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User Review : Alpha Protocol

Ups

Story is fun in parts
Some good ideas

Downs

Presentation not up to scratch
Gameplay is a poor mans Mass Effect
Poor camera controls

Mission accomplished?

First off I apologise. I had promised a Just cause 2 review. but due to certain technicality's (mainly Blockbusters being utter prats), I have yet to do so. But fear not for it is still coming.

Back to the game at hand. Honestly, I was secretly looking forward to Alpha Protocol, it reminded me of Mass Effect but in a current world setting. The RPG elements looked intriguing and the story strong from early indications. So does it pull off a James Bond and succeed in its mission? lets find out, This is Alpha Protocol.

Presentation.

Leading up to the release of Alpha Protocol one thing became clear, Graphics was not it strong point. But whist playing it I realised it was more worse than I had though. Not only graphically but presentation wise, the game was sub-par.

There are far more things wrong than right, the game has a nasty habit of pop-ups. The textures aren't the best but when it take them 3-5 more seconds AFTER loading, then it is downright annoying. And its not just the levels, when you look at amour, weapons ect. there too. Also if you press select to view weapons or the map when you go back to the game, you're greeted with more pop-ups.

Another issue with Alpha Protocol is screen tearing. In all the time I've played Alpha Protocol not once when I moved the camera did I not have screen tearing. Add this with the pop-ups and it isn't very good to look at, let alone play.

Gameplay.

As I mentioned I was secretly looking forward to Alpha because of how it reminded me of Mass effect in a current setting. Ow how I wish I didn't get my hopes that high. Anyone familiar with the third person shooter playing style will feel right at home. Although a big issue I had was with the camera, it does not move unless you use the analogue stick which lead to me being spotted and killed by enemies many a time.

The melee combat is also irritating. You will have to do this at times in the game and unless you are right next to the person (literally touching them), you will not hit them. This will also lead to some controller smashing moments.

Aiming is a big chuck of Alpha Protocol gameplay although you learn early on how bored/irritated you'll be of it. The games seems to have been made for purely stealth based gameplay, which
makes the more action orientated pieces of the game that bit more baffling.

Story.

The biggest selling point of the the entire game for me. It starts you off with you walking up in what looks like a hospital surgery room. You soon brake out and encounter armed goons and there all aiming ate you. You soon find out that you are a secret agent Michael and you've been recruited by Alpha Protocol,a secret agency created so the government can do what it wants in secrecy.They ask you to kill a terrorist who who recently shoot down a commercial airliner.

From the get go the story has you with the fact you can make choices with who lives and who dies. Do you believe the man that killed hundreds of innocent people or do you kill with the knowledge that he may be telling you the truth of your employers. It's your choice.

There are a wide array of characters, from ex-mob bosses to Russian military. But the game doesn't make you care about the most important character, you. other characters aren't given the time they need to develop and you just don't care for them.

Summery.

I now that I beat the game down but there are some good Ideas (RPG elements, story ect.), But even these can't make up for the stupid A.I., control issues and the bugs. If your still curious just rent it. You'll thank me.