Prototype 2 First Impressions

Written by Erik Kubik, kube00 Thursday, 26 April 2012 08:00

Has it only been 3 years since the last Prototype game came out? Prototype 2 sets out to do much of the same stuff as the original. The core concept behind the game is to keep the action cranked and keep the player interested.

In the 4 or so hours I've played, the game has held my attention. The game has a Crackdown/inFamous-like sandbox feel to it. Except in Prototype you feel like you are playing as the anti-hero. Gamers play as James Heller this time, instead of Alex Mercer, although there is plenty of Mercer in this game. Heller roams the city, killing soldiers, civilians, and the infected. The story is told through quick DNA flashbacks. Heller absorbs the DNA of certain characters and gets the backstory. There seems to be a robust upgrade system designed to make Heller a faster killer. There are some collectibles, and like every open world game they are scattered to the winds and only serve as an extra for the completionists.

Still, there is nothing more satisfying than consuming people or jumping and throwing tanks at helicopters. In some ways the game reminds me of 2005’s The Incredible Hulk: Ultimate Destruction. Heller seems like he could come straight from a “B” action movie. He’s got nothing left to lose and swears like a sailor. Did I mention the game is packed with blood and gore?

Will Prototype 2 have enough content to keep players interested in the long run? I’ll need to give the game a few more hours of gameplay and I’ll know. I'm eager to try out the Radnet, which has challenges and events that pits players against other players around the world. It will also be interesting to see how powerful Heller can become.