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Alpha Protocol Preview

• By Tracy Erickson
• July 21, 2008 13:03 PM PST
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No level grinding in this RPG--SEGA assassinates worn out mechanics in this thrilling and highly innovative espionage adventure.

No level grinding in this RPG--SEGA assassinates worn out mechanics in this thrilling and highly innovative espionage adventure.

As CIA field agent Michael Thorton, Alpha Protocol draws you into the world of modern day espionage served up role-playing style. After a mission turns sour and Michael finds himself betrayed by his superiors, it's up to you to uncover the conspiracy to clear his name. Uncovering the truth will be difficult with the U.S. government on his back at every step, forcing Michael to quickly hone in on his training. Unlike most super spies, Michael doesn't possess years of experience; instead, he manages to stay alive thanks to quick thinking and confidence in his own physical abilities. Of course, he gets some help along the way from skillful manipulation by your hand in the game's real-time combat system and clever dialogue mechanic.

The new kid on the block never had it harder.

Similar to the combat mechanics employed in BioWare's stellar role-playing game Mass Effect, battles occur completely in real-time. The range of weapons span all manner of firearms from pistols to automatic rifles to sniper rifles; additionally, close quarters weapons such as blades are available as well. Complementing Michael's arsenal are special gadgets that can be picked up to give him an edge in the field. Every locale that you visit has a safe house that you can visit to buy weapons and gadgets, as well as swap out any unwanted equipment.

Clear objectives inform you of what needs to be accomplished during a mission, yet how you actually complete them is entirely up to you. After all, not all agents are created equal. James Bond would tackle a mission one way, whereas Jason Bourne undoubtedly would take a different approach given the same objective. The same applies to how you control Michael. Infiltrating a US Embassy in the demo we saw offered a choice between sweet-talking the marine guarding the entry or simply holding a gun to his face. Both get the job done, but one has you entering quietly while the other involves dealing with angry marines shooting at you.

You'll constantly have to watch your back in order to avoid other government agents.

Combat is only one dimension of being a secret agent with intelligence gathering the driving force behind your missions. Acquiring information through conversation balances out Michael's time spent fighting. From what we've seen of the unique dialogue system, however, talking seems more challenging than pulling a trigger. Conversations are a one-off deal--once you've spoken with a character, they won't just repeat the same lines over and over again. A unique emotional-response system grants options during a conversation based on style. For example, you'll receive options for being flirtatious or rude or shy.

Alpha Protocol looks to build upon the iterative step forward that BioWare took with Mass Effect, taking many of those mechanics and refining them. The combat is heading in the right direction, the dialogue system is nothing short of intriguing, and the secret agent premise is definitely cool. Good things certainly come to those that wait because we're going to have one excruciating time anticipating this hitting shelves in spring 2009.

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