Prototype Preview

The whole concept of being secretly experimented on, having some rather unusual powers and then trying to find out what happened to you and why is not new to the video-game industry.

Sierra, though, is putting a bit of a different spin on it with Prototype, the first in what developer Radical Entertainment hopes is a new franchise. Prototype is about Alex Mercer, a man who has been genetically altered and who, because of that experimentation, can shape-shift to look like a variety of people. Billed as a “deceive or destroy” gameplay model, Mercer is working his way through a section of New York where the land and inhabitants have been altered by some virus that looks like it could either be from an alien planet or from hell. Not only are the mutated denizens of the area after Alex, but the military has moved in and seem to be focused on taking out Alex as well.

For his part, Alex is trying to find what happened to him, find out about his past and trying not to get killed. Shape-shifting is but a part of Alex’s abilities. Walls, even those of tall buildings, pose no problem to him. This is an open world that allows players to move from the streets to the rooftops with ease.

Sierra showed off the title at a spring media event held in mid-April in San Francisco. GameZone was on hand and got a look at the title.

Game features include:

• Innovative shapeshifting powers and over the top parkour locomotion movement.

• Attack with brutal and devastating powers; instantly triggering hundreds of power combinations (Attack, Defensive and Sensory).

• Jam-packed, vibrant, fully interactive city filled with thousands of people and enemies out to destroy you.

• Delve to the bottom of a conspiracy that has haunted the American government for decades and find out who is responsible for your condition

• Two-player online co-op multiplayer

The game was demonstrated by members of the development team and from the onset, it was apparent that Prototype brings a new formula to the action genre. Alex moves incredibly well, but then he has to if for no other reason than the scores of enemies hunting him. There is a solid mission structure in place for the game.

Graphically the game has some very interesting elements, most notably the shape-shifting technique. Alex absorbs the body of the person he is changing into, and then takes on their look. It's rather disconcerting to see the blackened body of the person being absorbed hanging outside of Alex’s form as he moves to avoid trouble. Because of the shape-shifting, Alex can find himself in a position to order troops into place, thereby adding some minor strategic elements to the game.

The control scheme did not seem overly complex and the sound elements were solid.

Prototype is slated for a fall release on not only the PS3, but the 360 and PC platforms. This is one action game to keep an eye on as development progresses.