I have to start this mini-review with the fact that I have a severe god-complex, and this game is my drug of choice. Prototype is an interesting beast, it's part hack n' slash, part GTA, part RPG, and I love it. There are, however, a few faults among the awesome that I'll point out below:
Graphics: 8/10
The graphics have been done much better, in higher profile titles. Graphics whores need not apply. Looks are somewhere between Saints Row 2 and GTA IV.
Animation: 8/10
Radical went a little light on fluidity of motion for Alex, but I've been surprised at the little slick parkour embellishes when I'm skyrocketing between buildings. It looks good, feels, good, but not as complete as it should be. Some questionable sneaking animations when impersonating a soldier, no one seems to notice the one guy who walks around like Solid Snake with a hunchback.
User Interface: 8/10
Very well put together, but the menus aren't infinitely scrolling, i.e you get to get end of the Upgrades menu and it doesn't cycle back to the beginning, it just stops.There's no way to set waypoints between areas, so it's kind of easy to get lost at first, but you'll start recognizing landmarks before long.
Presentation: 9/10
The game is fantastically presented; you will feel your power and flexibility of action grow organically as you unravel the mysteries behind your powers.
Voice Acting: 5/10
Some really bad compression issues with Alex's voice in cut-scenes, The actress playing Dana Mercer could use a few acting lessons.
Controls: 8/10
Alex is FAST. It's hard to get used to him moving around, because he is extremely responsive, which is great, but takes some finesse. Most of my complaints about the animation come from this. He moves really fast, and the momentum is not accurately figured into the equation sometimes. Alex feels flighty and weightless when you're trying to get him to haul his ass out of the way of a charging infected monster.
Music: ?/10
What music? I consume the minds and souls of the world. I am a god.
All kidding aside, the music is forgettable and really unobtrusive. I was so busy with killing that it didn't occur to me that there WAS a soundtrack.
Overall: 8/10 Above Average, Good Fun, Forgettable Audio
If you like annihilating a man by cutting him in half length-wise and then jumping 100 feet into the air to hijack a chopper, then give this a shot. Most of my complaints are technical, and have no bearing on the fun factor, which is a solid 10. The audio has some problems that are distracting from the story, but the radio/ped chatter in the open city is great.
A possible buy, definite rent.
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In my opinion it's more fun than inFamous (from what I played at E3). Does that make it a better game? No: it's unpolished as hell, and looks bland in instances. But, I still had more fun playing it, and it made me feel more like a badass.
If everyone felt like inFamous was lacking in the "making you feel like an unstoppable force" department: rent Prototype.
@Togail
How is the extra content? Is it worth playing twice?
Hey, welcome back, brother! Great look at the game. I'm super-fucking excited from what I've heard today. As a 360 owner, I'm just glad I can get a game like inFamous, and possibly have it be better.
wat Pendelton said.
looking towards to this game...once I find the money.
Mag: I agree on all points. Could be better, but it's fun as hell.
I haven't beat it yet though!
Pendelton: It's awesome, I think you'll get a kick out of it.
Hmm, I wonder if the ps3 version has audio compression issue's.. it shouldn't but it all depends on which system the game was ported to.
@Magnalon
in inFamous, the point is to make the player still feel vulnerable (both physically and emotionally) despite you having these great powers. That even though you can do these great feats, you're still human. Prototype is just about killing for fun, not so much a deep story as over-the-top fun.
I may rent it when I have the time, I have to do summer reading :(
RonBurgandy is correct.
Is there Prototype art in the future?
So Togail, what do you think of Square destroying our Front Mission franchise by making it an action game?
Yojimbo, shut the fuck up! You weren't supposed to bring that up!
Also, Togail, Akihiko Yoshida isn't in your main influences? I figured that with your love of FFXII he would be.
Picking this up later today.
Ok just to give you a different opinion:
It sucks!
First off in no way do these graphics deserve an 8. Looks like a last gen game with slightly more advanced lighting.
But frankly that could all be forgiven if the damn thing controlled better. And god damn if that lock on button automatically locked on to rocket launcher enemies instead on random grunts. arfgh!
Another very negative point is the serious lack of variety or remotly new side missions.
On a more positive note, lots of the powers can be great to use when the damn lock on works and the parkour is functional and fun most of the time.
I have not played infamous and may never play it so please do not try to accuse me of favouritism. pleeeeaaaase!
words of advice: rent first!
I have to wait till next week to buy this :[
I've heard the controls for some of the advanced powers and such get really odd and unnecessarily difficult. Like holding X and B to use a cannonball drop? Stuff like that, along with the kind of consistent complaints I've heard about the city being kind of bland and lifeless, really worry me about this game.
Also, I'm trying really hard to not compare this game to inFAMOUS. inFAMOUS was an origin story about a guy still learning and developing his powers, Prototype is an extremely over the top open world game with a guy who (somehow) knows how to use all of his powers ever. Plus, I thought inFAMOUS was really really damn good.
Bulkmailer: Possibly.
Y0j: Here's hoping it will be good. I just want good customization and non-annoying characters (FM4 South America, PUKE).
Thrasing: It's always good to have a second opinion. The city does feel lifeless, but that's not the reason I bought the game. I enjoy picking fights and annihilating EVERYTHING. The lock-on is a bit messy, but I conquered it pretty quickly.
Seph: Sometimes it is a little clunky, and I played inFAMOUS and sort of liked it. I don't see why you can't have both.
@Togail
I wouldn't mind having both, it's just that I have a feeling I'd be alot more strict on Prototype having Infamous in the back of my mind.
This game is the best stress relief game of the year.