Alpha Protocol Impressions
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As with many Western RPGs, Alpha Protocol is filled with many multiple choice response situations, where the player can come across over 90 times in a single playthrough. Moreover, your actions have repercussions that go beyond dialogue replies in cutscenes, giving the impression that Alpha Protocol has as much in common with Heavy Rain as it does with Mass Effect. You might find that an NPC will comment on something as superficial as the armor you chose to wear or a female character will react when you flirt with another gal on the same conference call. In more serious matters, the fragile trust you have earned with an insider can be damaged because you thought that going nuts with an APC turret would not be a big deal.
This dialogue system is ultimately what compelled me to start a second playthrough immediately after the first one ended. Whereas my first session leaned toward "professional" responses with many deviations toward "tactical flirting", the recent finale of 24 inspired me to go for a "full aggressive" approach this time around even if that might turn off some of the ladies. I'm also planning to accept every Execution prompt that I come across. While that might ruin every agency relationship that I have, thereby depriving myself of assistance on the field, I am at least playing this second session on Easy. Alpha Protocol does not have a New Game+ but it does unlock the Veteran setting which starts off the player at Level 3 for all 9 attributes (eg. firearms proficiency, martial arts, technical skill, toughness) not to mention a number of new dialogue choices sprinkled throughout the game.
