Alpha Protocol

 PC
User Score
7.5

Generally favorable reviews- based on 603 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 394 out of 603
  2. Mixed: 131 out of 603
  3. Negative: 78 out of 603
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  1. apokalipto
    Aug 19, 2023
    8
    Very good game. I enjoyed playing this game a lot. I strongly recommend this.
  2. phoeniix23
    Jan 26, 2023
    8
    It's 2023 and I'm playing this game and am completely engrossed with it. Made me enjoy gaming again after slogging through God of War Ragnarok and suffering through Nioh 2. A bit rough at first, but power through and you'll feel like a superspy in no time. Looking forward to finally try Hitman Trilogy. Alpha Protocol got me interested in the stealth genre all over again.
  3. Dco326
    Aug 26, 2022
    8
    Ne znam sta bi rekao xD combat moze da bude MNOGO BOLJI neki bossevi su prelaki ali realno je znaimljiva igrica se predje jednom :d dijalozi mi se realno svidjaju stvarno ne znam ali sam hjteo da je predjem i bilo mi je fun :D ne bi igrao vise sigurno ali realno potrudili su se :D
  4. Ratingss
    Aug 17, 2022
    4
    A low budget Mass Effect clone that uses the dumb aiming system of the first Deus EX and other equally dumb mechanics to try to pretend to have some depth.
    Every single Obsidian game is like this, a bad game with a decent story that becomes borderline unplayable because of some gimmick that they use as a way to add fake depth since they cant do it properly through actually decent    A low budget Mass Effect clone that uses the dumb aiming system of the first Deus EX and other equally dumb mechanics to try to pretend to have some depth.
    Every single Obsidian game is like this, a bad game with a decent story that becomes borderline unplayable because of some gimmick that they use as a way to add fake depth since they cant do it properly through actually decent gameplay mechanics.
    Its too bad they have some of the best writers in the industry because these people suck ass at making games, their best game is literally just a mod of Fallout 3 that they would never been capable of doing from scratch.    … Expand
  5. F1_is_WWE
    Aug 14, 2022
    1
    This game is like Hitman Absolution but even more linear and with bogged down dialogue and RPG mecanics. There' s no point playing it unless you really like linear stealth games.
  6. Demon2017
    Jun 18, 2022
    4
    Очередное доказательство того, что Obsidian могут писать отличные сценарии, но делать очень посредственный геймплей и в данном случае, геймплей настолько плохой, что даже интересный сюжет не заставил меня проходить дальше.Очередное доказательство того, что Obsidian могут писать отличные сценарии, но делать очень посредственный геймплей и в данном случае, геймплей настолько плохой, что даже интересный сюжет не заставил меня проходить дальше.
  7. Kelen
    Oct 9, 2021
    8
    8/10 ❤️ - Very good
    (after completing the game)

    Amazing plot and atmosphere, in this respect this is the best agent / spy game I know.
    We have to make many non-obvious decisions that have a very significant impact on further events.

    Unfortunately, this game is technically underdeveloped. Shooting is broken, and it can effectively drive many people away from this title
  8. ylnylmn
    Mar 29, 2021
    6
    The game is simply mediocre. An unfinished game that hasn't done most of it. The chapters are boring too ordinary. Diagologists pass very quickly. I cannot give the answer I want. I have difficulty passing the section where he wants me to go secretly. But my equipment is not suitable for going secret and I cannot buy it because I have no money. I have to kill CIA agents and this isThe game is simply mediocre. An unfinished game that hasn't done most of it. The chapters are boring too ordinary. Diagologists pass very quickly. I cannot give the answer I want. I have difficulty passing the section where he wants me to go secretly. But my equipment is not suitable for going secret and I cannot buy it because I have no money. I have to kill CIA agents and this is affecting the relationship badly. It is difficult to aim the sniper scope badly on the Roman mission because the mouse control is bad. AI is bad. Computer hacking is annoying because mouse clicking is torture.I now understand why this game was not mentioned. So the story is good, but the gameplay sucks.… Expand
  9. Antictra
    Mar 7, 2021
    8
    Alpha Protocol is the game of the genre similar to Mass Effect series, but in the "espionage" setting of post cold war "war on terrorism"; I have found it to be done in a very interesting way, giving a player quite a lot of opportunities to change the result of the game. The choices matter in this game and bring consequences; the game still is quite linear and suffers from technicalAlpha Protocol is the game of the genre similar to Mass Effect series, but in the "espionage" setting of post cold war "war on terrorism"; I have found it to be done in a very interesting way, giving a player quite a lot of opportunities to change the result of the game. The choices matter in this game and bring consequences; the game still is quite linear and suffers from technical limitations of its engine... still worth to give it a try… Expand
  10. serious76
    Jan 31, 2021
    0
    Repetitive content, poor image quality, boring system, boring fighting,
    The worst
    Unreal Engine
    game
  11. Cyberevil
    Dec 28, 2020
    7
    To summarize this game in one sentence: Entertaining espionage romp with decisions that matter held back by developers with too much ambition, too little money, or both.
  12. Traxillion
    Nov 28, 2020
    8
    A real case of Dr.Jekyll and Mr.Hide.

    If you can ignore the numerous issues with almost everything that is related to the gameplay there's one of the best and most unique games out there waiting for you.

    Definitely one of my favorites.
  13. JamesDrawsThngs
    Sep 8, 2020
    7
    Alpha Protocol is a great example of missed potential. A game that was wildly ambitious, in a setting that not many have attempted up to that point, but that ambition couldn’t be fully realized for a variety of reasons, even with deadline extensions. Alpha Protocol had very steep competition to deal with the year of its release, with Mass Effect 2 being the most apt comparison as they areAlpha Protocol is a great example of missed potential. A game that was wildly ambitious, in a setting that not many have attempted up to that point, but that ambition couldn’t be fully realized for a variety of reasons, even with deadline extensions. Alpha Protocol had very steep competition to deal with the year of its release, with Mass Effect 2 being the most apt comparison as they are both 3rd Person RPG games with cover shooter mechanics. AP suffers from an uninteresting presentation, bugged mechanics and laughable AI. However, what helps separate AP apart from its peers is in its use of choice, and this was the most laudable feature that most can agree on. It’s a game that is unquestionably jank, and yet I can’t help but enjoy it, if only for its ambition.

    You play as Michael Thorton, an agent taken in by the mysterious Alpha Protocol organization in order to stop a terrorist plot in the Middle East. Events transpire that cast Michael as rogue, and now he must uncover a deeper global conspiracy and prevent it from turning into full scale war. If there was any one reason to play this game, it would be for its story and characters. It’s a surprisingly intriguing narrative, one that certainly echoes the feeling of Jason Bourne and, to a lesser extent, James Bond. Each character is uniquely defined and entertaining or some way, and the voice acting is solid across the board. For as many problems as AP has gone through, it manages to deliver one of the best uses of choice and consequence I have seen in a video game, arguably more effective than Mass Effect. For one, the dialogue system only lasts so long on screen, forcing you to make quick fire decisions for how you interact with certain characters and can even be the difference between life and death for them. You have a few personality types to select as Thorton, from Suave to Professional to Intimidating, and how you interact with characters will determine whether they are going to help you or become a thorn in your side. There’s no morality system, either. Not everything is as it seems, and there are various shades of gray at play. While some of the outcomes are purely contextual, a lot can lead to radically different scenarios that change up your experience, making for some incredibly strong replay value.

    That same level of quality, sadly, does not apply to the gameplay and presentation. It’s a mission based 3rd Person shooter with elements of stealth gameplay and RPG mechanics. You pick your specialized class (which can lead to unique dialogues) and set your points toward things like weapons, health, gadgets, stealth, etc. There’s a really good amount of variety in customization, so that checks out. Core gameplay and stealth, on the other hand, do not. The shooting is functional, but you will be faced with either dodgy hit detection, weapons not damaging enemies as much as they should, or both. Getting into cover works fine, but not being able to vault over cover is a little frustrating. Enemy AI is all over the place. One minute they’re mindlessly gunning at you out in the open, not even bothering to search for cover, while the next minute they’re so hyper aware that they can hear a pin drop from a mile away, and they will just immediately bomb rush you and ruin your stealth run. Even then, stealth isn’t really a requirement, nor is it any better than just going gun-ho. Boss fights on Normal or Hard difficulty range from annoying to outright frustrating in design. The game also just has this general lack of polish. There’s broken animations, clipping, visual blemishes like texture tearing. The game as a whole doesn’t look too stellar. Character models look fine, but the environments are remarkably bland. Some of the musical tracks are nice, but most are forgettable and blend into the background.

    AP is not grand, Espionage vision that Obsidian wanted to deliver, but nonetheless they still managed to impress me. Despite the troubled development, this could have ended up far worse. If you are a fan of games like Mass Effect, and you don’t mind the extra jank, this is an easy recommendation. Sadly, your only choice in playing this game nowadays is through consoles as the PC version was pulled from Steam some time ago, so just keep that in mind.    … Expand
  14. SgAkErRu
    Apr 11, 2020
    7
    Вообще не помню что в этой игре было, но сыграть можно, на семерочку от разрабов Обсидианов.
  15. themediocritic
    Apr 2, 2020
    6
    A 2020 Review - Alpha Protocol (PC, 2010)

    Score: 6/10 Mediocrity Score: Mediocrity on a Good Day. While taking it slightly out of context - Christian Donlan with Eurogamer describes it best, "[Alpha Protocol is] a contemporary super-spy mod of Mass Effect...". Tags: A few words or tags that come to mind are: entertaining, anticlimactic, buggy, bittersweet. Avg. Time to beat: 13    A 2020 Review - Alpha Protocol (PC, 2010)

    Score: 6/10
    Mediocrity Score: Mediocrity on a Good Day.
    While taking it slightly out of context - Christian Donlan with Eurogamer describes it best, "[Alpha Protocol is] a contemporary super-spy mod of Mass Effect...".

    Tags: A few words or tags that come to mind are: entertaining, anticlimactic, buggy, bittersweet.

    Avg. Time to beat: 13 hours
    Quickest Speedrun: 1 hour, 39 minutes

    Ten years after its release, Alpha Protocol still sneaks by with a passing grade. A spy thriller, action role-playing game from Obsidian Entertainment casts Michael Thorton as the spy protagonist. Diving deeper into the world, you'll be split between safe houses in Taipei, Rome, and Moscow where you'll execute various missions. While I found this title to be quite buggy and shallow in some respects, it still managed to entertain and amuse its way into my recommended list - even if narrowly. Many accounts have detailed the many missteps between Obsidian and Sega, but ultimately lack of direction and organization is what led to this release not being more of a slam dunk. Alpha Protocol has entertaining gameplay and the narrative, characters, and dialogue hold up well. Unfortunately where it sags down is in its lack of depth. Many components or aspects of the game either feel shallow and unfinished, or appear to be directly lifted and shifted in from other games (like Mass Effect in terms of leveling up, skill progression, and combat). I feel much today about this game as I did the first time I played it. And In a way, it's satisfying to see that my opinions on some things don't change through the years. I just wish in the case of Alpha Protocol, they weren't so bittersweet.

    Pros:
    - Character progression and leveling are rewarding and leave you excited to play further.
    - Shooting the AI like fish in a barrel. It's also a barrel of fun.
    - Reputation system makes conversation and dialogue choices all the more interesting.
    - While minor - cool thematic settings, locations, and safe houses. They breathe some extra life into the game.
    - Great and fitting characters. While there are some exceptions, most play their part well and add an extra bit of intrigue.
    - Unique concept we don't see enough of. Spy action RPG.

    Cons:
    - AI is absolutely dreadful and brain dead.
    - Unfulfilling ending conclusion. Especially with the characters outside of Michael.
    - Dialogue options can feel shallow and limited. The responses based on options can be a bit off.
    - The main character, Michael Thorton. I just don't like him.
    - Bugs & Crashing are a present and occurred numerous times.
    - Limitations of stealth and the options to employ it.

    It's an odd experience in that I found it entertaining and wanted to keep playing, but on a component level, I found a mess of problems across the board. I think the entertainment in Alpha Protocol ultimately boils down to getting more stuff so you can kill more bad guys, rinse and repeat. Multiple weapons, armor, and gadgets; Lots of which can be upgraded or modified in some way. As you level up and your skills refine, you can really feel the difference in combat and gameplay. It does get a bit repetitive at the end of the game which felt appropriately long. Overall I found the game to be quite entertaining. All issues aside, I still enjoyed Alpha Protocol and would recommend it. Just keep your expectations realistic if not low.

    Alpha Protocol is almost exactly how I had remembered; good but not great. A lukewarm, bittersweet, "so close" kind of game. It got some things right, but did a lot wrong - or sometimes even really wrong. Part of what makes Alpha Protocol good is it taking a different approach in being an action spy RPG adventure that has a skill map and leveling up involved. Very standard fare for modern fantasy games, but not for action games and certainly not any spy ones. It's just such a cool and refreshing genre and idea. Unfortunately, that alone is not a sufficient selling point to lure people into playing. It had a rough time during development and had to be majorly redone in parts. I think it shows through in many spots, but for the most part, holds up. I'd fully support either an HD re-release or a new title in the series.

    If you're wondering where Alpha Protocol can be purchased, sales for Alpha Protocol halted in Summer 2019 due to expired licenses for music within the game.

    If you have any interest in gaming history, I strongly recommend the following article which provides back story and interviews with the developers about the making of the game. It's quite a fascinating read that highlights why some aspects of the game seem so messy or poorly thought out.

    https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2017-09-06-the-making-of-alpha-protocol-obsidians-secret-best-rpg

    Thanks for reading!    … Expand
  16. Cocaine
    Mar 23, 2020
    9
    One of the game from my own top 10. The only rpg about spies what i know. Good character creations system, interesting plot and rpg elements on high level. This game makes you feel a real spy.
  17. Newome
    Jan 17, 2020
    3
    This is an awful game that doesn't allow you to turn off motion blur. The graphics for the time are awful and the gameplay is bad. the only thing good is the fact that your choices matter.
  18. S0pun
    Oct 20, 2019
    0
    В принципе, неплохая задумка сделать сплинтер целл с элементами РПГ, колесом диалогов и взаимоотношениями, но благодаря криворукости разработчиков получилось забагованное, кривое говно.
  19. sapuman
    Oct 20, 2019
    0
    В принципе, неплохая задумка сделать сплинтер целл с элементами РПГ, колесом диалогов и взаимоотношениями, но благодаря криворукости разработчиков получилось забагованное, кривое говно.
  20. Joewashere
    Aug 27, 2019
    10
    Suffering from troubled development, interminable delays and unpolished controls, Alpha Protocol rated mediocre and sold terribly. At the same time, this is a game which features unparalleled reactivity and nonlinearity, Obsidian's trademark writing, and a gameplay experience that is certainly distinctive. This is a game where you don't just choose from two factions, but choose approachesSuffering from troubled development, interminable delays and unpolished controls, Alpha Protocol rated mediocre and sold terribly. At the same time, this is a game which features unparalleled reactivity and nonlinearity, Obsidian's trademark writing, and a gameplay experience that is certainly distinctive. This is a game where you don't just choose from two factions, but choose approaches to every character, which has knock-on consequences for the relations between those characters over the course of the story, right up to who you rescue, who helps you, who betrays you, who shoots your nemesis in the face and who rides with you into the sunset.

    This is a game where those characters' stories and motivations are layered in such a way that you can play several times and never find out their 'big secret'. This is a game where you can raise a false alarm, have the guards run in, blow themselves up on mines you attached to the wall, just before you lob a flame grenade under a truck and the resulting conflagration swallows the rest. This is a game where you can slam a Russian informant's face into the bar table for not cooperating, where your crazy buddy in Hong Kong backs you up with a drive-by machine gun on a subway, and where you can verbally dismantle a man's principles that have defined him for the last thirty years, while dodging his bullets inside a Roman gallery.

    There are better RPGs than Alpha Protocol, but few of them can deliver the things Alpha Protocol does. Obsidian's best game and an underappreciated classic.    … Expand
  21. Benden
    Nov 6, 2018
    8
    This game is perfectly scored with a 7.5.
    This is a splinter cell kind of a game with a hero like Michael Westen "burn notice" tv show (burned out cia agent guy).
    This game could have been a complete failure IF Obsidian entertainment wasn't involved (they made KOTOR 2, Pillar of destiny, NWN 2, Fallout NVegas). Technically the game is full of glitches and gameplay wise lacks polishing    This game is perfectly scored with a 7.5.
    This is a splinter cell kind of a game with a hero like Michael Westen "burn notice" tv show (burned out cia agent guy).
    This game could have been a complete failure IF Obsidian entertainment wasn't involved (they made KOTOR 2, Pillar of destiny, NWN 2, Fallout NVegas).
    Technically the game is full of glitches and gameplay wise lacks polishing and really dont look like an AAA title. BUT the story, dialogues, skills and RPG elements (as you can find them in deus ex or system shock) are very good. You really feel involved in the game, your choice DO matters like I have never ever saw in action game.
    In the beginning you may feel like me and want to push the uninstall button with the lack of polishing and poor gun design but in the long run you'll really be happy you spent your precious playing time with this title.    … Expand
  22. Diegochocho
    Aug 28, 2018
    7
    No tiene una jugabilidad muy buena que digamos, y los gráficos pudieron haber sido mejores, ya que en esa época mass effect 2 eran mucho mejor, pero lo que salva mucho al juego es la historia y los distintos caminos que se pueden tomar.
  23. dandalis
    Dec 17, 2017
    7
    Easily one of the better hidden gems of PS3 and Xbox 360 generation. Considering the game's development was quite rocky and SEGA interferring with Obsidian's work, game came out with rough edges, but even then it didnt stop it from being a good game. That said i didnt encounter any real bugs or glitches that messed with gameplay or progression that were apparent on game's launch whileEasily one of the better hidden gems of PS3 and Xbox 360 generation. Considering the game's development was quite rocky and SEGA interferring with Obsidian's work, game came out with rough edges, but even then it didnt stop it from being a good game. That said i didnt encounter any real bugs or glitches that messed with gameplay or progression that were apparent on game's launch while playing on seemingly latest build in late 2017.

    While stealth action gameplay is servicable, it simply lacks depth of more serious stealth games and feels too streamlined and is not particularly that PC gamer friendly, the RPG roots shine in Alpha Protocol and compensate for its other shortcomings. Dont get me wrong, gameplay is still fun and there's fun to be had for both stealth fans and more action oriented junkies. It could really be the best spy themed video game out there with actually good writing, believable and mostly likeable, interesting characters, decent if not bit cliche storyline that never the less still delivers with different turns it can take depending on your choices.

    Being an UE3 game, it doesnt escape from having some well known issues associated with the engine, like jerky stutter when loading a new section of a level, slowly loading textures at times, poor weight feel when controiling your character. Luckily it works where it counts the most, that being delivering 60 fps on max settings even on old GTX 650    … Expand
  24. Mobile
    Nov 19, 2017
    6
    ENG
    The game is a Prime example of that, if the technical part is not modified, then no matter how much the game wasn't different variations to complete and a large number of equipment, they will still go down the drain because of bugs and the curve of the engine. The developers of course great that he dared to release such a product to market, from his point of view and approach to    ENG
    The game is a Prime example of that, if the technical part is not modified, then no matter how much the game wasn't different variations to complete and a large number of equipment, they will still go down the drain because of bugs and the curve of the engine. The developers of course great that he dared to release such a product to market, from his point of view and approach to development. Similar games, I almost do not know the Protocol and can be called one of a kind with the gameplay. As they say - "excess of taste kills the taste."
    RU
    Игра яркий пример того, что если техническая часть не доработана, то сколько бы в игре не было разных вариаций для прохождения и большого количества экипировки, они все равно пойдут коту под хвост из-за багов и кривого движка. Разработчики конечно молодцы, что осмелились выпустить такой продукт на рынок, со своей точки зрения и подхода к разработке. Подобных игр я практически не знаю и Protocol можно назвать единственной в своем роде с таким геймплеем. Как говорится - "избыток вкуса убивает вкус".    … Expand
  25. Ozon58
    Apr 28, 2017
    9
    A very good game. Interesting plot, unusual dialogue system, good characters. Love this game for the opportunity to choose. A lot of them here and they have a real impact on subsequent events. Nowadays very few games about spies and if you haven't played this game then you should play.
  26. Rem
    Apr 17, 2017
    7
    Alpha Protocol is both a "what if" and a legitimately good game. You see flashes of its potential in its well developed RPG and conversation mechanics, both of which have an adverse effect in how you experience this game. Sadly some significant flaws such as a lack of interesting cast, brain dead AI, and general lack of polish keeps this game from becoming another one of Obsidian's gems.Alpha Protocol is both a "what if" and a legitimately good game. You see flashes of its potential in its well developed RPG and conversation mechanics, both of which have an adverse effect in how you experience this game. Sadly some significant flaws such as a lack of interesting cast, brain dead AI, and general lack of polish keeps this game from becoming another one of Obsidian's gems.

    The story centers around Michael Thornton, a secret agent who starts off working for a black ops organization named Alpha Protocol. After a mission goes awry, he is forced to go rogue in events that yet again put a threat to world peace. While the plot for the most part is of the 'espionage' schtick, it gives enough context for the game's various setpieces It's how you affect the story that serves as Alpha Protocol's strongest link. Your relationships with characters and organizations are affected based on you want Thornton to react to a situation, and it's this degree of control that should be implemented in more games today. The biggest pitfall regarding the story is the cast of characters, they're all generally forgettable. One crucial sin the plot makes is that the only traits the characters exhibit are those that only tied to the plot, rather than making the characters interesting themselves. They're voice acted convincingly, but none of these characters will stick in your mind even a day after the credits roll.

    The gameplay has flashes of excellence with a surprising amount of depth in what sort of secret agent you want Thornton to become. From a sabotage technician to a martial artist soldier, the game more than encompasses your preferred playstyle by making every point you put into a certain tree of actual value, not just a minute passive bonus. A fatal flaw in this department is not so much the RPG mechanics themselves, but rather how it translates to gameplay. Enemies in this game are so stupidly exploitable that I had to pinch myself, the AI is atrocious. If they're not running into walls or spotting you from impossible angles, they're running into you're gunfire with no real desire for self preservation and can absorb bullets like a champ. They make the game laughably both easy and frustrating, and bring down what is an otherwise great system that has plenty of potential for future installments. When it works, Alpha Protocol's gameplay forces you to consider your route and tactics through a level, something most games don't even dare try. When it doesn't, Alpha Protocol becomes a slog and an exercise in patience.

    One aspect that you'll forget quickly is the game's music, it's fitting regarding the game's tone, but none of the tracks are memorable or scintillating. In the visuals department, the Alpha Protocol does not hold up today. Facial animations are actually well done, but everything else is decidedly last gen. Level design works well for the gameplay, but is absolutely basic looking, along with the textures, effects, animations, and art design. The gist of how the game looks: unmemorable, even for 2010.

    Alpha Protocol does show promise should there be a future installment of the same design, a potential fantastic game that realizes player choice while providing flexible gameplay, but it falls well short of that. It's lackluster components really stick out, but the game gives you enough reasons to ignore them in lieu of player control over story and gameplay, it's an idea that deserves a second shot and is quite enjoyable for most of its 14 hour campaign, a replayable one at that.    … Expand
  27. Oldman10
    Aug 9, 2016
    10
    I came to write a review as I still enjoy playing this game. There is nothing quite like it. Love the gameplay a bit Deus ex where you can play non-lethal or kill everything or do whatever you feel your character would do, Decisions have more of an impact than in many other RPG games, Using guns is a learning curve, there is no point and shoot, an intelligent interesting game, only otherI came to write a review as I still enjoy playing this game. There is nothing quite like it. Love the gameplay a bit Deus ex where you can play non-lethal or kill everything or do whatever you feel your character would do, Decisions have more of an impact than in many other RPG games, Using guns is a learning curve, there is no point and shoot, an intelligent interesting game, only other games I still paly from years ago are Deus EX HR and Mass Effect , Splinter Cell used to be my favourite franchise but I lost interest after the last one as did the makers. So AP still gets a 10 for me.… Expand
  28. jseph1234
    Jul 5, 2016
    10
    One of the greatest RPG's in history. The only reason's the critics hated it was because of the complexity of the role-playing and their inability to appreciate a skillfully done RPG. Can't recommend this game enough and you will thank me.
  29. Mellow_Online4
    Apr 22, 2016
    3
    Alpha Protocol is a game that I really wanted to like. I tried to look past the flaws that this game had, but I honestly couldn't. The best thing I can say about Alpha Protocol is that it at least tried to be something different, but even if you try to do something different, it doesn't mean that it will always be good.

    Alpha Protocol has a unique concept, an espionage RPG. I was    Alpha Protocol is a game that I really wanted to like. I tried to look past the flaws that this game had, but I honestly couldn't. The best thing I can say about Alpha Protocol is that it at least tried to be something different, but even if you try to do something different, it doesn't mean that it will always be good.

    Alpha Protocol has a unique concept, an espionage RPG. I was surprised to see that this sort of idea, hadn't been done that often in gaming and that is one thing that I respect this game for doing. The main problem with this however is that in my opinion, Alpha Protocol doesn't really use any of the unique ideas it brings to the table that well and the basic stuff that are required to make a good game (like gameplay, playability and graphics) aren't really focused on as they put most of their thought, time and care into trying to implement these ideas to try and live up to it's name "an espionage RPG."

    One of the biggest problems Alpha Protocol has is in it's gameplay. Nearly everything in the gameplay falls flat. While the training section at the beginning of the game, does show off some great ideas for an espionage RPG like sneaking mechanics, combat and gadgets, I didn't feel like I was having any fun playing this or doing any of these ideas for gameplay because in the end, that's what I was thinking they were, just some ideas. I felt like these ideas were only half executed. The ideas are there, but they just stopped after that. Sneaking is basically useless because the AI is really bad. Gun combat feels restricted an the sensitivity never feels right no matter what you set it to. Melee combat, while it's better than gun combat, feels slippery for the majority of the time, but at least it was more controllable than the gun Gadgets are basically useless in combat because you can't really tell where they'll land. There's no targeting ridicule for them so you just need to predict where they'll land.

    Graphics are for the most part good however there are several flaws with them. There is quite a lot of slow loading textures from time to time and the longer I played, the more frequently these occurred. There is also a bit of pop in going on quite a bit. Apart from that there isn't much to say about the graphics. They're decent but they could have gotten more polish before release like the rest of the game.

    The sound seemed to repeatedly cutting out randomly for some reason throughout my play time as well. However, this didn't affect my overall feeling towards the game in any way and I easily ignored it as it wasn't too big of a deal.

    In this review, it might come off like I hate Alpha Protocol and even though that's true, there's still some good ideas that are put into Alpha Protocol, which might have been good if they developed these ideas further. The stuff that is common to see and expect in an RPG is present in Alpha Protocol but these things we have seen done a bunch of times are exactly that. Alpha Protocol does nothing to change the styles that are common in RPGs except for the dialogue options, which is one of the best I've seen.

    Overall, Alpha Protocol is buggy and generic. It barely does anything to stand out from the crowd and when it tries to do this, it usually falls flat. However, it still uses some ideas which I hope to see in RPGs in a future and if the developers of this game were to make a sequel, maybe tweaking the game a bit, I would definitely buy the sequel to see if these ideas are developed more.

    Pros
    + Some good ideas
    + Great concept
    + Good mechanics
    + OK graphics

    Cons
    - Underdeveloped ideas
    - Terrible AI
    - Restricted/slippery combat
    - Slow loading textures    … Expand
  30. danstew
    Feb 15, 2016
    3
    Not recommendedEven though I thought this game sounded quite promising, and I really wanted to like it, I don't. It seems as if there was a lot of potential regarding what they wanted to do, but I don't think it was done well.

    Graphics Yes, the game is from 2010, so keep that in mind. However, I think that, even for 2010, the graphics aren't that good. Character editing (glasses, hat,    Not recommendedEven though I thought this game sounded quite promising, and I really wanted to like it, I don't. It seems as if there was a lot of potential regarding what they wanted to do, but I don't think it was done well.

    Graphics
    Yes, the game is from 2010, so keep that in mind. However, I think that, even for 2010, the graphics aren't that good. Character editing (glasses, hat, hair) looks terrible, same for the movement in combat etc.

    Gameplay
    I usually LIKE stealth games, but this one, I didn't. I am not sure whether it's just a higher difficulty or badly done game mechanics. Trying to sneak up on an enemy to take him out often ends up in frustration, as he notices you. However, it feels like the mechanics are just clunky, it's not some overly high AI or bad playing... I have played several stealth games and usually do ok, but here, I tried to sneak up on an enemy, and sometimes, the silent takedown works, sometimes he suddenly alerts everyone around him.

    AI
    Terrible. On one hand, the second the alarm is raised, they know EXACTLY where you are and shoot at you, which I find HIGHLY unrealistic. I wouldn't mind if they had a general idea quickly and then search for you there, but the second an alarm is raised, it's like they have a hive intelligence and know where you are.
    At the same time, I have seen some moonwalking, and you can just run towards them and take them down with melee

    Combat
    Terrible as well. If there are two obstacles, and you aim between them and aim PERFECTLY at the head of an enemy, you won't hit him. Let me get this straight - two obstacles, you aim between them (yes, there is room between them), and you won't hit him.
    Even when in range, and the dot in your targeting circle is aligned with someones head, you often miss. Having to shoot someone in the head (they wear a mask, or sometimes just a bandana, apparently these items generate a bullet proof forcefield) isn't exactly that realistic either.

    Minigames
    There is lockpicking, disabling alarms and hacking. The first two are... ok. The first one is even fun sometimes (balancing the cylinders of the lock, then releasing your lockpick, with a time limit). The second one is ok. The third one is horrible. Not going into details, the other commenters have commented on how terrible that one is many times.

    Characters
    I didn't like the whole intro, the conversations, the character design. Apart from simply looking odd, I just didn't care for any character, and I didn't like the main character either, who looks like a mix between Shepherd from Mass Effect and some kind of cyborg.

    Overall
    So much potential. I'd have liked to explore the game more and find all the things that those who liked the game praised... the decision-making, the email conversations or whatever.
    However, the intro went on for too long and didn't grab me at all, and the two missions I tried were simply not fun at all. It's not the very outdated (even for a 2010-game!) look, it's the clunky mechanics, bad AI, horrible sneaking mechanics (MGS V and even Sniper Elite 2 and 3 do this SO much better), bad animation, horrible combat/aiming and the minigames.

    It's sad, because I was looking forward to trying this, I was very much willing to give it a chance, but I have no interest at all to continue after these two missions.
    If you can get it on sale (I got it for like 3 or 4 bucks), maybe try it out, but unfortunately, I simply can't recommend it.    … Expand
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Awards & Rankings

83
#83 Best PC Game of 2010
21
#21 Most Discussed PC Game of 2010
23
#23 Most Shared PC Game of 2010

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
73

Mixed or average reviews - based on 26 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 12 out of 26
  2. Mixed: 13 out of 26
  3. Negative: 1 out of 26
  1. Gaming Age
    May 20, 2024
    80
    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.
    Read full review
  2. CPUGamer
    80
    From the beginning of the game, till the ending, I was relatively pleased with how important and impactful the decisions I made were.
    Read full review
  3. PC PowerPlay
    70
    Mediocre gameplay hides an enjoyable RPG with moments of genius. But it could have been so much more. [Aug 2010, p.56]
See all critic reviews »