Forum Overview :: Alpha Protocol :: Bullshit.

[quote name="Lizard_King"]There hasn't been an rpg that attempts and succeeds at choice like this since voice acting took over. If you're looking for Mass Effect (tightly scripted action and events with a few key junctures and variables that don't really change the arc), it's not that. It makes you think that it's System Shock or Deus Ex at first in terms of stat implementation, but it's actually pretty well balanced for not making you incompetent but still having the upgrades matter. It also avoids "just upgrading a number that pops up over the enemies' heads" like Borderlands. If you haven't watched Chris Avellone and his fellow nerds describe the thinking behind it, and why it's not Baldur's Gate or Fallout, it's <a href="http://blip.tv/file/3491456/">worth checking out</a>. The writing and plot is Tom Clancy's RPG, but the implementation is interesting enough that it lends a great deal of complexity and flavor to what should be a shallow experience. The action sets up gamey conventions for the Hollywood spy's moves, and for the most part succeeds. The minigames (lockpicking, hacking, etc) are probably the best I've seen in a while (esp. lockpicking), although they do not work as well with keyboard controls. The whining about the hacking is ridiculous...the game gives you many ways to accomplish goals and you can completely ignore huge parts of the game if they are not to your liking. I went full stealth and nonlethal, whereas my wife has apparently decided she is Jack Bauer with even looser ethics and much greater firepower. Both approaches seem to be giving very different results, but the hardest part was just unlearning the pursuit of brownie points instead of making narrative choices. That's a feature, not a problem. The caveat is that if you played the PC version only I could see being upset with it. The graphics are glitchy, and the combat can be frustrating thanks to those problems. The xbox version is far superior in terms of optimization. I would still play it if PC was my only option, but the xbox and presumably the puss3 version (?) are where it's at. Either way, I'm pretty sure the 360 controller is the best way to handle it. Rent, then buy to support the cause. [/quote]