Prototype

Yes, the game already has it's own topic (which can be found HERE), but as most of that was pre-game hype, I thought I'd do something now that a few of us have spent time with the finished product.

Let's not beat around the bush though, first and foremost it's quite possibly the best sandbox game ever made.

Before we go too far with that sweeping opening statement though, let's take a step back and deal with a few potential negatives. So it's set in New York. How many games have done this now? Spider-Man 2 and 3 both did it very recently, and there is a nagging sense of deja vu as you make your way around NY, very much like you've seen the city from most angles already. The novelty of seeing the sights has worn off, well and truly.

It's borrowed a few ideas from other games too. There are elements of Assassin's Creed, Crackdown, Saints Row 2 and Hulk Ultimate Destruction all immediately obvious. Actually, the last one isn't unexpected, as Prototype is by the same developers, so let's deal with the others shall we? Assassin's Creed might seem an odd link to this, yet when you're on ground level walking through the crowds, the way Alex (the MC) moves past people is almost identical to Altair; gently moving people aside and sliding into gaps in the masses. The whole parkour element is there too, though obviously Alex is considerably better at it than Altair. Like Crackdown, Prototype encourages you to get around by jumping lots as it's much quicker than walking, and unlike Hulk UD, Alex isn't entirely reliant on his powers either; he's entirely able to pick up any weapon used by your opponent. The lock on system, is very much the same as that in Crackdown and SR2 as well.

Yes, it does borrow elements from other games, but they all work where they're supposed to.

It's also very violent and features a lot of swearing. The BBFC 18 Cert it carries in the UK is well deserved, though much like SR2 you can't help but feeling that some of the swearing is rather unnecessary. Yes, the same situation in real life probably would elicit lots of four letter words, but you kinda get the impression that the game's just trying to be 'mature'. I sound like an old fart, I know.

The opening tutorial is poor too, giving you a tantalising glimpse of life at 100% power against a few enemies, then snatching it all away from you with a simple..."a few days earlier...". Lame and rather unnecessary, given that the first few missions do a fine job of walking you through the basics anyway. Actually, the story is a little trite too, though I have yet to see it to it's conclusion, so maybe there is something mind blowing waiting for me. Thus far, it's the rather predictable 'experiment-gone-awry' all the way.

Okay, enough of that, and onto the positives.

The gameworld may be familiar, but it's never been so densely populated nor as detailed, and thanks largely to Alex's huge arsenal of moves it's a joy to explore. Ah yes, the moves. Alex himself has a few basic powers at his disposal, divided into four main categories; Defence, Offence, Sensory and Disguise. Offence involves changing a part of his body into a weapon, be it blade or club, defense means either erecting a shield or turning your body to armour, sensory heightens your senses, granting Predator-esque heat vision (ideal when you can't see for the smoke of all those tanks and chopper you just took down), and disguise does what it says on the tin. You can mix and match as you like, and most of them have multiple uses. The shield, while a defensive power, can be used as a mobile battering ram. Charge forward, and you'll smash aside anything in your path.

He can also consume any living thing in game, which in the case of most of the populace means you get back a chunk of health and assume their identity (the disguise category mentioned above), though in some cases you'll unlock extra memories if you happen to attack thsoe connected with your own past in some way. These people are amrked when you're near enough, and there are 131 in the game, all of which are required to see the full story.

Other powers include the token mega jump, allowing Alex to clear huge distances quickly, limited gliding, he can run up sheer surfaces a la Spidey and fall from ny height without any damage. His most interesting abilty is in some ways the most mundane; his parkour. I mentioned it earlier, in relation to Assassin's Creed, yet here it's further refined and over-the-top. You can run at a car and Alex will somersault over it, but while you're doing so, you're free to press the grab button, picking up said car, and launch it down the road, all without breaking stride. In fact, the combat system is one of the best things about the game. Unlike inFamous, which felt stupidly restrictive, you can do just about anything you like when you like. You can lock on to a target with the left trigger, and then flick between your options with the right stick. Option? Oh yes, and then some. Want to jump from on high, pump a few rounds into the soliders below, then chuck away your gun and elbow drop a tank? Done. Beat down a helicopter, then jump and catch it's falling corpse before throwing it t the other chopper two blocks away without ever landing? Done. Better yet, and unlike just about every other super hero style game, you can use anything you can lay your hands on. Pick up a gun? A rocket launcher? Yes and yes. Hijack that tank? Leap onto a helicopter mid air and steal that? Oh yes. It's as good as it sounds.

The graphics are good rather than gobsmacking, though draw distance is huge and it's smooth as silk, particularly impressive given that there are often in excess of fifty characters on screen, either running for their lives, or trying to shoot your face off. The voice acting's pretty good too, though the odd repeated line does keep popping up.

I'm running out of things to say now, so I'll keep the rest brief; Prototype is a real joy to play, it's a true sandbox title in every sense of the word and unlike inFamous it wholly succeeds in what it's trying to do, never forgetting that it's a piece of entertainment first and foremost.

Best sandbox game ever, and best game of the year so far.

Sounds sexy. I'll have to buy it.

I'll stick this in the Review board, since this is clearly an excellent review on your part.

IMO, the worst part about this game is that there's no option to restart a challenge without outright leaving the challenge area or outright failing. Other than that, one of the best games I've ever played.

Yes. A proper masterpiece of sandbox action gaming.

The upgrade system on the military side of things si something I'm growing to love as well (even though I'm still only 10 or so missions into the game because of the fun freeroaming). Upgrading stuff like weapons skill and driving skill is done by consuming military specialists in those areas, rather than just purchasing them. And consuming the right people can also give the ability to call in artillery strikes on anything you want.

Also...

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Assassin's Creed might seem an odd link to this, yet when you're on ground level walking through the crowds, the way Alex (the MC) moves past people is almost identical to Altair; gently moving people aside and sliding into gaps in the masses.

Gently? Even at walking pace he smacks people in the face if they get to close.

A_Nonny_Moose wrote:

The upgrade system on the military side of things si something I'm growing to love as well.

Yeah, I've already got the achievement for attacking bases. It's wonderfully done; sneak into the area, consume the commander, enter the interior, consume two-three targets within, then demolish everyone inside in a heartbeat. Exit, then hijack a tank and destroy the building itself. It's not only hugely satisfying, it nets you lots of experience points; vital when the later upgrades cost over half a million points each.

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Gently? Even at walking pace he smacks people in the face if they get to close.

Granted, but it still reminded me of AC.

I still spend a lot of time just running around at street level. Landing on cars from a height is always fun.

I'm around sixteen missions into the story, yet I've spent a good few hours just attacking hives/bases. It's helped my EP no end. Elbow dropping a tank from 800 feet never gets old.

The most amazing thing about this game is how much of a shitstopper it is. It lives through hype and turns out to be great!? Admit it, that is near impossible for a majority of games, the others who usually succeed as well aren't all that either, they were just lucky enough not to be shit.

Persona 4 suffered from this. So did DMC4, sadly.

I'm only about 10 missions in I think. I'm at the point where the mobile detectors are around now. Got my first Devastator too, the groundspike one. Seeing various body parts just strewn around after doing it is great.

I love how dense this game is. Most crowded game I've played.

yeh boi i fel wut u sayin nigga

One of my favourite aspects of movement is that when you hit a wall to start running, it has Alex run in the direction you specify. So often in games like Spiderman would I swing into a wall to wallrun, but because the angle was JUST off, I end up running in a completely wrong direction... like down.

I liked the part where you press the x button.

I haven't yet found a use for the Groundspike devastator. The Tendril one is still the best all rounder.

I agree with you there.

BTW, which transformations do you like the most? I'm expecially fond of the Whipfist and, to my surprise, I think that I like the Blade transformation the least.

The whipfist is great for aerial stunts, like pulling down helicopters, but I find it rather tricky to use on the ground, especially as it's nigh on useless against Hunters or Tanks. The blade is very powerful, but a little soulless, and I tend to stick with the trusty Claws/Shield combo for the most part, then switch to the Hammerfist when I need a little more grunt.

I only ever use musclemass for throwing things at helicopters when I'm on rooftops, and while the Armour looks cool, I don't like not being able to diveroll or parkour over stuff.

You guys better not be exaggerating, I'll totally kick your asses if it's not as good as you say.

I just got the long range grab for the whipfist. Makes strike teams so much easier to deal with, especially in a crowd. Don't use the claws much, hammerfist most of the time. And the blade now that I have it. I prefer the armour to the shield too.

There's something for everyone.

It just gets better the more you play. Awesome.

Anyone have any "epic moments" yet?

I was doing an Infected Consume mission, deeming that I destroy a certain Hive within the time limit. I get an APC right off the bat and blow the shit out of it, but then I run out of shells; knowing that bullets wouldn't destroy it in time, I hop out and switch to Musclemass, chucking nearby vehicles and debris at it. However, the darned Hunters kept interrupting my attacks, making my successful throws few and far between. As the time nearly ran out, I desperately grab a nearby pedestrian and throw it at the Hive. BOOM! Mission complete! I just blew up a building by throwing a civilian at it! XD

one of my friends took out a helicopter by chucking a random granny at it, does that count?

There's so much ridiculously cool stuff you can do, like sprinting up a street, leap over a car and toss it down the road, then whiparm onto it and catch up with it as it smashes into it's target. Actually, one of my favourite tricks is skyjacking a helicopter, then shooting up army bases with it; as your flaming wreckage eventually falls to the ground, you simply Whiparm over to the nearest Helicopter as you're falling, and begin again.

It's also a really easy way to rack up EP. I'm fairly well through the missions now, hence the constant presence of Strike 'copters, so taking down each Hive nets 25000pts, and as they respawn so quickly, you can just keep attacking them in the 'copter for easy points. Attack, destroy, move onto the next one.

Which is good, since the later upgrades got HUGE amounts of EP. Like, say, 1,500,000...

The most expensive upgrade I've seen yet is around 675,000, but the majority of them at this stage of the game are over half a million or so.

I spend time taking out the infected water towers with a chopper rather than the hives. They're probably the easiest thing in the game to destroy and they're 10'000 EP each.

Got the elbow drop for hammerfist now too. Love doing it on people.

As far as story I'm at the introduction of armoured hives.