Prototype Review (PS3, Xbox 360) By Sayed Islam Published: 07/01/09 PrintEmail
Much like other open world video games that are eerily reminiscent to The Incredible Hulk: Ultimate Destruction, Prototype emulates a similar formula. The storyline revolves around the protagonist Alex Mercer, and it transpires in the densely inhabited city of New York. Since the plot’s inception, he finds himself at the morgue of an engineering organization known as Gentek. Regrettably, Mercer is suffering from amnesia. Ultimately, Mercer battles some troops and escapes from Gentek. Equipped with unfathomable and uncanny attributes that bolster his appearance and performance, he ventures off to divulge the people who were responsible for his shape shifting traits. Mercer learns that he is caught in the midst of an ongoing battle between the nefarious Blackwatch faction and the military, but his biggest concern is Captain Cross. As Blackwatch Captain, Cross is told by his superiors to discern Mercer and capture him. Albeit the narrative attempts to be a tale about an ambitious and eccentric main character, Mercer's unlikable personality makes the plot feel average.
First and foremost, it is probably best to get the comparisons out of the way. With the release date of Radical Entertainment’s Prototype being so close to the release date of Sucker Punch’s Infamous, it is arduous not to draw parallels between the two games. Nevertheless, Prototype is more akin to a game like The Incredible Hulk: Ultimate Destruction than a game like Infamous. Also, there is no transparent heroic superhero role to experience in Prototype. You are an immoral figure from the start, and that tone never relents until the climax. The aforementioned superpowers entail morphing and consuming other humans. When he does this, Mercer can witness their memories. All of the memories he absorbs are later stored and viewable in the web of intrigue. Mercer can also transform parts of his body into weapons like claws and blades. With each level, you are rewarded with points to upgrade your skills. Moreover, his eleven powers can be upgraded for an even bigger punch. To utilize any of his powers, you have to open a radial dial menu to bring up the list of powers on the screen. Speaking of the powers, Mercer will need to use them to compete with the malicious foes. The opposition is so overwhelming that it makes the gameplay gratuitously difficult. Only two vehicles are controllable, and those two vehicles are a tank and helicopter. Sure, there are some immensely generic missions. However, the web of intrigue missions is the real shining point about the missions. Mercer can even traverse through his environment by gliding, running up the sides of buildings, and literally unleashing an overpowering elbow from the sky (perfect for crushing those pesky tanks). If that was not enough, then be prepared to unload various devastator maneuvers on enemies.
In terms of the visuals, Prototype is analogous to a double-edged sword. Mercer’s animations are nicely done; nonetheless, the environments are abysmal. It is virtually implausible to identify anything that appears even remotely representative of New York. There are textures popping in and out all over the place. Furthermore, this is especially conspicuous during some of the aerial combat sequences. Graphically, Prototype strives to be a jack of all trades but a master of none. Radical Entertainment did way too much too soon, and the end result is art direction that is about as absentminded as Michael Bay's new Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen film.
About the replay value, there are some orbs to retrieve. Yet you might be too pre-occupied with exploring and annihilating adversaries.
The audio is adequate as well. Musically, the only drawback was that there is an insufficient amount of it. But when the music starts, you will never want it to stop. Voice acting is not exceptional, but it is not the worst gamers have heard. Sound effects are reasonable.
Overall, Prototype is a fast twitch slice of open worldliness that takes some risks. As bold as each of those risks may be, Radical Entertainments delivers on a majority of them.
Art Direction 7.5 In terms of the visuals, Prototype is analogous to a double-edged sword. Mercer’s animations are nicely done; nonetheless, the environments are abysmal. It is virtually implausible to identify anything that appears even remotely representative of New York. There are textures popping in and out all over the place. Furthermore, this is especially conspicuous during some of the aerial combat sequences. Graphically, Prototype strives to be a jack of all trades but a master of none. Radical Entertainment did way too much too soon, and the end result is art direction that is about as absentminded as Michael Bay's new Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen film. Audio 7.5 The audio is adequate as well. Musically, the only drawback was that there is an insufficient amount of it. But when the music starts, you will never want it to stop. Voice acting is not exceptional, but it is not the worst gamers have heard. Sound effects are reasonable. Gameplay 8.5 Prototype is a fast twitch slice of open worldliness that takes some risks. As bold as each of those risks may be, Radical Entertainments delivers on a majority of them. Presentation 7.5 Albeit the narrative attempts to be a tale about an ambitious and eccentric main character, Mercer's unlikable personality makes the plot feel average. Replay Value 8.5 About the replay value, there are some orbs to retrieve. Yet you might be too pre-occupied with exploring and annihilating adversaries. Final verdict 8 out of 10
Much like other open world video games that are eerily reminiscent to The Incredible Hulk: Ultimate Destruction, Prototype emulates a similar formula. The storyline revolves around the protagonist Alex Mercer, and it transpires in the densely inhabited city of New York. Since the plot’s inception, he finds himself at the morgue of an engineering organization known as Gentek. Regrettably, Mercer is suffering from amnesia. Ultimately, Mercer battles some troops and escapes from Gentek. Equipped with unfathomable and uncanny attributes that bolster his appearance and performance, he ventures off to divulge the people who were responsible for his shape shifting traits. Mercer learns that he is caught in the midst of an ongoing battle between the nefarious Blackwatch faction and the military, but his biggest concern is Captain Cross. As Blackwatch Captain, Cross is told by his superiors to discern Mercer and capture him. Albeit the narrative attempts to be a tale about an ambitious and eccentric main character, Mercer's unlikable personality makes the plot feel average. 
