Alpha Protocol Preview

Virgin Media has been busy churning out previews this weekend, with Obsidian’s Alpha Protocol being one of the games in their crosshairs.

Because you’re best buds, Grigori gives you a side mission he wants you to divert a shipment of naughty toys to him while on the next mission. You agree. Grigori is now someone you can buy weapons and armour from. Not only that, but because he likes you, he’s giving you a ten per cent discount on armour. (I appreciate you not being an asshole when talking to me,) he says. Lovely chap.

A results screen pops up it will every time you finish a mission, and some missions are dialogue only. A debriefing of sorts, the results screen contains text on how the mission went, and what the likely ramifications of it are. Nathan then restarts the game and replays the Grigori dialogue mission. This time, he’s going to be an asshole, just for fun. You slam Grigori’s head into the bar, demanding information. You smash a bottle on his skull. (Halbech are smuggling weapons into Moscow. Who’s their contact here?) Grigori, terrified, spits out the name Serkov. A perk is acquired in among the minus reputation points – (Enough chit-chat). Grigori gives you a five per cent discount on weapons because, you know, you’ve scared the living daylights out of him. Mina doesn’t like your approach either. -1 reputation.
What’s the point in all this reputation lark then? Does it really affect the game in any meaningful way? The answer is yes. This time the results screen tells us Grigori’s so frightened that he may alert the local government to Mike’s presence. This, Nathan says, sounds bad for us, but could be good in the long run. Interesting.