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Right or wrong, it's my life and I choose how to live it.
― Cole MacGrath

Karmic Moment

Karmic Moments are moments in the game where the game stops, and Cole and Delsin think of the possibilities and outcomes of their choices. The moments are indicated by a red and blue lightning symbol divided by a question mark (See picture to the right). Each moment will have an outcome that will lower or raise your Karma level. In inFAMOUS 2, though instead of choosing between two things in a mission, Cole now chooses between two entire missions. In InFamous: Second Son, the karmic moments return, but are more grounded.

Infamous

Karmic Moments 3

Food Drop

Once Cole defeats the Reapers attacking Archer Square, he looks over the dropped provisions. Afterwards, Cole can:

  • Good: Let the crowd take the food.
  • Evil: Shoot the water underneath the crowd (or the crowd itself) to make them flee.

The end result is Trish either thanking or scolding Cole.

Trivia

Discharging electricity at all will result in an Evil Karma, even if the bolt does not hit anyone.

Karmic Moments 4

Riot

After Cole and Zeke make it to Stampton Bridge, they find a mob of people protesting to be let out of the quarantine. There are several armed riot police. From here, Cole can:

  • Good: Face the riot police himself. This will lead to less innocent lives being lost.
  • Evil: Shoot a policeman or shoot the inside of the crowd from inside/outside the crowd. This will cause a mass riot with loss of life from the crowd.

Open the Door

Karmic Moments 5

On the story mission, Blood Trail, when Cole finds Brandon in the sewer after chasing the echo of him, he asks him to open the door to access the generator of the sewers, but is too afraid and refuses to do it. Cole can:

  • Good: Tell Brandon that his wife is dead, and that Cole promises to take out every reaper on the Neon. That then convinces him to open the door.
  • Evil: Shock the door apart, which also kills Brandon in the process of opening the door.

The Rescue

This is automatically unlocked after completion of "The Rescue" mission. There is no choice here, rather it plays a different clip depending on Cole's Karma.

  • Good: If Cole's Karma is good, the crowd will cheer on him and thank him for rescuing the people. He describes the crowd as hypocrites, but admits it is nice to finally feel accepted instead of being called off.
  • Evil: If Cole's Karma is evil, the crowd will boo and attempt to attack and stone him. He shocks and kills a person, causing the rest to flee considering them ungrateful after he just saved their families.

Tar Kegs

Karmic Moments 2

During missions such as Dark Water, Cole can destroy or overload the tar kegs. Destroying them causes him to temporarily hallucinate. Overloading them leaks excess tar into the water supply, poisoning more people. Cole can:

  • Good: Destroy the kegs using a Electromagnetic Shockwave at close range. This stops the tar from entering the water supply, but Cole will have temporary hallucinations as the tar splashes onto him.
  • Evil: Overload the kegs from a distance using lightning bolts, but in the process causing them to dump their payload into the water supply.

Trivia

If you angle yourself correctly and use the Electromagnetic Shockwave on the tar keg, you will both destroy it and not have any tar on you.

Exposure

Karmic Moments 6

When Cole is chasing the ghost of the Dust Man Conduit in "Zeke's Request", he will run into a man making posters of him. He will ask Cole which one he likes:

  • Good: Pick the good picture of Cole, which is him in a clean, crime-free city. Cole is holding a lightning bolt (like the Greek god Zeus, who also controlled lightning), with people cheering on him.
  • Evil: Pick the evil picture of Cole, which is a giant picture of him with half his face as a skull overlooking a destroyed Empire City.

Them or Me?

Karmic Moments 7

At the end of the mission "Secrets Revealed", a Golem Conduit is going to throw the gas tank of a helicopter at Cole. The catch is that a bunch of wounded pedestrians are in range of the detonation, at the Golem's feet. Cole can:

  • Good: Let the Golem sling the tank at him. This saves the wounded people, but will seriously harm Cole and his speed.
  • Evil: Shoot the tank. This will rip off the Golem's arm, and make the fight easier for Cole, but it will also kill the pedestrians.

Trivia: If the player has the rank of Hero, the golem will throw the tank as soon as the player regains control, making it impossible to destroy the tank.

If the player has the rank of Infamous, the golem will take approximately 2.5 seconds longer to throw the tank.

Intentions

Trish, hanging from one building

Trish, hanging from one roof.

6 doctors, hanging from another

Six doctors, hanging from another.

Kessler tells Cole that Trish has been kidnapped, and that Cole has to make a choice. One roof holds Trish, another roof holds six doctors. The doctors could save countless lives, while Trish is what Cole cherishes the most.

  • Good: Thinking for the greater good, Cole rescues the doctors.
  • Evil: Thinking only of himself, Cole attempts to rescue Trish. What Cole doesn't know is that Kessler actually disguised her as one of the six doctors.

Either way, Trish dies. If Cole's Karma is good, Trish tells him how proud she was that he was using his powers for good, and that she loves him, before falling to her death. If Cole's Karma is evil, Trish tells him how much she hates him, saying that "God gave you these powers, and you squandered them." She then falls to her death.

The Sphere

EOTR 11

Once Cole and John make it to the dock where the Ray Sphere is being kept, Cole has the choice to activate it or destroy it. This is one of the few options where the evil decision has a better reward.

  • Good: Destroy the Sphere, creating a vortex that sucks John in.
  • Evil: Activate the Sphere, causing John to get sucked into it. Cole then gains 1500 XP, stronger attacks, and four extra battery cores, and his electricity becomes black and red. This choice causes Cole to be permanently stuck at Infamous rank, regardless of what his rank previously was.

Trivia: Depending on the Player's choice, Cole's response to Kessler's message is different. If Cole destroyed the sphere, Cole says he loves Empire City and will do anything to protect it. On the other hand, if Cole activated the sphere, Cole says he claims every inch of the city as his own and will rid it of the weak.

If the player wishes to keep the ability to switch Karma for the rest of the game, the good choice must be chosen, even if playing on Evil. The evil option should be picked only if the player has no problem being stuck in Infamous rank.

Other Karma Choices

There are also other choices that do not affect the story line. These include:

  • Public Hanging: Angry citizens have tied another person to a street light for stealing food. You can cut the person down (Good), or leave him to hang (Evil).
  • Blast Shard Payment: Several side missions revolve around pedestrians that have Blast Shards. They will give to Cole if he does something for them. You can do their bidding and earn the shards peacefully (Good), or kill the pedestrian (or in some cases, police officers) and steal the shards (Evil).

Infamous 2

The Karma system returns in Infamous 2, with a tweaked system to remove 'the hammer-blow' Karma moments, so there's a much subtler version.

Swamp village

Generator

The generator.

While Cole is making his way to New Marais through the swamp, he comes to a villiage in the swamp that the Militia are using as a base. There is a bridge that can be used to cross the water. However, it has to be lowered by powering up the generator. Kuo says that if Cole overcharges the generator, it can blow up the villiage. Cole sees it would kill all the Militia in the villiage too. Cole can:

  • Good: Charge the generator just enough for the bridge to lower.
  • Evil: Overcharge the generator to blow up the village, taking down many Militia, but also all the innocent people.

Tough Critic

Tough Critic 1

Cole guards the prisoner.

At some point during his time in Ville Cochon, Cole is approached by a police officer, who tells him that his Militia prisoner is causing him problems, and asks Cole to watch the prisoner while he gets some backup. Cole stands watch over the Milita member, who begins insulting the him. Nix calls Cole, and declares that the prisoner's "a waste of skin", asking "What if he escapes again?" Coaxing him, Nix tells Cole to kill the Militia member, adding that Cole can say he was trying to escape.

  • Good: Cole keeps it cool, and the police officer returns with several of his colleagues. He thanks Cole for his assistance.
  • Evil: Having had enough of the prisoner and his abuse, Cole kills him on the spot. When the police return, they berate Cole and attack him. Cole quickly deals with them before leaving the scene of the crime.

Rescue Kuo

Torn

During the mission Torn, Cole confronts Zeke and Nix on a plan to rescue Kuo from a Militia Base. Zeke suggests that you free the cops that the Militia were holding up to aid you in the battle, while Nix suggests that Cole rams a rigged streetcar into the base, causing a huge explosion that takes out many Militia, but also the innocent people at the base. Cole can:

  • Good: Go with Zeke's plan, freeing the cops the Militia were parading around, and attacking the base.
  • Evil: Go with Nix's plan, ramming an explosive-rigged streetcar into the base, incinerating many innocent people the Militia were holding there, but also take down many Militia guards. Nix will also aid Cole for the rest of the battle, which makes it very easy.

Rebel Backup

Heart and Minds Campaign

Cole, going with Kuo's plan.

Just before Cole makes his assault on Fort Philippe to obtain the power transfer device, he is tasked with obtaining support from the local rebels to serve as backup for the assault. Kuo suggests that Cole steals an ambulance filled with medical supplies from the Militia and deliver it to the rebels. Nix suggests that she dresses up in a Militia uniform and use a gun mount in the fort to fake an attack on the rebels by the Milita. This makes it seem like Cole is saving the rebels from the "Milita" just when they need it. Cole can:

Fooling the rebels 6

Nix's at the turret, after Cole accepts her plan.

  • Good: Go with Kuo's plan, bringing medical supplies to Laroche's hideout, only to realize he was keeping it as a secret and that the Militia were following Kuo and Cole. After Kuo, Cole and the rebels fight off the Militia, Laroche accepts to join Kuo and Cole since his hideout is now discovered and the Militia might attack any second, so they need the fort.
  • Evil: Go with Nix's plan. After Cole fries the communication hubs at Fort Philippe, Nix attacks the rebels using a mounted gun. After the real Militia arrive to attack the rebels, Cole rescues the rebels by destroying the turret and killing the Militia. Laroche then accepts to join Cole in the battle.

Power Transfer Device

Choose

Deciding whom to swap powers with.

After Cole retrieves the Power Transfer Device, Nix and Cole decide to swap powers, only for Kuo to say that if Cole will swap powers with anyone, it needs to be her. Cole can:

  • Good: Choose Kuo, gaining him Cryokinetic powers and, in the process, causing Nix to dump Cole.
  • Evil: Choose Nix, gaining him Napalm powers and, in the process, causing Kuo to later tell Cole that it's only business now.

Rail Yard Intel

RailYardIntel

While Cole MacGrath tests out his Rockets from the newly absorbed Blast Shard, Nix drops by the train car where Zeke Dunbar and Lucy Kuo are making plans, causing Kuo to call Cole back to the train car. There she briefs Nix, Zeke, and Cole on how Bertrand continues to venture to the Rail Yard, despite there being a large number of Ice Men patrolling the area. Nix claims that Bertrand is able to make monsters that are loyal to him, and states that she even made one loyal herself, but it died at the hands of the Militia. Kuo then states that the best way to proceed would be for Cole and her to collect evidence that Bertrand is making the monsters and turn the public tide against him. Nix disagrees, saying that Cole should instead guard her as she bonds with the monsters to create their own personal army.

  • Good: Cole heads out to the train yards and takes several pictures of civilians and corrupted locked in boxcars, and eventually a picture of Bertrand turning a human into a corrupted, finally exposing Bertrand as Kuo puts the evidence on TV.
  • Evil: Nix and Cole meet on the roof, where they discuss the plan a bit more. They then head out to clear out all the militia on the roof. Cole has to defend Nix from the Militia and the Ice Gang with the Tesla Missile while she trains a batch of Corrupted.

Blast Shard Bomber

The Gauntlet 5

The Blast Shard Bomber with his captives.

At some point, during Cole's time in Gas Works, the Blast Shard Bomber contacts Zeke and decides to give himself up. Once Cole reaches the meeting point, the bomber reveals it to be a trap, causing a huge explosion that critically injures Cole. Once he recovers, Cole chases after him. Once Cole finally catches up to the bomber, he surrounds himself in pedestrians, telling Cole that if he takes another step, he will blow himself and the pedestrians up. Cole can:

  • Good: Defuse the bomb by draining it, securing all the innocent people. If Cole decides to arc restrain the bomber, he will grief and scream about how no matter how much he tries, he can't kill Cole.
  • Evil: Attack the bomber, causing a huge explosion that incinerates all the innocent people.

The Final Decision

Final Decision Torn

The Final Decision

In the final mission of the game, Cole, Nix, Zeke, and Kuo meet up to discuss what to do to defeat the Beast and cure the plague. Kuo agrees with the Beast's plan to activate as many Conduits as possible before the plague kills them, while Nix and Zeke go with the plan to activate the RFI, which will cure the plague, but kill every Conduit on the planet, including Cole himself. Depending on his current Karmic alignment, Cole can choose to either fulfill his destiny or abandon it, and then either save humanity by sacrificing himself or betray humanity by joining the Beast.

Other Karma Choices

While exploring New Marais, random events will appear on the map.

Good: Cole can stop certain events to get Good Karma. Cole can...

  • Stop muggings
  • Deactivate bombs
  • Heal victims
  • Restrain the Militia to stop them from kidnapping citizens

On occasion, Kuo will contact Cole to praise him for helping others.

Evil: Cole can do bad to gain Evil Karma, such as...

  • Steal blast shards
  • Attacking innocents, especially...
    • Protesters
    • Police
    • Street performers
  • Activate bombs

If Cole does bad things, Nix will call to tell him to keep using his powers to terrorize the people.

Infamous: Second Son

The Karma system is updated and gives a description of each outcome before deciding. Additionally, much like before, Good and Evil Karma side missions are given randomly once in Seattle.

InFamous Second Son Karmic Moment - The Tribe

The first Karmic Moment in Infamous: Second Son.

Who to protect?

After the capture of Hank Daughtry, Brooke Augustine realizes that there is something Delsin Rowe didn't tell her. Stabbing a chunk of Concrete into Delsin's leg, she demands to know how he was able to fight Hank.

  • Good (Turn Yourself In): Delsin admits to being a conduit, claiming that he 'caught the bug' from Hank. Not believing his story, Augustine knocks Delsin out and turns her attention to the rest of the Akomish. Once Delsin awakes a week later, he goes to look after Betty, who informs him that no one talked, saying "The Akomish look out for their own."
  • Evil (Sacrifice the Tribe): Delsin keeps quiet and says nothing, resulting in Augustine knocking him out anyway. Disappointed, she then focuses her attention on the rest of the Akomish. Once Delsin awakes a week later, he goes to look after Betty, who scolds him for hanging out the rest of the tribe to dry.
InFamous Second Son Karmic Moment - Fetch

Choosing Fetch's fate.

Abigail Walker's fate

After hunting down a "Conduit Serial Killer" named Abigail "Fetch" Walker, Delsin gets into a argument with his brother Reggie Rowe over what they should do with her. Delsin wants to recruit her to help fight the D.U.P., whereas Reggie wants to arrest her for the murders she committed.

  • Good (Redeem Fetch): Delsin points out that Fetch is only doing to the drug dealers what they've been doing to the D.U.P., and convinces a skeptical Reggie to release her into his custody. Delsin and Fetch then team up to wipe out the drug dealers at the docks and destroy the drugs. Delsin also convinces Fetch to take a less lethal route in her methods, taking down and restraining the drug dealers instead of killing them outright.
  • Evil (Corrupt Fetch): Delsin overpowers his brother, informing him that he, and he alone has the right to make decisions on conduits. Delsin and Fetch subsequently go on a rampage against a group of anti-Conduit protesters, wiping them out in the process, and expanding Fetch's list of targets and increasing her blood lust.
InFamous Second Son Karmic Moment - Eugene

Choosing Eugene's fate.

Eugene Sims' fate

After defeating the leader of the Angel-like creatures scooping the D.U.P.'s escaped prisoners off the streets named Eugene Sims, Delsin enters another standoff with his brother: Reggie wants to arrest Eugene for the people he's been kidnapping, though as Eugene explains, he's only been helping people out of their restraints. Delsin convinces Reggie that Eugene has committed no crime, wanting his brother to let him go.

  • Good (Redeem Eugene): Delsin and Eugene subsequently team up to rescue all of the D.U.P.'s former prisoners from the gangs that have been rounding them up to sell them back to the D.U.P., building Eugene's courage and confidence to the point that he's able to manifest his, "He Who Dwells" form in the real world.
  • Evil (Corrupt Eugene): Eugene suggests that the two conduits team up to find the gangs that were attacking the conduits and "kick the shit out of them" and teach them to respect them, even if it kills them. Eugene progressively becomes bolder as he and Delsin go on, eventually declaring that Seattle belongs to conduits, and they shall show their enemies no mercy.
InFamous Second Son Karmic Moment - Hank

Choosing Hank's fate.

Hank Daughtry's fate

After the death of Reggie Rowe thanks to Hank Daughtry's betrayal, Delsin proceeds to hunt him down. After a brutal fight at the marina, Delsin holds Hank with his chain on Hank's neck. Hank reveals that the D.U.P. had his daughter hostage, and unless he cooperated, she would have been killed.

  • Good (Spare Hank): Delsin releases his chain from Hank's neck, causing him to trip over. Hank then offers Delsin the chance to flee Seattle with him and his daughter. However, Delsin rejects the offer, telling Hank to stay safe as he walks away.
  • Evil (Kill Hank): Delsin decides to kill Hank, angrily telling him "Eye for an eye, asshole." Delsin then continues to choke Hank on his chain until Hank drops dead, leaving his daughter to fend for herself.
InFamous Second Son Karmic Moment - Augustine

Choosing Augustine's fate.

Brooke Augustine's fate

Before Delsin can break into the D.U.P. headquarters, he must first decide what he's going to do with Augustine.

  • Good (Expose Augustine): Delsin decides to capture Augustine alive and expose her crimes to the world. Once Augustine is brought to the authorities, the exposure of the D.U.P.'s crimes kicks off a new age of peace between man and Conduit, freeing all of Augustine's prisoners and achieving peace at last.
  • Evil (Kill Augustine): Delsin decides to kill Augustine and avenge the death of his brother. After encasing Augustine in concrete, Delsin drags her to the top of the D.U.P. headquarters and drops her off the roof. Delsin plans to invade Curdun Cay to absorb the powers of every one of the D.U.P.'s prisoners, but he needs to go heal the Akomish tribe. However, Betty disowns Delsin, saying that his killing of innocents has brought shame upon the tribe and the memory of his brother. After being rejected by the tribe, Delsin performs an Orbital Drop on the building, killing the occupants inside.

Other Karma Choices

Throughout Seattle, there are Random Karma missions that Delsin can complete to gain extra Karma and ammunition for his Karma Bombs.

  • Good
    • Drug Dealers - Throughout Seattle, Drug Dealers have taken hold of alleyways. Hunt down and destroy the drugs, capture the Dealers alive for bonus good Karma.
    • Hostage - Throughout Seattle, people have ganged up on the people the D.U.P. have identified as Conduits. Heal the conduit, but don't harm the civilians.
  • Evil
    • Protesters - Throughout Seattle, people have banded together to protest the conduit threat. Kill all protesters for maximum evil Karma.
    • Gangsters - Throughout Seattle, gangs are hanging out in various places, although they are not doing any harm. Kill all gangsters for maximum evil Karma.
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