Alpha Protocol

[Typhusoid]

So I've put about 20 hours into this game, and I love it. In terms of allowing the player to make decisions, it is unmatched by any game by any developer (including you, Bioware). Unfortunately, the critics don't seem to agree. At best it's been getting average reveiws, so I thought I'd turn to the Escapists to see if I'm a freak or not. So, What did you guys think of Alpha Protocol?

 

[Marter]

I still haven't gotten to play it yet.

It's next on my to buy list though, so I'll probably be picking it up soon.

 

[Typhusoid]

I still haven't gotten to play it yet.

It's next on my to buy list though, so I'll probably be picking it up soon.

As, I said, I highly reccomend it, especially if you're a fan of Bioware RPGs (particularly ME2) since it basically is one.

 

[Marter]

I still haven't gotten to play it yet.

It's next on my to buy list though, so I'll probably be picking it up soon.

As, I said, I highly reccomend it, especially if you're a fan of Bioware RPGs (particularly ME2) since it basically is one.

Haven't played either Mass Effect games yet either. >_>

 

[Doug]

From what I understand, the average reviews are down to cronic bugs, bad AI, and unbalance.

 

[Typhusoid]

I still haven't gotten to play it yet.

It's next on my to buy list though, so I'll probably be picking it up soon.

As, I said, I highly reccomend it, especially if you're a fan of Bioware RPGs (particularly ME2) since it basically is one.

Haven't played either Mass Effect games yet either. >_>

Seriously? Were you been?

 

[Marter]

Seriously? Were you been?

Busy catching up on the rest of the games I need to play. ^_^

 

[Kagim]

I've played a little bit of it so far and I am really liking the focus on stealth and tactically taking out my enemies rather then going balls to the wall crazy on them.

I've heard people complaining how long it takes to hit anything. That's why you wait for the critical strike marker to focus fire and pop the top. Its nice to see a game where my silence pistol is incredibly powerful and is used more then my Assault rifle.

 

[jeejvebe]

You might just have changed my mind on whether to get this game or not.

 

[Woodsey]

I've heard people complaining how long it takes to hit anything. That's why you wait for the critical strike marker to focus fire and pop the top. Its nice to see a game where my silence pistol is incredibly powerful and is used more then my Assault rifle.

A lot of reviews I've read say the pistols are hideously underpowered.

THIS IS SO CONFUSING.

I might get it, but they've got to patch it first. The review on the PCG website virtually persuaded me anyway and countered any bad reviews.

 

[Kagim]

I've heard people complaining how long it takes to hit anything. That's why you wait for the critical strike marker to focus fire and pop the top. Its nice to see a game where my silence pistol is incredibly powerful and is used more then my Assault rifle.

A lot of reviews I've read say the pistols are hideously underpowered.

THIS IS SO CONFUSING.

I might get it, but they've got to patch it first. The review on the PCG website virtually persuaded me anyway and countered any bad reviews.

Well if your just firing off shots like candy its useless. If you let the crit Markers line up you can plug someone in the head for a one hit kill.

 

[RollingDigits]

Honestly, I've never played a game that is so reactive to the choices you make- it's absolutely ridiculous. I played through the game with G22 as my greatest allies and they helped me many, many times. The problem is that the combat and stealth are badly done (I understand it's character skill based, but it's still badly done) and the character building is unbalanced (chainshot+brilliance+chainshot=instawin). It has a cover systme, but the game's actually playable without using it, which is cool (I just crouched for cover rather than use the system- it was good).

At the point of Alpha Protocol, you have to consider the conversations gameplay. Personally, I think that's true for most RPGs with interactive conversations, but it's definitely pronounced in Alpha Protocol.

In the end, it's an Obsidian game- you know what you're getting.

edit: Don't make the same mistake I did. Make sure you specialize in only one weapon (or just don't play on hard).

 

[JimJamJahar]

The choices were amazingly well done and had actual effects, which was great.

My main problem is the boss fights... They suck. And I wanted more chances at stealth, but found myself having to shoot my way out of most situations. My favourite mission in particular was one of the only ones were I managed to get through without firing a single bullet. So, other than bad AI, annoying boss fights and shooting being too necessary, a generally good game.

 

[ImprovizoR]

So I've put about 20 hours into this game, and I love it. In terms of allowing the player to make decisions, it is unmatched by any game by any developer (including you, Bioware). Unfortunately, the critics don't seem to agree. At best it's been getting average reveiws, so I thought I'd turn to the Escapists to see if I'm a freak or not. So, What did you guys think of Alpha Protocol?

Screw the reviews! AP is awesome. I'm already on my third playthrough and I made choices that change the game drastically. Even a simple choice as which weapons to use change the gameplay and your approach to the mission. It's a very satisfying RPG experience. Also for a spy genre fan as I am this game is a dream come true. Sure it has some technical issues but nothing game breaking. And on PC you can even enhance the graphics by a simple ini edit to unlock shader 3 model and higher anisotropic filtering and stuff like that.

 

[Gabanuka]

It was get that, or order Naughty Bear. I stand by my decision or bear slaughter.

 

[Doomsday11]

it's one of the best games I've played in along time,the problem which everyones said is that reviewers went in expecting to be able to play this soley as an action game rather than say having to hold the sights on a target for a critical hit.

 

[TheIr0nMike]

If you come in with the same mind frame you would with a pen and paper based video game, it can be really fun.

 

[Zeroresistence]

The main reason that I thought it was bad was the bugs thats why its getting bad reviews

 

[psychic psycho]

I loved Alpha Protocol. It great to see that my choices actually have consequences. In most games there is hardly any reactivity accept for the immediate dialog changing. It also nice that the game let's you play stealthily or like a shooter so other playthroughs don't get too repetitive.

I even wrote a user review for it. I just felt that the professional reviewers were so harsh on it. I think the main reason was the low production values.

 

[Lawyer105]

I loved it. I don't care what the critics say. It's not the longest game around (not like Morrowind / Fallout 3 scale), but it's got SO much more replayability.

If you're prepared to do different things, and solve puzzles differently (and unlike other games - you actually CAN solve the puzzles other ways!), it can be a completely different gameplay experience (although the story will remain broadly similar).

Most 'multiple game-style' games tend to be poorly designed. You get WAY more experience hacking your way mindlessly through the various goons than you do if you cleverly stealth past 'em. That's largely solved in AP - I've never felt I'm gimping my character by NOT killing the goons!

Having played most of the Bioware and similar games (ME2, DA:O etc.), this is the only one where I've really experienced replayability! I'm on my 3rd run-through since I bought it (shortly after release, so about a month) - and still enjoying every minute. I particularly enjoy discovering the effects on later missions that my earlier decisions make!

I'll admit it can be a little buggy, and I DETEST the console-based 'save points' system (although I can see why they did that one - to prevent the save-reloaders that are so prevalent in PC games), I'd still totally recommend this game to anyone who's even vaguely interested in it, or wants to try something a little different.

And here's a free tip : Unlike pretty much all RPG-FPS games, ALL the guns are useful (although I'm still experimenting with the SMG's). Even the combat will play differently depending on your weapon of choice!

In this game, there's not much a room full of baddies can do when you pop a flashbang and charge in with a tricked out shotgun! The knockdown feature will keep pretty much all of 'em down. Play with a silenced pistol, and you'll be headshotting / tranq darting your way through the level like a ghost. Grab an assault rifle, put a decent sight on and boost the accuracy, shove sub-sonic rounds in, and you've basically got yourself a suppressed sniper rifle. Use ordinary rounds (and stick a few mines along the corridor) and you can create an absolute killing zone for enemies to attack you from!