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Prototype
Release Date: June 9, 2009 (US), June 10, 2009 (AUS), June 12, 2009 (EU)
Reviewed On: Xbox 360
Also Available On: PlayStation 3, PC
Developer: Radical Entertainment
Publisher: Activision
ESRB Rating: M – Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Strong Language
PEGI Rating: 18+ - Violence, Bad Language
OFLC Rating: MA15+ - Strong Violence, Coarse Language
Power is a human desire unlike any other. It’s silent, ever-present, and despite what Harry Potter might teach you, will never be assuaged. Some people may be content with the power they have, but the majority of the world’s population will always have moments of weakness; glints of the “what if.” Thankfully, video games have offered a good deal of catharsis in this respect, and Radical Entertainment’s Prototype is one of this year’s combatants for “most Godly.”
Go ahead, grab the helicopter and chuck it at the Brooklyn Bridge. The power is yours!
Such as life, video games too have limitations that can’t be exceeded. While Prototype’s valiant attempt at ultimate power comes close realizing some twisted sense of nirvana, many pieces feel malformed and ill-fitted. The game feels like the Spider-man series re-imagined, and, as Uncle Ben says, “With great power, comes great responsibility.” Does Prototype overwhelm the player with power, or does it squander its chance at greatness?
Story:
Alex Mercer is an amnesiac with extraordinary abilities. After waking up on a cold, steel slab in the morgue, he is dazed and desperate for answers. The Web of Intrigue, an interactive list of 131 conspirators surrounding Gentek’s “Blacklight” research, is where most of these answers come from. Completing missions and consuming conspirators are the two primary ways Mercer approaches the task of exacting his revenge on whoever unleashed the “Blacklight” virus on the populace. Thankfully, the story is just enough to keep the player interested throughout the 12-15 hours of gameplay.
Mercer’s indifference toward the rest of his past is never labelled as a mystery, but in fact, is the impetus for the game’s most interesting twist. Unfortunately, this plot point never receives the set-up it deserves and feels lost amid the 31 missions and 131 Web of Intrigue targets. In fact, most of the game’s twists feel poorly executed because much of the information leading up to each “big reveal” is obtained through consuming individuals’ memories; since these opportunities are mostly optional, a lot of the intrigue is misplaced.
With Blackwatch on the scene, Mercer's plans are constantly impeded.
Mercer grinds his way through forgettable enemies and only comes in contact with a handful of worthwhile characters, including a pair of high-level Blackwatch members, and his sister, who is so estranged from him that no emotional weight is added. Blackwatch are an elite section of the military that have been trained to deal ruthlessly with viral outbreaks such as this, and one that occurred nearly four decades prior. This adds another layer of depth to Mercer’s quest for revenge, but everything feels too disconnected and generic to be compelling on any level other than “adequate.”
Gameplay:
For all its narrative shortcomings, Prototype runs like a seasoned parkour traceur (runner). Without solid gameplay, this title was destined to sink, but luckily players will find their greatest (and, perhaps, only) solace in Prototype’s expert blend of fighting, free-running, and stealth mechanics. From the beginning, Mercer has a limited number of attacks and abilities, but the amount of customization allows players to tailor their experience. Armor, shape-shifting, the comparatively useless thermal and “infected” vision, all make Mercer’s attacks more compelling. While his blade and “muscle mass” powers are most effective, if the Whipfest, Claws, or Hammerfist are upgraded they can be equally lethal.
With enough EP, Alex Mercer becomes something entirely inhuman. He becomes a God.
Additional abilities are gained by spending “Evolution Points”, which accumulate when Mercer does anything more exhausting than breathing. The most economic use of Mercer’s time is to slaughter everything that wants him dead, but completing Challenges and Consume Events are also great ways to net EP. It’s actually a really great system, if the player doesn’t want every ability in the Upgrade menu because you never feel like you are grinding.
As more abilities are unlocked, the player’s God complex will not only make Prototype a title to return to when gamers need to blow off some steam, but also negates the game’s flaws from detracting from the experience. A wondrous achievement on Radical Entertainment’s part, the camera manages to stay out of the player’s way a majority of the time while the controls lend to the feeling of seamless power. When the camera falters, players will typically end up on the end of a deadly combo, so there is give and take, but most of the time, Prototype nails its execution.
Graphics:
Prototype’s design is easily its kryptonite. Manhattan has never been less inspired in its representation, and with the Spider-man and Grand Theft Auto series’ both set in New York City’s epicenter, the bar is, admittedly, set pretty high. That still doesn’t excuse the endlessly repetitive buildings, streets, and models. The graphics are all well and good, standard for this generation, but the real stand out is the animation.
At this height Manhattan looks okay, but once Mercer hits the streets... Bleh!
Mercer looks almost entirely fluid running up buildings; shattering glass with each footfall, then leaping off in a graceful, arching back flip that puts him within hijacking distance of a helicopter in pursuit. This all looks much better than it‘s described and the framerate accommodates the action very well, dipping only in extremely active situations with hundreds of people onscreen. Unfortunately for Prototype, Manhattan doesn’t feel alive enough, and it could have benefitted from being scaled down; less space would have added more detail, possibly better textures, and far less draw issues.
Audio:
Taking after a popular trend as of late (Bionic Commando and Infamous), Prototype is once again led by a gruff, unlikeable protagonist (Mercer) voiced by Barry Pepper. Pepper has been in nearly every significant war movie over the last decade, but his voice won’t give any hint of exactly who he is, although this seems to be the point. Whilst much of what Mercer says in the game are one-liners, when the game reaches certain points he delivers monologues that are well done and move the plot along nicely, but come too infrequently.
Strike Teams copters scour the streets for Mercer while noise erupts from all corners of the city.
The sound effects are well suited to Prototype’s style. Loud explosions and gunfire, screaming crowds, and growling beasts are all fitting and give the game an eerie ambiance that suits the varying degrees of chaos Manhattan sinks into. The music is merely a device to signal action, and although it doesn’t stand out in any way, it does its job. The audio could have been more engaging, but everything needed to make the game sound good can be heard. Sometimes that’s all players can ask for.
Summary:
Prototype is a brand of fun unlike a lot of what’s on the market today. Where Dead Rising had the opportunity to be a zombie slaughter-fest, it veered off course and restricted players where they shouldn’t have been. Prototype plants players in a chaotic sandbox and lets them get to it. The story is full of holes, and loose ends that have little-to-no bearing on the single-minded story are handled sloppily, or not at all. Fortunately, Prototype is about using the powers Mercer has been bestowed by a not so mysterious occurrence. It’s not an entirely unique package, so whether this game is worth your money is dependent on whether or not you desire exploiting raw, unharnessed power in a video game.
A picture is worth a thousand words, so if you paused here, skip the review and go buy Prototype!
At its best, Prototype is a playground where Mercer can do as he pleases with all the carelessness and cruelty of a child; at its worst, players will crave a reprieve from the nonstop chaos. Web of Intrigue, challenges, consume events, and everyone’s favorite pastime, orb collecting, will stretch the gameplay time, but the only rewards for these acts of self-deprecation are achievements and trophies. With no multiplayer support, Prototype is a one-trick pony, that’s more aptly classified as a Pegasus; and trust me, flying on a horse gets old after a while.
Story: 4.5/10
Gameplay: 9.0/10
Graphics: 8.0/10
Audio: 7.5/10
Total Gaming Network Rating: 8.4/10
Gameplay: 9.0/10
Graphics: 8.0/10
Audio: 7.5/10
Total Gaming Network Rating: 8.4/10
~Eldri