Alpha Protocol Preview
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When I saw the game back at E3 last summer I must admit I was somewhat underwhelmed. The graphics were mediocre, the major character revealed seemed a bit flat, and the setting (a train yard) felt tired and unimaginative. I went from being fairly high on my list of most anticipated titles, to being a game I had little faith would deliver something memorable.
However, I was pleasantly surprised by what I saw at Game Developer's Conference. The user interface looker slicker, the graphics somewhat improved (although Alpha Protocol could not be considered a looker by any means), and more importantly I got to see elements of the story that had me intrigued.
The game has been decided to have "multiple middles" as opposed to the norm in which role-playing games have multiple endings. This applies to both story, dialogue and combat. The story telling device that Chris Avellone and his team has come up with is rather brilliant. In between missions you will see flash forwards with Michael Thorton as he is being questioned about his motives for a mission you will soon play. This device allows the player to choose his motives and actions in order to handle the situation he has gotten into in the future any way he wants. Eventually the game will be played out in real time, as opposed to the flash backs you play for the majority of Alpha Protocol. A very fresh approach, that truly lays bare the results of the choices you are about to make in a way that makes sense.
