Prototype 2

Prototype 2 is one of those games that makes you feel like the ultimate badass. Radical Entertainment knows how to do destruction in a great way. They might not know how to tell a good story, but they sure know how to make an extremely entertaining experience.

In many ways, Prototype 2 is the game its predecessor should have been, and offers more of all the things the first one got right. Any fan of sandbox games should take this for a spin.

Prototype 2 is an extraordinary, mature action game. And bloody as hell to boot.

The Bio-Bomb turns your enemy into a ticking time bomb. While your victim explodes into a gory mess of tendrils, tearing his colleagues apart, Heller walks away as if nothing has happened. Because everyone knows: "cool guys don't look at explosions". [May 2012, p.105]

A far stronger game than the original in every aspect, and a compelling counterpoint to inFamous 2, Prototype 2 is nothing less than a gore-packed sandbox masterpiece throughout. Like the nefarious Alex Mercer himself, it's absolutely worth hunting down.

The game has several flaws but it's extremely fun and its gameplay is so much better than the prequel.

This is chaotic, visceral fun at its best that will easily please action fans the gorehounds alike. Prototype 2 is a brutal blockbuster that improves over the original in every way.

Prototype 2 is not perfect and there are a few things which need to do a better job next game - like the lack of variation in missions - , but nonetheless this is one of the most visceral, spectacular and brutal sandboxes out there. A far better videogame than its predecessor.

Prototype 2 feels like a well-heard response to fan feedback, addressing nearly every issue from the original.

Prototype 2 evolves all the good elements from the original, as if it were the Mercer virus. It still lacks something that would make it a superb game, but it is on the way: lots of action and exploration, a slight bit of stealth and a whole city to bring chaos to.

It's over the top mindless fun and god help me, I couldn't get enough of the gameplay. The story… hmmm, not so much. Turn off your brain and have a blast.

The experience survives on intensity and shameless entertainment. Technically, it isn't exactly overwhelming, and there are other issues that pop up here and there. But with a large variety of attacks, a nice open world, and plenty of reason to experiment with your absurd abilities, you can really lose yourself in this dark, bloody, undeniably titillating world. Just don't expect much beneath the surface.

In the end you have a sequel that improves upon its predecessor. It's a better game in terms of presentation and content, and if you didn't play the original then you're going to rip through this with a silly smile on your face. We're not sure that it's going to hold your attention though, and that's a shame as Heller's brutal adventures are amongst the best you'll have. [June 2012, p72]

While Prototype 2's story has its faults, the game is nevertheless jam-packed with fun things to do. [July 2012, p.76]

There won't be much left of the city when you're done with it, but you can be sure you had a lot of fun. James Heller is a pissed off hero, but he lets you get the job done in style.

The free-running and combat are a joy, and you'll be running around for pure fun. But an abundance of weak missions and a daft storyline get in the way all too often.

Unleash your super powers on New York! Run along walls, leap over buildings and battle enemies with powerful attacks. It could have been more diverse in several areas, but it's a fun romp.

Prototype 2 is all about mindless combat, flying through the air, running up buildings, and cheesy dialogue. Don't expect a deep story, but get ready for a fun ride.

Prototype wasn't a bad experience, but Prototype 2 builds on that framework, and provides a much richer gameplay experience. You might not replay this several times, but the main storyline provides about 12 to 15 hours of enjoyment, and the completetists out there will continue leveling Heller up long after the game is over.

There's a dazzling seamlessness to every aspect of Prototype 2. You feel it as you traverse the world, sprinting powerfully up buildings, bounding high into the air just as you reach the lip of the roof and then transitioning with a tap of the right trigger into a glide that will take you to the next rooftop.

A fine, if short, sequel to 2009's PROTOTYPE. We had quite a lot of fun playing this game, but an anticlimactic story, weak AI and the lack of a karma system keep it from becoming a masterpiece. Maybe PROTOTYPE 3 will reach the lofty heights Radical Entertainment is aiming for.

Overall, I'd say Prototype 2 is a worthy follow-up to the original game. It improves on some key areas, has an intriguing plot, very good voice acting, and is a blast to play. However, its formula can get old after a while and there are some nagging control and camera issues as well. It's a bit lacking in replay value, but is a must-have for anyone who enjoyed the first game.

You can have some fun with it, but if you're looking for a challenging and engrossing open world game then you might be a bit disappointed.

It's big, dumb fun, presented in a package that might be derivative, but at least has a lot of polish. The story is forgettable, and the jumping is entertaining.

An improvement to the original, but with that everything has also been said. The story is dull, the visuals lack spirit and main character Heller is annoying as hell.

While a lot of fun can be had rampaging around the city, you ultimately have to decide if you really care enough about Heller to pursue his former captors and seek revenge or just roam around the city causing mayhem. Thankfully with a vast city to explore, that choice is up to you.

All in all, Prototype 2 does a good job of creating an interesting combat engine, but falls short visually, in story-telling, and general mission design. Assuming that you are geared for some mindless death and dismemberment, this is a good way to spend the time until the new releases hit the open market.

It's simply not a remarkable game. Prototype 2 is good fun – nothing more, nothing less and certainly nothing memorable.

A safe sequel. It doesn't add anything particularly new or inventive to the genre, but small tweaks make it more accessible than the original game. Most importantly, it's an unabashedly fun adventure that doesn't have any doubt about what it wants to be.

While an improvement over the original, Prototype 2 still has significant flaws. Despite that, it's a fun game in spurts and worth looking into if you like sandbox action games or enjoyed the original.

It's a shame that Radical Entertainment doesn't deliver on their grand promises. Yes, this is a fun game, but an uninteresting story, boring missions and rather dull graphics keep PROTOTYPE 2 from topping its predecessor.

Prototype remains an explosive game and an experience like no other.

What it may lack in depth, Prototype 2 makes up for in solid open-world action and fun. It's highly recommended to anyone who feels that open-world games have offered too many constraints and would just like to engage in some havoc. However, the game's lack of variety and repetitive mission structure may not offer other gamers the experience that they're looking for, especially when compared to other games in the genre.

Story wise, nothing has changed since the first Prototype. You still won't care. You can, however, have fun with the chaotic action and the varied flavors of fighting.

Outside of the Trophies I have for my efforts, I doubt I'll remember much of Prototype 2's sterile side missions and curse word-laden dialogue. Prototype 2 is fun, but it sure is forgettable.

Prototype 2 is mindless fun, but lacking any glimpse of intelligence. Every element of the story is undermined by simplicity and shallowness. The game excels in creating a brutal interactive playground in which you roam around as a half-god. It's just a shame that this deity doesn't get a moment to shine.

Its cooler moments are offset by a long list of missions that aren't engaging at all. You're a man with an ever-increasing list of insane powers, but the tasks you accomplish with those powers are usually pretty ho-hum. Add to all that a script that makes you want to turn the sound down and a dose of awkward control quirks and you've got a run-of-the-mill open-world game.