Alpha Protocol

I already own this game on my PS3, but I bought it to show publishers, that keeping old games alive is not only the right thing but also profitable.

I know this is an old game that was not well received in 2010 but my god, maybe it's because the more modern games are so more soulless than this, or maybe it's because AP got destroyed by more polished games at the time like RDR, GOW3 and ME2, the game is so fun and unique that i don't think there's any game that does what Alpha Protocol does, is really a fun spy rpg where you never stop playing, not even when in dialogues, you got some liberties that shape the story that really brings in you the game. I really hope that GOG bringing this back make some waves and let SEGA know that people want more like Alpha Protocol, or even Obsidian (make something similar please?). Thank you VERY MUCH GOG for bringing back a game that i didn't play at the time cause i didn't even know it existed. If you are a fan of RPG games made by Obsidian and you enjoy having a story unfold as you play through with a lot of choices you can make you've got to try Alpha Protocol. The game has a lot of flaws but i really think that all the other nice things really outshine some of the dated gameplay.

As of this review, the game sits at 4.8 stars. People are glad to have this game back, and for good reason. There's truly no game like it, for better or worse. Over time, however, I expect the score to dip into the 3.5 range. Eventually, people are going to forget the miraculous preservation, and remember that this is still Alpha Protocol. So what is this game, really? Imagine you were an ambitious team at Obsidian. You were hell bent on making the ultimate modern spycraft RPG. Your biggest inspirations at the time were the original Mass Effect, and the classic Deus Ex games. But you also wanted to push the envelope and create a branching storyline where every decision you make has sweeping consequences down the road... ...But you didn't really have that much money. You remember that old Family Guy gag about the 6 million dollar man? The end result is one of the jankiest, clunkiest, most unbalanced AAA releases of the 7th generation. You can put all your skill points in pistols and cruise through the entire game on the hardest difficulty, or screw around with submachine guns and suffer the consequences. Enemy AI is braindead. Plot points often feel disconnected. My old steam version would crash constantly back in the day, although I believe this has been fixed with the GOG release. It's a hard game to love, but love it I do. I've played through this game like five times, and I still haven't seen a quarter of all the crazy things obsidian worked hard to put in it. The game's actual mission content is something you can get through in about 10 to 15 hours, but if you try to do enough playthroughs to see everything that can actually happen in the game's branching storyline, you're looking at an easy 100 hours. So if you decide to buy Obsidian's classic labor of love, understand what you're getting into. Alpha Protocol is one of the most ambitious games of all time, and it's held together with paper clips and rubber bands.

The five stars isn't for Alpha Protocol itself, but for GOG bringing it back. As a game, Alpha Protocol is dictionary definition Obsidian. Absolutely janky, but filled with some of the deepest roleplaying you'll find in the genre. It's probably my favorite of theirs for that reason, but understandably it won't carry that way for everyone. However, what GOG did here is amazing. Perfectly in line with their mission of making sure older games are made available again with modern systems in mind.

I know this kind of breaks the first rule but I just want to say Thank you GOG for bringing this game back. It's things like this why I adore this platform. It helps retain my faith in the gaming industry that a group exists to ensure gems like Alpha Protocol can be enjoyed by future generations. Note I have not played the GOG version but have played both the Steam release and X360 version. This game has some incredible flaws, but what the game does well, it does really really well. There are elements from some of your favoruite games, think Splinter Cell mets Lara Croft mixed with RPG elements. You will become engrossed in the story. You will at times doubt you made the 'right' choice throughout the story and this will of course make you want to play through the game again, if you're okay with slightly more than usual jank for a game from this period then you will absolutely enjoy it. It truly deserved a sequel, but I'm just glad this game is back on shelves again.. well digital shelves at least :)