Another pair of Alpha Protocol previews surfaced on the web over the weekend weekend, thanks to the demonstration that was shown during GamesCom.
By Wedgeh on 22 Aug
GameOn got invited to take a look at Sega and Obsidian’s latest spy based RPG while out here in sunny Cologne for Gamescom 2009. The story seemed solid enough, with you taking the reins of a government agent looking for some stolen missiles with some deeper, more sinister plot line lurking in the shadows to twist your world. Lets take a look at what the press release has to say.
Set in modern day, Alpha Protocol gives players complete control not only of Thorton’s actions but his personality and attitude as well, all of which will determine the future of the world as we know it. Blending fast-paced modern combat, significant character advancement and innovative RPG features, Alpha Protocol brings a fresh new perspective to the genre.
With a story rivalling the best spy-thriller novels and an immersive, ultra-realistic espionage world, Alpha Protocol will redefine the RPG genre for the next-gen gamer. The title is being developed by Obsidian Entertainment and published by Sega.
Key Features:-
Redefined RPG – Classless system gives players the ability to mould Thorton into the secret agent they want him to become with lethal close combat techniques, marksman skills proficiency with gadgets and much more.
The International Spy – Players will travel around the world to international safe house locations to obtain information and mission objectives and conduct meetings with a growing list of contacts.
Dialogue Stance System – With an innovative real-time dialogue system, characters will remember conversations and the relationships with allies; enemies will be determined by their attitude and the dialogue response chosen by the player.
With the official blurb out the way, you’ll be wondering what the actual game is like, well luckily enough I was able to grab a viewing. So as stated earlier you take control of Michael Thorton and in RPG style you are able to customise how he will appear in the game world by changing hair types, hair colour, facial hair, glasses etc. However you cannot fully change his appearance with you controlling a named and vital character to the game’s story line.
Now with traditional RPG games you define your character’s core abilities at the beginning, for example if you wish to have a strong warrior, you load up on strength and health increasing talents, but doing so limits your abilities in other areas such as agility or technical aptitude. In Alpha Protocol you can tailor Thorton to your own gaming style.
While on the topic of game style, how you play through the game will influence how Thorton’s own personality will develop, if you tend to play aggressively then that aggression will project as a no-nonsense intimidating demeanour, whereas if you prefer a stealthier route then Thorton will develop into a more easy going, diplomatic character. The choices you make during conversations with key characters will also be remembered by that NPC, so if you act like a complete arse they are less likely to co-operate with you or offer assistance when needed.
Your choice of armaments for each mission fall under 4 categories: Handguns, Shotguns, Sub-Machine Guns and Assault Rifles. Under each category will be a vast selection of fine instruments of death, each with their own set of attributes in classic RPG style detailing reload speeds, power and rate of fire etc. Additionally you may purchase replacement components for certain parts of your preferred implement of death to improve the statistics of the gun. For example if you purchase a silencer for your pistol you will notice that your accuracy will go up in a trade-off for stopping power.
You will also have access to various types of armour to utilise, ranging from light weight sets that allow maximum movement but provide minimal protection to the opposite end of the scale providing maximum protection but reducing mobility. All of your equipment, arms and gadgetry is available via a form of digital black market store front that is accessed through a terminal in your safe house. Each faction you ally yourself with will also offer their surplus stocks through this system.
All of this is played via a 3rd person perspective in a gritty modern day realistic backdrop taking you to locations all around the globe. Combat is frantic and action packed with the entertainment value set for approximately 30+ hours of gameplay. Keep an eye out during October for this spy thriller, arriving on Xbox 360, Playstation 3 and PC.
Kimberley Ellis – 23 Aug, 2009
Jack Bauer, James Bond, Jason Bourne; these are just some of the plethora of renowned super spies that have populated popular culture in recent years. If the popularity of espionage fuelled movies and television shows is anything to go by, it’s no wonder that Obsidian Entertainment is injecting some new blood into the videogame waters with the third-person action role-playing game, Alpha Protocol.
Coming soon to PC, Xbox 360, and PlayStation 3, this title steps back from the typical science-fiction and fantasy setting that role-playing titles have classically revolved around. Alpha Protocol is an espionage-based RPG that takes the best story elements from the spy genre and places them into a modern setting, in the hope of giving gamers a role-playing title that mashes the cerebral sensibilities of a Tom Clancy character with the aggressive tactics of 24’s hero Jack Bauer. While on paper, this sounds like it could make for some intensely compelling gameplay, this title is treading new ground for the role-playing genre an it will be interesting to see how it ultimately plays out.
As well as focusing in on a popular genre, Alpha Protocol has a great chance of becoming a successful new intellectual property thanks in part to the reputation of its developer Obsidian – the team who were also behind the successful RPG sequels Knights of the Old Republic 2 and Neverwinter Nights 2.
Looking at the current build of the game, it looks to be quite similar to BioWare’s Mass Effect in that it feels more like an action title than a traditional run of the mill RPG. Though, unlike Mass Effect, you can’t control what your character looks like. In Alpha Protocol we are given rookie CIA agent Michael Thorton, and that’s it. Obsidian believes that the fun of Michael lies in the fact that he is a blank canvas, with gamers given the opportunity of moulding his personality according to the way that they have Michael interact with other characters in the world as he uncovers the conspiracy behind those that have betrayed him.
Like any good RPG, there is always a ‘hub’, a base of operations for your player to work out of. In Alpha Protocol the hub will be the Safehouse, which is a place where you can hang out between missions to stock up on equipment, mess around with your character’s stats and pick the next mission. Obsidian has gone one step further, as activities that you do in the Safehouse can actually affect the main story. Obsidian have explained that while you are in the Safehouse, you are able to converse with ‘handlers’ and other factions that you’ve met in the world, trade weapons and gadgets and search for clues and follow up leads, making your hub feel like more than just an obligatory pit stop to cash in your loot from the previous mission.
The missions of Alpha Protocol will be non-linear, with the developer stating that there will be several ways for players to tackle missions, which will affect how the ending of each mission plays out. Obsidian have also been quick to point out that you will not be penalised for tackling a mission a particular way, meaning that a mission can be completed just as successfully if you roll in guns blazing as it would if you snuck around Sam Fisher style. There will also be a number of side quests for players to tackle, and in terms of the game as a whole, there will be a number of different endings as well – of course, all depending on the choices you made throughout the game. Of course, with the title playing in a modern context, there is no defined Good or Evil, only varying shades of grey. How you interact with the game’s different factions (which depends on your choices throughout the entirety of the game) will in fact determine just which shade of grey you will end up with.
Alpha Protocol’s gameplay will be driven by both the on-screen action and the dialogue system. In terms of the game’s dialogue system it will play out similarly to that of BioWare’s system in Mass Effect. Each dialogue choice will tell you exactly what emotion will play out with your next response, and what effect it will have on the person on the other side of the conversation. Obsidian has also tried to add in a sense of tension by giving players short time limits for their responses, in order to inject a feeling of dramatic tension – something which the developer believes is an integral aspect of all good spy films – and will mean that players will have to make their choices instinctively, rather than weighing the pros and cons of their decision. Obsidian have pointed out that this structure has been put in place to combat the common criticism amongst many console RPG’s where your choices will either ultimately end up with the same conclusion, or some of the dialogue options choices will have you scratching your head as they don’t have the outcome that you expected.
The title’s gameplay looks like it will play out closely to that of most third-person action titles. Players will have a combination of abilities, skills, guns and gadgets on hand to tap in to. Although the spy setting lends itself quite intimately to carrying around a whole arsenal of customised weaponry on your back, the developer has advised that there will be melee combat on offer as well, even going as far as boasting that it is possible to complete the game in its entirety without killing an enemy – thanks to the combination of lethal and non-lethal takedowns on offer. As mentioned before, each mission can be completed in a variety of ways, from cloak and dagger stealthiness to round expending bullet parties and everything in between.
The main crux of the title that Obsidian wants to point out is that every action you take has a significant reaction; that every single choice you make in the game will change the world around you. How this all affects Michael will be measured by how factions interact with him and even as far as how news broadcasts on TV depict him.
There is plenty to be intrigued about in regards to Alpha Protocol, and with the variety of dialogue options and the impact they will have on character relationships, there looks to be a lot of scope for replayability with the title. Will Michael Thornton be videogaming’s new favourite spy? We’ll just have to wait until October 2009 to find out.
Overall:
A fresh take on the espionage angle has definitely put Alpha Protocol onto our radar. It’s combination of guns gadgets and general ass kickery makes Michael Thornton a secret agent man that we’re looking forward to meeting.
Warcraft Tavern
Warcraft DB
Diablo Tavern