CHUD Gaming Club July 2012: Alpha Protocol

How are we going to handle potential spoilers that are contingent on different decisions? You can find out things in the first half another player may not discover their entire first playthrough.

I'm surprised how much I'm looking forward to giving this another go.

"I'm comin' for ya, helicopter! And hell's comin' with me!"

Since I've read so much about this game here I snatched up a new copy that I found for ten bucks at the big box store and well, here goes.

Just finished the tutorial section I guess you would call it and saved in the Saudi Arabia safehouse after messing around with the email and online store menus.

Other than the orangey yellow glare on the menus making it a wee bit hard on my eyes there isn't a whole lot to complain about.  

I'm still waiting for the part where I get confused after shooting someone in the face and missing.   And this chopper I've read so much about...

Went with Recruit and I think I'll be focusing on pistols and sabotage - the hacking minigame may have caused even more eye damage.  

I'll try to make him a sociopath who tells people what they want to hear since the head guy Westbridge (?) pretty much tells you that's why he recruited you.

I did have a bit of a chuckle when during one of the training exercises one of the instructors was explaining how something worked and it was very game-exposition 

but up until that point I'd absolutely forgotten I was in the 'boring' tutorial section.  

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skeletor 

Just finished the tutorial section I guess you would call it and saved in the Saudi Arabia safehouse after messing around with the email and online store menus.

Just did this exact thing. I had forgotten how clever and tricky this game can be with the dialogue. Don't be afraid to take chances, and don't always be a suck-up.

I may elect to go for a little more hand-to-hand this go-round. I know you're basically just spamming the 'E' key, but the fights are pretty visceral and cool to watch.

This game is such a weird thing to me. The gameplay sucks and is weird.  I mean, it's tolerable and if you go pistolas, easy as pie. And some of the voice acting is...not great.  And it's easy to fuck yourself in big fights because you are sneaky not shooty and oops, helicopter.  But defeating people with your words? All the different options?  It's still a pretty cool game that I bought twice, once on 360 and then on steam for like a dollar.

Quote:

Originally Posted by mediumdave 

 And it's easy to fuck yourself in big fights because you are sneaky not shooty and oops, helicopter

See, the helicopter gave me zero trouble with a Stealth/Pistol build my first time through. I was wondering what Jacob was bitching about. But the second time, on Recruit, I seriously went to Google, thinking there was a bug. The fact I had to take it down with a dozens of pistol shots after six dead-on missiles straight to the nose was ludicrous. Only time I had an issue with the ostensibly wack combat.

It was the cocaine fulled fellow who I had trouble with, if only because you don't even get a CHANCE for sneaky.

Also, full sneak and that trip headshot pistol thing wrecks EVERYONE'S shit in the game. It's easy mode.

I went through training and tried a small bit of the first mission trying stealth/pistols.  Found out quick I'm not as good being stealthy as I though I would be.  I wound up at turretts just gunning everyone down.  Hopefully I'll be able to get a better go at it tonight.

Please don't take this the wrong way, but do you have stealth armor on? I didn't understand how to equip stuff I bought and attempted the first mission in my civvies. Not pretty.

Yeah, there's the nice, lengthy combat ant stealth training sessions, but almost nothing at all to walk you through the semi-clunky personal interface -- equipping weapons, upgrades, armor, the PDA, etc..

Quote:

Originally Posted by bendrix 

Please don't take this the wrong way, but do you have stealth armor on? I didn't understand how to equip stuff I bought and attempted the first mission in my civvies. Not pretty.

Don't worry, not taking it wrong.  I'm pretty sure I equipped the stealth armor, but I'll recheck once I get on tonight.

It starts out suck at pistols/stealth, but the game is a goddamn RPG, which is why it's weird.  Not a shooter, even though it looks like one.

Look, you get an ability that PROCS as stealth, when someone sees you, you go fucking INVISIBLE. Not like, my stealth camo kicked in...they just don't see you for 4 seconds!  It's so weird, but later, you'll be entirely stealthy for up to like 15 seconds and can instantly shoot 3 people in the head every 30 seconds. It's kinda sick.

Ok, after talking it up in the Steam Sale thread, I nominate Hitman Blood Money as the next game.  It's cheap everywhere, you can buy it On Demand on 360, it's $2.50 on Steam for the next 6 hours and it's goddamn awesome.

Having everyone talk through their different solutions for murder puzzles would be fun. 

Quote:

Originally Posted by mediumdave 

Ok, after talking it up in the Steam Sale thread, I nominate Hitman Blood Money as the next game.  It's cheap everywhere, you can buy it On Demand on 360, it's $2.50 on Steam for the next 6 hours and it's goddamn awesome.

 

Having everyone talk through their different solutions for murder puzzles would be fun. 

Holy crap, I didn't realize it was only $2.50!  I may have to go ahead and buy it as soon as I get home then.

Am in the later stages of the Saudi Arabia missions and really enjoying this. Weirdly, the 'inaccurate'/stat-based shooting is combining with my natural lack of skill with stealth games to create lots of 'McClane Moments', where I suddenly have to make a run for it, spraying bullets all over the place, and I'm having a blast with it. The dialogue system and RPG elements are the real star of the show, though.
 

Put a bunch of the agency security into the infirmary, guess it's not good to shoot the petrol tanks...

So I Talked professionally to Parker and ended up sneaking back into the infirmary to fetch him some information. Sleezed on Tina/Maria/Mina Tang and that my 'gun' works perfectly. Minus reputation (this is the start of a beautiful working relationship).

Blew off Yancy's (what a name)pep talk with my Veteran status and clicked with Darcy.

Now I'm in the Middle East, disconnected Yancy and sent Mina a horribly unfunny email about getting drunk at the office christmas party. (- dislike x a lot) and now I'm hunting this arms Dealer called Nazari.

So how many of you are going in on a cold game and how many of you are returning, like the good Dr., and playing it up as a Veteran?

I think I've romanced just about every option and today it made me actually think of something, for a game so full of choices..and I promise they do actually make your experience different, why isn't the most obvious one made available? Michelle Thorton?

I bet you could romance the pants right off Conrad or Albatross.

And I third..fourth, whatever Blood Money as the next game.

But I want you bastards to talk more, about everything.

A lot of you are going pistols, why? Doesn't the allure of those massive shotguns draw you? Don't you WANT to aimlessly fire buckshot at an attack helicopter?

Do your Thortons look crazy? My first playthrough I was Fidel Castro and it would have been so much better if there was a spanish tinged voice option.

I'm going to get back on this tonight so I can actually engage in the mission to mission discussion but fuck people..post some screens of your Thortons!

I can agree with all the gripes too, it's hard to sit down with a game that looks like this and have to "roll dice" behind scenes when you've got that headshot lined up perfect. And while the voice acting isn't great I've played through this game quite a few times and in my third and fourth playthroughs I was seeing a few characters I hadn't seen before.

I would slowly beard up my dude as I played through a city, each mission getting beardier and wilder hair, like shit was getting just a little too real.  Then he'd move to a new city, shave, and it'd all be good again.

Heck is, of course, the best VA, but that's because it's Nolan North.  I actually think most of the people are fine, it's just that Thorton is so flat.  Sometimes he's good, but mostly he sounds like JC Denton.

Picky, picky.

This is a game where you pretty much have to pay attention. Emails, downloads, responses, you name it -- sure, you can bullrush your way through it, but why?

Don't forget to watch the full tv broadcast of Al Samad's threat in the locker room at the Grey Box. You get a perk.

 

Also Perk list (who what they affect so spoilers)

 

http://alphaprotocol.wikia.com/wiki/Perks

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jacob Singer 

Picky, picky.

 

This is a game where you pretty much have to pay attention. Emails, downloads, responses, you name it -- sure, you can bullrush your way through it, but why?

 

Plus all the little details in the game add so much the universe, pretty much like Vampire: Bloodlibes,  Deus Ex and it's sequel and prequel. Good stuff. Those also happen to be some of my fav games (even Invisible war) and Alpha Protocol ranks with them in personal chart of love.

 

 

Quote:

Originally Posted by mediumdave 

I would slowly beard up my dude as I played through a city, each mission getting beardier and wilder hair, like shit was getting just a little too real.  Then he'd move to a new city, shave, and it'd all be good again.

 

Heck is, of course, the best VA, but that's because it's Nolan North.  I actually think most of the people are fine, it's just that Thorton is so flat.  Sometimes he's good, but mostly he sounds like JC Denton.

HAH I'm doing the same thing with Mike's facial hair this time, especially since it amuses me that he''ll shave then instantly grow it back after the game catches up to the present day with the Leland scenes.

And yeah Heck is a heck of a guy. Not like Wen, not like Wen at all. Which is why I'll not go my normal route and: (Taipei plot spoilers)

I'm also going to jet set around the globe via the 3 hubs at random, as you can get different reactions and interactions with different orders of events.

I didn't shoot Darcy in the balls this time on the fire arms training extra, as we're buddy buddy (Mike and Shaun, fuck-yeah!!!) as Mina/Tina/Maria really dislikes me, I'm gonna go for the full -10 Rep. Which is piss easy to do.

Also what sort of name is Yancy?

Quote:

Originally Posted by mediumdave 

 I actually think most of the people are fine, it's just that Thorton is so flat.  Sometimes he's good, but mostly he sounds like JC Denton.

I actually kind of like that about Thorton's voice acting; considering that his job requires him to say what's expedient to people at all times as opposed to what's honest, it gives the sense that he's kind of been forged into this kind of 'blank slate'. Also, if you want to play him as crazy/evil Thorton it's kind of an appropriately creepy sociopath's voice.
 

Thorton is really flat, I've heard that a lot. My first playthrough I ignored it but that probably had more to do with me waiting for Heck to just snap and get a cut scene of him using a stolen UAV to carpet bomb me to Hell and back.

On a spoilery note...

Edit: I actually don't mind Yancy and where's the love for Alan? He looks like he drinks Maalox by the gallon and carries around a bottle Xanax. 

Quote:

Originally Posted by Workyticket 

 

I actually kind of like that about Thorton's voice acting; considering that his job requires him to say what's expedient to people at all times as opposed to what's honest, it gives the sense that he's kind of been forged into this kind of 'blank slate'. Also, if you want to play him as crazy/evil Thorton it's kind of an appropriately creepy sociopath's voice.
 

At also fits with Thorton being able to manipulate people as a tool detailed by Yancy's pep talk that I skipped this time, cause Veterans gotta vet. And I have no time for Yancy.

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheGhost 

Thorton is really flat, I've heard that a lot. My first playthrough I ignored it but that probably had more to do with me waiting for Heck to just snap and get a cut scene of him using a stolen UAV to carpet bomb me to Hell and back.

 

On a spoilery note...

 

Warning: Spoiler! (Click to show)

Are you guys killing your enemies or using them for your own means?

Not up to the point of choice regarding killing/sparing. Might flip flop between the options to keep every character off balance.

Cleared Saudi Arabia - considering that everything I've heard about this game says that it 'gets good' after that section, I've already been enjoying the game so far, I'm really looking forward to digging into the rest.

just a question re: the schedule though. We're supposed to have finished Rome by the end of this week, though a lot of the guides I've read say that it's best to switch between countries and keep levelling rather than trying to tackle one country at a time. Would you guys say that's the best way to play? That considered, we may want to be even more careful with spoilers as by doing it this way, some of us may be dipping into content meant for other weeks as we may all be in different areas of the game.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Workyticket 

Cleared Saudi Arabia - considering that everything I've heard about this game says that it 'gets good' after that section, I've already been enjoying the game so far, I'm really looking forward to digging into the rest.

 

just a question re: the schedule though. We're supposed to have finished Rome by the end of this week, though a lot of the guides I've read say that it's best to switch between countries and keep levelling rather than trying to tackle one country at a time. Would you guys say that's the best way to play? That considered, we may want to be even more careful with spoilers as by doing it this way, some of us may be dipping into content meant for other weeks as we may all be in different areas of the game.

It may be easier to level, but it's easier to keep the plotlines straight if you do the missions as bundles by city. It also makes more narrative sense and keeps from spoilers creeping into the thread. I did it this way both times through, and I never had any problem finishing the game (other than during the Helicopter That Shall Not Be Named sequence).

Quote:

Originally Posted by bendrix 

 

It may be easier to level, but it's easier to keep the plotlines straight if you do the missions as bundles by city. It also makes more narrative sense and keeps from spoilers creeping into the thread. I did it this way both times through, and I never had any problem finishing the game (other than during the Helicopter That Shall Not Be Named sequence).

Cool, makes sense to me.

So I restarted this last night. This time I really looked at my pda, studied my intel and took my time rather than trying to be a run-and-gun Archer style douche. Now it's all sneaky tough guy martial arts Bourne-style.

I enjoyed it a lot more as a consequence.

That said, so far answering with the 'professional' response seems to reward me in my interactions more than anything else.

Okay, I have this game on my Steam account and I remember enjoying it but getting sidetracked by another game and never actually coming back to complete this (and honestly I don't think I got horribly far into it).  Also, my save games are on my last computer so this seems like a pretty good excuse to fire this up again and start over.  I'll download it tonight so that I can jump in this weekend.

Also, I'd third the vote for Blood Money.  I'd be happy to play through that again and find all new ways to kill each of my targets.

Still working my way through Saudi Arabia, I'm on the last mission at the airport. I'm going with more hand-to-hand this time around, and loving it. Coupled with pistols and stealth I'm James motherfucking Bond. All I need is a laser wristwatch...

Here's hoping more folks chime in with their conversation choices, or just overall game decisions. For instance, I let Shaheed live.

I don't know what constitute spoilers, but I have never intentionally killed anyone when given the choice in cutscenes, and I've always been happy with the results.

Finished Saudi and the Gelato shop.  The Gelato shop was brief.   Creepy and brief.  

I'm letting everyone live - it seems.     Even the arms dealer, though I didn't let him go cause that idea just sounded stupid, so arrest it was.   Then when you look at his beret in your safehouse Thorton murmurs "I hope Nasri likes waterboarding" which is a veryseriousissue in the real world but in video game land made me chuckle.   

I'm curious what people are picking for their three spec skills.   I veered off pistols, though still useful for the tranq dart option, and picked assault rifles for 'dealing' with terrorist goons.   Also went for Technical Expertise and Sabotage.   I've decided Recruit Thorton was a super nerd in college.   

Have been seeing a fair share of graphical problems, just some fine tuning things that another few months in development would have ironed out.  As I understand it Obsidian was lucky to get a working game out so I won't quibble too much.

Q - Who else fired that missile accidentally?

Accidentally? I hacked the crap outta that computer.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jacob Singer 

Here's hoping more folks chime in with their conversation choices, or just overall game decisions. For instance, I let Shaheed live.

I also let him live. It also sounds like we're playing very similar Thorntons, Ive put my energy exclusively into stealth, toughness and martial arts Im a ninja meets Jason fuckin Bourne. Gone through Moscow, Rome and am in the middle of Tapei now. Its stupid late amd Ive been struggling with onemoremissionitis with this fuckin thing. It really is a tonne of fun. Fuck knows why the critics savaged it so badly.

My Thorton's specializing in stealth and pistols, with a bit of martial arts for backup. Personality-wise he's very much the anti-hero, principle-driven but with a massive reckless streak. I let Shaheed live, but took out the guy at the gelato shop as I was convinced I was about to get jumped; a little trigger-happy I suppose, but my Thorton's shaping into the kind of guy who won't hesitate to kill if he gets even a whiff of foul play. 

The game's great fun. I finally had my first fail-then-restart-then-fail-then restart moment today, and that was down to a hacking puzzle rather than the stealth mechanics. 

I have also had a busy week and have only been able to play the first two missions after training (Bug the airport and infiltrate the weapons factory).  Loving it so far.  haven't hit any cutscenes yet or had to really use the speech tree beyone dealing with my handlers.  I started planning on stealth/pistols combo, but I realized I was being spotted quite a bit and resorting to auto rifle.  May have to re-think what I start building in my perks.

I almost took down Gelato Guy because of my ire over the idea of where that ice cream scoop had probably been.

That said, this weekend i'll continue the game where i left it, (right after Rome), and keep playing my surly ninja commando Thorton (think Snake Eyes meets Sam Fisher); I focused on hacking, stealth, pistols and rifles, so im a well balanced character for my playstyle of sneaking around and/or go gun gonzo if the shit hits the fan.

Yeah, the Steam Sale has eaten into my AP playing time, not to mention the Secret World mmo I'm trying to get the most of before time runs out. AND I'm in closed beta on another game. There ain't enough hours in the day, man...

Yeah sorry all, Alpha Protocol has come to a complete halt now that I'm lost in Crusader Kings 2. I only have Tapei to go tho, and would be happy continuing discussions about it in here even after the month is up, there's a real rough charm to this game that I find incredibly attractive.

I've had the same problem as you guys. As much as I'm enjoying AP, the Steam summer sale has been a bit of distraction. Still definitely want to play through AP, it just won't be on time. 

Personally, I think this is one of the game's faults.  It's just so janky and broken that unless it has it's hooks in you or you're one of those people that love broken and janky games, it's a VERY easy game to play a bit of and then fuck off to something better.  Also, Saudi Arabia is the worst bit of the game, it gets much better, but not so much better so quickly.  So if you're right after that and still feel like you're doing the same thing with the same crap animations (Lord, how I had the crouch walk animation), it just feels like that same broken, janky game that you don't understand why there are some people sucking this game's dick.

At least, that was my impression.  I still kinda like the game...I just don't think it's this hidden, glorious gem.  I think the sequel could've been, but this...

Quote:

Originally Posted by mediumdave 

Personally, I think this is one of the game's faults.  It's just so janky and broken that unless it has it's hooks in you or you're one of those people that love broken and janky games, it's a VERY easy game to play a bit of and then fuck off to something better.  Also, Saudi Arabia is the worst bit of the game, it gets much better, but not so much better so quickly.  So if you're right after that and still feel like you're doing the same thing with the same crap animations (Lord, how I had the crouch walk animation), it just feels like that same broken, janky game that you don't understand why there are some people sucking this game's dick.

 

At least, that was my impression.  I still kinda like the game...I just don't think it's this hidden, glorious gem.  I think the sequel could've been, but this...

I totally respect your opinion, but I could not disagree more. Maybe it's that I don't play all that many games (5 or 6 a year, tops), but I didn't experience any brokenness at all. I've heard the complaints; I just didn't have any firsthand experience with them.

I finally got to sit down with this for a few hours today.  Been having a lot of fun.  Trying to go stealth, but half the time I find myself in fist fights/gunfights.  Stopping putting stat points into pistols and starting to increase assault rifles, since I wind up using that more.  I'm currently stuck at the end of Russia.  I just continuously get my ass kicked by that douche bag who snorts drugs and goes crazy with the knife. I finally had to stop due to the fact that I was sick of "Turn Up The Radio" playing over and over again.

Been trying to be on everyone's good side just for the extra benefits.  I actually have Mina hitting on me, which surprised me a bit.  I figured she would be a hard ass throughout.  Apparently letting that huge Russian chick help me at the embassy put me on the bad side of IG88, or whatever the name of that organization is.  Oh well.  I just want to team up with anyone that will help me take down Halliburton.

Glad to see this one getting so much attention. I've already played it through three times to see all (or at least most) of the paths, so I'm not doing it again, but it's on my short list of best RPGs of all-time.

It's just crazy how different the story can get based on your choices. Entire plotlines and character motivations can appear/disappear depending on your loyalties and what intel you gathered. Major characters can eat it or become your best friend. The end sequence can play out wildly differently, with at least 4 different major endings, and three times that many side plots that vary in their resolutions.

Really, anyone who's slacking off on their play time, you owe it to yourself to finish the game. The pay off is better than nearly any game you've ever played.

I'm way, way, way, way behind but slowly working my way through it. I really love the game combines 'standard' sneak-around-and-shoot levels with shorter, more story-driven tasks like the gelato shop and the Chaetau where you're looking for Al-Bara. It really helps break up the story and give it a spy-movie feel.

I've slacked off this month. My first playthrough was interrupted by a dizzy spell for a few days, which makes video game play impossible, and I've gotten caught up in Friday Night Lights on Instant. I'll play this later and try to be better next month.