Alpha Protocol Reviews

The initial wave of Alpha Protocol reviews is upon us, and they all range from below average to semi-favorable. Hopefully Obsidian kicks out a patch in the very near future to bump up the scores a bit…

Eurogamer gives it a 7/10:

Obsidian can’t really compete with the bigger boys in the RPG field, then, but it’s carved out a little space to call its own. With ambition instead of budget, and integrity instead of polish, in the end the choice of whether to persevere or not is pretty easy to make.

Joystiq doesn’t hand out a score:

Alpha Protocol is structurally flawed, but perhaps most damning — considering the thing was apparently done six months ago — it’s a technical nightmare. Textures take forever to pop-in (and sometimes even pop back out!); enemies hover 10 feet above platforms; there are frequent, seemingly random load times that can range from 3 to 15 seconds, and even occur right in the middle of dialog. Trust me, I could go on.

CVG/Games Master gives it an 8.4/10:

Alpha Protocol’s a technical turkey but it’s also a gripping, innovative and deserving of both success and a sequel. It might look like a dog, but dig deep and you’re in for an undercover treat – it’s a stonking feeling when a game we were expecting to stink turns out to be a revelation. If you’ve any interest in RPGs that also deliver explosive action, don’t let this double agent slip through the net.

VideoGamer gives it a 6/10:

On paper, Alpha Protocol sounds incredibly alluring, combining the best elements of the role-playing and action genres with a refreshing concept. In executing that concept, however, the game falls apart at the seams. Ignoring the dialogue system, Obsidian’s latest plays like a substandard third-person shooter. Despite its myriad of shortcomings there’s a moderate amount of fun to be had with Alpha Protocol. It’s a game that’s more enjoyable than it probably should be, a game that’s better than the sum of its parts. There’s a lot of potential hiding under the flawed shell, and although Obsidian has failed to coax it out this time around, I hope somebody does the concept justice in the future.

SPOnG gives it a 51%:

If you openly wept at the news of 24’s cancellation, you might get something out of Alpha Protocol. The RPG elements are largely functional and there’s a genuine sense that you can impact the storyline. That storyline is pretty dry, however, and the characters are wooden and lifeless like a big, dead, boring tree. Add in sub-par shooter elements and there’s not a lot to recommend Alpha Protocol.

PlayStation Lifestyle gives it a 7/10:

Alpha Protocol does have its flaws in almost every corner, with its frustrating mini-games to the way the game handles combat as well as pretty poor AI. However, this game is a fresh take and face on a new franchise which includes an involving storyline paired with a new twist on character interaction making Alpha Protocol a fairly enjoyable game. Obsidian Entertainment has succeeded in some aspects with blending a healthy dose of 3rd person action and complex RPG elements into one immersive and intriguing experience along with a high degree of freedom – something which should be experienced by anyone remotely interested in RPGs or stealth games.

Gladriel gives it a 7.5/10:

Still, there are some saving graces in this game: the role-playing and storyline are both excellent. We can level up our spy the way we want, just like in Mass Effect, or other good RPGs. There’s a plethora of specializations and special skills to develop and it’s really fun to use the latter on the missions. The story is top-notch, with well-drawn characters, exciting missions, double crossings, back stabbings, and many other surprises as well. So should we buy Alpha Protocol? Well, if you are itching for a good spy thriller with tons of customizations and a cool story, and if you can pass by its glaring design faults, then this game is clearly for you.

And TheGamersHub gives it a 3.5/5:

The game has a lot to immerse into. Some of the missions can be repetitive, but the overall story can be fulfilling and the ability to choose what you want to do next and not be on rails and forced to do certain things in a set order is great. The leveling system is superb for a first time effort. The action and RPG elements blend very well together. There are some glitches but if you can overlook the AI and the graphical hiccups you will be able to enjoy this game. Your initial play-through will take roughly 15 hours depending on how deep you want to experiment with the options given to you. The high replay value in this title makes for an easy bargain bin game. If you’re into RPG’s than you will pick this up upon release. So go out there, and save the world.