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| “ | The Beast is coming... and I will be ready. | „ |
| ~ Cole's line in inFamous 2. |
| “ | I don't know if you've ever let someone down, got your ass kicked or straight up failed. But those are the moments that define us. They push you further than you've ever thought possible, and force you to make choices. No matter what the cost. | „ |
| ~ Cole in the opening of inFamous 2. |
Cole MacGrath is the main protagonist of inFamous series. He was a bike courier who received powers from the ray sphere, which resulted in the destruction of Empire City.
While trying to survive in the quarantined city, Cole protects the citizens from numerous threats, including an alternate future version of himself entitled Kessler. His future self warned him of the arrival of the Beast, and Cole journeys to New Marias to gather more power to defeat the threat.
He is voiced by Jason Cottle in the first game, and Eric Ladin (who also voiced Ellis in Left 4 Dead 2 and Todd Kashima in Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare) in inFamous 2 and the rest of the games he appears in.
Personality[]
| “ | Why can't anything be simple... Oh crap. That damn thing is going to throw the chopper's gas tank at me. And even if it doesn't score a direct hit, the explosion's still going to mess me up. I can shoot the tank now, use it to blow off the golem's arm. That'd make my life easier, but the explosion will incinerate all of those injured people. | „ |
| ~ Cole pondering over the best way to deal golem conduit armed with Chopper gas tank without hurting nearby pedestrians. |
In his Good Karma state, Cole is selfless, caring about others and how his powers will benefit the citizens of Empire City and New Marais. He shows concern for those around him, and tries not to destroy things around him. This also reflected on the color of his electricity and manner he utilizes his powers: In addition of his electrical energy being neon blue, his combat techniques are more focused, enabling him to take down enemies and avoiding large, uncontrolled attacks that could hurt or kill innocent bystanders. Even the manner he dressed and visage much cleaner and dignified, as though he is "the symbol of health & longevity" — a stark contrast to detestable conduit supervillains and his own appearance shouldhe made evil choices.
To further drive the point of his increasingly selfless nature, Cole saw doing the right thing mattered more than becoming famous despite enjoying the perks from becoming a hero. He didn't think much about his improving reputation whenever Zeke kept him updated about it. Even in non-canonical DLC Festival of Blood where he supposedly leaned to Evil Karma due to afflicted with vampirism, Cole would choose to either stake a vampire or steal some of Canopic Jars Bloody Mary's vampire legion spread throughout New Marais in order to replenish his dark powers and disrupt their evil plans at the same time, resulting the option of feeding on those he protected redundant. Being horrified from giving in to his thirst for blood which resulted him fed on a random pedestrian also helped.
The events of his debut game and InFamous 2 showcased Cole's character development. While facing karmic choices which further emphasized by the gameplay, Cole initially conflicted when it comes about doing the right thing which more than often risking himself in the process. Being framed by spokesperson known as "Voice of Survival" and seeing extensive mutation of Sasha, the supervillain leader of The Reapers didn't help his dilemma. That said, he grew into a heroic figure driven by sense of justice and more confident in winning public's trust on him as their protector like what Kessler intended him to be.
History[]
Early life and background[]
Cole MacGrath lived the majority of his life in Empire City, and would become friends with Zeke Dunbar and the boyfriend to Trish Dailey. He would become accustomed to the city by going through urban exploration, which allowed him to navigate the sewers with ease and trained to excel at parkour. According to him, he has tried gaining the approval of his father all his life and as a result became a workaholic and high-achieving student, who at school who took preparatory classes before entering college, a stage of his life in which he also was successful in as shown by literally reading the entire book Dracula. But for all his intelligence and brilliance, he ended up dropping out of college in his last year six credits before graduating due to experiencing a professor abusing a friend of his. Therefore instead of living the life that his parents want for him, he took life into his own hands, eventually becoming a bike courier, which really angered them. His mother lies that her son is a teacher to her friends colleagues. His father is ashamed of him and compares him unfavourably to his girlfriend claiming that she is like the daughter he never had. Being a strict, overbearing and exigent father to cole, he placed ridiculously high hopes on him for more than he is capable of. He expected the world from Cole and often berated and expressed disappointment towards his son which is why he quit college in the first place, since the mistreatment of his friend reminded him of how his father treated him and therefore it spawned a rebellious streak in Cole and thought that he could spite his father by dropping out and walking out on his family. However this life that Cole chose didn’t improve things for him as he had no support from anybody except his best friend Zeke and his girlfriend Trish who loves and accepts him for who he is instead of his success and career. He still prefers this life as he is free from the thumb of his father and gets to do as he pleases, going as far as to run into legal problems with the police and obtaining a criminal record of assault and battery, armed robbery and carjacking which his parents would bail him out by bribing the law. He also mentions that he has a younger brother in a conversation with Nix. Therefore, he remained estranged from his family until the recent events of the time and there hasn’t been anymore mention of them ever since.
inFamous[]
Cole was a bike courier in Empire City living a average life. One day, he was instructed to deliver a package somewhere in the Historic District. When he opened it, the Ray Sphere inside exploded killing hundreds of people. He woke up in the center of the wreckage and passed out on the bridge as he attempted to get out of it. Cole was nursed back to help by his girlfriend, Trish, and his best friend, Zeke. He discovers he has electric powers as he awakes.
From here, it is up to the player to decide weather to use his powers for good or evil.
Throughout the game, Cole decides that he should use his powers to help others. Examples include letting the citizens take dropped off food, choosing a poster that portrays him saving Empire City, and other various good deeds. But he also facing many obstacle to do so, as his reputation is not good in public eye due to his footage at Ground Zero and accused as terrorist by "Voice of Survival". In order to clean his name, he had to work for Moya to do so, starts from dealing with reapers and interrogates Sasha (whom knows about Ray Sphere) as well as finding John White, a man who infiltrate First Sons whom related to Ray Sphere.
Not just his reputation, Cole also haunted by mysterious leader of First Sons, Kessler, whom during their first encounter, shows him post-apocalypse vision in the future. His problem not just end there, as Cole eventually betrayed by Zeke while found another Ray Sphere as they still tracking up John, which made matter worse as they also tries to capture Alden. This betrayal occurred when he and Zeke able to track Alden and successfully retrieved damaged Ray Sphere. There, Zeke chooses to betray Cole by create an alliance with recently arrived Kessler as he wanted a superpowers like Cole himself.
Also, his relationship with his girlfriend, Trish Dailey, while starting out rocky and distrustful at first, eventually warms up and eventually reconciles with her. In the beginning of the game, Cole leaves alone the people to let them take the food from the food drop in Archer Square. Trish goes on to praise Cole for letting the people have the food, and that he states that he's doing what he can to help them. Then, Zeke points out and tells Cole that he is on the big screen. The "Voice of Survival" calls out Cole as "the terrorist" and the cause of the Blast. Trish then immediately lost faith in Cole, believing him to be responsible for her sister's death, walking away and ending their relationship.
He later met her again when the Reapers poisoned the Water Supply in the Neon District. Cole came to her aid multiple times in an attempt to regain her trust. Though she was originally dismissive, she allowed Cole to help her. After Cole destroyed a truck filled with the poisonous tar, the Reapers focused on infecting the water systems with their tar. Trish blamed Cole for this, but later came to her senses and asked Cole to help her guard a crate with medical supplies until she could pick it up.
In the mission "Anything for Trish," Trish asked for Cole's assistance in escorting her armored bus to Bayview Hospital because the Reapers believed her to be allied with the Dust Men. When they arrived at the hospital, however, Alden Tate was waiting for them. Using his telekinesis, Alden lifted the bus with Trish still inside, and threw it onto the roof of the hospital. Cole battled through dozens of Dust men as he raced to the top of the building to rescue her. Immediately after saving her, Trish laments breaking up with Cole, saying she wants them to be together again. Like how it used to be.
Cole is finally able to track down John, but learns that John is neither from the FBI nor Moya's husband, but instead an undercover NSA agent who assisted in the creation of the Ray Sphere. John explains that the Ray Sphere consumes the bio-energy from those around it and transfers that power to the person holding it, granting them super abilities at the cost of thousands of lives. John urges Cole to help him find and destroy it. Alden goes on a killing spree while heading into the Historic District. After a long battle, Alden is defeated and jumps off the bridge. During the battle, Alden destroyed huge sections of the bridge. Cut off from the Warren, Cole goes ahead into the Historic District. As they search for the Ray Sphere, Cole discovers that Kessler has kidnapped Trish along with six other doctors, and forces Cole to choose between saving her or the other doctors.
For sake of greater good, Cole chooses to save doctors first. But he also had to pay a high price, as Trish immediately sent by Kessler to fall to her death. However, Cole was able to revive Trish for a brief of time, whom proud of Cole and profess her love to him, praising him for using his powers to help the people before her final breath.
During the "The Ray Sphere", Cole an John starts to make their move, as they heard that Ray Sphere eventually moved somewhere else. While tracking it, John and Cole destroys airships, knowing that it has been armed with mind-controlling gas that created from Sasha's tar. Cole and John eventually found the Ray Sphere after a brief skirmish, where he decides to destroy the Ray Sphere. Fueling himself with rage over events that rooted from other Ray Sphere that bestows his power, he strikes it with Lightning Storm.
However, this causes Ray Sphere to malfunction and explodes, seemingly killed John while Cole managed to escaped from blast radius. Afterwards, many citizens that hearing news about his action praises him for it despite John's loss and significantly, Cole became more heroic. Kessler is dissapointed in him however, stating that he wouldn't have done the same thing. He then sends message to challenge Cole a fight in Ground Zero, which Cole accept.
During the fight, both Cole and Kessler are matched, where at a point, Kessler corners Cole. As they fight, Zeke appears and tries to intervene to redeem himself over his betrayal, but is tossed aside by Kessler. Cole eventually mortally wounds Kessler by send him flying by his electrified punch and finishing him off with Lightning Storm. Kessler, however, uses his last actions to implant his memories into Cole's mind, revealing that Kessler is a version of Cole from the future of an alternate timeline. In that timeline, Cole (as Kessler) and Trish were happily wed with children, but soon the appearance of an entity known as "The Beast" plunged their world into chaos.
Kessler and Trish fled with their children rather than fight, but after years of running, The Beast eventually caught up to them and killed his family. Kessler realized the only way to stop the Beast would be to use his powers to go back in time and prepare his past self, Cole, for battle against it as it was too late to fight back in Kessler's time. Kessler seized control of the First Sons from Alden, manipulating then shunning Sasha's advances due to his past love for Trish, and ordered the construction of the Ray Sphere much earlier than in his timeline. Kessler was also the anonymous customer that directed Cole to use it. Kessler used Trish's death as a means of making sure Cole could choose the impossible in the battle with The Beast. After Kessler dies from the battle, Cole declares his hatred for Kessler, and says "When the time comes, I will be ready."
After dealing with Kessler, he finally understands why Kessler did what he did. It was done to make him stronger, better and able to make impossible decisions. Cole realises that there would be no way to escape his powers, that this was his life now and the powers would be his burden until the day he died. Cole then sets out to prepare for the Beast.
But there's another thing to worry about: What will both Zeke and Moya do now, when they made their next move?
Events between inFamous and inFamous 2[]
| “ | They helped him create the Ray Sphere, make all of this possible. Without them, Trish's still alive .... which is why they're going to die" | „ |
| ~ Cole regarding First Sons for their horrible deeds, which includes Trish' demise |
Right after the death of Kessler, Cole revisited Trish's grave, still grieving over her loss. Warden Harms visited Cole as he mourned, as he tried to raise his spirits and made an effort to relate to Cole's situation. After that, Cole scoured the city, searching for the remaining members of the First Sons. After Cole disposed of several soldiers at a secluded alley, he was contacted by Warden Harms, who was under attack by several of the First Sons. Making his way to the area, Cole deflected a grenade launched by a soldier, then proceeded to dispose of them.
After Cole brushed off the enemies, and received a pat on the shoulder from Zeke, Cole made efforts to make sure that those were the last of them, and went on to patrol the area. Later that night at Eagle Point Penitentiary, Cole told Zeke what happened as the latter told him how sorry he was. He told Zeke that he was Kessler, why he returned to the past, and how he killed Trish just to make sure Cole would be ready for the monster, the Beast, seen in Kessler's vision. He then told Zeke why he bares so much hatred for Zeke, remarking that every time he looks at Zeke, he sees the image of Kessler laughing at him (possibly as consequence of Zeke's previous betrayal), which makes Cole want to strangle Zeke. After this, Cole left the area, leaving behind a puzzled Zeke.
The next day, Cole was asked for help by Zeke, who needed a van's batteries recharged. After doing so, Cole asks Zeke if he believed what he said about Kessler, to which Zeke replied he did. Cole then confesses his troubled mentality, being haunted by Kessler, believing that he's destroyed his former life and it will never be rebuilt. At this moment, Zeke stepped in and told Cole of his time with Kessler, stating that he was kept in a cell, and that he'd get a visit from Kessler every now and then. In his last visit, Kessler said goodbye and thanked Zeke for being a good friend all these years, which only now made sense when Cole clarified that he and Kessler were one and the same.
After Cole confided with Zeke, a missile flew by and dropped near their vicinity, making them stumble over. As the two got up, they see a whole Military aerial armada coming to the city. Cole figured immediately that it was Moya, keeping her promise about destroying the city should Cole disobey. Telling Zeke to get the Warden, the three got up and about to deal with the troops. Attacked by several choppers and soldiers, Cole managed to deal with all of these while keeping the other two safe. Cole thought that Moya would send in more troops over, which led the Warden to believe that they need to formulate a proper plan, suggesting that they head inside the Penitentiary. Cole, while inside the facility as several personnel block the paths, was contacted by Moya, whom gave him a proper warning; to surrender to them, or else the consequences will be dire. Cole told her off, and simply said that she should ready her men for him. Moya gave him until the next morning to decide.
Cole is in the police station wondering if he should give himself to Moya or not, at the same time David attacks the station and kills some policemen and nearly kills Zeke until Cole comes to the rescue. Moya is informed of what is happening and redeploys the soldiers to stop David from killing Cole. David, who believes Cole to be Kessler, starts beating him without mercy. Moya wanted to use two of who's in the stasis to be in the field to stop David, but the doctor tells her that is impossible and they are not ready. Moya responded to that by saying she wasn't asking, but the doctor tells her if they are out of the stasis they will die before they take one step. Moya tells him if Cole dies it will be his ass. In the field, as the soldiers are being killed by David, Cole tries to take the fight to another place. At first the plan works but David quickly catches up with Cole and slams him into a building. Moya contacts Cole and tells him to get out of the building before it is bombed. Cole manages to get out, but David is caught in the explosion and buried under the wreckage. Cole returns to police station and tells them he can't stay because the "thing" was after him and he needs Zeke's apartment keys because he needs a place to sleep.
Zeke argues with Cole. Cole tells him he was saved by Moya but he can still can hear it (David) down there scraping around, trying to escape and if it wants to kill him so bad then it can kill him alone so that no one else will get hurt. In the Steel Harbor Moya tells the General about David and tells him that he was blasted with the Ray Sphere over thirty times but there was a significant flaw that didn't reveal itself until it was too late. The flaw is revealed to be that David consumes neuroelectricity and without it he will die, but he can store enough for a few weeks. The doctor asks them what if David escaped the city or killed Cole, as without Cole they can't replicate the effect of the Ray Sphere.
Moya tells them that one of David powers is to "smell" people on the genetic level and he is after Cole because he wants revenge for what Kessler did to him. The general reveals that they already know Kessler and Cole are the same person but asks if David knows that. Moya answers with more or less, for David they are the same person and he will not stop until Cole is dead. They Decide to get Cole as far away from Empire City as possible and since every attempt to capture him failed, they will change their method and will "attack his heart" to capture him. He later seen Trish' photos along with the other one that he took from Kessler, still mourning over her loss.
Moya eventually locates Cole, who is sleeping in Zeke's apartment. Cole has a dream involving Kessler showing him where he buried his wife and daughters. Kessler then tells him that The Beast is coming, and that it's ravenous, unstoppable.
Kessler tells Cole that the road ahead is full of graves, and if he is going to do what needs to be done, he must ignore all the graves regardless of whose bones they hold. Cole wakes up, not sure how much he can stomach, with the Military watching him. Zeke and Warden Harms are moving through the Jefferson tunnel, the warden asks Zeke what happened between them.
Zeke tells the warden what happened and that he is not sure if Cole will ever forgive him. The warden tells Zeke before Cole forgive him he must forgive himself first. In the Neon District, David rises from the wreckage' still determined to kill Kessler/Cole before he "returns home to his wife and daughter as he promised". While Cole is in Zeke's apartment, a group of soldiers prepare to enter the apartment and throw a gas bomb. When Cole is exposed to the gas he starts to suffer hallucinations about Trish blaming him for her death. Sasha contacts him telepathically and tells him what he sees is not real and Moya is using her gift to confuse him. Sasha then tells him to get out of the apartment. He does so by jumping from the window, but the hallucinations don't go away. Zeke and the warden are outside the building the moment Cole jumped, as well as the soldiers who ignore the two and capture Cole. David watches as the soldiers fly away with Cole.
As Cole being dragged and unconscious, Sasha telepathically said to Cole that she will won against Moya despite being beaten once. Just as Cole fully awakened, Moya told him that the had to talk.
At Steel Harbor, Moya tries to persuade Cole to work for the Military. When she sees that he will not do it willingly, she shows him a device and tells him that when they put it at the base of his skull he will do whatever they say, whether he wants to or not.
At the Warren, Zeke, the Warden, and a group of policemen make their move to save Cole, while back at the Neon District in the sewers the reporter interview the survivors. Back at the Steel Harbor, David arrives and can sense that Cole is there alone, cornered, and this time he can't escape him, At the same time Sasha frees herself, kills some guards and makes her way to Cole just in time to save him, while David is outside killing some soldiers. Zeke's group were seen by the soldiers, who started to shoot at them. David kills most of the soldiers before Moya is informed about Cole's escape. While he is making holes in the ship walls to escape, Moya tells the doctor to open all the stasis containers, but the doctor tells her they are still not ready. At same time, David catches Cole's smell. Cole jumps out of the ship and Moya argues with the doctor before holding him at gun point and telling him she wasn't asking. Sasha is shown killing some soldiers. Cole meets Zeke and the Warden outside. David sees Cole and heads straight for him. Cole tries to run but David catches up with him.
The reporters come out from the sewers in time to see Cole at the mercy of David. Moya tells the ones who come out of stasis to make sure Cole is not to be harmed, and everyone else is expendable. Meanwhile David is beating Cole, blaming him for the death of his wife and daughter. He says can still hear the voice of his wife on the phone, crying, begging, desperate to find him and it the last time he heard her voice; it's his last memory of her and it's all that he thinks about. Before he can kill Cole, he is stopped by 3 Military Conduits. Cole mocks David by telling him he thinks "David pissed off the wrong people."
During the fight, Moya is ambushed by Sasha, while Zeke helps Cole standing. Just as he did, he was horrified by David's monstrous appearance. The battle ensues anyway, which Cole emerged victorious. Unfortunately, the battle causes the ship to sink. Cole was escaped with his friends though he was forced to left Moya to die as she is in a situation that gives Cole disadvantages to save her.
Two days later, Cole is having contact with Kuo, whom said that they need to talk as she was working alongside the late John.
inFAMOUS 2[]
Following Kessler's dead wish, Cole fight with the Beast at the beginning of the game. It advents earlier than both Cole and Kessler predicted, much to Cole's horror. Unfortunately, the battle also drains him most of his powers, and he heads to New Marais to find more Blast Cores and gain new powers. He also received a weapon called rod from Zeke, whom he created while waiting for Cole to awaken from his injuries.
Cole continues his Good actions that he did in Empire City, such as helping the citizens, siding with Kuo in missions, helping the police, gaining Blast Shards from disabling bombs, and saving citizens that were captured by the militia. His actions, like in Empire City, also not goes smoothly, as during the struggle, Wolfe, scientist that created RFI and Blast Shard, was killed and Kuo was captured. Cole and Zeke meet two new allies: Laroche, leader of an anti-militia resistance group, and Nix, a Conduit who dwells in the swamp. Together they locate Kuo trapped in a facility where she has been infused with ice-based abilities. Cole frees her but inadvertently unleashes an army of mercenaries whom also imbued with ice-powers.
After restoring power at Ascension Parish, Cole was told by Zeke that a woman had been taken captive by the Militia and taken somewhere nearby the swamps. When he went there, he encountered and set free the woman for sacrifice to the Corrupted, Sara. She told Cole to follow her so he can meet up with his uncle Laroche, who was the leader of the Rebels in New Marais. After making their way through the park, Cole met with Laroche, whom indirectly admitted to her niece that she knew of the Militia's sacrifice offerings. As Laroche and Sara were about to argue, the former catches sight of Cole, whom he knew best as the "Demon of Empire City". Cole offered to him that they work together to take down the Militia, though as he did, a Devourer appeared. After dealing with the Devourer, Laroche contacted Cole and said that he's interested in an alliance, though he still has his doubts.
Later that evening, Cole was told by Zeke that Kuo was up and about, and was gonna give something to him. Meeting with Kuo at St. Charles Cemetery, Cole found her with a new look to better suit her new Conduit abilities. Though Kuo's abilities were still unstable, Cole told her that he can help, and started with working together to dispose the Militia around the cemetery. After that, Kuo sent Cole an image found in Wolfe's labs, which may lead to another Blast Core. After a thorough search, an encounter with a Hive Lord, and seeing the victims of the Ray Field Plague, Cole was finally able to find the Blast Core. After Kuo bid goodbye to her "coach" and left, Cole left as well, and headed for Zeke's place.
After gaining another power by activating the core, Nix asked for Cole's presence by the swamp pier, where she had something to show him. Procuring a boat, Cole and Nix saw several Militia posted at the swamp, with several of the Corrupted at the area, combating them. After making their way through the ruckus, dealing with the enemies that came their way, Nix was able to deliver Cole to the area. There, Nix showed the sight where her powers originated, a crater caused by a Blast similar to Empire City's, and explained everything about it. After learning that Bertrand perpetrated the event, Cole and Nix returned to the city, with Cole swearing to her that Bertrand will pay.
Cole and his allies then proceed their good deeds by helping resistance, where he found them secured a power transfer device. With this device, he chooses to gain Kuo's cryokinesis power, much to Nix's dismay. Just as he gained a new power, he caught Bertrand from afar, whom about to fide a chopper. Cole immediately stops him by unleashed a lightning to his chopper, causes the chopper crashes. He then slides into unconsciousness as his new powers still flowing within his body.
After gaining consciousness, Cole followed the chopper's trail and managed to find it near the bridge to Flood Town, destroyed and turned into debris. Cole glares upon it happily as he enters to check on Bertrand. But as he did, the ground trembled and disrupted. Seeing a dust cloud at the near center of the area, Cole investigates, only to find out later that a giant behemoth is what's causing the tremors, and is wreaking havoc upon the city. The monster then went after Cole, as he flees with several of the Militia focusing on the behemoth.
As the monster chased Cole around the city, with the latter fighting back, Cole was attacked by both the Corrupted, and the Militia, though both of the factions were also busy dealing with each other. After destroying the specific weak-points of the behemoth, Cole able to defeat the monster, as he trash-talked it down. As the dirty smoke got thicker while it spun around the fallen monster, the dust settles down and Cole sees the weakened, human form of the monster: Joseph Bertrand III. Seeing the supposed human purist mutated into the monster he just defeated, Cole goes after him as Bertrand flees the area for Flood Town. Knowing Bertrand's deepest secret, Cole goes after him in the district.
After restoring power into the district, Cole was contacted by Zeke, who said that the rebels found a cure for the plague. Making his way there, he later found out that there was no cure, though the rebels and Zeke did need help from Cole, as several of the Corrupted were making their way into the town, attacking any nearby civilian. Cole was tasked to use the Dunbar Beam to reduce civilian casualties, and so he did. After the overwhelming amount of Corrupted, Cole retreated to the center of the district and worked with Laroche and Zeke in eliminating the Corrupted converging in that area.
As they were nearly defeated, Cole and the others were saved by units from Vermaak 88, the Ice Conduits. They demanded Laroche for the Blast Core, to which they said did not agree to. After defeating the Ice Conduits, Laroche was grateful, and asked Cole one more favor before giving away the Blast Core. Several of the Ice Conduits damaged the wells around the district, causing a fire that created a very harmful smoke. As Cole cleared out the fire however, he sees Bertrand with another man, experimenting on him with his powers. After he cleared out the fire, Laroche thanks Cole, and tells him to meet up with Zeke if he wants the Blast Core.
Meeting up at a train car near Flood Town's entrance, Cole, Zeke, and Kuo prepare to activate the Blast Core. Before they did however, Kuo found some notes from Wolfe's lab that state that the RFI was originally created to cure the plague ravaging the country, which originated from Ray Field Energy radiation. As Cole was about to activate the Core, he realizes that the Blast from Empire City was where the plague originated. After Zeke promised that they'll fix everything, Cole activates the Core, and wakes up the next morning. Failing to activate the RFI, Cole remarks that a few more Cores will be enough to activate his powers, before leaving the train car to test his powers.
After stretching out his powers, Cole was called in by Kuo, who asked for the team to meet up at the train car. As he arrived, Kuo and Zeke were discussing when and why Bertrand is on the Train Yard, as Nix listened reluctantly. As Cole sat down, Nix told him that she knew what was going on, and that she was only being ignored by the two. When given the chance to speak, Nix told them that Bertrand was creating the monsters they were fighting all this time, stating that they belong to him. She's also said that it was the reason he was on the train yard, for it was there that he was making the monsters. She even mentioned that she tried to tame them and succeeded, though the monster died protecting her from the Militia.
Kuo and Zeke expressed minimal amusement and disbelief on Nix's story, to which Nix was angered by. As Nix was about to start a fight with Kuo, Cole held them off, and after settling down, Kuo suggested that she and Cole take evidence of Bertrand's activities, if what Nix said was true. Nix disagreed and said that they should focus more on taming the monsters and use them as an army against Bertrand. Cole abruptly leaves the train car as he tells the team to be prepared. After this, Cole made his way to the nearby district of Gas Town, where he prepared to meet up with Kuo.
Kuo was a bit occupied with the TV signal during that time, so she told Cole to go on ahead. Forced to make the longer route, Cole arrived at the train yard, told that most of the Militia were drugged. Using a camera lent to him, Cole took pictures of several civilians, the Corrupted and their variants, and also Bertrand using his powers on an individual. After taking the pictures, Cole sent Kuo the pictures, and broadcast them all around the city. Bertrand realizing he was played, he immediately disappeared from the site, as the yard was raided by rebels.
Cole and Kuo worked together to free the civilians, and also to defeat the Devourer nearby. As he was rescuing some of the civilians, Nix appeared before Cole at the train yard, and was evacuating the monsters out of the area. He told her that they were monsters that will only cause havoc, to which she replies that they aren't, and that her plan against Bertrand will work. After Nix left and the last civilians were rescued, and after Kuo assured Cole that the Militia and Bertrand are nearly finished, the two left the area.
Later, he and Zeke found that the Beast moves again, and proceed to New Marais. He and Zeke tries to killed it with a nuclear missile that he found in Bertrand's lair. However, it was a futile effort, as the Beast reconstruct itself, seemingly immortal. A blast occurs, sent them flying.
Later, Cole makes an effort to restore the power at Gas Works, New Marais' industrial zone. As he brought power back to each transformer, and as he fended off most of the Vermaak, Cole was captured and caged by Bertrand as he was about to restore power to the last transformer. There, Bertrand talks to Cole, in hopes of him understanding. He told him that he cannot stop the power of the Beast, though he believes that he and Cole can defeat it, if they joined forces. Cole states that he's got the feeling that Bertrand will betray him when the moment presents itself. He then demands him and his men to get him out of the cage so he can make a solo effort to defeat the Beast, though Bertrand disagreed. He then ordered his men to kill Cole MacGrath. Just as Cole tries to contact Kuo for help, Zeke comes to rescue him, states that he did this for apologizing for his betrayal back in Empire City. Both then reconciles and start their move.
Zeke later contacts Cole, who forgot his first reason of being there. He told him that a member of the Militia said that a Blast Core was present at a nearby warehouse. Cole goes to the area and locates a safe, though it only contained deeds to three other warehouses. Cole visited the three warehouses, and found the Blast Core at the third warehouse, after he defeated the Titan and several other hostiles.
Cole found a briefcase beside the Blast Core, containing paperwork from the Militia and Bertrand's activities. What he found were several shipping documents for the Vermaak 88 units conceived by his experiments, to be shipped to several power figures and warlords all over the world, in effect, starting a new arms race. Cole then looks at the other documents, and sees pictures and more paperwork, this time detailing Bertrand's several good deeds, the likes of donations and planting of trees. Though the two things conflict each other, Cole takes things into consideration, and believes that Bertrand plans to save the world through the same way as several Biblical Figures. As Cole pondered over these, he goes back to Zeke's place to use the Blast Core.
Unexpectedly, soon after he found that Bertrand had commit both evil and good deed records at the same time, he reunites with John, whom supposedly dead. However, John now is not the same person, as Cole was shocked that he and The Beast are same entity. John then left, but not before revealed that only those with conduit gene shall survive his destruction.
He then resume his business with Bertrand, where he questions his morality. He even taunt Bertrand for gave him moniker as "Demon of Empire City". Cole even bfought up Bertrand's former desire to be a superhero like himself, but ended up turned into an abomination. Cole then challenged this statement, that people kill others, not abilities. Bertrand agreed, before running off the building, falling, and turning into the Behemoth once again. Through the aid of the Rebels and Zeke, Bertrand was eventually lured into a trap. Weakened by multiple gas tank explosions, Bertrand continued to attack, though, eventually he began to stagger thanks to the combined might of Cole, Kuo, Nix and fell to the ground, dying as the Behemoth. Nix spat on Bertrand's corpse, which was subsequently cleared away by the Rebels.
In the final mission, he side wih Zeke and Nix to save humanity though he found out that although RFI can kill the beast once and for all, it will caused Conduit that caught in it's blast killed as well. Cole and Nix try and activate charge the RFI as the Beast approaches. After incapacitating the Beast while fighting against a vengeful Kuo, he peformms Lightning Storm on the Beast, but its not enough. Nix then proceeds to sacrifice herself, exclaiming that the Beast has got to pay for what he's done. She lunged forward to the Beast, and hit him with everything she had, stunning the Beast and killing her in the process. With her death, Cole took the RFI out of the substation and exclaimed to the Beast before leaving that "he'll be next". After heading to the roof of the cathedral, Cole fully managed to charge up the RFI, and before activating it, an injured Kuo then approaches Cole, telling him to do it. Cole comes to her aid, and as he held her, Kuo admits that the group was right from the beginning, admitting that she was just afraid to die.
After Cole comforted her, Kuo tells him to carry it out. He defeates the Beast and uses the RFI to kill it, and most existing or potential conduits, including himself. Thousands died but the rest of humanity was saved and cured of the plague. The citizens of New Marais recognised is selfless act and built a statue in honor of him, where his weapon, the Amp still lays. Zeke put his coffin on a boat and let it drift away. His coffin was then struck by lightning that was in the shape of a question mark.
inFamous: Second Son[]
Seven years after Cole's presumed death, some Conduits, which turned out survived due to beng outside the blast, now dubbed as "Bioterrorists" continued to roam the earth. A new agency called the Department of Unified Protection ensured that he was remembered as a notorious felon instead hero. This was done to help further their cause of ridding the world of "Bioterrorists", despite that Cole chose to sacrifice himself and other conduits to save humanity. To make matter worse, their overall goals and dreams are not only same with Joseph Bertrand III's, but also more active and more aggressive than he did. Zeke and Wolfe's brother Raymond formed an underground resistance movement against the DUP to expose their crimes, restore Cole's reputation and support Conduits who'd evaded capture turning Zeke into a fugitive and forcing him to live on the run. However, they later defeated and their evil deeds exposed by the game's main protagonist Delsin Rowe.
Powers and Abilities[]
Powers[]
Conduit Physiology: After Cole survive Ray Sphere explosion his Conduit gene was activate and that gave him superhuman powers. His signature power is his electrokinesis the ability to use electricity.
- Superhuman Physiology: As a Conduit, Cole gains superhuman strength. Resistance to injury, reflexes, agility, and physical abilities have been enhanced to levels far beyond that of any human. He survived the Ray Sphere explosion, which smashed several blocks of Empire City into rubble, a force equivalent to a small atomic bomb, with even Kessler afraid he wouldn't survive. And he is far more agile, and reactive that normal human beings, as well as some Conduits. He is able to easily scale buildings, and can land on his feet after dropping from tremendous heights. He also possesses incredible equilibrium, allowing him to balance himself on narrow surfaces such as poles and telephone wires, and can even run across them with ease. His agility also allows him to perform complex acrobatic maneuvers to evade attacks in combat. His reactions and combat speed are inhuman as well, being able to easily dodge and deflect RPG rockets (which travel at Mach 0.8) and redirect them within a centimeter of their target, making him supersonic at the very least. He easily dodged a hail of gunfire from a literal wall of automatic turrets, with not a single bullet so much as scratching his clothes, with Cole himself stating that he “moved faster than he knew he could”.
- Healing Factor: Cole could heal faster than normal human. He was immune to the most diseases and extreme toxic gases and toxins. Thanks to this ability Sasha's tar didn't take control of Cole's mind only causing him a lot of pain and draining him of his powers temporarily. When Cole absorbs electrical energy his healing was accelerated.
- Electrokinesis: Cole has the ability to chanel electricity in and out of his body. Cole can absorb electricity from any object that has electrical energy in it even neuro-electricity in human body and store it for further use as long as it is needed.
- Lightning Bolt: Cole can repeatedly fire a bolt of electrical energy from his hands. This bolt passed a current through any target, stunning or kill his enemies, blow up cars and charge up electrical devices like substations and electrify bodies of water (thus killing anyone in it).
- Alpha Bolt: This is the basic electric bolt power and thanks to this Cole can fire single electric bolt.
- Pincer Bolt: This is a cunning bolt power. He fires a trio of electrical bolts that arc through the air before converging onto a single target
- Artillery Bolt: This is a bolt power determined for long range enemies. It fires a larger bolt that is affected by gravity and travels at a slower speed. It also has a slightly lower rate of fire, but does slightly more damage and has up to three times the range of the Alpha Bolt.
- Magnum Bolt: This ability allows Cole to fire condenset blast of lightning that does triple the damage to his enemies.
- Bolt Stream:
- Missile Bolt:
- Electrical resistance: Thanks to his electric powers he is mostly immune to electricity.
- Thunder Drop:
- Radar Pulse: This is one of the first abilities he mastered. Cole use this ability to detect energy sources, Blast Shards, dead drops and also track nearby enemies who glowes bright red when Cole use it. When he use Psychic Vision on recently killed human he can also use Radar Pulse to detect the echo of the visions Cole has seen. After his first fight with the Beast Cole lost many of his powers but he reatained this one and thanks to the Blast Cores he can upgrade it. When John upgrade his Radar Pulse Cole was able to see the The Ray Field Plague and Conduit Gene inside of individuals.
- Lightning Tether: Thanks to this ability Cole can fire a strand of electricity to pull at an object in order to pull them close to him or he can use it pull himself towards the building.
- Induction Launch: Thanks to this move Cole can reach higher places with environmental obstacles such as cars. When on an electrified Pole, the effects are similar to doing Induction Grind on a wire but vertically.
- Overload Burst:
- Lightning Bolt: Cole can repeatedly fire a bolt of electrical energy from his hands. This bolt passed a current through any target, stunning or kill his enemies, blow up cars and charge up electrical devices like substations and electrify bodies of water (thus killing anyone in it).
- Electromagnetism: Cole can use electricity to generate magnetic and anti-magnetic effects.
- Electromagnetic Shockwave: He can create powerful Electromagnetic shockwave able to deflect several objects like cars and grenades in a different direction, which he can use for defensive and offensive measures and this also allow Cole to propel individuals into the air for a prolonged time, while others give Cole's shockwave the ability to create static discharges that bounce off of individuals and nearby conductors.
- Static Thrusters: This ability allows Cole to glide slowly down from the sky to the ground instead of free falling due to his static electricity projected from his palms.
- Induction Grind: Thanks to his Electromagnetism Cole can also grind on metal wires and railings. Using the Grind he could travel across power lines and train tracks at great speed, which was only surpassed by hitching a ride on top of a train in Empire City.
- Gigawatt Blades: Cole can create blades of pure Electromagnetic energy around his hands he use them in hand-to-hand combat. This ability allows him to cause massive amounts of damage while melee attacking.
- Polarity Wall: Cole is able to create an electromagnetic force field to protect himself from most forms of harm. Except for shotguns, the shield is almost completely impervious to gunfire. While it's not strong enough to withstand explosives, Polarity Wall is quite effective against turrets (powerful, stationary, reinforced machine-guns) and their mobile counterparts. The Polarity Wall can also be used to block certain powers of Conduits, such as the Golem Conduits "Gatling Gun" attack and Kessler's Lightning bolts.
- Megawatt Hammer: This is a powerful ability that allows Cole to fire rocket-like electrical blast. It can be critical to in clearing entrenched enemies and turrets.
- Pulse Heal: This ability allows Cole to heal a person via an electric shock, it is similar to when paramedics and doctors using defibrillators to restart a persons heart.
- Shock Grenade: Cole can create small explosive ball of electromagnetic energy that can stick to people and other objects and explode a few seconds after the impact.
- Blasts:
- Alpha Blast:
- Sniper Blast:
- Detonation Blast:
- Ionic Manipulation: He gained this ability from the Blast Core that Nix gave him. That gave him ability to manipulate Ionic charges. Cole can absorb them from the individuals who were exposed to energy from a Ray Sphere he canot create them on his own.
- Ionic Storm: This is the most powerful ability in his arsenal and it is the final power he receives from the final Blast Core that Cole gained from the Vermaak 88's base. Thanks to this ability Cole can summon a bolt of pure lightning from the sky, hitting the nearest and most dangerous enemy in his sight.
- Ionic Vortex: With this ability Cole was able to create electric tornado that leaves a trail of destruction in its path.
- Ionic Freeze: This ability allows Cole to chanel sphere of cold energy blast it into the ground and create a field of ice spikes in front of him that freezes all enemies caught in its path.
- Cryokinesis: If Cole stays on his hero side he will get power to manipulate ice from Lucy Kuo. Cole can also combine cryokinesis with his electrokinesis.
- Shatter Blast: It's a Graviton Blast that throws a group of icy spikes against his enemies and causing them immense damage.
- Frost Shield: It's a similar ability to Polarity Wall it allows him to generate a shield of ice that blocks most small projectiles like bullets. The shield itself recharges Cole's electrical energy if something is successfully blocked.
- Ice Grenade: Cole throws a ball of ice that detonates on impact, creating a small field of icicles that can be used as temporary cover. Weakened enemies hit directly by this grenade are instantly frozen.
- Freeze Rocket: Cole can create and launch ball of subzero gas shoot off like rocket at his enemies and instantly freezing them on impact. It can travel faster than any other Rockets.
- Ice Launch: Cole is able to create a large ice spike beneath his feet and launch himself into the air allowing him to jump of greater height and distances.
- Blast Core Energy Absorption: As a Conduit Cole can absorb energy from Blast Cores and thanks to that he can gained new powers.
Former Powers[]
- Weather Manipulation: Cole could control a weather phenomena such as lightning storm. When he used this power for the first time he accidentally destroy the Fremont Bridge and completely vaporized a helicopter because he had no power over it. He then use it to destroy the Ray Sphere despite it being placed in a protective container at the time, the lightning storm was able to vaporize David Warner during their final fight and sink the USS Washington in one shot and even able to blow the half of The Beast's head off during the beginning InFamous 2. But Cole lost this ability when the Beast drained his powers but then gained the ability to manipulate Ions.
- Vampirism: In Infamous Festival of Blood Cole was biten by a vampiress Bloody Mary and gained vampire abilities. He then lost them when Mary was defeated and killed like it was told when vampire killes his creator he or she will become human again but it only in their first night then he or she stays vampire forever.
- Vampire Sense: This ability allows Cole to see through the eyes of a Vampire it's similar to the Radar Pulse and tell the difference between disguised First Born Vampires and normal human beings by looking at whether their bodies contain blood it works like an X-Ray vision.
- Shadow Swarm: Cole was able to transform into a small swam of bats, allows him to fly through the air.
Abilities[]
- Free Climber:
- Fighter:
- Parkour:
Weaknesses[]
- Water: Since Cole's body is full of electricity, he cannot stay in water for too long he will be short-circuited. He can stay in water for 30 seconds before he is killed but he is unaffected by small amounts like bottle of water, bear, puddles and small fountains. When he falls in the middle of the ocean he will be killed instantly he was able to survive this on one occasion after his first fight with the Beast. With this limitation he must take sponge baths.
- Absence of Electricity: Cole's body can absorb, regulate, store and channel electricity he must absorb it from electrical devices he cannot create the electricity. When he is out of energy he can preform minimal attacks and actions in order to use his powerful abilities he must absorb electricity. His body reacts to the energy around him when energy is absent in the area Cole's body will become weaker and this makes him more vulnerable.
Equipment[]
- Backpack:
- Amp:
- Ray Field Inhibitor(RFI):
Other Media[]
PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale[]
Cole appears in the PlayStation-esque cross-over fighting game, PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale, alongside his evil counterpart.
Opening: Cole's story begins in New Marais as Cole is attempting to protect its citizens. He claims that even with his powers, he can't protect the city alone and seeks help from others. He hears of a gathering of "special" people and decides to find out who they are. He's unsure of whether or not they are Conduits, but nevertheless decides to find them so that he can bring them back in hopes of gaining their help.
Rivalry: Cole's rival is Raiden from the Metal Gear series. Cole continues his search in a PlayStation landscape as Raiden appears. When Cole tells him that he is searching for certain "people", Raiden thinks that Cole was searching for him and pulls his sword on him. Cole states that Raiden is either with him or against him and as Raiden made his choice, there is only one way to end their discussion and the two prepare to fight.
Ending: After defeating the final boss of All-Stars, Polygon Man, Cole absorbs his power and returns to New Marais. He returns, unsure of if the other characters were Conduits or not, but claims that it's time that he showed off his new powers. He states that with his new power, he will attempt to save New Marais, or die trying.
Ranks[]
These are the ranks Cole can obtain through the Good Karma path in inFamous and inFamous 2:
Guardian - The first rank, Cole remains unnoticed by the crowd, only giving minor praise and positive side comments about his actions.
Champion - The second rank, Cole is beloved by the civilians, giving high praises and comments to Cole as he roams the city. Cole is also sometimes approached by several civilians when they are in need of help. Posters of Cole will also start appearing around districts.
Hero - The third and final rank, Cole is much beloved by the civilians and police force of his city. A crowd of civilians will often swarm around Cole, taking pictures and giving praise to Cole. Also, when Cole is fighting some nearby hostiles, civilians will often hurl rocks at them, and if a police unit is present, they will fight alongside Cole.
Quotes[]
| “ | The crowd was surprised to see the "terrorist" roll up and free their loved ones. Hypocrites. Yesterday they wanted my head on a platter, now they act like I'm one or the family. Truth to be told, it was nice, even for that short time. To be treated like a hero. Felt good. | „ |
| ~ Cole upon being praised as heroes following the train rescue. |
| “ | Zeke: Hey man, you ain't gonna believe this one. You know those areas of the city you've been clearin' out? They're crime free now, people are hanging up posters with your face in them. Cole: I'm doing what I can, Zeke. No ine needs to throw me a parade. Zeke: I know man, I know. Still, that's pretty damn cool. |
„ |
| ~ Cole MacGrath and Zeke about people's increasing approval of the former's heroism. |
| “ | Zeke: Heard some people talking on the street, saying how you're this big hero, that kind of thing. One gal said you looked different, that you've got some kind of aura of goodness surrounding you. Cole: You know I don't care about that kind of stuff. Zeke: I know man, I know. But listen, keep it up. The chicks dig it, and I can use that to my advantage. I'll catch ya larer. |
„ |
| ~ Another exchange of Cole MacGrath and Zeke about people's increasing approval of the former's heroism. |
| “ | Kessler: I'm disappointed, Cole. The Ray Sphere was the catalyst of your powers, and it could've strengthened you even more. But you rejected it.I, for one, wouldn't have done the same thing. Cole: Yeah, well I'm not like you. It took me awhile, but I finally realized that this isn't about me, about what I wanted. Not anymore. It's about keeping this city safe. And once you're dead, no one will ever threaten it again. Kessler: (chuckles) That remains to be seen. Meet me at the Staton Building. |
„ |
| ~ Cole expressing his selfless resolve to Kessler before their final confrontation |
| “ | i thought this would be the end, that once Kessler and the Ray Sphere were gone, my life would go back to normal. But now I understand that this is my life, that there's no going back. That the "gift" Of these powers will be my burden until the day I die. The people around me, they loved me. But how long will that last? What's going to happen the first time they expect me to be there for them and I'm not? I don't even know who to trust. Moya is still running ariund, planning god-knows-what. And Zeke... I don't know what to think. I've never been more alone. | „ |
| ~ Cole MacGrath in the epilogue, accepting his destiny as the superhero. |
Trivia[]
- His sling bag has an easter egg of the Sly Cooper logo on it.
- Due to his demise at the end of inFamous 2, the game creator decided to create a new protagonist, Delsin, which made him his "successor".
- Cole's storyline as hero whom uses his powers for good is considered canon, as is said by developers.
- In addition, Cole was portrayed with blue lightning instead red in comics.
- Cole appears in the Playstation 3 and Playstation Vita versions of Street Fighter X Tekken.
- Cole Macgrath Appeared in Episode 181 of the Popular Webseries Death Battle Where he Fought against Prototypes Alex Mercer, and won.
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 Heroes
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Cole's Saga Second Son | ||
 Heroes
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Combatants Hazards Minions Other | ||