Alpha Protocol

Incredibly underrated

I had played Alpha Protocol back then (2012/2013) when it was a supplement in a gaming magazine and played it again 1 year ago. Even then, 2 years after release, the game was hopelessly outdated. The graphics are sometimes very muddy. The combat system is very incorrect and unclean. The controls are okay, but can also be awkward at times. The story is unfortunately very predictable. I think there have been few games that I have enjoyed as little as this one. I found some of it more of an imposition to struggle through. The mini-games are annoying and some of the dialog is a joke. All in all, typical Obsidian. They had great ambitions, great ideas and creative approaches, but in the end they didn't bring it all together properly.

Quite a surprise to see this one re-appearing. This mixed rpg/shooter, well not really a shooter. more metal gear solid style approach that include stealth. Have the original dvd and case still so not going to rebuy though.

Buy it if you want but know what you are in for First, the tutorial is frustratingly opaque. Hacking requires you to input two different codes with two different control schemes during a seizure-inducing display of rapidly changing alpha-numeric symbols. If you were unfortunate enough to alter the control scheme directions given will reflect your selection but not the reality -default select key will still be Spacebar rather than what you chose Second, the gameplay is horrid. Enemies can simultaneously block and attack, switch fluidly between fire-arms and melee for John Wick style combat, never run out of stamina, and run, aim, and fire. You can do, literally, none of that. There are boss fights with infinite adds, bases that you clear will be filled again with enemies at the end -for fear of being too easy it robs you of all agency and reactivity Third, hidden and hard-bound keys. How do you switch shoulders perspectives when using a firearm? No clue, if you accidentally managed to do so there is nowhere to look in order to find out which key it is let alone customize it. Want to open the PDA they keep referencing? It's Tab, but the game won't tell you that Fourth, the game saves for you at its own discretion. You have no control over your saves Fifth, poor AI. Enemies soft track the player, can fire through walls, and, unlike the player, never get stuck on doorways or terrain -which you will, frequently, every time you try and round a corner in combat Sixth, dialogue which influences everything (from story to relationships) without giving any clue what you are going to say and only the tone of your delivery Seventh, triggers are bound to design choices not reflective of gameplay. Be as stealthy as you want, alerts will sound and bad guys ambush you anyway. Build your character anyway you want, but there is a reason why half the available skills are for melee or firearms -because no matter how sneaky you are everything ends with big, terrible, gun fights

It si interesting and authentic experience - mix of RPG, espionage and pretty complicated plot. But gameplay mechanics, like moving, combat, and level design are rather far from perfect. In some dialogs You can not be sure, that the character wiil way that, what You choose. The main value of this game is that it is unique product which was brought back from nowhere to GOG.