Alpha Protocol

The game makes you feel like a real spy, complete with all the research-based legwork. In those respects, there are few games like it. Whether or not you like Alpha Protocol is probably going to depend on your proclivity for spy lore itself. But if you've ever wanted to be a secret agent, you could do a hell of a lot worse.

If you can deal with the frustration of the stealth gameplay, and don’t mind RPG elements or the fact you have to play through it at least twice to get true value out of the game, this is a definite buy and if you have the option I would buy it for the PC.

This is a bold and interesting proposal, although very buggy. But it will surprise many for its freshness and freedom.

Are you good or evil? Or both? And should you buy this game? It may not be as good as Mass Effect 2, but it’s still a lot of fun to follow Mike through his adventures, despite some out of date graphics and the dumb AI, because as a role playing game, it just works fine.

Just like Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines before it, Alpha Protocol is a diamond in the rough, yet another chance to create an excellent RPG, but ultimately sabotaged by technical issues and questionable design decisions.

An astounding variety of ethical decisions, a wide range of believable, fun characters and a thrilling 24esque storyline make Alpha Protocol one of the most compelling role playing games of the last years. But be warned: The artificial intelligence is at times dumb as a rock, the save system seems rather antiquated, the graphics don’t hold up to the genre standard and the mini games are clearly not made for PC gamers. However, Alpha Protocol combines an enthralling storyline with a functioning role playing core and the highest grade of replayability in years! Well made, Obsidian!

The combat and final mission are weak, but the story strands that bind it all together are excitingly unique to each other. [July 2010, p.87]

It’s a solid spy adventure that deserves to be rediscovered, and it’s a reminder that even the seventh generation’s second- or third-tier games were still pretty exceptional.

From the beginning of the game, till the ending, I was relatively pleased with how important and impactful the decisions I made were.

Obsidian doesn't produce the prettiest games, or the ones with the most impressive production values, but if there is one thing this studio does very well it's writing and they give another lesson of that with Alpha Protocol, inventing a solid, interesting and intriguing story in a world of spies and conspiracies. But beyond the quality, the most impressive thing is how the studio has managed to integrate decisions with story in a convincing way, creating a game where different choices, playstyles and attitudes have a direct impact on the narrative.