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A biological nightmare has occurred, more terrifying than you could ever imagine. New York City is at war, torn between a military force that has set up bases all over the city and the infectious Hive strongholds, biohazard breeding grounds for Prototype's remorseless abominations. You are Alex Mercer. With a powerful mutation coursing through your veins and a determination to get to the root of your surrounding insanity, you will confront the dark nature of science and the evils of human experimentation.
As Alex Mercer, players begin Prototype with very few abilities. By completing missions and laying waste to enemies, Alex will earn Evolution Points, Prototype's currency and means for Alex to purchase new attacks, stat boosters, and upgrades.
Alex is no slouch when it comes to abilities. While you only have your bare fists and the ability to take on the shape of those you've consumed, it won't be long before you become a force to be reckoned with. Alex's offensive abilities manifest in his arms, taking on various shapes with their own set of upgradable features. Consuming your first Hunter will net you a set of claws suitable for slicing soldiers in half and unleashing a deadly set of impaling spikes, which shoot out from the ground. Soon after you complete a few missions and earn a few hundred thousand Evolution Points, Alex will be able to make his arm resemble a whip to reach distant soldiers and helicopters, and he will be able to turn his fists into heavy tools of devastation, hammering foes into puddles of pink mess and tanks into charred bits of twisted metal. This is only a taste of what Alex can do. Since there are other transformations your body can undertake as it evolves, Alex also has the ability to pick up objects such as cars and explosive crates, and hurl those at the enemy with great force.
However, despite the many Evolution Points you pump into new abilities and improving the unlocked abilities, enemy activity can get a tad overwhelming, if not downright ridiculous. If you do not get the upper hand on your opponent, especially those grotesque Hunters, you can easily be pummeled into submission. Not to mention, that later in the game, the military brings forth their own enhanced soldiers for Alex to contend with. It can get frustrating at times but Prototype's upgrade system works well to keep the players coming back for more punishment. Just be sure to make good use of the Disguise ability.
Disguising himself as the enemy is Alex's key to success. By consuming an enemy, Alex will be able to take on their identity, making military base infiltration a relatively simple task. It helps in evading enemy soldiers and will be an even bigger asset if you wish to unfold Prototype's intricate plot. For this, we turn to the all-knowing Web of Intrigue.
The Web of Intrigue is the player's blueprint of the truth. By consuming soldiers who are marked as a “Consume Event” (indicated on the map and on the target by an orange symbol) Alex will inherit the victim's memories along with their biomass. A small movie will then play, revealing a fragment of information about Alex's current dilemma, slowly unraveling the mystery of New York's sudden biological crisis.
Consume Events, however, are not only beneficial in finding just what the heck is going on with both Alex and New York City. Certain soldiers and commanders, especially those who remain safely behind the fortified walls of a military base, possess particular skills and will be a great asset to our determined hero. The ability to man a tank and fly a helicopter will be a requirement to get through the game's story, but additional skills like machine gun and grenade launcher enhancers can only be found in military bases. You can also consume military officials to obtain the ability to call in airstrikes and improve upon other skills that would otherwise require intense training. These upgrades, while optional, are somewhat crucial as the game approaches its conclusion when both the military and the infected will go to insane lengths to snuff out Alex's existence.
Alex has a lot to contend with in the city that never sleeps. Military tanks and helicopters, as well as monstrous mutations known as Hunters, will keep Alex on his toes as he tries to unravel the truth. You will encounter larger, more aggressive Hunter variants as the game progresses; even take on a boss character or two. But aside from the initial military presence, infected civilians who come at you like ravenous vultures, and the Hunters, Prototype lacks in enemy variety. This is especially noticeable because the Hunters are such a pain to deal with in multiple numbers that you would be better off darting across a few buildings just to escape with your head still attached to your body.
For an action title, Prototype does a lot of things right. New York City is presented as an open world for the player to go anywhere. Alex's maneuverability and style makes for smooth and dynamic exploration; there is no point on the map that is unreachable. The constant gaining of Evolution Points and upgrading your abilities means new ways for you to rip apart your enemies.
One of the nifty features of Prototype is the Operational Report. Whether letting loose on the public for a few minutes in Free Roam or completing a mission, the game gives you a complete report of just how destructive you have been, keeping track of the total cost of damage you've done (often in the high billions) and the amount of civilian, military, and infected casualties. If you're anything like me, the public will serve as something to be protected at first, but when you start to realize how absolutely ruthless Prototype's AI can be, you will find the public (which is always present in huge, parade-like masses) to be an easy snack on the go when Alex runs low on health and must evade his pursuers.
Prototype is longer than most action titles. Only a devoted player with a lot of extra time will unlock Alex's full potential, as well as the complete truths of the Web of Intrigue. Fortunately, there are plenty of side missions for Alex to take on – ones that will grant him with huge amounts of Evolution Points and plenty of important people to consume. Side Missions come in a variety of flavors. The aforementioned Consume Events require you to seek out a series of men to consume within a set time limit while others have you take out a group of enemies with a specific weapon or ability. Players will also be able to put Alex's agility to the test with other side missions in which you run across buildings and gather orbs before you reach the end point. Prototype also has New Game + Mode, a rarity for action titles that allows players to keep their abilities and items when replaying the game. Players can expect to find plenty of enjoyment from this sci-fi thriller.
Prototype is the perfect way to kick off the summer. Despite its overwhelming AI and lack of defensive techniques, its twisted tale of Alex Mercer and New York City's undoing, will tug at your heartstrings as you gleefully dismember hundreds of thousands of people and cause billions of dollars worth of damage.
Fun Factor: With so many abilities and so many fragile people and collapsible building around you, Prototype's non-stop action and sandbox world are an intense formula for fun; expect to lose some sleep.
Game Length: The main story can take anywhere between 8-10 hours to complete.
Difficulty: The challenge will make its presence known early so invest those Evolution Points in Alex's crucial Core Upgrades first; you won't regret it.
On the Negative Side: Enemy variety is practically non-existent. Close combat with Hunters can get a tad frustrating considering Alex has no real defensive techniques.
Bang for your Buck: With a massive Web of Intrigue to unlock, dozens of side missions, and a New Game + to carry over your stats and unlocked abilities, Prototype is worth the price tag and then some.
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