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Prototype review
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In a market nearly dominated by shooters, it’s always refreshing to see something different come along. Granted, sandbox games have been around for awhile, but acclaimed hits from last year like Grand Theft Auto 4, Fallout 3, and Saint’s Row 2 make it exciting to see what the genre has in store this year. And while Prototype won’t blow you away, it certainly stays true to the open-world formula and provides a genuinely fun experience.
You play as Alex Mercer, a man suffering from plot-convenient amnesia in a post-apocalyptic New York City. After waking up in a morgue, he finds that a virus has swept through the city and he is in the middle of an ongoing battle between the infected and the military assigned to suppress the infection. On top of that, he also has shape-shifting and enemy-absorbing powers, the latter of which allows Mercer to extract both physical and mental properties of his foes. The memories of the various people Mercer absorbs help to flesh out the story and learn the secrets of the virus and its origins.
If an open-world game does not have a great travel system, traveling from one mission to the next can get tedious and boring. Fortunately, Mercer’s superhuman powers allow him to run up the side of skyscrapers and jump from building to building. His movements are incredibly easy to master and fun to perform. With his shape-shifting ability, he is able to take on the physical form of any enemy he absorbs, allowing him to blend in and continue undetected.
He can also transform his arms into various weapons, such as blades or claws. His most powerful moves are called “Devastator” attacks, which certainly live up to their name. The moves are fun and in plentiful supply, allowing players to experiment and find their favorite. The numerous upgrades for each attack also ensure that the player’s favorites will continue to be fun and more deadly.
The story-related missions are fun, but run the typical gamut of open-world games. There’s nothing earth-shattering, as you will usually just be required to rid the area of enemies. However, the robust weapon selection keeps it from ever becoming a chore. Side missions are also in steady supply, but a surprising number of them consist of speed-runs. They can be fun, but they detract from the story and often take the player right out of the experience.
By now, you may have heard the comparisons between the multi-platform Prototype and the PS3 exclusive Infamous. Both are open-world adventures with central characters that have gained superpowers as the result of a city-wide disaster. If you only have a PS3, I would recommend Infamous over this game. However, that’s just a matter of personal preference as both games are definitely worth checking out. If anything, Prototype unquestionably has a better weapon selection and more room for experimentation. Again, it might be best to rent Prototype first to see if it’s for you, but if you choose to play, there is definitely enough content to keep you playing for a while. You might not get as much value as you did for the great sandbox games of last year, but you’ll still have fun.
Images taken from www.gamespot.com
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