Prototype

"PROTOTYPE: I came, I saw, I shapechanged, I eviscerated"

[PROTOTYPE]

The rise of the Sandbox game has finally come to fruition, and oh how glad I am to subvert to this new overlord! Prototype delivers something games of this type have failed to provide us for too long: The feeling of absolute power. Mix that with a story delved out to you in a very creative and ingenious way and flawless framerate as you leap over the sky ceiling of Manhattan into a street filled with enemies waiting to be eviscerated, and you have possibly the highest quality playground ever.

Story: 9/10

You are Alex Mercer, the ultimate biological super weapon who just happened to have the misfortune to wake up in a morgue as scientists were about to perform the autopsy… and, even more misfortunate, you have no recollection of your past. No memories whatsoever, yet this flaw is corrected quickly.

Alex has the uncanny ability to consume any living person, taking on their appearance, mannerisms, voice, abilities, and memories. Consuming the right person unlocks part of the Web of Intrigue, which is where most of the plot is delved out to the player in short video segments. This is a very interesting, and new, style of storytelling- and more importantly, method of explaining the back-story. The story itself is full of conspiracies, and who doesn't love a good one of those?

The main event happening in the game is that the city is quickly being infected by a virus, one that turns those exposed into mindless, aggressive ‘Infected'. Of course, the military has quarantined the island and proceeds to eliminate the infected. Alex Mercer is thrown into the middle of this with one goal: Vengeance.

Characters are either forgetful or memorable. Alex himself portrays a very unique persona, and as the plot unravels, the player should connect to him more. Most other characters feel like they exist for plot purposes, but they perform better than your little sisters Junior High play performance.

Gameplay: 9/10

Alex's body has undergone fantastical changes, allowing him to leap over cars and outrun a cheetah, change his arms into a plethora of weapons, and various other unique abilities, all of which make you feel powerful. The first time you elbow slam a tank off a twenty-story building is somewhat of a defining moment; an epiphany, as it were. Also, your standard enemy dies like they would in real life; a marine is no match for foot-long razor sharp claws. Needless to say, this game is violent. Very accurately violent (specific attacks dismember in specific ways), yet still very violent.

The player must choose which weapon and which combos to use in order to defeat the myriad of enemies. Completing any task provides the player with ‘Evolution Points' (EP) that are used to upgrade Alex's array of abilities, from improving his sprinting speed to unlocking his most powerful attacks, such as weapon specific combos. Other abilities, such as skill with military weapons and vehicles, come from consuming individuals skilled in those themselves. Alex doesn't have time for thirty hours a week of target practice, but those marines do! (err, did!)

Movement around the city is, quite simply, amazing. Alex dodges obstacles with splendid fluidity, and is not fazed by any obstruction. He even sprints up the side of building with the same speed he runs down the street. Other abilities improve upon this grace, even allowing Alex to glide (comically reminding me of a flying squirrel) from the roof of each building to the next… or to land stealthily in an enemy position.

Stealth has a new aspect in this game. Alex's ability to change into other people is described as “long and short, a security nightmare”. Being pursued by multiple gunships and marines? Turn the corner and shift into the last soldier you consumed; your enemies will run by, none the wiser. This becomes more difficult late game, but the mechanic still exists. Some interesting abilities exist while disguised as another, such as accusing someone of being you and calling in artillery strikes… possible on military bases.

The game divides itself between missions and free-roam. Missions provide the character with a specific challenge, and is generally what you would expect, yet each mission introduces you to something interesting, be it plot, enemy, or skill. Free-roam allows the player to travel around the city, completing specific challenges (foot-races, glide challenges, kill challenges and an interesting war mode where the player temporarily allies with the military or the infected to defeat the other side, and ‘consume events' where the player absorbs a specific military or infected and must then complete a goal).

All together, inventive, fun… and challenging. I will admit, I'm not the greatest gamer, but those ‘specific challenges' give you an Olympic grade medal depending on performance, and achievements are awarded for getting all gold, and then performing the nigh impossible and gaining platinum medals. Some events will take one try, yet another took me thirty-nine tries to get gold.

Sound: 7/10

The soundtrack is nothing inspiring, yet in no way offensive. You won't be running out to find the soundtrack for the game, but you won't want to cover the music up with anything.
Other sound effects, from the slashing of your claws to the sound of a rocket flying by, are accurate and well done. Voice acting is also very well done, but some have disagreed with me on this. The voice of Alex does a good job a exhibiting the sardonic, vengeful character

Graphics: 8/10

This is where most complaints of the game are registered. Admittedly, the graphics are not life-changing. They in no way, however, are offensive, and in some areas they do quite well. This game is on PS3, 360, and PC, so some graphic lacking is expected, and one should consider it would take a top of-the-line PC, to run the game better than your hardworking 360 does. Simply put, don't choose this game like you did your girlfriends in high school.

Overall: 9/10

The best mutant filled, military overrun, shape shifting, people-absorbing, memory collecting playground I've ever spent hours in. Worth buying, without a doubt, if you're a fan of sandbox games. Or killing things. Killing things in very stylized and spectacular way.

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 06/17/09

Game Release: Prototype (US, 06/09/09)