced battle variety and superpowered spectacle. awarded a 6 out of 10, praising the solid fundamentals of the neon abilities while faulting the uninspired missions and predictable storytelling. scored it 6 out of 10, appreciating the enjoyable character work and writing but pointing to its ambiguous positioning as a DLC or standalone title, which limited its ambition. The game earned a nomination for Outstanding Achievement in Character for Abigail "Fetch" Walker at the 18th Annual .

Commercial performance

inFAMOUS: First Light was released as a digital download for the on August 26, 2014, with physical retail versions limited to , , and . In , the absence of a physical release contributed to lower tangible sales, reflecting the growing preference for during the PS4's early lifecycle. The title's availability was enhanced through bundles like the inFAMOUS Second Son Complete Edition, which included First Light alongside the base game and other DLC, helping to drive additional adoption. As a PS4 exclusive launched in 2014, First Light benefited from the strong market performance of the inFAMOUS series, particularly Second Son, which sold over 1 million units in its first nine days and reached 6 million units shipped worldwide by June 2019. Specific unit sales for First Light were not publicly disclosed by Sony, but estimates suggest modest figures, with approximately 30,000 units in North America and similar in Europe based on tracking data. Digital downloads dominated, aligning with PS4 trends where over 50% of software sales were digital by mid-2014, though exact percentages for First Light remain unavailable. In terms of legacy within the inFAMOUS series, First Light significantly expanded the backstory of "Fetch" Walker, deepening her and influencing conduit portrayals in subsequent media, including ties to the series' comic expansions like inFAMOUS: Post Blast. It fueled fan interest in potential sequels, though no direct follow-ups materialized. As of November 2025, no or announcements have been made for First Light, despite ongoing fan demand. The game remains accessible via PlayStation Plus Premium subscription and full backward compatibility on PS5, supporting continued play without additional hardware.

References

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  3. https://www.pushsquare.com/games/ps4/infamous_first_light
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  7. https://gamingbolt.com/infamous-first-light-mega-guide-collectibles-locations-upgrades-trophies-and-more
  8. https://www.honestgamers.com/guides/infamous-first-light/41/read/729.html
  9. https://blog.playstation.com/2014/08/26/infamous-first-light-out-today-on-ps4/
  10. https://www.gamerevolution.com/guides/66423-infamous-first-light-power-guide
  11. https://infamous.fandom.com/wiki/Infamous:_Second_Son
  12. https://blog.playstation.com/2016/11/04/infamous-second-son-first-light-showcase-power-of-ps4-pro/
  13. https://www.ign.com/articles/2014/08/26/infamous-first-light-review
  14. https://store.playstation.com/en-us/product/UP9000-CUSA00575_00-FIRSTLIGHTSHIP00
  15. https://www.gamecloud.net.au/review/infamous-first-light
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  17. https://www.polygon.com/2014/9/3/6102055/infamous-first-light-review-ps4/
  18. https://gamingtrend.com/reviews/infamous-first-light-review/
  19. https://www.polygon.com/2014/8/13/5997353/infamous-first-light-fetch-strong-female-lead/
  20. https://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/video-games/inFamous-First-Light/Abigail-Fetch-Walker/
  21. https://www.ign.com/wikis/infamous-second-son/Abigail_Walker
  22. https://blog.playstation.com/2014/08/12/new-infamous-first-light-trailer-revealed/
  23. https://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/video-games/inFamous-First-Light/Brent-Walker/
  24. https://www.ign.com/wikis/infamous-second-son/Characters
  25. https://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/video-games/inFamous-First-Light/Jenny/
  26. https://blog.playstation.com/2014/06/09/infamous-first-light-coming-to-ps4-this-august/
  27. https://gamingbolt.com/what-happened-to-infamous
  28. https://gamingbolt.com/sucker-punch-explain-why-infamous-first-light-runs-faster-than-second-son
  29. https://www.polygon.com/2014/8/13/5997353/infamous-first-light-fetch-strong-female-lead
  30. https://www.mobygames.com/game/68538/infamous-first-light/credits/playstation-4/
  31. https://www.gematsu.com/2014/07/infamous-first-light-getting-blu-ray-release-europe
  32. https://www.playstationlifestyle.net/2014/06/26/infamous-first-light-release-date-confirmed-by-sucker-punch/
  33. https://www.ign.com/articles/2014/08/20/infamous-dev-sucker-punch-suffers-layoffs
  34. https://orbispatches.com/CUSA00897
  35. https://www.eurogamer.net/infamous-first-light-review
  36. https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/infamous-first-light-review/1900-6415853/
  37. https://www.eurogamer.net/digitalfoundry-2014-infamous-first-light-performance-analysis
  38. https://www.interactive.org/games/video_game_details.asp?idAward=2015&idGame=1387
  39. https://www.reddit.com/r/infamous/comments/127injn/why_is_first_light_so_expensive/
  40. https://www.amazon.com/inFAMOUS-Second-Son-Limited-PlayStation-4/dp/B00BGAA0SU
  41. https://www.vgchartz.com/game/82989/infamous-first-light/
  42. https://infamous.fandom.com/wiki/Infamous:_Post_Blast
  43. https://www.pushsquare.com/news/2025/10/as-fans-demand-infamous-remasters-sucker-punch-says-it-can-only-work-on-one-game-at-a-time
  44. https://www.dexerto.com/gaming/all-playstation-plus-premium-games-confirmed-leaked-ps5-backwards-compatible-1814003/
  45. https://www.backwards-compatible.com/games/infamous-first-light/
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