Alpha Protocol

I am shocked at seeing this one re-enter the market. Pirating this game has been the only way for new players to play it. This game is unique, and should be played by anyone interested in game design. It has a lot of jenky problems with it, but the choice and dialog systems are some of the best there is.

I got the game when it was brand new for PC back then. I played it to completion 5 times in a week. I liked it that much. The game is a third person action adventure, think of James Bond combined with Tomb Raider, with action and stealth combined to the levels you want to. You can be as gang ho or as stealth as you want as you can play the missions in multiple ways. You can upgrade your character the same way as you can in RPGs and focus on lethal ways or non lethal, to how to handle situations. The dialogue and story is also branching and can have quite different playthroughs depending on your choices and dialogues. The one thing that many misunderstood when the game was new, was the way combat was done. Due to the way the game looked, people thought it was in terms of how weapon and combat handles, a very poor third person shooter. But the thing they missed or chose to ignore was that the game combat mechanics are based on RPG elements, not that dissimilar to say Morrowind or other RPGs The aiming, weapon handling, accuracy etc, are all as in RPGs, not as in pure action games. Once you know this or understand this, you can have the time of your life in this awesome awesome game. I don't have the GOG version as I simply can't afford it nowdays, so I can't comment on any additions or extras this specific version has. The game was AWESOME when it was released and I couldn't recommend it enough. As long as you realize it is an RPG in third person shooter clothing. Be the best or worst agent you can be. :) 6 out of 5 stars.

Thank God for the gremlins at GOG preserving this blatantly unfinished, buggy, directionally challenged 6/10 classic from being forgotten and inaccessible forever. As jank as this game is, it is one of the most boundary pushing RPGs of the 2010's and a testament to the power of reactive game design. One of the best to ever do it. Go in knowing the combat sucks, the minigames suck, the art direction looks ripped from one of those scam mobile game ads on YouTube. But also go in knowing that you're playing something truly unique and ambitious. Here's to an eventual Alpha Protocol 2. Maybe someday!

Thanks GOG. Got this game on Steam and retail. Now on GOG. Love this game and GOG.