15.6.2010

Having seen quite a few bad reviews for this in the gaming press, my expectations were not that high. But the thought of playing an RPG in an espionage setting, rather than the usual SF or Fantasy environments proved too hard to resist.The first hour or so seemed pretty shocking: the graphics were naff, the animation poor, the cover and shoot mechanic slightly awkward, and the hacking mini-games hard on the eyes with sometimes punishing time limits. But I persevered, keeping in mind that it was an RPG, and that things would get easier as I levelled up.The good news is that they do. I was a pretty weak character to start with, but by the end of the game, I was transformed. At each level up,I pumped points into various skills such as Stealth, Pistols, Sabotage, Toughness, and Martial Arts. There came a point where missions held little fear for me. Sure, I could die if I got sloppy, but it became an increasingly rare occurence. I was basically an elite ninja assassin, moving unseen, and knocking out bad guys silently and efficiently with a well placed karate chop or cool looking judo throw. The good thing is, if I did get spotted, I could lay waste to five guys in a row with some great looking marital arts skills.The levelling up process supplies with you new skills, which you can choose from a radial menu. It's then ready to use whenever you want by pressing LB. Some of these are really good. Level up pistols enough, and you get a Chain Shot skill which slows time, allowing you to place 3 to 5 shots on various baddies. Other skills stay in the background, and simply kick in when you need them, such as Evasion which when spotted by a bad guy, gives you an extra split second to reach cover and get out of sight. Or if you're close enough, punch him in the throat to knock him out.Overall, you're totally free to mould the style of spy you want to be. Stealthy or all guns blazing, the choice is yours.The characters, and dialogue are great. You get a limited time to choose how you want to approach the next part of the conversation. You might want to be professional, suave, show your contempt, be aggressive. There are plenty more choices, and the game mixes them up nicely. The time limit keeps conversations running smoothly and more naturally, and there's no real good or bad options. You've got to try to judge the type of character you're talking to, and choose appropriate options. You don't always have to choose the same ones as well. For instance, early on, there's a woman who doesn't respond well to the Suave option. As she grows to like you, she'll change and maybe even laugh at your innuendos.I think the only fly in the ointment is that some of the boss battles, and set pieces can be bit tough. If taking a stealthy route, be sure to put plenty of points into a weapon such as pistols. The Chain Shot skill will prove invaluable for defeating bosses.Story is great, convoluted, without being difficult to understand, and there are numerous ways the meat of the story can go, depending on your actions. There's definite replay value.So if you buy the game, and are struggling through the first couple of hours, with a mind to giving up, I would say stick with it. You might be pleasantly surprised.

15.6.2010

When I first saw all the reviews for this title upon it's release I despaired. It had sounded so promising and to hear the disaster being described it seemed that the wait had been in vain.I was fortunate enough to have friends who went ahead and bought the game and told me about it. Enabling me to buy in the confidence that I would enjoy the experience.Now this game is not without flaws and I'll say right up front the graphics are not up to the latest standards, however if you're looking for top notch graphics in an RPG rather than a good story and solid gameplay mechanics you should probably switch genres.The game is a well crafted, well acted,and well executed piece of software with minor mishaps such as lip syncing and texture pop-ins; but anyone who has been playing for the last two decades probably won't mind these as they do not adversely effect gameplay. The issues people have with this game seems to be that they were expecting something along the lines of Dues Ex and similar titles. AP is not that and should not be confused with games like Dues Ex, Fallout, or Elder Scrolls.A far more accurate comparison would be to Mass Effect as the game utilizes similar mechanics both in role-playing and combat. There is none of the open ended world of the three titles I mention above. It contains similar selective direction mechanics one finds in Mass Effect. Like ME there is no set order in which to play through the game's events and you can even leave operation areas without completing every mission to pursue missions in other operations. However you can't run around within the world doing virtually whatever you want and unlike the afore mentioned titles, there are generally only two ways to approach any given situation: stealth or guns blazing with a possible third option of a little of both.Where the game really shines though is in its story and again I draw a comparison to ME. Whereas Mass Effect feels like a massive space opera with a vast cast of characters and a fair share of plot twists and surprises. Alpha Protocol is the equivalent spy thriller movie with a cast that is almost as diverse and just as interactive. Your actions towards the other members of the cast directly effect how the game progresses. How you treat characters determines the ultimate outcome of the game and this means that you can be assured multiple play-throughs if you want to explore all the options offered.The only major complaint I have is the limited inventory. There is very little incentive to diversify your weapon loadout as all weapons within the four subtypes feel the same with only minor stat differences between weapons in each class. It would have been nice to have a diversified arsenal instead of feeling like I was saving cash to buy the ultimate gun and armor that would stick with me until the end of the game.So if you're a fan of Mass Effect, I would say get this game and expect many of the same things that made the former so much fun. If you're looking for another Dues Ex, Fallout, or Elder Scrolls, wait for the next titles in those series. You know they're coming.

9.6.2010

I've been playing computer/console games for 25 years and this is the first to engross me like a good novel does and to create a strong emotional feeling as a result of my actions and their effects on the characters and world at large. I felt genuine remorse at being unable to rescue a character who had helped me all through the game because i chose to help someone else. On completing the game I thought i had done very well and made wise decisions for the greater good, but news reports at the end showed that my actions had actually some quite bad effects on the world. So i look forward to a second playthrough to try a different approach.In terms of story-telling, character-interaction,friendship building, manipulating allies and factions, and the sheer amount and frequency of choice making you have to do, this game triumphs over all before it.People scoff at the not-so-cutting-edge graphics. But while i liked the flash and bang of Mass Effect 2 (another great game) i found Alpha Protocol's gaming experience better because of the rich true Role-Playing (ie. you play a characters role) experience. For the first time you feel like you are living the character and shaping the game yourself rather than just going through the game-play motions in order to watch a pre-determined plot play out (like Metro 2033 - a game i love by the way but for different reasons with a brilliant, but linear plot).Some moan about the weapons being weak and/or controls fiddly. What they mean is that the game is not a walk-through-the-park like Ubisoft's recent games are. This games' bosses challenged me in ways that brought back the good old days. You should expect to die a few times until you figure out their weaknesses and best strategies to defeat them. This is something we expected in the 16 bit era for example, but it seems most gamers today have lost their resilience and prefer having their hand held. They prefer the illusion of being challenged but hate it when the challenge becomes real. I died loads in this whereas in other modern games i may die a handful of times the entire campaign. Others may complain but for me it adds to the excitement, tension and sense of achievement.But the weapons are weak only to start with and get stronger as u level up in your desired methods. You don't start as a super-spy, you grow to become one. I don't think the control system is at all bad either, I was never prevented in doing what i wanted to do (ie. defeat the enemy). You just have to use different tactics from most other games.If you've read all this then you've got a good attention span and so should enjoy this game and appreciate the ground it breaks. Sure, its not perfect, but what game is. Just don't come to it expecting a slick shooter. Cos its not. Just like Metro 2033 it takes more than one bullet to kill. But as Alfred Hitchcock said "it takes a very long time to kill a man". Just be patient and adaptable. Like a real spy.

10.7.2010

Contrary to what the professional reviews say, Alpha Protocol isn't broken or unfinished. Though a bit behind the times in terms of graphics and some gameplay elements, overall the game offers pretty deep level of experience and a lot of room to experiment. However the important thing to remember is that AP is not a shooter, or an action game, but very much an RPG. If you're not interested in the story, characters, and player choice than this game is not for you.Gameplay in Alpha Protocol is solid, but nothing to get excited about. Level designs are fairly weak, and the AI is absolutely awful. Some moves - such as a stealth ability that makes you invisible for a short time - are incredibly overpowered and feel more like you're exploiting the game rather than just using tools given to you.That said there are a wide variety of levels, so you never feel like you're playing in the same bland place, and levels do feel varied enough that you could go through it again without having the same experience. The abilities you learn are fun, but not all are created equal. Some (such as stealth) offer a lot more than others (such as anything having to do with gadgets). Something to keep in mind is how underpowered equipment feels. Yes, having a nice pistol or assault rifle is nice, but ultimately you could go through the game with the starting equipment and do just fine.Outside of combat is where the game truly shines. The dialogue system, while sometimes irritating, has a time limit, which makes conversations flow swiftly. You're forced to learn the traits of characters you interact with, and your interactions with them can have some interesting effects on the story and gameplay. The most direct bonus, for example, is stat bonuses you gain based on your relationship with your "handler" (the person who is guiding you through any given mission). That level of choice makes the game extremely interesting, and truly makes you feel like you're in control of the events around you.Unfortunately the story is pretty short (15 - 20 hours), and aside from a handful of characters you end up feeling like you didn't get enough interaction with most people you meet. Another downside is that which places you go to doesn't change based on your decision. How you approach the mission, and where you go in that mission may change, but in the end you're going tot he same places each time you start a new playthrough.The game feels a bit rough around the edges, but all in all it's a very good game for people who really enjoy RPGs. With some additional work this game could of been one of the best of the year. Additional bit of warning: The game, at times, lays on the anti-Americanism pretty hard. It's not unbearable but it is worth noting if you're easily offended by that. Otherwise I highly recommend this game to hardcore RPG fans.

5.6.2010

Seeing the initial reviews lowered my expectations for this game, but I quickly realized they had it all wrong. As many people pointed out, if you are expecting yet another shooter, this game is not for you. If you are expecting a pure spy game (Splinter Cell, MGS) then again, this game is not for you. If you want a unique game that combines these elements with a great story and fantastic characters, then this game is definitely for you.I am not a graphics snob, so while many people comment about the sub-par graphics they do not bother me. The game looks just fine and the gun play is adequate. Sneaking is also sometimes a bit rough, but it gets the job done. To me,story and characters are extremely important and this game nails it. A good comparison would be another slightly flawed gem: Vampire the Masquerade: Bloodlines from the sadly defunct Troika. That game was also a below average shooter and had some light sneaking elements. However, what made that game one of my favorites was the brilliant writing and memorable characters and situations.The conversation system in this game is fantastic and unique. It forces you to quickly choose how to approach the conversation: either aggressive, suave, professional (Think being Jack Bauer, James Bond, or Jason Bourne or a mix in each conversation). Together with check point saving, which can be annoying at times, this system solves the reload-and-try-again problem with many RPGs. Although you can still save and reload most of the time, you don't always want to do that because it takes away from the immersion. I am always guilty of doing this in other RPGs to get the most out of conversations, but here you just keep going. The game doesn't punish you for choices, they just lead to different outcomes. And sometimes you can "get it right" which feels very rewarding, because you made those decisions on the fly and without reloading.Many games also talk about choice and consequence but very few games actually do it. Sometimes, you make a decision after the last boss and that leads to 1 of 3 endings. In AP, your choices throughout the game really do impact the story and gameplay and the game will let you know exactly how. At numerous points in the story you have the option to kill or befriend major characters or ally with or make enemies with important factions. The game consistently acknowledges your choices, and regardless of the outcome this also feels rewarding. Kill some guards in one mission, face fewer in the next. Beat up an informant and face the wrath of his supporters. Those are just a few minor ones, with much bigger choices throughout.Overall, the positives of this game greatly outweigh some graphics issues and roughness in gameplay. If you have the right expectations and like this type of game, this will instantly become one of your favorites.

22.6.2010

Just want to build on a few quick points others have made:First, and this can't be overemphasized: This is a STAT based RPG, not a twitch/skill based shooter! In other words, Halo/COD fans need not apply. Many of the negative review points you'll read about are from reviewers who fail to grasp this intrinsic aspect to RPGs. If you haven't invested points in the skill, you won't do well in that aspect of the game.Don't rely on a shotgun to get you out of trouble if you haven't invested points in that skill. Don't expect to sneak through levels like a ghost if you haven't invested points in stealth. Don't expect to slice and dice your way through electronic surveillance if you haven't invested in sabotage.At higher skill levels, these abilities become almost overpowered. But until you invest the points, you'll fumble like an amateur, no matter how long you take to line up those crosshairs.Second, the graphics and control issues. Yes, the graphics look dated. Obsidian insists that the Unreal 3 engine is still the industry standard, despite the fact that most games look much better on the Crysis Engine. Clearly some of these textures were ported over from the console. Also, the wonky mouse control issue can be extremely frustrating. Fortunately some folks have already found a few key .ini tweaks (easily found via google on various AP forums) that seem to solve most of those issues. I highly recommend finding those tweaks before trying to play the game.Also, occasionally I'll encounter a graphics glitch similar to Mass Effect 2: Falling through a hole in the world. It's annoying and hopefully will be fixed with the upcoming patch.Third, the plot/re-playability. This is where AP really shines. The ability to take different stances, and do missions in any order can drastically change your experiences. Some of the paths do include some plot holes (How is this guy talking to me -- didn't he die in the last mission?) but they're few and far between and seem something of an inevitability in a plot web this complex. The order and style with which you complete objectives has dramatic short and long term effects on future missions. I'm already planning my next two playthroughs, and I rarely play through a game more than once.Enemy AI: I've read a great deal about wonky AI. I've only seen a little of that so far. Nothing outrageous, but enemies rarely work together as a unit, often grenading each other or walking into each others line of fire. Definitely something to work on for AP2.Overall, if you're a fan of RPGs AP is definitely worth at least one playthrough. It has some bumps, but the rewards are there for those willing to invest a little patience. I equate it to eating a poorly seasoned Fillet Mignon: the taste is a little off, but it's still a damn fine piece of meat and very satisfying.

22.10.2010

"Alpha Protocol" received a rough welcome when it released in May 2010. I was one of the interested people that read the reviews and decided to pass it by. Then by sheer chance I found it at a greatly reduced price in a retail store while all other nearby stores kept their prices high. I figured that at that price I'd take a chance on it. I'm glad I did!This game has a deeply engrossing story with lots and lots of character; player choice in regards to how you want to play your secret agent does genuinely affect how the game develops. The music is beautiful and very fitting for a spy-thriller setting (and in one of the boss fights there's a truly epic music scene). The graphics aren't the best out there,but to call it outright ugly is unfair in my opinion - the game isn't gorgeous but it looks good enough to get the job done. The controls were initially frustrating for me, and I dreaded the mini-games from what I had read. Let me reassure you, dear reader: Neither are particularly bad. Indeed, the controls are quite good once you get used to them and if at first you are frustrated by your apparent inability to do damage to your opponents, give it some time and improve your skills in various abilities - you'll notice the difference it makes! As for the mini-games, just don't rush it; stay calm, focus, and if need be exit out of the hacking attempt before the timer runs out (most of the time this didn't trigger the alarm for me, so it should work for you as well). It's not until much later in the game that I encountered some terminals where the timer was very fast indeed, but increased sabotage skill coupled with tech gloves will dramatically improve your chances and the time available when hacking computers, etc.In summation: I consider "Alpha Protocol" an action-RPG, and I'm going to go so far as to say that while it is a different game, set in a different setting, as an action-RPG in regards to game play, game mechanics, etc. it is far more so than "Mass Effect 2" (which is a great game, but not one worthy of the title action-RPG in my opinion; it's more akin to a FPS). There are many less than favourable reviews out there of "Alpha Protocol", yet in one review it was given 8.4 out of 10 points. I think it is an entirely fair score, and I hope there will be a proper sequel to this fantastic spy game.P.S. One piece of advice: To enjoy this game I'd advice playing it on the "Easy" setting the first time through; it'll cut down on the frustration and increase the chances of enjoying the gaming experience, which is what gaming is supposed to be about in my opinion: Fun. There is only one achievement on the Xbox 360 version that requires playing on the "Hard" setting, all other achievements can be triggered on any difficulty setting.

29.7.2010

I'll get this straight right from the off: Alpha Protocol lacks polish. That being said, a huge replayability factor, a compelling cast of characters, and a unique conversation system delivering well-written dialogue all contribute to making those faults easy to overlook.A huge positive in Alpha Protocol's favour is the significance of choice. The stances you take with any given character can have effects ranging from the presence or absence of available intel for a selection of missions to your reputation preceding you when dealing with new acquaintances in the future. And nearly everything you do will be scrutinised by someone at some point; by your handler during a mission, for example,

5.7.2010

Graphics 6/10They are pretty much the equivilent of the original mass effect game, which was made about 3 years ago. So if I even need to say more, the graphics are not up to date and sometimes it takes a while for the graphics to render. They are not that bad, but definatly not up to date for gaming today.Story 9/10Its very intresting, complex and there is a lot of choice. The rpg elements of this game are great, there is so much choice. You have reputation with all characters in the game, if its high you could get extra intel or even fire support on certain missions. If its low, well, dont expect any favours, and watch your back. Lots of customization too, including weapon modding.

8.6.2010

I must admit when I first played this game I would have given it a 1 or 2 star rating, but when you get so far though the game and your decisions start to take effect starts to get really fun, I agree that there are some clunky elements to the game and there are a few bugs, the first mission I played I got killed not too far into the mission and when I restarted I found that all the enemies had disapeared.Firstly the things I like about the game:- Most people have said that they dont like the conversation system I disagree, it makes to think on your feet rather than sitting there deciding what you will say to create the charater you want.

2.10.2012

I found this game while looking for a Splinter Cell-type fix, and it sounded like a good alternative. It's a fairly decent game with its own brand of play mechanics, and open-ended, intricate and adult storyline of shifting alliances, and it mainly relies on RPG, shooting, hand-to-hand combat and line-of-sight stealth (not that many shadow to hide in) -- and choosing quickly what you want to say. Dialogue IS important here. Alpha managed to pose quite a few challenges of its own, which you CAN'T solve by going gung-ho -- you have to approach this one tactically.That said, there are often several solutions to each puzzle or obstacle, and they depend on your skill allocation. Sure,

18.9.2010

I really enjoy playing Alpha Protocol on PC, although I use the xbox360 controller. The game does have some technical issues like Cannot force AA on in the game because it makes all the conversations (and the choices in them) invisible. There is a camera glitching problem that can mostly be fixed just by using the xbox360 controller. The soldiers tend to walk on air sometimes a foot off the ground (as well as soldier numbers and placement change just about each time you load a saved checkpoint, though Im not sure if that is a bad thing or not).. But other than these technical issues I think the game is awesome. I love the way they went with it, an RPG-Espionage game set in modern times,

30.5.2010

Normally ,I buy all my games but decided to rent this first because of all the negative reviews. Now Im upset because Im STILL going to buy it. Now ,this is a flawed game however the flawed elements are primarily to do with the shooting mechanics. As an RPG it works very well. You have the deep ,intricate and branching storyline, the excellent dialogue system with the unique twist of being time sensitive, 1000s of customisation options, an infinitely upgradaeble character,good voice acting and interesting characters and good replayability. Sure the graphics are dated but considering how long this game has been in developement that's not surprising. Theres a lot of texture popping and inconsistencies.

29.12.2011

I usually don't play checkpoint save games, which makes me less of a hardcore gamer than most. Still, I like stealth based games and gave this one a chance. It is surprisingly fun FPS-RPG and the checkpoints actually make the game more interesting. The roleplay part of it, where you have conversations, give you less than five seconds to choose how you would respond like a RL conversation. These conversations have consequences that you find out about via the television, email, if you get helped or hindered, and at the end game. Besides that, there are very many ways to have the game end to count based on your choices throughout the game and your choices in the last mission. If you choose the "wrong" answer,

4.4.2013

I remember trying Alpha Protocol on a whim, using a free rental to have a try based on a few things said on a couple Podcasts I listen to. I had no expectations and only afterwards did I read up on the luke-warm reception the game gotQuite frankly, I was surprised with how taken I was with the gameIt plays well, giving you plenty of freedom in how you build your character with the use of tech trees and levelling up. Similarly to games such as Mass Effect there's multiple branching dialogue trees, but instead of simply choosing the words that come out of your character's mouth, you instead choose an attitude with which to say them. You can be suave or blunt and to the point.

Alpha Protocol - Reviews

Info

Analysis

Detail