Alpha Protocol (Obsidian's new action-RPG)

[Flawless]

Quote:

If you love RPGs but are tired of swinging swords or slogging around in spacesuits, you’re in luck. Obsidian Entertainment is drawing on its Fallout and Planescape: Torment roots with its new espionage-based game Alpha Protocol. Drawing on the three J.B.s for inspiration—Jack Bauer, Jason Bourne and James Bond—the developers are giving players plenty of different ways to tackle problems. You can rely on brute force, stealth or gadgets to accomplish missions, and also navigate through a nuanced conversation system.

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Info

1-player spy action-RPG

Developer: Obsidian Entertainment
Platform: PS3/360/PC
Publisher: Sega
Release: Spring 2009

"A modern day espionage focused action/RPG that takes you on a suspenseful ride in the vein of James Bond, Jack Bauer, and Jason Bourne. Take a wet-behind-the-ears greenhorn agent up through the ranks to become a bona-fide super spy."

• Main character is Michael Thorton, a fully trained but inexperienced young operative who has the world turned upside down when a mission goes wrong.
  
• Title "Alpha Protocol" is a phrase that is used when operatives go underground to work off the grid. Usually reserved for senior agents.
  
• Battle system is similar to Mass Effect but have more in common with Uncharted. It revolves around real time combat with an emphasis on gun play and high tech gadgets.
  
• Third person perspective, action orientated gameplay
  
• Close quarters combat can be a last resort or primary method of fighting depending on how you spend skill points you have earned.
  
• Skill system is based most closely on Fallout. It's classless, you have 10 skills and 10 ranks in each skill. Skills don't simply improve things like accuracy, they improve the way your character will perceive situations.
  
• The game will suit all play styles from the run and gunner to the stealth assassin.
  
• Extremely in depth dialog system that is a mix of Mass Effect and Indigo Prophecy. Once conversations happen, that's it, no revisiting the NPC to try to talk again and again. System is named the Dialog Stance System. You dictate your characters tone in a conversation by pressing a corresponding face button. Options can be cool and suave others can be brash/impatient.
  
• You can have multiple active missions in different countries and travel freely between them.
  
• Lots of girls and romance subplots. You'll meet tons of different girls on missions and yes you can bag them all.
  
• Current control scheme for selecting powers and weapons is similar to Bioshock.

[Flawless]

SEGA And Obsidian Set To Redefine The RPG Genre With Alpha Protocol

Quote:

March 13, 2008 - LONDON (March 13th, 2007) –SEGA® Europe Ltd. and Obsidian Entertainment, Inc. today announced a thrilling new espionage role-playing game set in the modern world - Alpha Protocol™. Alpha Protocol is developed by the globally revered and genre defining development studio, Obsidian Entertainment, known for smash hits such as Star Wars: Knights Of The Old Republic II: The Sith Lords and Neverwinter Nights 2. This exciting new game will set the world alight on the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system, the PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system and Windows-based PCs in 2009. "Alpha Protocol blends Obsidian's knack for intricate stories, engrossing characters, and significant character advancement with fast-paced modern combat," said Feargus Urquhart, CEO of Obsidian Entertainment. "Alpha Protocol embraces everything we enjoy about making RPGs from a fresh perspective. We are confident our talented staff at Obsidian will enable us to deliver this exciting RPG experience." Loyalty carries a price and no one knows this more than agent Michael Thorton. A talented young agent cast out by his government, Thorton is the only one with the information needed to stop an impending international catastrophe. To do so means he must cut himself off from the very people he is sworn to protect. As players determine how to accomplish different objectives, the decisions made and actions taken in each mission will ultimately transform the type of secret agent Michael Thorton will become. Every choice the player makes as Michael Thorton will carry consequences for his future and the fate of the world. "Working with Obsidian Entertainment on a project of this stature is incredibly exciting for SEGA. We have one of the best independent developers working on what will be one of the definitive games of 2009," stated Gary Knight, European Marketing Director, SEGA Europe Ltd. "With innovative RPG action and an incredible interactive storyline to match the very best spy-thrillers, Alpha Protocol delivers a heart thumping high definition experience."

[Cyros]

Good to see Obsidian finally get a chance to work on their own original IP.

[Money99]

Mass Effect meets Siphon Filter? I'm IN!

[jfsolo]

This is a MUST BUY game for me.

[Defel]

I don't get the comparison to Fallout and Planescape Torment.

10 skills? No party management?

This sounds RPG-lite, action-heavy while F and PST were RPG-heavy, action-lite.

[SPTO]

This sounds like my kinda game. Looks like it's a must buy for me.

[jfsolo]

Quote: Originally Posted by Defel

I don't get the comparison to Fallout and Planescape Torment. 10 skills? No party management? This sounds RPG-lite, action-heavy while F and PST were RPG-heavy, action-lite.

This game will in all probability by action heavy, but I can't see Obsidian making a game thats RPG-lite. That would be antithetical to the core principles of their gaming making culture.