AP Review
Yes, this game is full of bugs, sometimes feeling unfinished. It also has graphics comparable to a poor looking PSone game and poor enemy AI. But if you can look past this Alpha Protocol is one of the deepest and most compelling experiences to be found. Nothing can match the feeling of perfectly time your run to dart across a room full of enemies undetected, silently tranquillizing and knocking out enemies with badass finishing moves. Exploration is also awarded, with many things scattered about the level that you will WANT to find, such as money pouches and Intel on characters or factions in the game. You won't be merely finding these for Achievements, you will genuinely want to find out more about characters essential to the excellent plot. Reading dossiers can either give players a deeper understanding of the story, provide helpful hints for taking on that enemy or just some quirky secret facts. The only real way to get the full enjoyment out of this game is to play using the stealth approach, as the shooting mechanics are weak. There are also some horrible boss battles and parts where you are forced into a gunfight, and these are by far the weakest moments in the game. Special credit has to go to the storytelling. I genuinely believe this game has one of the most enjoyable and immersive stories in modern gaming, made even more incredible by the fact that no two playthroughs will ever be the same, and the players choices have huge impacts on the things that happen in the game. Never judge a book by its cover. Ignore the graphics and the bugs and jump in. You won't regret it.
