I had originally avoided this game and stayed far away from purchasing it when it was first released, why? because it received poor reviews from almost every gaming site and magazine out there. recently i picked it up just to see how bad it actually was, i was quite surprised to see it was actually the opposite – a very good game. why it got such bad reviews is simple, it starts off slow and the training can be enough to make you eject the disc but once you get out in the field its a different story – i’m assuming most reviewers didn’t play far enough into the game to see it.
You play michael thortan the newest member of the secret program known as alpha protocol. sent into the field on your first mission you are tasked to track down stolen missiles that are being used in terrorist attacks around the globe. starting in saudi arabia thortan sets out to bring the terrorists to justice but he soon learns that trust is far and few in his line of work. after the operation collapses thortan is forced to become a rogue agent using his skills in a desperate attempt to find the missiles and find whoever put them in the hands of the terrorists. what follows is a smartly written ever changing ballet of bombs and bullets played out whatever way you choose to play the game.
The game is original in that its an espionage/spy type RPG, a great idea if you ask me but its not easy to pull off. the RPG element works i think because it allows you to build the perfect character for the mission at hand, not only that it brings you deeper into the story and world by making you a integral part of the process. dialogue is used on enemies and friends alike, depending on the choices you make and the words you throw around you will either impress or annoy people – often to the point of them becoming your enemy and a threat to you on missions. however this can be used to your advantage, turn people to your side and they will help you by sending you intel or even offering help on missions by providing fire support or helping you get into secret areas.
That said it can be hard at first to figure out what makes certain characters tick but by doing your homework on dossiers or just getting lucky you can find out quicker and get them on your side. the characters range from fellow alpha protocol members to private contractors/mercenaries/gangsters such as the russian mafia/chinese triads and plain and simple psychopaths – all can be interacted with and all bring something different to the story. one of the most bondesque features seems to be the ability to romance female characters you meet along the way, in the world of espionage however not all is as it seems so you have to be careful not to get on their bad sides or they too can become a dangerous enemy.
For a third person RPG action adventure game it certainly delivers everything you would expect and tons more. as for guns and tech thortan is kitted out with safe houses and online contacts that can deliver black market weapons and gadgets. silenced pistols/assault rilfes/smgs/shotguns and all kinds of gadgets are available for use, and as you would expect the weapons can easily be customized to your liking. though it technically is a spying game you are not stuck with using stealth alone, if you want to go in silently taking down enemies with quick blows to the back of the head you can – if you want to blast your way through the game with high powered weapons you can – even if you want to use tech and computer skills you can. each different class allows you to do different things in the field, they also determine how effective you will be in your chosen field. not surprisingly all three of my play trough's so far have been under the guise of a spy, silent and effective kills/computers and gadgets used to break into systems and safes/using evasive techniques on the enemy and much more.
The graphics in the game are a little dated looking in some of the video clips but in the game itself/levels they look pretty good. each country or setting seems to be very authentic in details and looks like the work really was put in. it plays a little sluggish and confused at the very start but it soon turns into a solid almost epic in places experience that is easily missed by most gamers.
There definitely is a serious learning curve involved with how you play and how you go about using your gadgets and tech but once you get a grasp of it all the game opens up providing fun and tense action. originally i heard from people that the voice acting was appalling but i can say without a doubt that there is nothing wrong with the voice acting in any part of the game. the music is subtle for the most part but picks up when the action itself picks up – often adding a genuine feel to the environment. the sound effects and lighting are more or less what you would expect, its not heavily polished but it does the job.
I really find it hard to brand this game as of poor quality and unfinished, because it really isn’t. its a shame that so many reviewers chose to rate it so low when really its a top notch gaming experience. many sites stated it was full of glitches, however having played through the whole game three times i counted few glitches and any i did spot were extremely minimal and didn’t really affect the game. i wouldn’t recommend the game to just about anyone, as i said it has a learning curve but if you can stick with it you will soon see how rewarding it actually is. trophy hunters among us will find a wealth of trophies that can be picked up through fun and exciting missions. if you are a fan of the metal gear solid series or liked the recent james bond games you will no doubt find something positive in alpha protocol. in most places the game now retails for a cheap enough price so if you are curious like i was its worth trying it out, you never know it just might surprise you too. i really liked the game so i’m giving it an 8 out of 10 – lots of high explosive and intense evasive action all wrapped up in a unique package.
