Multiplat Alpha Protocol

[HBK619]

This is one of my most anticipated games of 2009 which I have no doubt has snuck under the radar of MANY a gamer who will be saying Alpha Whatacol?

Basically Alpha Protocol is going to be an Action RPG which will allow you to be the ultimate Spy. You can mould your character to become the Spy that YOU want him to be. Whether you want to be stealthy, run and gun or a mix of both or something completely different you can be in this game.

From what I am seeing and hearing the game reminds me very much of a far more in-depth Hitman. You will be able to approach missions from all different directions and in all different manners and that is probably my most loved element from ANY game, the ability to approach missions in any different style.

The first CGI trailer below is what first got me onto this game, I rate it as one of the best game trailers I've ever seen for a game.

Platforms: PlayStation 3, XBOX 360 & PC.
Published by: SEGA
Developed by: Obsidian Entertainment(Developer of Fallout: New Vegas, KOTOR II)
Release Date: Autumn 2010
Genre: Action RPG
Online/Multiplayer: No

BOX ART:

Loyalty carries a price and no one knows this more than agent Michael Thorton. A talented young agent cast out by his government, Thorton is the only one with the information needed to stop an impending international catastrophe. To do so means he must cut himself off from the very people he is sworn to protect. As players determine how to accomplish different objectives, the decisions made and actions taken in each mission will ultimately transform the type of secret agent Michael Thorton will become. Every choice the player makes as Michael Thorton will carry consequences for his future and the fate of the world.

General Features

• Redefined RPG – Classless system gives players the ability to mold 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 travel around the world to international safe house locations to obtain information, mission objectives and conduct meetings with a growing list of contacts
  
  
• Dialogue Stance System – With an innovative real-time dialogue system, the characters in Alpha Protocol reacts to Thorton's each and every word

IGN Interviews, Previews and Hands-on:
ALPHA PROTOCOL FIRST 3 HOURS HANDS-ON
ALPHA PROTOCOL UK PREVIEW
ALPHA PROTOCOL DEVELOPER INTERVIEW PART 1
ALPHA PROTOCOL DEVELOPER INTERVIEW PART 2

Wikipedia:
ALPHA PROTOCOL WIKIPEDIA

Gametrailers:
ALPHA PROTOCOL E3 '09 TRAVEL INTERVIEW
ALPHA PROTOCOL E3 '08 INTERVIEW

Alpha Protocol CGI Trailer:
[YOUTUBE]l8O7YzkwZdw[/YOUTUBE]

Alpha Protocol Trailer:
[YOUTUBE]Lox7IGllexU[/YOUTUBE]
Alpha Protocol Gameplay Walkthrough Part 1:
[YOUTUBE]SIKFsOlx3d0&[/YOUTUBE]

Alpha Protocol Gameplay Walthrough Part 2:
[YOUTUBE]oGuLnXqxvaY[/YOUTUBE]

 

[Ochre]

Alpha Whatacol?

 

[Kerrby]

I have no doubt has snuck under the radar of MANY a gamer who will be saying Alpha Whatacol?

 

[Kerrby]

The game was supposed to come out today but today they announced it's delayed. Sorry hbn00b, you'll have to wait.

Alpha Protocol Officially Delayed to 2010

Putting long running rumors to rest, Sega has officially announced the delay of action RPG Alpha Protocol. Fittingly, the announcement comes on the day of it’s original planned release.

While up most retailers had already modified the dates, Sega’s official site for the game wouldn’t budge until today, even listing the game as already out for a brief period. They have since changed all three versions (PC, PS3 and Xbox 360) to a “Spring, 2010″ release.

http://gamingdead.com/2009/10/06/alpha-protocol-officially-delayed-to-2010

 

[HBK619]

Nothing to be sorry about. I'm ****ing stoked. Not only will this get some good time to work out all the issues that some previewers have noticed. But I can actually afford to buy some other games now and get some good time into others like Uncharted 2, Brutal Legend, Fallout 3 GOTY and once their out MW2 and Assassin's Creed 2 next month.

Fantastic news.

 

[Kerrby]

Not really "Fantasic news", it's coming out the same time as "Heavy Rain, Gran Turismo 5, God of War, Australian Rules Footy, Bioshock 2, Dead Rising 2 and Sonys Motion Controller"

lol.

 

[HBK619]

Not really "Fantasic news", it's coming out the same time as "Heavy Rain, Gran Turismo 5, God of War, Australian Rules Footy, Bioshock 2, Dead Rising 2 and Sonys Motion Controller"

lol.

Yeah and this month alone has/had FIFA 10, Brutal Legend, NBA 2K10, Uncharted 2, Fallout 3 GOTY with MW2, Assassin's Creed 2 and God of War Collection next month as well. 8 potential definite buys in 2 months. That's without Alpha Protocol in there.

Doubt I'll be getting Bioshock 2 yet as I need to play the first. AFL 2010, Heavy Rain and God of War 3 are the only solid's that I will be getting at that time. GT5 depends on when it's out (Could still find it's way to mid 2010) but I'll be getting it day one for sure. Motion controller while it looks good isn't a must buy for me, same with DR2 right now until I see much more. So 4 potential definite buys compared to 8

It's great news for the game as it wasn't looking as finished as it could be.

It all really depends on where abouts RAGE, Max Payne 3, RDR and Mafia 2 end up getting released. But it's a good thing for Alpha Protocol right now.

 

[HBK619]

Delayed again to late 2010 for more "polish". FFS.

Does sound like they're adding and tweaking the right things though.

Source: http://news.vgchartz.com/news.php?id=6927

Remember back when Alpha Protocol, Obisidian/SEGA's modern-day action RPG, was first supposed to come out, in October 2009? It was unceremoniously pushed back to spring 2010 after the release date came and went, and it has now been delayed even further to fall 2010. Why? SEGA Assistant Producer Matthew Hickman explains to MTV:

"We had a few reasons for doing it. One: We wanted to position it better, give it a lot of time. The main reason: We really wanted to polish the game up, make it everything Obsidian planned it to be, and give the consumer a very polished game."

"We added a couple of other things. Tweaks in lighting here and there, added the inventory comparison screen so you can compare what you're buying to what you have equipped. Just bringing the whole quality level up."​

 

[sacka]

Looks like it may have a set release date AGAIN.

For North America, the release date has been nailed down as June 1. Europe will get it a few days earlier on May 28. Those in Australia will get it earlier still on May 27.

http://au.xbox360.ign.com/articles/107/1071691p1.html

 

[HBK619]

Must've finished the polishing earlier than expected.

I really hope this game can work and be good. A few things I'm worried about with the game is that because it's an action-RPG it means that the controls will need to be smooth, the problem is they look a bit clunky, especially the aiming. Hopefully it's more a look issue than it is when playing, but that's my biggest worry right now.

 

[sacka]

Has anyone picked this baby up?
Doesn't look like it's getting positive reviews and there might of been some animosity inhouse.

“There was a ton of work put into this game. The problem is that it was a ton of undirected work, or work on things that were just stupid. The Executive Producer for the game, Chris Parker (also an owner of the company), seemed to think he was the world’s greatest designer ever, and created all these absolutely shitty systems and wouldn’t listen to any of the real designers or devs about things that just didn’t work.

He basically took over the game and dictated exactly how everything would work (or not work, as the case may be). The other producers realized this early on and just gave up, leaving Parker to
micromanage all the designers and programmers directly.

“This game was just an absolute failure of production, and it’s no wonder that so many of the developers left the company, even after the 40% staff layoffs. I am still happy about some of Obsidian’s other current projects, New Vegas included, because they are going pretty well. Their big unannounced project is looking great and is already much better than AP ever was, and that may end up being the game that everyone was looking for with AP.

The last comments sound promising on a unannounced project

http://www.vg247.com/2010/05/29/app...s-game-should-have-been-cancelled/#more-97841

Oh and B/F search function sucks

 

[HBK619]

I hadn't even realised that it was out until you made the post.

IGN haven't given us anything in terms of a review yet which is fairly boggling as they'll usually give us something for a game no matter how good or bad. Maybe on Wednesday the US review will go up (due to Monday being some holiday in the US).

Obviously looking like a stay away from game now. And highlighted in those quotes you put up Sacka it seems that there's been so much turmoil that we weren't alerted of. It screams bullshit. Why did we get nothing but "Oh this game is coming along great" "the delays were for polishing reasons only" when quite clearly it wasn't and it was due to pure shit developing.

A lot of it smacks of what LA Noire went through in it's early development stages and cause Sony to back out of funding for it. Heavy handed and cocky owner who thinks he's a genius and can only have the game done a very specific way to his liking. Causing numerous delays and funding issues.

Disappointing overall that nothing great came of that brilliant first CGI trailer showing so much potential. But it was becoming more and more obvious as the previews and hands-on were coming in that this game probably wasn't going to be as good as it should've.

It better not be a sign that New Vegas will have issues. And I'll look forward to seeing what this unannounced title is.

 

[HBK619]

Review finally out.

Source: http://au.ps3.ign.com/articles/109/1094204p1.html

IGN US REVIEW - ALPHA PROTOCOL

Closing Comments
Obsidian's Alpha Protocol offers an original setting and the power of choice. It's a game where you decide the fate of a majority of the cast, giving you the sense that the story is guided as much by you as it is by the designers. With a number of ways to customize the experience – you can play as a stealth agent with a silenced pistol or bullet-spraying berserker – it initially seems like everything should be in place for an entertaining role-playing experience. But Obsidian fumbled this one, badly in spots. A more rounded cast of characters could have helped out immensely because it's difficult to build up any emotional investment with the stereotypical personalities wrapped up in this twisting tale of conspiracy and global domination. Imbalanced skills, glitches, dim-witted enemies, and repetitive encounters further undercut the entertainment, making Alpha Protocol a game you can safely pass by.

6.0 Presentation
The actual story is pretty good, but the uneven tone and flat, boring characters make it hard to care about what's happening.

5.0 Graphics
Framerate issues on consoles, blandly designed stages, poor animations, and little that's interesting to look at.

6.5 Sound
Thorton's voice acting is well done, but the rest of the quality is spotty. Music is appropriate, but you won't remember a single track after the game's turned off.

6.5 Gameplay
Decision mechanics during conversations are the most entertaining part. Lots of customization with a few cool skills, but the encounters are repetitive and glitchy.

6.0 Lasting Appeal
You could play through to see what different effects your decisions have on the world a second time, but it's tough to drum up the resolve to do so.

OVERALL 6.3

[youtube]SjsvSDgcNUA[/youtube]

 

[Forrest Gimp]

I'm thinking I might buy this anyway. All the bad points seem to be things that I can live with, and with an apparently well written story, along with good conversation and path-branching system's I think I'll enjoy it even with all the average reviews.

There have been a few games that reviewed poorly that I really enjoyed ala Kane & Lynch, and I think this will be in that category.

 

[Polo]

I'm thinking I might buy this anyway. All the bad points seem to be things that I can live with, and with an apparently well written story, along with good conversation and path-branching system's I think I'll enjoy it even with all the average reviews.

There have been a few games that reviewed poorly that I really enjoyed ala Kane & Lynch, and I think this will be in that category.

Agreed, I've been looking forward to this game since this time last year. I'm going in expecting a good story with plenty of choice and an RPG with shooter mechanics instead of the other way around so hopefully I won't be let down. 1UP has a more positive review at http://www.1up.com/do/reviewPage?cId=3179545.

I'm one of few who really enjoyed Too Human, so there's proof a few flaws won't get in my way

 

[Chops18]

I picked this up today and i dont know how to feel about this game i want to like it has the potential to be a great game but theres something i just dont like. The shooting in this is pretty crappy from what i have played so far and to me thats a big issue but to others it may be a non issue.

Anyone else played this yet ?

 

[Polo]

I'm still waiting for my copy from the U.K. but from what I've read and heard in reviews, etc. the game gets a lot better after the first missions. Hopefully I'll be able to play next week.

If you're in it for the shooting you'll be disappointed.

 

[Chops18]

I'm still waiting for my copy from the U.K. but from what I've read and heard in reviews, etc. the game gets a lot better after the first missions. Hopefully I'll be able to play next week.

If you're in it for the shooting you'll be disappointed.

Not really in it for the shooting and dont care if there isn't much of it just not a fan of the mechanics of the shooting in this game.

 

[Chops18]

I'm still waiting for my copy from the U.K. but from what I've read and heard in reviews, etc. the game gets a lot better after the first missions. Hopefully I'll be able to play next week.

If you're in it for the shooting you'll be disappointed.

I take back everything i said you were spot on with that. Im one of those gamers if it doens't impress me from the start i will always think about taking it back for another game im glad i didn't do this with Alpha Protocol as it roped me in and now i love it
From now on i think i may play a game longer than a few hours befor giving opinions on a game

 

[Sman-21]

Massively underrated game.

Absolutely loved it (PC version)

There were annoying things like the way u reply to people.
Before they even finish what there saying you have to try an guess where there headed and while there still talking you need to choose an answer out of 3 or 4 very vague options and hope the reply is sort of what u were expecting.

But the choices you make have a massive impact on how the game plays out.

1 of the very few games i could actually play again as there are so many different ways to play it an choices to make.

 

[Forrest Gimp]

I'll be buying this when it's on sale on Steam... $70 means they can kiss my arse.

 

[Viney]

Picked it up for $18 at that GAME sale a few weeks back but yet to play

Might give it a go this week

 

[Kerrby]

Picked it up for $18 at that GAME sale a few weeks back but yet to play

Might give it a go this week

PC or 360 version?

 

[Viney]

PC or 360 version?

360, I don't game on PC