Do you have what it takes to get a review published right here on Kotaku? Corey does, as he plays it suave all the way.
Yes, that’s right, we’re now publishing reader reviews here on Kotaku. This is your chance to deliver sensible game purchasing advice to the rest of the Kotaku community.
And thanks to the very kind chaps at Madman Entertainment, purveyor of all kinds of cool, indie and esoteric film, the best reader review we publish each month will win a prize pack containing ten of the latest Madman DVD releases.
This review was submitted by Corey White. If you’ve played Alpha Protocol, or just want to ask Corey more about it, leave your thoughts in the comments below.
Alpha Protocol (PS3)
Alpha Protocol is an “Espionage RPG” built on what resembles – but surprisingly isn’t – the Mass Effect engine. Whilst it might give PC and Xbox 360 gamers a distinct sense of déjà vu, it’s something of a first for our PS3 brethren.
Loved
The Story: It’s always refreshing to have an RPG that isn’t a fantasy frolic or a space opera. Alpha Protocol’s story is fantastic and features a great, varied cast.
Trim: The game is focussed, with no pointless sidequests or collectibles thrown in just to fill time.
Controls: In the minigames, in particular, Obsidian has expertly played to the strengths of the controller – like with using the spring-loaded triggers to give lockpicking a more visceral feel.
Choice: You’ll often find yourself wondering if you made the ‘right’ decision. It’s likely that all these roads lead more-or-less to Rome, but there’s still a palpable tension involved in much of the decision making.
Hated
Viagra: Boss battles here, as in many games, seem to only serve the purpose of making the game longer and harder without adding any real content. Their immersiveness relies solely on the game’s setting, and Alpha Protocol’s quasi-realism doesn’t help in this regard.
Glitches: Reloading a checkpoint resurrecting every bad guy on a level, a guard sliding into a computer desk and becoming invincible, etcetera, etcetera. Minor issues, but it’s all evidence pointing to a severe…
Lack of Polish: It’s a sad trend with Obsidian games – they weave compelling stories but always seem to fall short in the QA department. Sadly, Alpha Protocol is no exception.
Alpha Protocol is many different shades of grey, much like the world of espionage it seeks to emulate. If you’re able to look past the game’s many, but small, foibles you’ll find an RPG well worth playing.
Reviewed by: Corey White
You can have your Reader Review published on Kotaku. Send your review to us at the usual address. Make sure it’s written in the same format as above and in under 500 words – yes, we’ve upped the word limit. We’ll publish the best ones we get and the best of the month will win a Madman DVD prize pack.
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