Prototype

"Oh no New York is in Danger."

CHALLENGE: Decently difficult. I usually start most games out on the HARD setting, but Prototype only lets you go as high as MEDIUM your first time around. The challenges are there, but I have only died once or twice (mostly because I didn't understand the gameplay mechanics yet). I have yet to play it on HARD, but I am sure the challenge will be greater as you progress. I also like it slightly harder to die because it really grasps the main character's (Alex Mercer) godlike abilities. "Yeah, shoot me with that M4 assault rifle...I'll just run up to you and consume your body alive!" It could be harder, but it would probably take away from the POWERFUL feeling you get when you play this game.

GRAPHICS: Okay guys, this is the scoop. If you want your game to look like GTAIV then you will be disappointed. You must understand that Prototype is about chaos and mayhem. All of the movement, combat, characters, vehicles, dismembered body parts, and ambiance of death and dismay really do eat up a lot of memory and processor use. I'd rather have my buildings look DECENT and have the combat look AWESOME. You might read bad graphics reviews and decide against the game, but you'd honestly be missing out on some of the most engaging and addictive combat I've ever experienced. Building explosions look horrible, the city buildings can't be destroyed, but I don't care at all when I'm playing. If you slam to the earth the asphault launches pieces into the air. Cars fly up in a shower of steel and flip backwards onto civilians. People fly high into the air or against buildings and the gore/damaged surface mechanics are really top-notch. I think this game looks great only because I can understand that when I'm in a huge fight using massive special powers, I would rather have my buildings look kind of bland than have a sluggish framerate.

LENGTH: This is solely based on how you play games. I have done almost all of the challenges and just randomly destroyed hives and military bases for hours before even embarking on the main story missions. It helps to build up your powers and it honestly never gets boring. If you're sick of challenges or destroying hives, sneaking into military bases and consuming skilled soldiers and learning how to use weapons/vehicles......you can always go do a story mission. I am at 12+ hours now and am starting mainly on the primary missions.

STORYLINE: It is awesome almost entirely because you don't know anything. You start off like the main character and only know that Manhattan has been quarantined and there is a super crazy virus out there. Oh yeah, and you have some amazing abilities now. You learn progressively by completing missions and consuming "targets of intrigue" by piecing together many different memories all tied to one big answer. I love this way of playing as the story unfolds. The story, as well, is well done with some twists, evil plots, and revenge. It's your basic, awesome video game script.

CONTROLS: I was worried about how you'd harness all of these awesome powers into one controller. Well, they did it and did it well. When I play, I hardly notice that I'm using the RB or LB bumpers to pull up a huge wheel of powers that I can wield when I please. It's seemless and very intuitive. I have NO complaints about the controls at all. Someone wrote a bad review based on a move making you press the X and B buttons at the same time.........wow - all of these awesome moves and combos and that's all they probably had left for that move and that gets a big complaint? Maybe some people would like a more complicated controller instead of using their thumb across those two buttons. Honestly, it's not hard at all.

INTERFACE: Goes along with controls. It all works together to form a fluid gameplay sequence. I especially like the opportunity to upgrade your character as you see fit. If you want more speed, put more of your EP points into speed categories first and then develop the others as you wish. The game evolves around your abilities and how you use them.

SOUND: I think the sound is great. Combat is combat, the vehicles and creatures all have different noises to differentiate the setting. The voiceover work might not be the best, but if I wanted that to be perfect I'd watch a movie. I'm wanting to play video games, not watch them.

OVERALL: I think Radical had the right idea. Focus a lot of time and money into the combat, abilities, and shape-shifting. Less energy spent detailing brick-by-brick of an apartment building on the street. Everything in the game looks next-gen "in my opinion" but agreeably, GTAIV is just beautiful beyond this game to no limits. This game, however, delivers fun, excitement, and shape-shifting mayhem. You will not be disappointed!

GET THIS GAME OR ATLEAST RENT IT

Reviewer's Score: 8/10, Originally Posted: 07/16/09

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