Gamespot slams Alpha Protocol

[s44]

Most games that try to combine two play styles fail miserably.

Except this one was developed *after* Mass Effect -- and on the exact same engine.

Any links to the anonymous leak post(s)?

 

[AyashiKaibutsu]

erratic mouse/camera movements can be fixed by modifying the APEngine.ini file:

FIX FOR SHUTTERING from OBSIDIAN FORUM:
in APEngine.ini ( C:\Users\<yourname>\Documents\Alpha Protocol\APGame\Config)
change this values to this:
UseBackgroundLevelStreaming=false
OnlyStreamInTextures=true
OneFrameThreadLag=False

Once I modified those values - camera/mouse stuttering disappeared.

I like how so many console ports today are so terribly done that it's almost like never even attempted to run it once on a PC. I mean when all it is is a simple feature turned on or off in the .config that's making the game terrible it really looks bad on them, and I've seen a disturbing number of games that follow this trend over the years.

 

[Tristicus]

Most games that try to combine two play styles fail miserably.

The Saboteur contained 2 or 3 and was great.

 

[s44]

Any links to the anonymous leak post(s)?

Never mind, I found it.

 

[crownjules]

Never mind, I found it.

That's pretty strong condemnation from an insider. Hope he doesn't get found out because he'll no doubt lose his job for criticizing the company co-owner like that. Even if every word of what he said was truth. Just shows you that mismanagement can come from within, not just publishers pushing unrealistic deadlines on developers.

 

[Raduque]

Computer Hacking - it's clunky -but again, once you get use to it - it becomes tolerable. If you don't like it - you can always carry around and use EMP devices.

You can use the EMP grenades to bypass computers? Does this work to disarm the bombs in the museum level?

 

[skace]

Sooo uhh, I'm playing this and it's actually really, really good. The only thing I'm hating so far is the checkpoint system - I understand why they did it but it's still really annoying.

The conversation system is probably the best conversation system I've ever seen. It really makes talking to people enjoyable and challenging all at the same time.

 

[Corporate Thug]

ugh, the cover system and walking mechanics look terrible.

 

[thujone]

i've been playing this game a bunch this weekend and i have to say... it's not the greatest game, but a lot of the problems i noticed immediately (poor mouse handling, weird fps issues, lackluster graphics) could all be fixed via tweaking config file settings.

only about 7 missions in or so, but the conversation system is definitely the main draw. the AI is laughable at times... you can usually stealth into a good spot, kill 1 guard, then just wait for the others to come running and end up with a nice big happy pile of dead.


all in all... it's a mass effect clone that has an improved (IMO) conversation mechanic that just cut and paste in everything else. not a terrible game (especially if you loved mass effect) but probably not worth $50. i'd suggest waiting to see how quick they are with patches.

 

[skace]

It reminds me of Deus Ex more than Mass Effect. I'm playing it in a similar fashion to Deus Ex and enjoying it about as much as I enjoyed Deus Ex. That's pretty significant claims considering how highly I ranked Deus Ex. I'm in the Asian mission arc, here is hoping it continues to impress.

 

[thujone]

yeah actually i got the deus ex vibe too... and was really excited about that because there really aren't too many other games that actually EVER make me think of deus ex.

i can't tell exactly what it is that reminds me of deus ex though. i think it's just kind of the... structure of conversations? and i guess kind of the upgrade/level system.

but overall i can't really put my finger on exactly what it is.

 

[skace]

The reasons I think of Deus Ex:

1. Missions occur over several unique locations in the world.
2. Cryptically unknown characters and government agencies such as Albatross / G22 / Alpha Protocol / etc.
3. Conversations that don't appear to have any wrong or right choices, only different choices
4. Lots of sneaking past civilians / npcs that don't necessarily deserve to die. Plus the sneaking is kind of ghetto and quirky, just as it was in Deus Ex. Not as refined as something like Hitman or Thief.
5. Lots of information gathering. Hacking / Lockpicking.

 

[IcePickFreak]

I finished the game last night. It can be fun, but definitely some frustrations along the way. I can't believe I'm saying this, but that Gamespot review is spot-on, I agree'd with everything they said.

I really want to smack who ever thought that when you use a sniper rifle (which is a stationary weapon for some reason) to increase the mouse sensitivity by 500&#37;.

 

[zerogear]

The Saboteur contained 2 or 3 and was great.

I love Saboteur, mine just came in the mail today.

 

[kalrith]

It's getting a 74 @ Metacritic which isn't that good

http://www.metacritic.com/games/platforms/pc/alphaprotocol?q=Alpha Protocol

That is quite bad. The good games usually have several reviews with 100 score, and the top score for Alpha Protocol is 86.

 

[AdamK47]

I'll probably be getting it. It looks very interesting. I'll wait a few patches. The reviews aren't all that bad, but it should drive the price of the game down quite a bit over the coming months.

 

[zerogear]

I think the main issues is definitely the bugs, once those get ironed out, it should be fairly good.

 

[hiddensniper11]

But my friends told me it is a good game - that's weird.

 

[skace]

I really want to smack who ever thought that when you use a sniper rifle (which is a stationary weapon for some reason) to increase the mouse sensitivity by 500%.

I've only used 2 stationary sniper rifles because I'm doing a non violent approach, however I don't recall my sensitivity changing at all through the scope - especially not 500%, weird. I'll try to keep an eye out for it. I've also not run into any bugs yet EXCEPT getting stuck on world geometry (doorways / staircases). Running Vista 64 and an nVidia GTX 295.

 

[coloumb]

Yeah..the sniper rifle mouse acceleration is crazy - haven't tried switching down the mouse acceleration prior to using a sniper rifle - that might help.

The game isn't as bad as some reviews are giving it - sure..it's got a few glaring bugs - but nothing that doesn't prevent you from playing and enjoying the game. I'm having fun running around as a spy/full stealthy character [fun to switch on stealth mode and knock out a room full of baddies - or just lob a flash bomb - that works well too]. It's also interesting to see how your choices affect the outcome of certain situations [characters you meet later in the game] or who likes/hates you [which can lead to "romance"]...

 

[OptimumSlinky]

Honestly, I stopped listening to reviewers a while ago. I picked Alpha Protocol up for PS3 this afternoon (got to try and give the PS3 something to do occasionally), and I'm only a few hours in but I'm enjoying it. Yeah, the AI is about as swift as the AI was in Deus Ex (ie, borderline retarded yet somehow occasionally able to spot you from miles away regardless of what you do). Yeah, the cover system detection is awful. Yeah, the graphics aren't great. But so far I'm having fun, and I'm enjoying the RPG elements and the conversation system (though I wish there wasn't a time limit to choose). IMO, not every game needs to be absolutely flawless to be fun. AP has a cool idea, and runs with it. Deus Ex was one of the most technically flawed games when it came out, yet is still hailed as a classic and was even despite its shortcomings. I'm not saying AP is anywhere near the level of DE, but I do believe modern reviewers are fixated more on the flash and bang of visuals and presentation these days that they've forgotten that sometimes a rough but interesting idea is better than a smooth as silk, COD-clone #17.

 

[Bateluer]

Pegged this months ago, was a given Alpha Protocol was going to be garbage.

 

[skace]

Pegged this months ago, was a given Alpha Protocol was going to be garbage.

It's the closest thing we will ever get to Deus Ex 1. Garbage is a pretty inaccurate statement given that.

I've recently beaten my run, I'm going to hope for a few more patches and then I'd love to do a run #2. In fact, I've already thought 2 other runs I'd like to do, which is odd because I very rarely replay games.

It's certainly got it's weak spots, the ending is a bit thrown together, there are a few glitches to be fixed, the merchant inventory isn't sortable. But all in all it's an extremely good game and I put down Mass Effect 2 to play Alpha Protocol start to finish.

 

[Nebor]

I just got around to trying this (attempting the alphabetical approach to tackling my Steam library) and I'm having a hard time getting into it. I'd prefer to play with a mouse and keyboard for the gunplay, but then hacking computers is nearly impossible due to the mouse control for the second "password." So I switched to my xbox 360 controller, which works great for everything but shooting.

At least in Grand Theft Auto I could use the 360 controller for driving, walking around, etc. and when the gunfights started I'd use my mouse and keyboard, but with Alpha Protocol it forces you to use one or the other exclusively.

I just made it to the first safehouse in Saudi Arabia and took a break to go for a run. I don't think I'll be starting the game up again. I give it a 3/10.

 

[DaveSimmons]

^ that's too bad. I loved KOTOR 2 and Fallout New Vegas, and enjoyed Neverwinter 2, so I wanted to give Obsidian the benefit of the doubt.

But both the professional and user reviews have been so universally negative I keep passing this by even at $5-10.