14 DAY TRIAL // Today, we posted a review of Alpha Protocol, a self-described espionage role playing game created by Obsidian and published by SEGA. I gave the game a nine, if you can't be bothered to read the whole thing, praising the writing and the choices, kicking some dirt on it for the limited appeal of the shooting and for the glitches and technical problems. I was certainly more taken with Alpha Protocol than other reviewers, with the average on aggregation site Metacritic currently standing at 65 on the Xbox 360 and at 67 on the PlayStation 3.
There's a lot of criticism directed at Alpha Protocol, that's fair. The team could have used some more time to polish the look of the game, to make sure that the PC port manages to make good use of the keyboard and mouse setup and to make sure that the bad guys are smarter than at the moment.
But it seems that the focus on delivering cinematic, beautiful and well built experiences has driven reviewers and gamers alike away from the fact that the core of gaming is experiencing something new, innovative, which strives for more rather than playing another beautiful third person shooter with impressive graphics and no character.
Alpha Protocol is a leap forward in terms of action role playing games. The new dialog system, which blends vagueness and timing, mimics real life well and puts pressure on the player to choose without considering all the min max consequences. The impact intelligence has on the game is all too real, pointing to a future where stalking and staking out might be the main mechanics of action titles. Obsidian also manages to create a twisting tale that, while not winning a lot of points for originality, really emphasizes the consequences of one's choices, from the smallest to life ending or altering.
Alpha Protocol is a “flawed gem” and we, as gamers, should reward this. It's not a game that has bad features because it's lazily conceived and only launched to get more money out of the audience. This is a game that aims for something new and, while not quite reaching its target, needs to be praised for the effort.