125 réponses à ce sujet

[wolfsite]

Honestly it's a great game that gets poorly treated.

Hell look at other topics on this forum alone about underatted games and such and Alpha Protocol always comes up.  Just re installed in on my computer and playing again.

[Il Divo]

Alpha Protocol, at least critically, was very under-rated. I think I suffered one major bug the entire game. That aside, Obsidian did an excellent job.

[Chaos-fusion]

I loved it personally. I got it for a really low price in a sale, and felt I had paid too little. When I eventually got it working at least..

Still, it's a really fun game, though I find it odd it got slammed for being buggy (I think the only issue I had was getting stuck in the environment, once, over several playthroughs: I've had worse in many games), when TES games are the same, yet that seems to be accepted? It's intruiging to me, at least.

It's now on my list of games to give as gifts, so more people give it a try.

[Brockololly]

TobiTobsen wrote...
Good sir... Alpha Protocol features a fight versus a drugged up russian in a 80's disco while "Turn up the Radio" from Autograph is blaring from the speakers.

This makes all your arguments invalid!

Best boss fight ever, just for the musicB)


AP certainly has its share of issues, but the way it handles story and characters and dialogue are exceptional. I think it got poor reviews initially because a lot of people went into it expecting a pure third person shooter and instead its a stat based shooter like ME1 or Deus Ex, which can feel pretty clunky.

But I'll take a game like Alpha Protocol any day of the week thats rough around the edges than something like ME2 or ME3 thats more polished but relatively unambitious and doesn't really try to do anything new.

[John Epler]

I would always recommend Alpha Protocol. The game part is rough (go stealth and pistols, you'll thank me) but the dialogue and consequence stuff is top notch.

[MerinTB]

I love just about every part of Alpha Protocol. Well, maybe not the stealth - but I hate stealth in any game so...

[Deviija]

Nope, it is crappy to me. Some horrible sex/romance scenes titillation factors, and shallow lady characters. Maybe it's more easily to pass off in this industry and if you're a hetero dude, but those parts were a killer for my enjoyment. Perhaps if Thorton's sexuality could also be customized, and such scenes and factors placed into certain dude characters, then it would have been less irritating for me (equal opportunity irritation, at least?).

The only positive I found was the dialogue mechanics and the reactions to what you say/do and how people address and view Thorton.

Modifié par Deviija, 25 avril 2012 - 09:59 .

[Esbatty]

I'm still waiting for Alpha Protocol 2 or some kind of spiritual successor from Obsidian.

[Tommyspa]

The game is a technical nightmare which justifies its poor ratings. However it does its choice and consequence well, it just isn't very interesting overall. Would rate it a 6/10, wouldn't recommend it to anyone who play games for gameplay though. I got it for free with $10 store credit for pre-ordering Skyrim from amazon.

Modifié par Tommyspa, 25 avril 2012 - 10:08 .

[Barbarossa2010]

Alpha Protocol was a fantastic game. Not merely just another entry in a virtual endless sea of mediocre action games.

Decisions that actually have consequences; quality dialogue; a compelling espionage story; a great protagonist; good pacing; hilarious moments (..."Mike and Shawn F- yeah..."); and serviceable gameplay and UI. Gunplay is probably on par with ME1. I've suffered through much worse in shooter elements. Had a great feel to the overall game.

Me personally; I would NOT do stealth and pistols. Go guns blazing, the other way will frustrate the living sh-- out of you...especially if you're anything like me and are perhaps only the first generation of your family to walk upright.

Yes, knuckle draggers can play Alpha Protocol and enjoy it as well.

[Leinadi]

Deviija wrote...

Nope, it is crappy to me. Some horrible sex/romance scenes titillation factors, and shallow lady characters. Maybe it's more easily to pass off in this industry and if you're a hetero dude, but those parts were a killer for my enjoyment. Perhaps if Thorton's sexuality could also be customized, and such scenes and factors placed into certain dude characters, then it would have been less irritating for me (equal opportunity irritation, at least?).

The only positive I found was the dialogue mechanics and the reactions to what you say/do and how people address and view Thorton.

This is a bit of a wild suggestion... but maybe not partake in the romances if you don't like the them? It's not like they are a big part of the game at all. It's just such a small part of the game (certainly much smaller than in Bioware's games) that I can't see it coming in the way of someone's enjoyment unless one goes in actively looking for deeply portrayed, homosexual relationships. 
I also don't get how Mina or Scarlet are 'shallow'. They both fill very important roles in the overarching story and have big secrets that the player may or may not find out about. They are strong characters. Madison is 'innocent' (probably the only innocent character in the game) but also has a rather large connection to her character (aside from her little story arc I mean) that can be found out by the player. 
SIE is the one over-the-top female character. But then again, a character like Brayko also don't have a whole lot "depth" to him, that doesn't make them bad characters. because they don't try for incredible depth. They are supposed to be over-the-top, amusing silly and crazy.

As far as my views on the game, I think it does get a very bad rap at times which I don't agree with. However, it's also not without its flaws. But it is one of those games where I feel like reviewers are looking at the game with completely different glasses than other games. AP should not get a pass for its problems, but neither should other, more "mainstream" games.

Modifié par Leinadi, 25 avril 2012 - 10:22 .

[John Epler]

Barbarossa2010 wrote...

Alpha Protocol was a fantastic game. Not merely just another entry in a virtual endless sea of mediocre action games.

Decisions that actually have consequences; quality dialogue; a compelling espionage story; a great protagonist; good pacing; hilarious moments (..."Mike and Shawn F- yeah..."); and serviceable gameplay and UI. Gunplay is probably on par with ME1. I've suffered through much worse in shooter elements. Had a great feel to the overall game.

Me personally; I would NOT do stealth and pistols. Go guns blazing, the other way will frustrate the living sh-- out of you...especially if you're anything like me and are perhaps only the first generation of your family to walk upright.

Yes, knuckle draggers can play Alpha Protocol and enjoy it as well.

I don't know, karate chopping some guy in the head, and then karate chopping his friend who wandered over to investigate was a lot of fun.

But yes, shotguns and assault rifles are also good. I am -always- a stealthy character if the option exists, so my opinion should perhaps be taken with a grain of salt.

[Dreadstruck]

I am pretty sure that was supposed to be a flying knee from Muay Thai. Pretty badass, especially againts the bosses with the slowdown

@Leinadi
The women of AP are anything but certainly not shallow or helpess. Try pissing Mina off to the point where she absolutely despises you during the course of game, even sees you as a "lesser evil" and see that she is nothing like most of the meek Shepard fangirl romance cast(well, maybe apart from Ash who is not afraid to call you out on your BS, perhaps that's the reason people dislike her).

Modifié par Avalla'ch, 26 avril 2012 - 09:48 .

[Khayness]

I got a Veteran playthrough in progress (didn't finish training yet, stopped it months ago), I'm really curious about all the benefits of NG+.

One day I'll do a Martial Artist build with the close up shot using only a shotgun. Now that's boss. Punch punch kick, suddenly, shotgun to the face.

Modifié par Khayness, 25 avril 2012 - 10:38 .

[Dreadstruck]

Khayness wrote...
One day I'll do a Martial Artist build with the close up shot using only a shotgun. Now that's boss. Punch punch kick, suddenly, shotgun to the face.

Haha yeah, the upgraded Shotgun skill is also good if you want to put someone down on their ass with the knockback.
Combined with Martial Arts it's like "SIT THE **** DOWN", followed by a curbstomp or a throat jab.

Modifié par Avalla'ch, 25 avril 2012 - 10:42 .

[John Epler]

I did my first playthrough as a Recruit on.. Normal, I think? Saudi Arabia was a pain, but the rest of the game was significantly easier once I gained my Cloak of Invisibility.

I want to do a playthrough on Hard as a Veteran. In the first run through, I made everyone happy - this time, I want to do the opposite. Be the biggest jerk to everyone.

[Brockololly]

John Epler wrote...
 In the first run through, I made everyone happy - this time, I want to do the opposite. Be the biggest jerk to everyone.

A-hole Mike Thorton is the best Mike Thorton.

Modifié par Brockololly, 25 avril 2012 - 10:52 .

[Nerevar-as]

Khayness wrote...

I got a Veteran playthrough in progress (didn't finish training yet, stopped it months ago), I'm really curious about all the benefits of NG+.

Not that much, you get a few extra dialogue options, most in the prologue (although Thorton´s comment to Mina after meeting Albatros in China was priceless), and you have so many APs that it´s close to game breaking (you start with 3 in everything, and can relocate them.

And Stealth + Pistol is gamebreaking. Chain Shot oneshots almost everyboss. With Brilliance you can do two in a row. By the end of the game I could add Shadow Operative +  Brilliance and walk around to good shooting positions without trouble.  My pacifist run was easier than expected.

[Khayness]

Brockololly wrote...

A-hole Mike Thorton is the best Mike Thorton.

Seeing this reminded me how much I loved the missions which aren't focused on combat at all. It's a rare treat in the RPG industry nowdays. The party scouting with a sniper, Albatross meetings, etc. Amazing, immersive, and plot critical, without even shooting a bullet.

Nerevar-as wrote...

And Stealth + Pistol is gamebreaking.

My first playthrough was Recruit on Hard, stealthy pacifist run. I went to Moscow first.

I was not amused.

Modifié par Khayness, 25 avril 2012 - 11:00 .

[Dreadstruck]

Veteran also helps you solve one certain mission the optimal way, whereas not having it would mean you would have to choose X or Y.

A-hole Mike Thorton is the best Mike Thorton.

Hey! I posted that first! *shakes fist*!

Modifié par Avalla'ch, 25 avril 2012 - 10:59 .

[Leinadi]

As far as tense non-combat gameplay goes, the first meeting with Marburg is one of the best written things I've seen. I was literally on the edge of my seat during that the first time I played the game. Very well acted as well.

It's also in those sections that the dialogue system really works. Because A) you're always making choices (not all may be significant of course) and the scene has cinematic momentum as well and is always moving forward.

I think the greatest achievement of Alpha Protocol is how tailored the storyline feels to what you say. Each choice has different dialogue from Thorton and most often different responses from whoever you're talking to as well based on what you say, and still the game manages to feel absolutely solid in terms how everything unfolds. I think it's pretty tremendous when you consider that it's actually really rare in the game that the actors put emphasis on the wrong things (which is a pretty common fault in games, especially with branches in dialogues).
It's not 100% perfect but a *lot* of care have been put into not only writing the game, but also providing clear directions for the voice-actors on what the context of each goddamn line is (responding to Thorton's various moods).

I think a lot of criticisms against AP is valid but it made me want to explode when some reviews said that it had bad writing and voice-acting.

Modifié par Leinadi, 25 avril 2012 - 11:12 .

[KnightofPhoenix]

Brockololly wrote...

John Epler wrote...
 In the first run through, I made everyone happy - this time, I want to do the opposite. Be the biggest jerk to everyone.

A-hole Mike Thorton is the best Mike Thorton.

Magnificent bastard Thorton is the best Thorton.

Mike Thorton: "I've travelled all over the world to stop you, you think I didn't make a network of my own? I have Surkov in Moscow. Shaheed and al-Samad, they may not like me but both are willing to do business with me. I've got one of  the highest ranking officers in the Chinese secret police on my side. Steven Heck. G22. SIE. You hired [spoilers] Scarlet to kill Sung but now she's with me. Then there is Parker, the guy can use his little talent to really stir things up. So I don't need you anymore, I can make my own Hallbech. Then I can make the world any way I want."

Modifié par KnightofPhoenix, 25 avril 2012 - 11:17 .

[Karlone123]

SPOILERS!!!!!!!



I really enjoyed playing a ruthless and aggressive Mike Thornton and how he gets angry all the time. The RPG element was really good and how your decisions tie in at the end of the game is also good. If the gameplay mechanics were the same as Deus Ex then no doubt would it have been a contender of the year.

[Barbarossa2010]

John Epler wrote...

Barbarossa2010 wrote...

Alpha Protocol was a fantastic game. Not merely just another entry in a virtual endless sea of mediocre action games.

Decisions that actually have consequences; quality dialogue; a compelling espionage story; a great protagonist; good pacing; hilarious moments (..."Mike and Shawn F- yeah..."); and serviceable gameplay and UI. Gunplay is probably on par with ME1. I've suffered through much worse in shooter elements. Had a great feel to the overall game.

Me personally; I would NOT do stealth and pistols. Go guns blazing, the other way will frustrate the living sh-- out of you...especially if you're anything like me and are perhaps only the first generation of your family to walk upright.

Yes, knuckle draggers can play Alpha Protocol and enjoy it as well.

I don't know, karate chopping some guy in the head, and then karate chopping his friend who wandered over to investigate was a lot of fun.

But yes, shotguns and assault rifles are also good. I am -always- a stealthy character if the option exists, so my opinion should perhaps be taken with a grain of salt.

HA, more than a grain of salt John, just messing with you.  Stealth is cool even if I'm extraordinarily mediocre at it.  I'm a very average Infiltrator as well, but make no mistake while I prefer shotguns, explosive ordnance and brawling, I'm certainly glad to have one or two with me in a gold match! 

I really like a game like AP, where you can pwn bad guys with unsilenced automatic weapons and frag grenades, OR absolutely avoid any contact, and take out your adversaries with a blade or killing move, because you prefer to be a different sort of badass.  That you can actually have a great story, worthy dialogue, branching consequence tree, a significant amount of agency, an assortment of characters with any number of motivations, intel, and gun nut tinkering, mixed in with your own preference of badassery, is what makes AP such a jewel.

However one seeks their catharsis, it's most defintiely a matter of personal taste.  Pass the salt.