Should I try Alpha Protocol?

[GiantRaven]

I all loved the conversation elements as your choices had consequences. It was never obvious like 'red writing is bad, blue writing is good,' sometimes the violent choice is best? Others respond more to gentle pursuasion or threats? Can determine who joins your team for the last missions.

What I really liked was that you could go through the game using the different stances and not seem like a schizophrenic person who flits between absolute good and downright evil. It encouraged the idea that mixing up your responses was a good thing, not enough games do that in my opinion.

Haha, what? No. The game can be easily finished guns blazing. In fact, i thought it was easier than going stealth.

Hell, the game can be done almost entirely using melee combat. I can think of only two parts where you were forced into using either guns or gadgets.

Spoiler

Just so I've mentioned them; the boss battles with SIE and Darcy.

 

[octafish]

I'd say if you can get it cheap. It can be frustrating, early on I failed to sneak my way through a level and had to fight my way through, killing some elite guards and a lot of not so elite guards, then I planted a bug and it actually gathered some intel? You'd think if the garrison you left at your terrorist base was wiped out you might re-locate? I'm playing through now and it can be fun but as a pure stealth game it kind of sucks, it's as stealthy as SC: Conviction, ie not very.

Oh and if you stray from one specific dialogue choice, you come across as the Douche King.

 

[GiantRaven]

Oh and if you stray from one specific dialogue choice, you come across as the Douche King.

Which one?

 

[StormShaun]

Either go play ME2 (again mabey) or go kill yourself and play that game....a part of me died that day which was to have a GOOD rpg spy game...

 

[DEAD34345]

No, the stealth part does not fall entirely under the RPG part. It's a Stealth/action RPG. The two work side by side. You have a number of differnt skills which affect different elements of your character - from gadgets to sneaking. To be better at those elements you need to invest in those skills. The game also relies heavily on timing your movements and use of abilities and gadgets. Use them incorrectly and you get discovered, or they become wasted.

Mass Effect is a Third-person shooter with RPG elements. There is no stealth element. There is no comparison. You blow shit up, you shoot shit, and you hurl magic.
It gives a false idea of the gameplay to say that Alpha Protocol plays like Mass Effect. It doesn't.

It plays like Splinter Cell with tie-in Character Progression.

Well, this is where i disagree completely. Firstly, stealth in AP is entirely optional, and only occurs if that is the route you decide to go with your character. It is the route i chose with my first character in which i started as a recruit (This makes you start with no skills.). For first couple of missions, the game is slightly like Splinter Cell in that you have to time your movements to get past the AI patrols, but as soon as you have invested a few points into the stealth abilities this part of the game pretty much stops, to be replaced by the wise usage of your stealth based powers in certain situations.

While i agree that going the stealth route in this game makes the action segments different to Mass Effect, there is no point after the first mission or so where the game plays at all like any of the Splinter Cell games. The "Stealth" in this game, is pretty much the same as when you "hurl magic" in Mass Effect (not that this is a bad thing, just a completely different approach to how Splinter Cell does it).

I would never recommend this game to someone looking for a stealth game, since the stealth in this game is all about the usage of RPG powers in different situations. Instead I'd recommend it to people who liked the tactical usage of powers in RPGs like Mass Effect. The game can be played guns blazing like Mass Effect can, or in a variety of other tactics such as Melee or Trap-setting which Mass Effect mostly did not have.

 

[Vivace-Vivian]

If it's cheap, yeah.

 

[Scorched_Cascade]

Zero Punctuation has a review on it: http://www.escapistmagazine.com/videos/view/zero-punctuation/1801-Alpha-Protocol

Personally I loved it and am now on my 4th play through without a break (gotta get me them achievements).

Pros:
-When I understand what is going on the story is good
-Its a stealth RPG
-A lot of humour in the game
-Its genuinely fun
-Choices actualy affect gameplay e.g if your nasty to someone others will hear of it and mention it or make missions harder
-you can kill almost everyone at some point
-You can buy it second hand for £10-13 or first hand for £13-15 depending on where you look

Cons
-Bosses can be cheaped by abusing chain shot (6 critical pistol shots aimed in slow mo + brilliance which instantly cancels all cooldowns)-this is also a pro if you're after an easier play through
-some characters appear for like 2 scenes (looking at you "Sis")
-out of the limited appearance choices the only acceptable look for the character is Soul patch & Razor glasses
-your character can be a real douchebag

 

[WanderingFool]

I loved Mass Effect 1 for its story and even its gameplay in spite of some dodgy AI bad frame rate and more than rare glitches. So, I looked at Alpha Protocol and the gameplay I saw didn't look too different. I hear the story is good, and dialogue system interesting, but that's where the praise seems to end. Everyone says the combat is broken and buggy and it has numerous technical issues, including bad AI, but that truthfully doesn't sound too different from Mass Effect 1. Does this mean I might get some enjoyment out of it, or do the problems from Mass Effect 1, appear even more pronounced in Alpha Protocol? Suggestions from people who have played both would be especially appreciated.

[slightly annoyed] People need to stop comparing AP to ME1.

If you liked ME1, that doesnt matter, as AP is alot different from what you experienced in ME1. ME1 is more shooter than RPG, if compared directly to AP. There are some problems with the AI and various bugs, and most of those are because Obsidion didnt even bother to release a patch or anything for it. But to compare ME1 aan AP is pointless, they are two COMPLETELY different games. I would always suggest trying AP, but dont go in think, "oh, this should be just like Mass Effect" cause its not.

 

[tomvw]

Hardly Mass Effect at all.

The conversation system is 'similar', but the gameplay is not.
If you don't stealth or make use of gadgets and weapon modifications, then the only way to play is on the easiest difficulty setting. Even then you can die if you're careless and Rambo it like you can in Mass Effect.

It's a stealth-action RPG. The turning invisible part comes with the RPG part.

Really, I had no problem going the soldier route on my normal playthrough: heavy armor, assault rifles, shotguns and close combat. Starting of is a bit hard, but once you max a weapon-tree, your aim improves drastically (that, and I played on PC).

 

[GiantRaven]

-some characters appear for like 2 scenes (looking at you "Sis")

I think there was content cut with Sis since in the final game you have a reputation meter with her that does absolutely nothing. It's a real shame really, she seemed like an interesting character that wasn't exposed enough.

 

[Scorched_Cascade]

-some characters appear for like 2 scenes (looking at you "Sis")

I think there was content cut with Sis since in the final game you have a reputation meter with her that does absolutely nothing. It's a real shame really, she seemed like an interesting character that wasn't exposed enough.

She was actually my favourite character and gave Mikey his biggest douchebag quote "Hmm a medallion of st George? Guess he couldn't protect her from me" you can just imagine him putting on CSI shades after that.

 

[DracoSuave]

My two cents.

1) I think the boss fights are out of place. They are not designed well, and are out of place with the general theme of the game ('Your weapon is choice.') If you choose to master stealth, and martial arts, you will not beat bosses. You cannot evade them. Stealth will do nothing here. If you choose the wrong gun, you will not beat them. If they were designed to be defeatable by alternate means... it'd be better. If I could, for example, avoid the Sis fight by how I got through the yacht... that's my choice mattering and defeating this challenge.

2) Choice matters everywhere else. If you kill many guards in one area, that WILL have an effect in other areas. Other characters WILL treat you differently. If you are never seen on missions, this WILL effect future interactions. You'll get different intel on missions. Missions often have a sneaky way, and a blasty way to get through them. How you talk to people matters, and can reward you better.

That last part is important... most interactions have positive AND negative effects no matter what. Take your mission support as a good example. If they like you, they will give you a stat bonus based on how much they like you, and what they tend to encourage as their method of getting things done. If they dislike you however... they STILL give you a stat bonus based on how much, and that bonus tends to be spiteful in nature, enabling you to do what they HATE to see you do.

So, for example, one handler loves you going in guns blazing, and another hates that sort of op. Generally, you'll get good rep from the one who loves it, and bad rep from the one who hates it. Either way, you'll get a bonus to blasting the hell out of things when either of them is in charge of you.

Choice matters, and you really get the sense there are no 'wrong' choices. Except during boss fights.

-some characters appear for like 2 scenes (looking at you "Sis")

I think there was content cut with Sis since in the final game you have a reputation meter with her that does absolutely nothing. It's a real shame really, she seemed like an interesting character that wasn't exposed enough.

Rep with Sis affects potential interactions with Albatross. That's not 'absolutely nothing.'

 

[GiantRaven]

1) I think the boss fights are out of place. They are not designed well, and are out of place with the general theme of the game ('Your weapon is choice.') If you choose to master stealth, and martial arts, you will not beat bosses. You cannot evade them. Stealth will do nothing here. If you choose the wrong gun, you will not beat them. If they were designed to be defeatable by alternate means... it'd be better. If I could, for example, avoid the Sis fight by how I got through the yacht... that's my choice mattering and defeating this challenge.

Absolute balderdash. It is fully possible to both stealth and melee the overwhelming majority of the boss fights (I previously mentioned the only two where it isn't possible). I played the game through that way and never struggled with any of the boss fights. Hell, it's even possible for the bosses to completely lose sight of where you are with the stealth powers, giving you an awesome advantage when using stealth and melee.

Rep with Sis affects potential interactions with Albatross. That's not 'absolutely nothing.'

I wasn't aware of that, what interactions does it change? I'm glad to hear that it isn't just a remaining artefact of cut content.

 

[FoolKiller]

Yes. If you are curious about a game then you should give it a try.

 

[DracoSuave]

1) I think the boss fights are out of place. They are not designed well, and are out of place with the general theme of the game ('Your weapon is choice.') If you choose to master stealth, and martial arts, you will not beat bosses. You cannot evade them. Stealth will do nothing here. If you choose the wrong gun, you will not beat them. If they were designed to be defeatable by alternate means... it'd be better. If I could, for example, avoid the Sis fight by how I got through the yacht... that's my choice mattering and defeating this challenge.

Absolute balderdash. It is fully possible to both stealth and melee the overwhelming majority of the boss fights (I previously mentioned the only two where it isn't possible). I played the game through that way and never struggled with any of the boss fights. Hell, it's even possible for the bosses to completely lose sight of where you are with the stealth powers, giving you an awesome advantage when using stealth and melee.

It's possible for the boss to lose you, yes. But an advantage in melee?

I couldn't find a boss you could actually -punch- successfully. If I'm maxed out in melee, yes, I think I SHOULD be able to get into fisticuffs with Sis and force her to run away, instead of her going 'you can't hit me neener neener' and ignoring my clever punching stuff.

If the boss fights were well designed, they'd be a) nonmandatory based on choice, and b) Take the Sis fight. If you were melee or shotgun based you should have a means to close in on her effectively so you can use those weapons. She would then use her capabilities to try to get away to where she has an advantage. If you're long range, then she'll try to close to get an advantage. Either way, she will try to counter your advantage, and victory is based on leverage your advantage over her. The fight is designed to reward your choice in how you build your character. You like tech? Make it so that you can -trap- the boss.

Metal Gear Solid 3 had a number of fights that were like that. The End comes to mind. Some players looked for the flash of bullets to figure out his location. Others popped out the D-mic and found him that way. Once found, some players used the sniper rifle and cacked him. Others slowly crept on his location and pistolled him. There were many ways to fight him, and many other bosses. Alpha Protocol has no boss that approaches the promise of 'choice' in comparison.

The boss fights suck in Alpha Protocal. They... just... do.

Rep with Sis affects potential interactions with Albatross. That's not 'absolutely nothing.'

I wasn't aware of that, what interactions does it change? I'm glad to hear that it isn't just a remaining artefact of cut content.[/quote]

Off the top of my head, positive interaction with her directly leads to meetings with ALbatross, where how you treated her in the previous fight will color where the dialog goes. I can't say for how it affects Teipei and Rome; I did Moscow last on my playthrough.

 

[Scorched_Cascade]

Rep with Sis affects potential interactions with Albatross. That's not 'absolutely nothing.'

I wasn't aware of that, what interactions does it change? I'm glad to hear that it isn't just a remaining artefact of cut content.

It is an artifact though the only possible events involving sis, even if you do moscow first, are:

Spoiler

1)Albatross owes you a favour for not killing her and will want to meet you and then will sell help on other missions
2)During the meeting you can ask about the locket earning you -2 rep with albatross and +2rep with sis. Mainly because of what he says-Albatross thinks the locket is a childhood memory while mike points out it has a larger meaning:
The dragon that st george killed previously devoured all the villages children as sacrifices and eventually the king sent his own daughter to be sacrificed but st george slew the dragon and saved her.

The implication is that Sis (kings daughter) does not like being part of G22 or associated with albatross (the dragon) and sees mike as a way to fix him (st george). However as she is mute all you have to go on are her expressions and the +1 like rep thing.

3) you learn that Albatross is jealously protective of her like a father but he is not her father she is an orphan. Although some people seem to read pedophilia into their relationship

 

[Netrigan]

Takes a while to properly get going. Way too much dialog early on and weapon handling is horrible until you get properly leveled up. Your character is a total douche and all of the customization options seem to emphasize this. It's actually kind of fun to see how big of a dick you can be. Seduce women then casually let them die.

Funniest bit was you can charge your shotgun for a one-hit kill. Seriously, hold down a button and you can kill someone several feet away. While the same weapon uncharged at point blank takes two or three hits.

 

[GiantRaven]

It's possible for the boss to lose you, yes. But an advantage in melee?

I couldn't find a boss you could actually -punch- successfully. If I'm maxed out in melee, yes, I think I SHOULD be able to get into fisticuffs with Sis and force her to run away, instead of her going 'you can't hit me neener neener' and ignoring my clever punching stuff.

If the boss fights were well designed, they'd be a) nonmandatory based on choice, and b) Take the Sis fight. If you were melee or shotgun based you should have a means to close in on her effectively so you can use those weapons. She would then use her capabilities to try to get away to where she has an advantage. If you're long range, then she'll try to close to get an advantage. Either way, she will try to counter your advantage, and victory is based on leverage your advantage over her. The fight is designed to reward your choice in how you build your character. You like tech? Make it so that you can -trap- the boss.

Metal Gear Solid 3 had a number of fights that were like that. The End comes to mind. Some players looked for the flash of bullets to figure out his location. Others popped out the D-mic and found him that way. Once found, some players used the sniper rifle and cacked him. Others slowly crept on his location and pistolled him. There were many ways to fight him, and many other bosses. Alpha Protocol has no boss that approaches the promise of 'choice' in comparison.

The boss fights suck in Alpha Protocal. They... just... do.

Goddamn. I got served! This was something I had never really considered before, I did manage to do the Sis fight purely with melee but you are correct, the levels of choice within the boss battles are limited compared to other areas of the game.

 

[DracoSuave]

Goddamn. I got served! This was something I had never really considered before, I did manage to do the Sis fight purely with melee but you are correct, the levels of choice within the boss battles are limited compared to other areas of the game.

Meleeing Sis must have been hard! Props!

Regardless, yeah... for a game that is ABOUT choice, the bosses fell short. I wouldn't have been so upset about it if it weren't for the fact 'Your Weapon Is Choice' was the design goal of the game. In many ways it succeeded... in boss fights... it really fell short of the mark.