Run amok in a vibrant city
Another game getting it’s first public airing at Games Convention 2007 is Prototype, currently in development by the same guys that brought us the unjustly over-looked Incredible Hulk: Ultimate Destruction.
Set in a realistic game world which faithfully recreates New York, you play the role of Alex, a young man who wakes up one morning with no recollection of who is, where he’s come from or anything that’s happened to him… A bit like me after a heavy night in a local beer keller.
Anyways, Alex discovers that he’s been infected somehow with a virus that is turning people into violent bloodthirsty mutants but he’s lucky in that he can control his mutant tendencies and the abilities that gives him. But it’s not all good news as the authorities are after him and so begins Alex’s mission to uncover his past and bring those responsible to justice.
Click for larger imageThe first thing that strikes you about Prototype is how the game world has been designed to be as realistic as possible. New York, or New Yoik as anyone from Brooklyn would say, is a crowded, busy city and this is reflected in the massive number of AI controlled civilians on the streets and in cars just going about their daily business.
What’s more impressive than the sheer number of people on screen is the detail in the game environment itself with, even with this small demo, a few recognisable landmarks already in place.
But it’s when you get down to actually taking Alex out into this world that Prototype really hots up.
Alex’s mutant powers give him a wide range of abilities, the most obvious being his increased strength, speed and stamina. These allow him to carry out superhuman feats such as jumping massively large distances or running up vertical surfaces. Yep, this being a Radical game you just know that rooftops are going to play as important a part of the game as anywhere else.
But with Alex’s control over his powers he has a lot more up his sleeve than Crackdown style free running moves. When Alex runs into the authorities he can morph his arms into blades or claws to swiftly and viciously deal with his enemies. Be warned, this game isn’t for kids as a live soldier can quickly be turned into four dead bits of soldier in a couple of swipes.
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