So 5 years from now when online support is gone can I install this game without a hack?Pulsar_t wrote:http://blogs.sega.com/usa/2010/05/01/al ... m-details/
Good that Sega hasn't taken the Ubiscum DRM route.
No thanks to any DRM system.Alpha Protocol
Re: Alpha Protocol
No thanks to any DRM system.CRT vs LCD - Hardware Mods - HDAdvance - Custom Controllers - Game Storage - Wii Gamecube and other Guides:
CRTGAMER Guides in Board Guides Index: http://www.racketboy.com/forum/viewtopi ... 5#p1109425
Re: Alpha Protocol
So time for some impressions, now that I've played several hours into the game.
The game utilizes a stat system similar to the first Mass Effect. There are tracks for each of the four weapons, stealth, tech, melee, health, and general performance (makes all of your gear more efficient). Different tracks require different amounts of skill points per level. For example, Stealth is the most expensive at 6 per, while health is only 3 per (the lowest cost). A level will confer either a passive bonus (extra damage, "oh shit" temp invis) or an active skill (run silent, chain shot). Each track goes up to level 10. Initially you can only level up to rank 4; as you gain levels this increases up to 10. Also, once you've completed the first area of the game you get to pick three specializations. These are the three skills that you can take to level 15. Some of these extra five points will include a brand new skill, others just further refine your already great skills.
The game also has a "perk" system, which confers a variety of passive bonuses. You can gain them from dialog choices, getting characters to like you, or based on your performance (get 50 headshots with the pistol and you get increased accuracy). The perks seem to model themselves to suit your playstyle; if you keep using the pistol or stealth you'll get perks that make those two things easier/more effective.
The conversation system also resembles Mass Effect, in that you have a few different positions on a radial that will correspond with certain tones, and your responses are a short summary of what your character will say, instead of the whole thing. An interesting twist is that every conversation is active. This means that your abilities will cooldown during a conversation (so you can draw them out if you suspect a fight afterwards) and you don't have that pause period for you to consider a response; a bar counts down while the NPC talks and you only have that long to select a response.
The game is third person to accomodate a cover system. It's competetly done, and I like how I can be under cover without having taken cover, which affects things such as taking aim. It gives me more options in terms of engaging enemies, which is nice.
Similar to Deus Ex you are heavily affected by accuracy. Continuously firing your weapons gives you shit for accuracy; you want to either aim first or engage at closer range. Every weapon has a different effective range; the pistol caps out at a much shorter distance to what you'd expect if you're going for the accurate shots. Each gun as a "critical shot" to it. As you aim you'll see your retical tighten up. This indicates the magnitude of the effect. The pistol has a critical shot, which is extra damage. The rifle tightens up the 3 burst spread to the point that at max it will put all three shots in the same place. The shotgun has a knockdown effect. The SMGs I don't think has this, instead they gain a damage bonus as you keep firing them at dues; they're your sweeper if you're going for guns blazing. There's also close range mele and stealth takedowns.
There are several different minigames as well: hacking, bypass, and lockpicking. All three are short, sweet, and not too difficult. They're also active, so if you try to do them in the middle of combat you're going to get shot.
You start off from a mission hub where you can shop for weapons and upgrades and purchase intel about upcoming missions. Intel might be as simple as a level map or it might be more interesting, like knowledge about an extra objective or a sniper rifle drop in the level. You're free to do missions in any order for a given set, and once you get past the first area you're given the choice of doing any of the next three areas in whatever order you choose.
The game advertises that there are "no wrong choices, just consequences". I think the game really nailed that well. I've already made several different decisions that have affected the game world in some fashion but I've never felt like I was playing the game wrong. The end of mission summary lists out the highlights of these choices, such as "Spared Mr. X, so now you have access to additional weapons". The game encourages you to exercise your judgement and really decide on what you think is right. At the end of the day it's all shades of gray, so pick your favorite.
All in all, I've been very pleased with my purchase. I originally came in because it reminded me of Deus Ex, and just like DX you have to respect the game to get the most out of it. The weapon handling seems to be one of the big complaints I've seen, but that's by design. This is not Gears; you need to take a more methodical approach. Which is not to say you can't take advantage of a crowded room full of cover to quickly move from enemy to enemy blowing them away; you just have to consider your battlefield carefully and make it work for you.
The game utilizes a stat system similar to the first Mass Effect. There are tracks for each of the four weapons, stealth, tech, melee, health, and general performance (makes all of your gear more efficient). Different tracks require different amounts of skill points per level. For example, Stealth is the most expensive at 6 per, while health is only 3 per (the lowest cost). A level will confer either a passive bonus (extra damage, "oh shit" temp invis) or an active skill (run silent, chain shot). Each track goes up to level 10. Initially you can only level up to rank 4; as you gain levels this increases up to 10. Also, once you've completed the first area of the game you get to pick three specializations. These are the three skills that you can take to level 15. Some of these extra five points will include a brand new skill, others just further refine your already great skills.
The game also has a "perk" system, which confers a variety of passive bonuses. You can gain them from dialog choices, getting characters to like you, or based on your performance (get 50 headshots with the pistol and you get increased accuracy). The perks seem to model themselves to suit your playstyle; if you keep using the pistol or stealth you'll get perks that make those two things easier/more effective.
The conversation system also resembles Mass Effect, in that you have a few different positions on a radial that will correspond with certain tones, and your responses are a short summary of what your character will say, instead of the whole thing. An interesting twist is that every conversation is active. This means that your abilities will cooldown during a conversation (so you can draw them out if you suspect a fight afterwards) and you don't have that pause period for you to consider a response; a bar counts down while the NPC talks and you only have that long to select a response.
The game is third person to accomodate a cover system. It's competetly done, and I like how I can be under cover without having taken cover, which affects things such as taking aim. It gives me more options in terms of engaging enemies, which is nice.
Similar to Deus Ex you are heavily affected by accuracy. Continuously firing your weapons gives you shit for accuracy; you want to either aim first or engage at closer range. Every weapon has a different effective range; the pistol caps out at a much shorter distance to what you'd expect if you're going for the accurate shots. Each gun as a "critical shot" to it. As you aim you'll see your retical tighten up. This indicates the magnitude of the effect. The pistol has a critical shot, which is extra damage. The rifle tightens up the 3 burst spread to the point that at max it will put all three shots in the same place. The shotgun has a knockdown effect. The SMGs I don't think has this, instead they gain a damage bonus as you keep firing them at dues; they're your sweeper if you're going for guns blazing. There's also close range mele and stealth takedowns.
There are several different minigames as well: hacking, bypass, and lockpicking. All three are short, sweet, and not too difficult. They're also active, so if you try to do them in the middle of combat you're going to get shot.
You start off from a mission hub where you can shop for weapons and upgrades and purchase intel about upcoming missions. Intel might be as simple as a level map or it might be more interesting, like knowledge about an extra objective or a sniper rifle drop in the level. You're free to do missions in any order for a given set, and once you get past the first area you're given the choice of doing any of the next three areas in whatever order you choose.
The game advertises that there are "no wrong choices, just consequences". I think the game really nailed that well. I've already made several different decisions that have affected the game world in some fashion but I've never felt like I was playing the game wrong. The end of mission summary lists out the highlights of these choices, such as "Spared Mr. X, so now you have access to additional weapons". The game encourages you to exercise your judgement and really decide on what you think is right. At the end of the day it's all shades of gray, so pick your favorite.
All in all, I've been very pleased with my purchase. I originally came in because it reminded me of Deus Ex, and just like DX you have to respect the game to get the most out of it. The weapon handling seems to be one of the big complaints I've seen, but that's by design. This is not Gears; you need to take a more methodical approach. Which is not to say you can't take advantage of a crowded room full of cover to quickly move from enemy to enemy blowing them away; you just have to consider your battlefield carefully and make it work for you.
Blizzard Entertainment Software Developer - All comments and views are my own and not representative of the company.
Re: Alpha Protocol
The AI is broken in places and the combat is clunky but I agree with MrPopo's comments. The game is better than the sum of its parts.
Thy ban hammer shalt strike 
Re: Alpha Protocol
It's now official this game won't be getting a sequel. Too bad. Obsidian had all the time in the world. I'll likely replay this game a few times because of the branching storyline.
Thy ban hammer shalt strike