Quick Review: Prototype

Sticking to the newly implemented review format we have obscurely worked in over the past few months, I have fresh Intel as to how Prototype fared. Since the very first time I picked up a sandbox game (GTA: Vice City) I immediately knew I loved them. From the open ended campaign structure to the living virtual cities engulfed by buildings, skyscrapers and even vast forestry, there was just something special about having the empowered feeling that the world around you was at your fingertips. Do anything, break anything, drive anything, kill anything...Sandbox games idealistic "open-world" and daunting scope were just what I needed.

I'm happy to say that Prototype is a fantastic game. Everything right down to the pedestrian is spot on and meshes extremely well with not only the environments but the story line as well. Now, I know I'm getting off the blatant "Quick Review" track but I feel the need to comment in "quasi" depth about two things before my scores are listed:

1. Gameplay
2. The Gore

Lets start with the gameplay. It's smooth...and I mean real smooth. There are times when I'll be running around the city causing all sorts of hell with such fluidity that its actually mind boggling how the frame rate stays in tact. One moment I'm at the tippy top of the Empire State Building and the next I'm flying through the streets of Times Square causing wide spread panic amongst our beloved A.I counterparts. When I say this game is fast I'm not talking about Sonic the Hedgehog fast or Ninja Gaiden fast; I'm talking quantum physics jacked up on anabolic steroids fast.

Boiled down to its core, Prototype is a brawler...a "straight ripping" brawler that delivers on multiple levels of transparency. Remember watching Aliens for the first time? Remember how flipping violent it was? Well, times that by about 1,000 and you may come close to Prototypes influx of neon-violence. Let me give you an example: Just last night while playing I was using the Proto-Claws to run amok and slice me up some disease infested mutagens. Well, after about fifteen minutes of pure chaos I got bored; so I stopped. How did I stop you may be asking yourself? Well I pressed the X and Y button at the same time and created a catatonic shock wave that looked like a napalm bomb went off in a crowd of unsuspecting pedestrians. Big whoop you say? Try this on: As I turned around to sprint off into the bloody sunset I noticed something way up in the sky falling down towards me. After what literally was five seconds of watching this "thing" fall from the sky I finally noticed what it was...a humans limp body! Apparently after I set off my shock wave it smacked this poor old lady straight into the vast skyline only to release her to her immanent death. Excellent.

Alright enough of the 'gaga' talk. Onto the scores list!

GRAPHICS: 8
Story: 10
Gameplay: 10
Fun-Factor: 10
SFX: 10

Don't rent this game...BUY IT!

-GAME HARD-