Alpha Protocol

82%
Game Brain Score Based on 3,487 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • graphics
Alpha Protocol Game Cover
Alpha protocol is a fantastic addition to the western RPG genre, but sadly lacks the polish of other blockbuster titles.
Starting at €14.99Buy now
Get on Steam

In Alpha Protocol, players assume the role of agent Michael Thorton, a skilled young operative betrayed by his government. To prevent an international crisis, Thorton must become a rogue agent, making choices that will influence the outcome of the game and shape his own destiny. Every decision made has consequences, creating a personalized experience with each playthrough.

  • PC
  • Windows
  • Linux
  • Play​Station
  • Play​station 3
  • Xbox
  • Xbox 360
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

82%
Audience ScoreBased on 3,487 reviews
story801 positive mentions
stability278 negative mentions
  • Unique espionage RPG with a compelling story and character choices that matter.
  • High replayability due to multiple paths and endings based on player decisions.
  • Engaging dialogue system that allows for varied interactions with characters.
  • Clunky controls and shooting mechanics that can be frustrating.
  • Stealth gameplay is often ineffective and poorly designed.
  • Numerous bugs and glitches that can disrupt gameplay experience.
  • story2,669 mentions

    The story of "Alpha Protocol" is widely praised for its engaging narrative and the significant impact of player choices on the unfolding plot. Players appreciate the intricate web of relationships and consequences, where decisions made during missions and dialogues can lead to vastly different outcomes, enhancing replayability. However, some reviewers note issues with continuity and execution, citing bugs and gameplay mechanics that detract from the overall experience, yet many still find the story compelling enough to recommend the game for its narrative depth and character interactions.

    • “A rare example of an RPG set in the modern day with a very choice-reactive story.”
    • “The story is great, unfortunately you will have to fight the game to get to experience it.”
    • “The story is engaging and enjoyable, the characters are fun with some really nailing the action/spy movie tropes, the relationships you build through dialogue options feel like they have enough weight, and the gameplay is overall an enjoyable experience.”
    • “Besides from janky glitches (which are ok), there are larger issues like continuity errors and poor design story choices that kind of ruined my story.”
    • “Towards the end of the game, my story was impacted heavily by things I straight up didn’t do.”
    • “I'd let the awful gameplay slide if the story and characters were enjoyable and engaging, but the story is equally as atrocious as the gameplay.”
  • gameplay1,249 mentions

    The gameplay of "Alpha Protocol" is widely criticized for its clunky mechanics, poor shooting and stealth systems, and numerous bugs, leading to a frustrating experience for many players. However, the game is praised for its engaging story, rich dialogue options, and the impact of player choices on the narrative, which can make the experience rewarding despite the gameplay shortcomings. Overall, while the mechanics may not meet modern standards, the unique RPG elements and character interactions provide a compelling reason to play for those who prioritize story over gameplay.

    • “Very entertaining and captivating story/gameplay, a lot of attention to detail and super immersive all around.”
    • “Its compelling story, innovative choice-based gameplay, and immersive world make it a must-play for fans of action RPGs and espionage thrillers alike.”
    • “The gameplay itself blends stealth, combat, and RPG elements seamlessly.”
    • “This game has probably the worst shooting mechanics you can imagine or you ever experienced; forget about trigger control.”
    • “The player bounces off the game because of the clunky mechanics and bugs galore.”
    • “The gameplay is a buggy, janky, frustrating and poorly balanced trainwreck that is a fountain of unintentional humor.”
  • graphics346 mentions

    The graphics of "Alpha Protocol" are widely regarded as outdated, with many reviewers noting that they fall short of even 2010 standards. While some players appreciate the atmospheric environments and character models, the overall visual presentation is often described as mediocre or poor, with clunky animations and various graphical glitches detracting from the experience. Despite these shortcomings, some players find that the engaging story and gameplay mechanics can overshadow the dated visuals.

    • “Visually, the game may not boast the cutting-edge graphics of more recent titles, but it makes up for this with its atmospheric environments and detailed character models.”
    • “The graphics are good for 2010, the perks are balanced and nice, the story is great and the game has a lot of replay value due to different choices you can make.”
    • “The graphics are nice to look at.”
    • “Firstly, the visuals are really showing their age here.”
    • “From the surroundings to the animations, the overall graphics only cross the line of acceptable even for the time of release.”
    • “The graphics are ugly, the art style is generic, the gunplay is tripe, and the AI is borderline schizophrenic.”
  • stability281 mentions

    The stability of "Alpha Protocol" is widely criticized, with numerous reviews highlighting its significant bugs and glitches that can disrupt gameplay. While many players acknowledge these issues, they often express that the game's engaging story and character choices make it worth enduring the technical shortcomings. Overall, the game is described as a "buggy mess," but some players find charm in its imperfections, suggesting that it remains enjoyable despite its flaws.

    • “It runs great on my setup, no bugs whatsoever so far.”
    • “More or less bug-free, at least for me.”
    • “It's stable and not buggy.”
    • “The amount of bugs and glitches in this game is astounding and embarrassing.”
    • “Alpha Protocol is a buggy mess, but it's a beautiful one.”
    • “This game is buggy, broken, sometimes unplayable, with a hilarious dialogue.”
  • replayability174 mentions

    The game is widely praised for its high replayability, attributed to its branching storylines, impactful choices, and diverse character builds. Players can experience significantly different outcomes based on their decisions, encouraging multiple playthroughs to explore various paths and endings. Despite some gameplay flaws, the engaging dialogue system and unique narrative structure make it a compelling choice for those seeking a game with substantial replay value.

    • “The mere fact that I have replayed this game more than 6 times is a testament to how replayable it is.”
    • “Your choices and actions also have significant consequences, allowing for multiple branching storylines, adding to the replayability factor.”
    • “The game has so much replay value, even though you can finish one playthrough in 6-12 hours, there is easily 50-80 hours of fun in this game.”
    • “The game has so much replay value, even though you can finish one playthrough in 6-12 hours (depending on your playstyle and choices), there is easily 50-80 hours of fun in this game.”
    • “Every decision you make feels impactful, steering the narrative in different directions and adding to the replayability of the game.”
    • “The branching story arc also adds quite a bit of replayability.”
  • humor97 mentions

    The humor in "Alpha Protocol" is a standout feature, characterized by sharp, witty dialogue and unintentional comedic moments stemming from its buggy gameplay and quirky animations. Players appreciate the game's ability to blend humor with espionage themes, offering laugh-out-loud interactions and absurd situations that enhance the overall experience. While some critiques mention the game's flaws, many find that these imperfections contribute to its charm and comedic value, making it a uniquely entertaining adventure.

    • “Alpha Protocol is a hilarious disaster, and I wouldn't have it any other way.”
    • “The writing is sharp as a knife, witty, and even downright funny.”
    • “Funny, action-packed espionage game in which you decide what to say and do, influencing the story and the different characters and changing the outcomes of your career as a government agent!”
  • music79 mentions

    The music in "Alpha Protocol" receives mixed reviews, with some praising its ability to set the tone for missions and enhance the narrative through commendable voice acting, while others criticize it as bland and repetitive. The soundtrack features a few standout tracks, particularly during key moments, but overall, it is described as serviceable rather than exceptional. Licensing issues have hindered the game's availability, leading to frustration among fans who appreciate the music's role in the experience.

    • “The music sets the tone perfectly for each mission, and the voice actors deliver their lines with conviction, bringing the characters to life and adding to the overall narrative depth.”
    • “The music and sounds are great, adding to the intensity of each mission and making you feel like an actual spy in a high-stakes situation – in some levels the music matched the scenery so well I would pump up the volume to immerse myself even more.”
    • “In the audio department, music is good enough, great even (that main theme sure will make you pump adrenaline, plus a certain boss fight will have you tapping the floor with your feet at the same rhythm as the music).”
    • “The music in Alpha Protocol is bland, looped, uninspiring synth outclassed by game music from the early 2000s, even some of Obsidian’s!”
    • “Unfortunately, the game is no longer available for sale, due to the music licenses in the game having all expired as of 2019 and will not be replaced.”
    • “Spy movies are made or broken by their soundtrack and Alpha Protocol's soundtrack is very middling.”
  • character development36 mentions

    Character development in the game is a standout feature, offering multiple paths and choices that significantly impact the narrative and player experience, reminiscent of systems seen in titles like Mass Effect and Deus Ex. While some players appreciate the depth and consequences of character interactions, others note inconsistencies and underutilized mechanics that can detract from the overall experience. Overall, the game is praised for its engaging dialogue and character arcs, though some feel it could benefit from deeper conversations and more polished design.

    • “The character development is great, there's a lot of attention to detail, lots of choices to be made during the game that will have their consequences in the future.”
    • “While the gameplay can feel rough around the edges at times, the story and characters are this game's highlight in my opinion, with good dialogue and great character development (particularly via their interactions with the player character).”
    • “It takes all of the cool character development options from games like Mass Effect and combines them with the stealth action of Deus Ex and a compelling story.”
    • “There's gaps in the narrative, character development, and gameplay, as certain mechanics end up underused or go nowhere.”
    • “While Alpha Protocol is relatively short, it is so hard and intense in terms of character development that many players just failed with good choices there, made a weak set of skills, and were forced to leave the game unsatisfied.”
    • “The character development system is too primitive.”
  • optimization34 mentions

    The game's optimization has received largely negative feedback, with many players reporting significant performance issues, including stuttering, buffering during missions, and poor compatibility with Windows 10. While some users experienced smooth gameplay at 60 fps, others noted that the game is poorly optimized for PC, with numerous bugs and frustrating mini-games. Overall, the game is described as unpolished and clunky, but still enjoyable for those willing to overlook its technical shortcomings.

    • “As far as optimization goes, for me, the game runs smoothly at 60 fps on my Windows 10 machine, with no crashes or any noticeable bugs, game-breaking or otherwise, thus far.”
    • “Performance-wise, Alpha Protocol is an Obsidian game.”
    • “Took a bit to get it to run smoothly, most certainly well worth it.”
    • “Performance and optimization are awful.”
    • “Loading occurs pretty quickly but there’s still significant buffering within missions, and random performance spikes that can screw you over in combat or knock you out of stealth.”
    • “It is a poorly optimized game, but if you've played through pre-GOTY Deus Ex or pre-fanpatch Vampire, you know to expect some clunkiness.”
  • atmosphere27 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is a mixed bag, with many players praising its immersive environments and strong writing that effectively captures a gritty espionage feel. However, some critics note that the graphics are dated and certain plot developments can undermine the overall atmosphere, leading to a sense of rushed storytelling. Despite these criticisms, the unique settings and character interactions contribute to a compelling atmosphere that resonates with fans of the genre.

    • “The writing and overall atmosphere is very well done for a video game.”
    • “Atmosphere: 10/10 - you will feel like the spy you are supposed to, or the killing machine you wish.”
    • “The gameplay varies from frustrating to 'meh', but the story, the setting and the atmosphere are great and unique!”
    • “I really wanted to feel this game's atmosphere to the fullest, but I couldn't.”
    • “The graphics are not very great, and there's nothing special about the colors or the atmosphere.”
    • “Somehow, this clunky game became a cult classic, despite lacking in atmosphere, characters, a coherent narrative or enjoyable gameplay.”
  • grinding24 mentions

    The grinding aspect of the game is widely criticized for being tedious and repetitive, with many players finding the stealth mechanics, boss fights, and mini-games frustratingly simplistic and unengaging. The gameplay often feels like a chore, with unclear objectives and a lack of excitement, leading to a generally uninspired experience that detracts from the otherwise decent story. Overall, players express a strong desire for more engaging mechanics to alleviate the monotony of grinding.

    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “The gameplay is pretty boring and tedious; I found myself going stealth most of the time just to avoid using weapons I have not upgraded.”
    • “Another gameplay flaw is the mini-games which take multiple tries to complete, alerting everyone in the vicinity that you're either lockpicking or hacking a computer, which after a while becomes stale and tedious.”
  • emotional16 mentions

    Reviews highlight a mixed emotional experience in the game, with some players feeling a strong connection to their choices and the impact on gameplay, while others criticize the lack of emotional closure and depth in the story. The ability to make significant decisions adds a layer of emotional investment, but the overall narrative and character development are seen as lacking, leading to a disconnect in emotional resonance. Despite its flaws, some players appreciate the unique feeling of being a spy and the empowerment from their choices.

    • “Alpha Protocol has made me feel unlike any other game I have ever played.”
    • “I won't spoil the tough choices, but you can be professional with your colleagues, or act emotionally, which can lower your reputation and potentially make things difficult in the long run, such as having no backup.”
    • “Probably one of the finest spy games I've ever had the joy of playing; yes, it's rough around the edges and parts of it feel rushed, but it's the only game that has made me actually influence the course of the game and made me feel like a spy.”
    • “Boring story, boring gameplay, boring protagonist.”
    • “Somewhat cheesy, boring storylines, and lame shenanigans to lure the enemy towards you to kill them off.”
  • monetization4 mentions

    The monetization strategy has been criticized for poor ad quality and ineffective marketing, which detracted from the initial gameplay experience. Many players feel that these issues overshadow the game's potential, suggesting that better advertising could have significantly improved its reception.

Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

63% average critic score

Buy Alpha Protocol

Play time

16hMedian play time
32hAverage play time
13hMain story
26hCompletionist
10-25hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 17 analyzed playthroughs

Videos

Similar Games