Both inFamous and Prototype are sandbox style games that offer a protagonist with special powers. inFamous’ main protagonist’s name is Cole, who has been bestowed with the power to control electricity and is also very agile according to reports. Prototype’s protagonist’s name is Alex Mercer who has the ability to shape shift. Prototype appears to be the darker of the two games but inFamous gives you the choice to either be bad or good. Both games have similarities but they also have just as many differences.

inFamous is a first party exclusive that is being released by Sony Computer Entertainment and Sucker Punch, while Prototype is a third party multiplatform game developed by Activision and Radical Entertainment. Many people are interested in either one or both of these games, but what will each game contain that will ultimately tip the scales in its favor in the eyes of gamers?

In Prototype, Alex Mercer is a man who wakes up not knowing who he is. He somehow has the ability to shape shift after being genetically mutated, and he wants to know what has happened to him, so he goes on a search through New York City to try and find out. You have the ability to progress through the game by completing the given objectives without shaking things up, or tearing someone a new one on your way to finding out who you are. This is a very appealing gameplay element that I believe could provide more replay value for the game. Prototype is set to release on June 9, 2009 in the United States.

In inFamous, you take control of Cole, a man who was the only survivor after a large explosion in Empire City (my guess is that it’s a fake New York City). Cole is a messenger who was delivering a message to the building that exploded. He awakens from a coma, the city is being attacked and some people think he had something to do with the explosion. The entire story is still a bit of a mystery to me, but I do know that you have the ability to either be bad or good based on a karma system that keeps track of your good vs. bad deeds while progressing through the game. You can choose to help people or be a rebel and rip through everything. inFamous initially had a June 2009 release date but has been moved up to May 26, 2009.

With both games being in the same genre but only one being an exclusive, I think that inFamous has more potential, with the power of the PS3 and Blu-ray to back it up. Prototype is appealing to me mainly because of the powers that Alex has. Prototype seems a little more interesting to me right now, but I will more than likely buy both games since the experiences and stories seem very different. When both games were first announced, I started to worry that they would be too similar, but after learning more over the last 6 months about both games, I am convinced that the opposite is actually true.

Both inFamous and Prototype look like very, very interesting games and it looks like I will be buying both. Since inFamous and Prototype initially had a June 2009 release date and inFamous is now being released in May, I think there is a pretty good chance that Prototype could also move up on the calendar for an earlier release. I am not sure how far along they are in the development process, but obviously they are nearing completion if Prototype is being released June 9. I think Sony and Sucker Punch made a good move here by enabling people to get their hands on inFamous as early as possible since Prototype seems to have a little more hype from what I have seen and heard around the internet. Sony’s strategy will allow people to play inFamous first and see if the game is really all Sony and Sucker Punch say it is going to be. Both games look amazing and I think it may give inFamous some much needed momentum before Prototype is released.