Prototype (2009)

 PC
User Score
7.7

Generally favorable reviews- based on 795 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 512 out of 795
  2. Mixed: 217 out of 795
  3. Negative: 66 out of 795
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  1. mwil236
    Aug 11, 2017
    4
    There's a good game somewhere inside Prototype, but they couldn't pull it out. The use of different enemy types and different power/weakness combinations could make for fluid combat, but the game chooses to ramp up difficulty not by requiring you to think about your play style but by cheaply overloading the screen with enemies and forcing you to dumbly button-mash. After about 25% of theThere's a good game somewhere inside Prototype, but they couldn't pull it out. The use of different enemy types and different power/weakness combinations could make for fluid combat, but the game chooses to ramp up difficulty not by requiring you to think about your play style but by cheaply overloading the screen with enemies and forcing you to dumbly button-mash. After about 25% of the way through the game, missions go from interesting and requiring you to learn different game mechanics to being super chaotic and frustrating slash fests. Missions range from incredibly stupid drive-a-tank-and-blow-up-a-building easy to almost unthinkably cheap and hard, like a mission toward the end that requires you to stop helicopters from leaving New York with no resources except jumping from buildings. Forget everything you knew about blocking, dodging and timing your attacks. If you don't just abuse the attack and jump buttons, you'll suddenly get hit with a flying tank and die. The game really makes no sense to me.

    The story, aside, is also bad. It attempts to build up a satisfying mystery, but requires you to find an appalling 100+ random NPCs wandering around if you really wish to understand it. Otherwise, just keep doing the missions - around mission 29 of 31 the game just flat-out explains to you what happened, which is pretty much required. The ending doesn't seem like a cop it, it seems like the developers believe they came up with something real sharp, but it's embarrassingly nonsensical.

    Ultimately, the final insult is the 4, maybe 5, hour campaign. I initially played alternate "activities" like races, timed kill events, etc but you are absolutely never in need of the "evolution points" you need to get new abilities that they provide you, so they feel pretty unnecessary - particularly considering that many of them are hard enough to make you struggle to earn bronze. The game attempts to pad length by requiring you to have some random ability to unlock new missions, but since the EP are so plentiful, that you usually means opening the menu and buying it on the spot.

    A real mess of a video game.    … Expand
  2. AkumaJack
    Aug 9, 2020
    2
    One of the worst game i've ever played.
    Played when it came out.
    Graphics were already outdated. The story was badly told and quite boring.
    Gameplay was meh. The only thing going for it was the mayehem you could create around the city.
  3. mckw
    Jan 21, 2013
    4
    A great hack and slash game. If you are a person that values gameplay way more than graphics, this might be the game for you. Not visually stellar with very dated graphics that the game has, but some really cool combat and abilities.

    Though as much as I did enjoy the hack and slash that this game offered, I did find myself frustrated at times with some difficulty spikes, especially    A great hack and slash game. If you are a person that values gameplay way more than graphics, this might be the game for you. Not visually stellar with very dated graphics that the game has, but some really cool combat and abilities.

    Though as much as I did enjoy the hack and slash that this game offered, I did find myself frustrated at times with some difficulty spikes, especially towards the end of the game. The game is challenging in its own way and I did enjoy some challenges. I was however often frustrated by some rigidities of the combat the game had, not flowing as much as I would have liked it to.

    I did enjoy some parts of the game. Especially scaling up walls and gliding through the city like a bat, and I do recommend unlocking it as one of your first few upgrades with your EP. I also enjoyed the cool moves like devastator and also slicing away people with your blade or claws. One really cool feature I liked was also hijacking helicopters and the relative ease of piloting the helicopter was really good as well.

    The game did have some enjoyable minigames but not those that you might want to play it over and over again, probably a one-off thing or just trying to achieve a gold status on it. As for the city, it is very dull and there is completely nothing much you can do about it, but you wouldn't really care since you're gliding through the skies most of your time. Exploration is not really of great value here except collecting Blue and Purple balls that give you EP and hints(for the purple ones). The game did not have a really good story line and most of you would start of quite confused at the beginning of the game. Gameplay is somewhat linear and repetitive, though there are levels that require you to use tanks or helicopters to complete them. It felt boring going through some missions with really short cut-scenes in between that don't string that well together.

    The game might not rate highly in me but maybe you might find it otherwise. As much as I tried to not take this game seriously at all, I often found myself just getting through the game rather than enjoying it and that is not how a game should be played. Maybe you may enjoy this game better than I did though I personally would not recommend this game.    … Expand
  4. tekki
    Apr 25, 2015
    4
    Bad port, resolution cant go up to 1080, controls are crap, cant aim properly, story is non-existent, city is boring and lacking in character.

    its fun if you want to cause aimless damage, but as far as open world sandbox goes, this is very bad
  5. Gamtu
    Apr 28, 2012
    0
    Interesting for five minutes. Terrible graphics. Terrible AI. The streets sidewalks are crowded with people that appear to be clones of 6 originals. They aimlessly walk around like zombies. Don't buy it. Grab it from a friend who made the mistake of buying it.
  6. Dalek
    May 22, 2011
    0
    Do not buy this game, the resolution only goes up to 1280x800, yeah, thats right. The game doesn't bump the resolution any higher than that, and I needed it at 1680x1050, and the anti-aliasing only goes up to x2? I have a ATI Radeon 6950 and it lags on highest settings, its obvious this game has been rushed and the controls suck. You just left click and jump everywhere, and there is noDo not buy this game, the resolution only goes up to 1280x800, yeah, thats right. The game doesn't bump the resolution any higher than that, and I needed it at 1680x1050, and the anti-aliasing only goes up to x2? I have a ATI Radeon 6950 and it lags on highest settings, its obvious this game has been rushed and the controls suck. You just left click and jump everywhere, and there is no satisfaction of killing anything.… Expand
  7. ChrisReinking
    Jul 10, 2009
    1
    This game is rated much higher than it should be, thanks in part due to the overwhelming number of good reviews that obscure sites gave. Ever play one of those games made to go along with a popular movie? I couldn't help but think Spiderman, as the game engine seems identical with mild graphic updates. Yeah you got super transforma-ninja powers but cool fighting moves don'tThis game is rated much higher than it should be, thanks in part due to the overwhelming number of good reviews that obscure sites gave. Ever play one of those games made to go along with a popular movie? I couldn't help but think Spiderman, as the game engine seems identical with mild graphic updates. Yeah you got super transforma-ninja powers but cool fighting moves don't equal a great game. The story is blurry at best, controlling with a keyboard and mouse is annoying, and the gameplay itself just feels like a killfest. If you absolutely love mindless, zombie-killing games then get this...AFTER it goes down in price in a few months.… Expand
  8. DaveS
    Jun 12, 2009
    3
    After experiencing Infamous, this game was a total waste of money. The controls are sloppy, and the camera feels limited despite the 360 free look. This game is a real graphic hog... and I just build this computer a month ago. And even though I get ~24-25 FPS, the graphics at their highest detail are lacklustre... explosions are original-Doom cheesy, and the animations are robotic and After experiencing Infamous, this game was a total waste of money. The controls are sloppy, and the camera feels limited despite the 360 free look. This game is a real graphic hog... and I just build this computer a month ago. And even though I get ~24-25 FPS, the graphics at their highest detail are lacklustre... explosions are original-Doom cheesy, and the animations are robotic and uninspiring. Cut-scenes look nice... if they played the way they were supposed to. Sound is slow and buggy. Terrible! The "three" is for potential. Else, ZERO!… Expand
  9. Jok`R
    Jun 12, 2009
    4
    For serious PC gamer this game gets boring after 5 minutes. If you like to play xbox or ps, then this would be game for you, but if you like to participate more than console games allow, then just dont buy this.
  10. wildthing
    Jul 22, 2009
    2
    Zzzz when will game writers get the point that we want brilliant stories first (thru ninth)? and then, ok tenth, nice graphics? only a human can write a great plot that's completely absorbing. Prototype is an example, similar in a way to last year's Dead Space, of graphics being light years ahead of what is essentially a boring and cliched story. I find it ..erm.. prototypical Zzzz when will game writers get the point that we want brilliant stories first (thru ninth)? and then, ok tenth, nice graphics? only a human can write a great plot that's completely absorbing. Prototype is an example, similar in a way to last year's Dead Space, of graphics being light years ahead of what is essentially a boring and cliched story. I find it ..erm.. prototypical of a sleepy direction the gaming biz has recently taken (i know.. sry). we want more brilliant human writers! pleeze?… Expand
  11. TheClamCannon
    Dec 31, 2010
    4
    This game is mega overrated, huge waste of money. After reading positive reviews, I picked it up just to be assailed with bland graphics, mediocre gameplay, and god-awful AI. Prototype is essentially Spiderman mixed with Grand Theft Auto in a sad attempt at an action game. Some concepts were sound, such as absorbing powers from your enemies and replaying their memories, but it came off asThis game is mega overrated, huge waste of money. After reading positive reviews, I picked it up just to be assailed with bland graphics, mediocre gameplay, and god-awful AI. Prototype is essentially Spiderman mixed with Grand Theft Auto in a sad attempt at an action game. Some concepts were sound, such as absorbing powers from your enemies and replaying their memories, but it came off as a sloppy, repetitive mess.… Expand
  12. rex
    Sep 6, 2009
    4
    I wont be tl;dr with this so heres the skinny. Game was over in 3 hours. Finished it the night I brought it home. The devs made up for the short story by flooding the game with Mercenaries styled minigames. You can pretty much get all the worthwhile superpowers within an hour of casually playing. I consumed the identity of middleaged woman and nobody cared I was running up the side of the I wont be tl;dr with this so heres the skinny. Game was over in 3 hours. Finished it the night I brought it home. The devs made up for the short story by flooding the game with Mercenaries styled minigames. You can pretty much get all the worthwhile superpowers within an hour of casually playing. I consumed the identity of middleaged woman and nobody cared I was running up the side of the chrysler building. I picked up a truck and the dude inside it was totally cool with it. These "Territory wars" the military and infected have only happen when your involved in it and the gameplay during that is rinse and repeat to the extreme. --- I hate havin' to nail on this game, Ive been following it since I heard about when it was first being developed. I was real giddy about getting it the first day it came out. It was insanely FUN for about 2 hours, and then it ended an hour later. Great concept, just didnt pull it off. Hope they try it again.… Expand
  13. Jesse
    Aug 24, 2009
    2
    This game is just bad. Awful! The people who made this game do not know how to tell a story properly. Never mind what kind of story. They just don't know how to tell one properly period. I felt like I was watching a direct to video sci-fi B-movie, and even that statement is giving it credit it does not nearly deserve. Bad voice acting, a game engine that looks like it came out ages This game is just bad. Awful! The people who made this game do not know how to tell a story properly. Never mind what kind of story. They just don't know how to tell one properly period. I felt like I was watching a direct to video sci-fi B-movie, and even that statement is giving it credit it does not nearly deserve. Bad voice acting, a game engine that looks like it came out ages ago, and a character that is impossible to identify with (unless your a mass-murdering sociath who'd enjoy mowing down truckloads of civilians on your questionable path of revenge. Seriously the main character is a bloody ignorant jerk, why am I going to invest in someone as repulsive as this lowlife?! It was horrible. I made it through about four or five levels before it became clear to me that not even the gameplay could redeem this ... this indescribable turd. It was amusing using some of the powers, however that sweet taste quickly turned to a used kitty-litter box in my mouth as I realized I was facing the same. old. enemies. over. and. over. again. Using. the. same. combos. over. and. over. again. There are so many usless upgrades, you'll settle into using the handful of useful ones and--BAM! Boooring. They didn't introduce new enemies with variable attacks, they just threw more and ore of the same units at you. and the city ... I can't believe this company is using that as a marketable feature! It is so bland and repetitive and lifeless. Good lord, what happaned to having some standards people? I think most people would enjoy just about anything nowadays. There's no way in Biggest dissapointment of my year in gaming. I am flabbergasted at the score this game has gotten, but I guess the critics have not had enough decent games this year and their perspectives have become skewed or something. I can't explain it. For a big-budget, hotly anticipated release, this game gets: Ugliest Game Engine of 2009. Worst Voice Acting of 2009. Biggest Jerk-Wad Player Character of 2009. Most Inept Storytelling Mechanics of 2009. Barf!… Expand
  14. JEFB
    Aug 18, 2010
    3
    A lot of things work in theory. In theory, communism could be the fantastical wonder ideology that would eradicate all poverty instead of raise a lot of privacy issues. Because of people assuming things worked in theory, Religion is selling like hotcakes, Communist governments are still banging their heads against walls to forget all the horrible things going on in their country, andA lot of things work in theory. In theory, communism could be the fantastical wonder ideology that would eradicate all poverty instead of raise a lot of privacy issues. Because of people assuming things worked in theory, Religion is selling like hotcakes, Communist governments are still banging their heads against walls to forget all the horrible things going on in their country, and people still think GTA 4 and Prototype are actually good.
    You play a forgettable and unlikeable character in one of the laziest plots ever put in the physical realm.
    Maybe if the story was a cave drawing, people would have i'd have some respect for it, but it's not, so i really don't. It's probably personal taste, since there are, at the time of writing, 235 good reviews. In theory, i would really like to play this type of game but in reality, i hate everything about it. The first thing i see is that the publisher is "Activision" otherwise known as evil in video game publisher form, and the developer is "Radical Entertainment", who developed smash hits such as "The Simpsons: Hit and Run", "Hulk" and a plethora, In all senses of the word, of SNES games that are still being played to this day. Like "BeBe's Kids"! OK, every piece of code they write are doomed of sucking but, hey, they did completely rip off "The Incredible Hulk: Ultimate Destruction" and "Spiderman: Web Of Shadows" by just repackaging it and making it uglier! Plus, they added WEAPONS that ejaculate bullets at BLAZING FAST SPEEDS, so it'll probably be good, in theory. Of course, having talent makes the discipline of "Completely Ripping Something The F#ck Off" makes it better, a la Disney. So let's start!

    Did i mention the game was ugly? Well, fully comprehend the emotion you get from reading that word and then multiply it by how many times the word **** is used in all "Realistic" and "Gritty" games. You get 37 billion joules of emotion.
    Seriously, look at a video or ANYTHING see how his game looks. But, in this accepting age, we don't care about graphics. But, graphics dictate the atmosphere of a game, so if you're game makes Deus Ex look like Crysis, GTA 4, and a PS3 processor, then the graphics department REALLY screwed you. Max Payne 2 looks better than this.
    And i should know, i actually played it a few seconds after i was finished with that "game". Maybe they did this on purpose to show you helplessness and ignorance the protagonist faces. Then i realize Activision published it, and the people who made "Mario's Time Machine" developed it.

    The Soundtrack really sucks. REALLY.

    GAMEPLAY!
    In theory, the gameplay would be enough for the game occupying 300 GBs of space and costing several billion dollars. IN THEORY. In reality, the gameplay is as boring and unbalanced as the Stock Market. You're given all this POWER and yet this POWER doesn't make this anus of a GAME any FUNNER. (You won't get this reference unless you're black or you pay a very strange amount of attention to Kanye West songs) You're just thinking "This is so cool" instead of "This is so fun." It would be cool if you can run up a tower, jump off, and land on Military Tank. It would, In theory. Play the game and focus on how much fun you're having instead of wondering how cool it would be, in theory.    … Expand
  15. DarkChaplain
    Oct 4, 2011
    0
    Extremely horrible port, does not work properly (not even with user-made fixes) at all and never saw a single patch, despite all the "known issues". This game should not be bought AT ALL!
  16. WhatDoYouCare
    Jul 1, 2009
    4
    An utter disappointment. A bland game which was obviously not game tested all through the story mode, compossed of several parts, none of which are beyond mediocre. Despite the quantity of "powers" in your arsenal, most of them become obsolete later in the game, with tanks and helis spawning everywhere every minute, and the fact that you ALWAYS start at half health, this game, as a tonne An utter disappointment. A bland game which was obviously not game tested all through the story mode, compossed of several parts, none of which are beyond mediocre. Despite the quantity of "powers" in your arsenal, most of them become obsolete later in the game, with tanks and helis spawning everywhere every minute, and the fact that you ALWAYS start at half health, this game, as a tonne others before it, mistake CHALLENGE with TEDIUM. The only thing worth noticing in it is your range of movement, but of course, if all you do is run around a city which has the life of a braindead ants' farm, you'll get bored real quick. It's a good thing Sierra died before attaching its name to this mediocrity of a game. Go play Web of Shadows to go see where the "developers" copied their ideas (ironically, Spider Man's movement control is less than that of protocrap).… Expand
  17. NotYourbusiness
    Jul 29, 2009
    3
    Do not reccomend. It is not that good at all. Just like every other game thats superhero in the world (hulk, spiderman, ect.) very dumb. It is ok for a while. It is very hard to kill people without flying around so dont get it all i have to say
  18. JaredJ.
    Jun 11, 2009
    2
    This game is proof that all developers care about are graphics. Once again another game that riped the famous G.T.A. free exploration. I have a computer that can't get anymore faster for games, it has all the newest cards etc. and this game is impossible to play even with settings as low as possible. The sound quality is horrorfying, it doesn't come out in clear words for This game is proof that all developers care about are graphics. Once again another game that riped the famous G.T.A. free exploration. I have a computer that can't get anymore faster for games, it has all the newest cards etc. and this game is impossible to play even with settings as low as possible. The sound quality is horrorfying, it doesn't come out in clear words for example; "Mmmm-m-MY- MY MY n-n-nnnn-n-n-naaaaaaa-ame is Al-A-is -ALEX" UGH!! And it's like that for the whole game. The blood is terrible looking because it's the same as in Dead Space. FILLED WITH BUGS!! I can't even begin to describe how many bugs there are! Camera angle is worst I've seen because you are prevented from seeing any danger until it finds you. Characters all look like they have Downs, the list goes on and on. Graphics are all that developers care about today. I don't care if a game used graphics from '99 as long as everything else is good, like GUN. I wouldn't advise anybody to purchase this with a $49.99 price tag and I still won't in a year after it is lowered to $19.99 or $29.99. The two is only for the idea and one cool weapon. This not worth your time and NOT worth your money.… Expand
  19. PierreH
    Jun 15, 2009
    1
    1 for the idea and nothing for everything else. Another hype in a rushed product that is unfinished. Lots of bugs, no joy ride here. Test drive a pirate copy before sinking your teeth into the biased ratings it received. Most of the 10's and 9's are sadly from guys working for this game company.
  20. Setsuna
    Mar 18, 2011
    2
    The powers that the game gives you makes the game too easy to be accomplished....even in hard mode without (+)
  21. MusicaX79
    May 6, 2012
    1
    This is one of the few games I never finished the reason being is for a character that is "so overpowered" he's incredibly weak. the story did not keep me interested. main boss battles were hideous. If you maxed out your character as I did with mine and still in the end you found yourself going little to no damage in boss fights. And were taking way to much damage you would understand whyThis is one of the few games I never finished the reason being is for a character that is "so overpowered" he's incredibly weak. the story did not keep me interested. main boss battles were hideous. If you maxed out your character as I did with mine and still in the end you found yourself going little to no damage in boss fights. And were taking way to much damage you would understand why I didn't finish this game. cause it lacks one basic thing, being fun.… Expand
  22. suneater
    Dec 13, 2012
    3
    Feels like an "anti-hero" version of Prince of Persia set in Manhattan. I was expecting more of a roaming aspect like GTA but most of the side quests are boring or just not worth the time (I did maybe 20% of them and still maxed almost all my skills by the end of the game). There's three sets of collectables in the city: landmarks (200 blue orbs that give exp), hints (50 loading screenFeels like an "anti-hero" version of Prince of Persia set in Manhattan. I was expecting more of a roaming aspect like GTA but most of the side quests are boring or just not worth the time (I did maybe 20% of them and still maxed almost all my skills by the end of the game). There's three sets of collectables in the city: landmarks (200 blue orbs that give exp), hints (50 loading screen "protips" which are really pointless), and web of intrigue targets. WoI targets are the most interesting because they add more depth to the story but they are hit or miss. Sometimes you get insight into past story events, sometimes you get militant chest beating. The graphics are pretty bland and boring in a city full of grey but I guess there's only so much you can do with Manhattan. Overall this game is solidly average but a definite console port. If you can get it cheaper on a console go for it.… Expand
  23. Vimlin
    Nov 10, 2012
    1
    The game starts out pretty nice: large areas to explore, lots of action and suprisingly fluent gameplay. For some reason after the initial teaser of what the game could have been, it strips you of everything that was fun and drops you in a small building where you get to experience all the game's shortcomings all at once.

    Controls are okay to run around aimlessly. However once you have    The game starts out pretty nice: large areas to explore, lots of action and suprisingly fluent gameplay. For some reason after the initial teaser of what the game could have been, it strips you of everything that was fun and drops you in a small building where you get to experience all the game's shortcomings all at once.

    Controls are okay to run around aimlessly. However once you have to actually do something (e.g. fight or navigate enclosed spaces) it all comes crashing down. Combat is horribly clunky and uncontrollable. You'll constantly get stuck in corners, jump into the wrong direction, fail to pick up a weapon even after half a dozen tries or curse at the camera because it blocks your view.

    Combat requires you to do complicated combos and perfectly timed attacks. However the game tries too hard to predict what you want to do, and it gets it wrong more often than not. The control scheme is an exercise in frustration and just doesn't work.    … Expand
  24. Soullex
    Nov 30, 2022
    1
    Çok güzel mekanikleri olmasına rağmen; aynı şeyleri defalaca kez yapıp duruyoruz.
  25. lovepcgames
    Aug 10, 2022
    4
    Что можно сказать. Сюжет вроде неплохой , но вот игровая составляющая просто ужас , боевка тупо закликивание врагов , босс это вообще ужас , 2 часа ковыряешь , а он тебя заспамливает зелеными шариками (какие зеленые шарики в реальном мире ? игра хочет соответсовать законам физики , но в таких моментах это тотальный провал). 4/10 за унылые механики геймплея , на клавиатуре с мышью еще иЧто можно сказать. Сюжет вроде неплохой , но вот игровая составляющая просто ужас , боевка тупо закликивание врагов , босс это вообще ужас , 2 часа ковыряешь , а он тебя заспамливает зелеными шариками (какие зеленые шарики в реальном мире ? игра хочет соответсовать законам физики , но в таких моментах это тотальный провал). 4/10 за унылые механики геймплея , на клавиатуре с мышью еще и управление слабенькое , пришлось устанавливать доп. софт для подгонки разрешения. Не рекомендую к покупке.… Expand

Awards & Rankings

48
#48 Best PC Game of 2009
15
#15 Most Discussed PC Game of 2009
28
#28 Most Shared PC Game of 2009

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
79

Generally favorable reviews - based on 35 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 27 out of 35
  2. Mixed: 8 out of 35
  3. Negative: 0 out of 35
  1. Gameplayer Sweden
    50
    Prototype isn’t the type of game that shines despite of all it’s flaws. No, Prototype is the kind of game that surprises us that it isn’t in a worse shape just because of all it’s shortcomings. A mediocre game that tried so hard to be cool that it got lost in shallowness.
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  2. DarkZero
    80
    It is absolutely the best game for wasting away those hot summer days. If you’re a fan of superhero games or just love gratuitous violence, you can’t go wrong with Prototype.
    Read full review
  3. GameSpy
    60
    Prototype's combat and world traversal alone can provide more than a few hours of entertainment, I just can't get over how cheap a lot of the game feels. Whether it's the dated looks, its frustratingly difficult latter portion, or its awkward storytelling, Prototype often feels like a budget title that unfortunately doesn't have a budget price.
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