An Energetic Exemplar- Prototype Reviewed
Prototype for the 360 & PS3. Developer: Radical Entertainment, Publisher: Activision ESRB:M
Although the ‘sensation’ is both sporadic and infrequent, most veteran gamers have experienced it during an intense play session. Typical symptoms include hand cramps- derived from inadvertently gripping the controller with vice-like force. Other signs may include eye strain, minor dizziness, and the inexplicable passage of large chunks of time. These indicators surface only when players are deeply immersed within a game, and when the diversion overwhelms us with uninhibited intensity. I like to call it the “gamer’s high.”
I mention this, as I just experienced an extended session of this phenomenon while playing Radical Entertainment’s new open-world action title, Prototype. The game masterfully combines wanton destruction, proficient mission design, and a consummate engine that envisions a decaying New York City. While the gamer’s high doesn’t subsist throughout the entire duration of Prototype, the title’s main missions may rouse the player into altered states of play.
In a manner becoming increasingly familiar to gamers, Prototype opens with the protagonist completely powered up. Anti-hero Alex Mercer is able to decimate heavy military hardware and entire battalions with a few button presses, as the game illustrates the basics of control. Prototype’s mechanics vaguely resemble Radical’s last game- The Incredible Hulk: Ultimate Destruction; players can hurl trucks, as well as make huge bounding jumps across the cityscape. Although I had played Ultimate Destruction extensively, Prototype’s controls were initially overwhelming, due to the intensity of the initial battlefield. A second play-through of the initial stage rectified that problem, and began the training required for the brutality and intensity of future stages.
During the duration of the game, the players will earn Evolution Points (or, EP) liberally for completing missions, eliminating hostiles, and finding collectables. Prototype allows a nearly unprecedented amount of augmentation to the lead character- within two hours we were gliding around the environment, and had learned to commandeer a tank. At first, the move-set may be bewildering, requiring players to switch between multiple offensive forms, and equip abilities before employing them via multi-button combos. Later, the gamer will cherish the amount of depth Prototype holds.
Typically, when games present a lone, unarmed protagonist pitted against a crowd of gun-toting enemies, the resulting skirmishes are unfulfilling. The extended range of ballistics allow for several foes to assault the player at once, while the antagonist is confined to close-quarter melee combat against a single opponent. Prototype is one of the first games I have seen that circumvents this problem. While picking up a machine gun or fire-and-forget missile is satisfying, the brutality and speed of Alex’s melee strikes are without peer. Eliminating an enemy tank with a single powered-up punch conveys a wonderful sense of omnipotence to the player, while slicing through a horde of adversarial soldiers is awe-inspiring.
Prototype’s supporting star is its recreation of Manhattan. Although the urban environment has been modeled for a myriad of games, Radical’s depiction of the borough feels amazingly alive. Streets are filled with flocks of people, who scurry and panic realistically. A.I. cars, frightened by a burgeoning firefight, will become unnerved, and collide into traffic. Areas become engulfed in block-wide conflicts, adding to the title’s sense of immersion.
Once players have completed the twelve hour main adventure, there’s still a marginal amount of entertainment value. Players may continue to medal in any of the game’s sixty side missions, that range from rooftop races to collect orbs, to killing a finite amount of enemies within a prescribed time limit. For players who have played through similar distractions in Crackdown, or InFamous, these auxiliary activities might not hold much interest.
Prototype’s faults are thankfully sparse, but are sadly noticeable. While missions inflate the game’s intensity, they also elevate the challenge level disproportionately, creating a number of conspicuous spikes in the title’s difficulty level. Several of the last missions are particularly demanding, and may cause frustration in some gamers. Others may bemoan the occasional low-res texture that frequently appears when the player is asked to destroy a large-scale structure.
With a neighboring release date, open-world urban structure, and a number of narrative similarities, Prototype will inevitably be compared to InFamous. Ideally, Radical Entertainment’s creation deserves to be recognized on its own merits. The title contains some of the most intense and satisfying combat in recent gaming history, while its narrative structure is refreshingly innovative. Fans of visceral, ambitious open-world games will certainly find Prototype’s strengths marvelously irresistible.
Prototype was reviewed on retail Xbox 360 code.
Although the ‘sensation’ is both sporadic and infrequent, most veteran gamers have experienced it during an intense play session. Typical symptoms include hand cramps- derived from inadvertently gripping the controller with vice-like force. Other signs may include eye strain, minor dizziness, and the inexplicable passage of large chunks of time. These indicators surface only when players are deeply immersed within a game, and when the diversion overwhelms us with uninhibited intensity. I like to call it the “gamer’s high.”
I mention this, as I just experienced an extended session of this phenomenon while playing Radical Entertainment’s new open-world action title, Prototype. The game masterfully combines wanton destruction, proficient mission design, and a consummate engine that envisions a decaying New York City. While the gamer’s high doesn’t subsist throughout the entire duration of Prototype, the title’s main missions may rouse the player into altered states of play.
During the duration of the game, the players will earn Evolution Points (or, EP) liberally for completing missions, eliminating hostiles, and finding collectables. Prototype allows a nearly unprecedented amount of augmentation to the lead character- within two hours we were gliding around the environment, and had learned to commandeer a tank. At first, the move-set may be bewildering, requiring players to switch between multiple offensive forms, and equip abilities before employing them via multi-button combos. Later, the gamer will cherish the amount of depth Prototype holds.
Typically, when games present a lone, unarmed protagonist pitted against a crowd of gun-toting enemies, the resulting skirmishes are unfulfilling. The extended range of ballistics allow for several foes to assault the player at once, while the antagonist is confined to close-quarter melee combat against a single opponent. Prototype is one of the first games I have seen that circumvents this problem. While picking up a machine gun or fire-and-forget missile is satisfying, the brutality and speed of Alex’s melee strikes are without peer. Eliminating an enemy tank with a single powered-up punch conveys a wonderful sense of omnipotence to the player, while slicing through a horde of adversarial soldiers is awe-inspiring.
Prototype’s supporting star is its recreation of Manhattan. Although the urban environment has been modeled for a myriad of games, Radical’s depiction of the borough feels amazingly alive. Streets are filled with flocks of people, who scurry and panic realistically. A.I. cars, frightened by a burgeoning firefight, will become unnerved, and collide into traffic. Areas become engulfed in block-wide conflicts, adding to the title’s sense of immersion.
Once players have completed the twelve hour main adventure, there’s still a marginal amount of entertainment value. Players may continue to medal in any of the game’s sixty side missions, that range from rooftop races to collect orbs, to killing a finite amount of enemies within a prescribed time limit. For players who have played through similar distractions in Crackdown, or InFamous, these auxiliary activities might not hold much interest.
Prototype’s faults are thankfully sparse, but are sadly noticeable. While missions inflate the game’s intensity, they also elevate the challenge level disproportionately, creating a number of conspicuous spikes in the title’s difficulty level. Several of the last missions are particularly demanding, and may cause frustration in some gamers. Others may bemoan the occasional low-res texture that frequently appears when the player is asked to destroy a large-scale structure.
With a neighboring release date, open-world urban structure, and a number of narrative similarities, Prototype will inevitably be compared to InFamous. Ideally, Radical Entertainment’s creation deserves to be recognized on its own merits. The title contains some of the most intense and satisfying combat in recent gaming history, while its narrative structure is refreshingly innovative. Fans of visceral, ambitious open-world games will certainly find Prototype’s strengths marvelously irresistible.
Prototype was reviewed on retail Xbox 360 code.
So I have to ask, which did you prefer, InFamous or Prototype.
I ask as I can only afford one.
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I might have to go with Prototype, if pressed.
I prefer the combat in Radical's game, but in amous is no slouch
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How the framerate in the game when things get all hectic?
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Incredible smooth. You've got to look carefully to see the framerate falter.
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I didn't expect this one to get reviewed so well. I thought InFamous was getting the better reviews.
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How violent is the game?
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From what I've seen, very.People get sliced in half like nothing and streets get filled with blood. I think they mentioned it on 1Up a while ago.
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The videos game it looks like a Spiderman game. Is it a different engine?
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probably a modified engine that was used for hulk ultimate destruction...was hoping to see a giant blue gorilla but alas no such luck
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I bought the game and am absolutely loving it. Its wonderfully dark, and like the review said very intense at times.
One of the few games these days that's worth $60 IMHO.
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I dont think I can play another Ssuperhero game. I'm burned out on the games. It's become like WWII games.
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I got this in the mail yesterday and played for four hours straight. Although I do think Infamous is better from my brief time with it, this compares well.
The stealth parts are really that great in this game.
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Are great or aren't great.
Most are saying they feel kinda lame.
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I love the whole 'gamer's high' thing. I don't think I read anyone who talked about this before, although I've felt it many times.
Great review.
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For a sequel they should pit Alex against the Hulk. That would be awesome.
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That would be cool if they could get the rights.
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IGN gave this a 7.5? hmmmm, who to believe?
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If you trust IGN, you shouldn't trust yourself.
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I found the web thing a bit confusing and frustrating, but like Alex I didn't know what the hell was going on.
Other that that, I'm probably halfway done with the game and will buy it when it drops to $40 (right now, I'm gameflying it)
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Those claws really turn me off. Looks like a bad Wolverine clone.
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DE, I almost always seem to agree with your reviews, so I'll pick it up this weekend.
Any multiplayer elements?
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I assume he's air jacking the helicopter in the pic.
Just Cause wants it's lame mechanic back.
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This seems to getting 9 and 7s (A and C), with few middle scores.
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I'm really enjoying the game for what it is. With that said, I really enjoy Dynasty Warrior games so there ya go.
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Dont hate on the Zhao Yun!
http://www.yueying.net/dw/
Try the which DW character are you quiz!
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Too many open world games these days. It's overkill, I tell ya!
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You can punch a tank? Reminds me of when the SF characters would beat up on cars in the bonus round.
I got to play this now.
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I like the way you guys don't really get into the plot. Too many sites spoil the game experience by telling what happens.
Although you did ruin the tank jacking....
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it sounds deliciously violent and still good. plus i was a huge fan of IH:UD.
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Yeah, too bad the newer Hulk game wasn't made by them. Man, it had a lot of bugs in it.
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is the title actually [PROTOTYPE]? all caps and brackets, and inFAMOUS is well...
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A friend of mine is playing this at the moment, and has told me a lot about it. This review mirrors much of what he said--that the game is the best "superhuman sandbox" to date, during regular play. But his most negative comment regarded the boss fights--he said that the bosses target you and nothing else, fire through solid objects with ease, and require inane pattern memorization. I'd be interested to hear other players takes on this.
I think it's a shame Prototype landed at the same time as Infamous, being subtly marketed as the 360 alternative to that game. From what I've watched and played so far, Prototype has a better design at its core.
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Yep, bosses are a pain in the ass. Often the game puts you in an enclosed area which makes things pretty tough.
At least you have the ability to power-up and raise your defenses. That's the only thing that saved me.
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For me it's up tied with Crackdown for best game in the superhero area.
I'm a bit partial to game's where you can pick up a weapon.
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Great review. I'm really digging the writing on the site!
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Nice review,I've had my eye on this game and have heard ups and downs about it.Might have to check this out after I beat a few games.
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Sounds like this is an early contender for GOTY. I know it probably wont win, but it's up there.
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Fantastic review. I love the part about 'gamer's high'
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From what I've played (I'm 5 hours in) this game has more destruction and killing than 100 Michael Bay movies.
Needles to say, I'm loving the game so far.
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Wow, some people seem to be loving this game. I will have to give it a rental at least.
Great review
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I cant wait to try this game out based on this review.
And yes, I LOVED the Hulk game for Xbox.
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Sorry, but inFamous is way better. I've played a bit of both, and I like the two campaigns for that game better.
Prototype forces you to be evil. Try playing the game without killing any civilians. It's damn near impossible.
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My Gamestop is sold out of this one. I might have to pick it up via Amazon.com
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Wish the "Prototype vs inFamous" issue would just end. They're both damn good games, why can't we be happy with that?
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I think like the review said there are a few similarities. This always happens when two FPS or RPGs come out together.
You'd think one of the developers would back of instead of splitting the market.
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I'm loving the game so far!
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Anyone know where I can get this for less than $60? even better less than $50?
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I didn't really care for the game, but I understand the enthusiasm for it- it is damn intense during the missions.
Sadly, it just got too frustrating for me, on the side of being cheap. But a lot of games now do that to me.
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For some reason, I just don't like the look of the main character. Hoodie-wearing heroes just seem too calculated to teen audiences.
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It's the Hot Topic emo influence. I'm sure it will be passe in 3-4 years.
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Though I didn't care for inFamous' take on the super power open world game, Prototype is more fun for me because of all the Hulk-like abilities.
Also, because you're given no incentive to be a good guy, what with taking any random civilian and using them as a health boost. Good times.
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that sounds awesome. The game doesn't penalize you for that?!?
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I almost bought this today. had I read this review, I probably would have.
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I am going to pick this up this weekend..awesome review keep up the good work, I bookmarked your site on my G1 phone to read at work along with CAg and Kotaku.
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Great review, guys!
I really enjoy your take on games!
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I know I will play this game soon, but I really just need to figure out if it's a rental or a purchase.
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My friend just bought this today. He hasn't stopped playing.
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The game sounds pretty awesome, sounds like I outta queue it up.
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I wish everyone would stop all the inFAMOUS vs. Prototype debating. I'm really sick of it.
They are both great games, people.
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Nice smoke effects in the game. Usually smoke is slowdown, but not in Prototype.
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Been wanting this game for years now. Was hoping that it would've been coop like they initially thought of doing but oh well. The game looks fun but I will rent this game and if I like it enough I'll buy it at full price.
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Sorry to Choke-a-beau and the others whom hate the inFAMOUS v PROTOTYPE comparisons.
But, since they were released within a month of each other, since their both 3rd Person Open-World games about an individual manipulated into events beyond his control with Super-Human Powers AND since I've played and completed both games I feel a comparison is unavoidable.
I give inFAMOUS and A- for it's better Story, more polished character animations and graphics.
PROTOTYPE earns a B from me as I couldn't wait for it to be over. It was an all around uglier game than inFAMOUS, it has a far more convoluted and uninteresting story. The WEB of intrigue conceit is interesting but requires the consumption of 131 random characters strewn across the city and after 88 I just didn't care anymore. If you like violence and gore (which I do) PROTOTYPE has them in spades! The moveset variety is enormous and part of the problem, oftentimes you'll just end up using several of the key stronger moves. And TARGETING in the game is a complete joke and an exercise in futility especially when dealing with other Aircraft. Oftentimes you reticule targets the furthest enemy from you and you frantically cycle through enemies to target lock the closet or you abandon it altogether. Bottom line, inFAMOUS is a FAR more polished and complete experience while PROTOTYPE seems incomplete and rushed out the door.
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