Like after the release of any anticipated game, I am exhausted today. I got the game shortly before 20:00 and played until a time in the morning that I had forgotten existed. While my heavy eyes, slurred speech, short temper, and lack of energy are not good news for me, my inability to put down my controller is good news for Alpha Protocol.
The beginning of the game is tough, especially if you chose the “Recruit” load out. You essentially start with no skill points making the shooting reticule bigger than a twoney (look it up). Stealth is tough in the beginning because you apparently have all the finesse of a tyrannosaurus rex. The only thing you can do well is chuck grenades at people and silent takedowns. The first several levels are quite linear and you have no choice as to which order you go in. The game follows the plot type of showing portions of an interview in the present day while flashing back to particular missions (much like SC: Conviction). The clip scenes features many close ups which are not this game’s strong suit. There are several minor graphical flaws that would not be noticeable save for the occasional up close camera shot. And finally probably my biggest complaint is that the main character’s stealth “stance” makes him look like he is desperately trying to shuffle to the bathroom before he defecates in his trousers.
Graphical issues aside once you get into the groove of this game it is really quite fun. As the game progresses you jet around the world investigating a vast conspiracy that involves a government contracted weapons manufacturer trying to throw the world into a cold war to boost its profits. The company might as well be called SPECTRE (look it up) or Treadstone (look it up) and I might as well be the cunning James Bond/Sam Fisher/Jason Bourne/Ethan Hunt/Harry Tasker…*gasp*… J.C. Denton/Solid Snake/Jack Ryan/Brian Mills or a Delta Forces soldier. You accumulate money through legitimate, semi-legitimate, and straight up blackmail to purchase weapon upgrades, intel, and armor. My personal favorite is a perk that sends me into a martial arts fury like David Banner on Gamma rays. You have to choose the right conversation choices to develop a rapport with various characters. Who you alienate or help affects how other characters perceive you. The missions can be accomplished by stealthy takedowns or by run and gun with anything from pistols to SMGs to shotguns to assault rifles. I recommend this game to anybody who enjoys the action rpg blend with third person shooter and a splash of espionage.
Overall Alpha Protocol is not a bad game at all. I would even go as far as to say it is a good game. It has its shortcomings that could have easily been rectified with some additional beta testing and maybe a bigger budget, but when was the last time you heard the sing-song opening for SEGA? This project probably only had financial backing because of Obsidian. Gamefly this game, but make sure you get past the first subset of missions because it’s like a 3 hour long linear tutorial. Who knows, you might like it so much you buy it. (I hope you all enjoyed my random incorporation of Greek letters in this review).
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