Review: Prototype (PS3, Xbox 360)

In Prototype, He’s infected with a virus that threatens the city of New York.

In this very violent third-person open-world game, Mercer has to stop the spread of the virus before the military nukes the island of Manhattan. Along the way, many people will die – thousands, in fact.

Despite the epic nature of the fight, the game still comes down to you against those trying to kill you.

Leading the way is the fully-armed Blackwatch military, determined to capture or kill you. Also wanting you out of the way is the leader of those infected iwth the virus – Elizabeth Green – whose powers rival your own.

And you do come into the battle with considerable abilities, ones that improve and expand as the game progresses.

First and foremost is your ability to scale buildings at great speed, using the skill of Parkour, acrobatic jumping and climbing.

As you are infected by the virus, you also can shape-shift. You can sprout claws, blades, hammer-like fists or a whip-like appendage.

To power all of these abilities, you must “consume” people – grab them and absorb them for sustenance.

In addition, there are certain people along the way who, by absorbing them, you also gain their memories and feelings. This “web of intrigue” helps you to unravel the mystery of your existence and learn important information to help complete future missions.

As you absorb a person, you become them – at least outwardly. This allows you to infiltrate areas and operate equipment that you would not ordinarily be able to.

As a counter-measure, the military has virus detectors that will eventually out you as an impostor.

The mystery at the heart of the game involves a serious incident 40 years ago in Idaho – which indirectly concerns Mercer and directly involves Green. Revealing the mystery will help to make sense of your existence.

Your abilities can be upgraded as you progress, with new ones also emerging. Starting with the ability to leap, you soon gain the ability to glide for long distances. Combining jumping with gliding makes the neighborhoods of New York child’s play to traverse.

The game is wide open, with any place on the island explorable. You can choose to go from mission to mission; try your skill at events – timed mini-games – or just explore and destroy.

As part of the destroying, you can hijack tanks and helicopters and blast away until they are destroyed.

The streets of Prototype are often teeming with people, both healthy and infected. But the variety of character models is somewhat lacking, often grouping several identical people together.

There is also no multiplayer mode in Prototype, which could have been a nice feature, given the open aspect of the game. A little co-op action might also have lengthened the replayability of the title.

Overall, Prototype is an outstanding action game, with plenty to do, numerous powers to flex and much justice to dispense. Plus, shape-shifting is just cool.

Platform: Playstation 3, Xbox 360 Rating: Mature Manufacturer: Activision Score: 9.5 shape-shifting chilies