Alpha Protocol

The game makes you feel like a real spy, complete with all the research-based legwork. In those respects, there are few games like it. Whether or not you like Alpha Protocol is probably going to depend on your proclivity for spy lore itself. But if you've ever wanted to be a secret agent, you could do a hell of a lot worse.

If you can deal with the frustration of the stealth gameplay, and don’t mind RPG elements or the fact you have to play through it at least twice to get true value out of the game, this is a definite buy and if you have the option I would buy it for the PC.

This is a bold and interesting proposal, although very buggy. But it will surprise many for its freshness and freedom.

Are you good or evil? Or both? And should you buy this game? It may not be as good as Mass Effect 2, but it’s still a lot of fun to follow Mike through his adventures, despite some out of date graphics and the dumb AI, because as a role playing game, it just works fine.

Just like Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines before it, Alpha Protocol is a diamond in the rough, yet another chance to create an excellent RPG, but ultimately sabotaged by technical issues and questionable design decisions.

An astounding variety of ethical decisions, a wide range of believable, fun characters and a thrilling 24esque storyline make Alpha Protocol one of the most compelling role playing games of the last years. But be warned: The artificial intelligence is at times dumb as a rock, the save system seems rather antiquated, the graphics don’t hold up to the genre standard and the mini games are clearly not made for PC gamers. However, Alpha Protocol combines an enthralling storyline with a functioning role playing core and the highest grade of replayability in years! Well made, Obsidian!

The combat and final mission are weak, but the story strands that bind it all together are excitingly unique to each other. [July 2010, p.87]

From the beginning of the game, till the ending, I was relatively pleased with how important and impactful the decisions I made were.

Obsidian doesn't produce the prettiest games, or the ones with the most impressive production values, but if there is one thing this studio does very well it's writing and they give another lesson of that with Alpha Protocol, inventing a solid, interesting and intriguing story in a world of spies and conspiracies. But beyond the quality, the most impressive thing is how the studio has managed to integrate decisions with story in a convincing way, creating a game where different choices, playstyles and attitudes have a direct impact on the narrative.

Alpha Protocol is an excellent hybrid between a straightforward third person shooter, a tactical game like the Tom Clancy series, and a plot-driven epic like Mass Effect; it is unlike anything else on the market.

That exhilarating core deserves more than the pretty rancid crust that tops it. [Aug 2010, p.76]

In other words, for those still interested, Alpha Protocol should be low on the to-play list.

Mediocre gameplay hides an enjoyable RPG with moments of genius. But it could have been so much more. [Aug 2010, p.56]

The way the story and relationships change depending on your choices will keep you hooked, and warrants at least two play-throughs to see what might have been. However, just be aware that you'll have to put up with some problems.

Ignore the RPG part and you might trade in the game after two hours; ignore the third-person shooter part and you might replay the game three times over. In short, it needs a sequel to get everything right. Look beyond its obvious faults and Alpha Protocol isn’t frustratingly bad, but frustratingly good; that is, if you care to look that hard.

Alpha Protocol could have been a really good game, easily on par with Mass Effect, but it fails in almost every way.

The tragedy of Alpha Protocol is that, hidden behind the mass of technical failings is a superb action RPG bristling with choice and driven by some inspired storytelling.

Watch a Bourne movie instead. [Aug 2010, p.95]

Imbalanced skills, glitches, dim-witted enemies, and repetitive encounters further undercut the entertainment, making Alpha Protocol a game you can safely pass by.

Alpha Protocol's astounding intricacies are tarnished by bugs, clumsy gameplay mechanics, and rough production values.

Alpha Protocol is a strange game. No matter how good and deep is the rpg part, with a well told story, it's almost completely broke when it's time to shoot and sneak. The A.I. is so cheesy and ramdom that completely make you forget your class and skills.

A role-playing action about the modern world felt like a jolt of fresh air in the ocean of high fantasy, ancient myths, and space operas. But, as it usually happens, a good idea was killed by poor execution. It doesn’t matter if it was because of too many cooks in the game-design kitchen, or Sega’s meddling. The spy already got his burn notice.

Alpha Protocol is one big deception. The stealth action is lacking and the enemies sometimes act ridiculously. Because of this most of the missions are a drag. A shame since the created world lends itself perfectly for a spy game. The surprisingly fun conversation system, in which the choices have a real impact on the gameplay, is a spark in the dark mess called Alpha Protocol.