Alpha Protocol, billed as an “espionage RPG,” puts you in the shoes of secret agent Michael Thorton as he embarks on a series of worldwide missions in Rome, Moscow, Tai Pei, Saudi Arabia, and other exotic destinations. You’ll communicate with your handlers, gather intelligence, examine dossiers, and receive fresh tasks from computer-equipped safe houses all across the world. What distinguishes Alpha Protocol from other action games is the degree of control you have over your character and your options while interacting with others. There are key role-playing features like dialogue trees, skill points, and equipment upgrades, as well as NPCs that will react differently depending on your approach and reputation. The action is seen through the eyes of a third person as you fulfill objectives in whatever way you see fit, depending on the direction of your character.
Stealth-oriented spies can complete the game without killing an enemy, whereas destructive kinds can deploy body armor and heavy weaponry. Action points can be assigned to various traits, ranging from stealth and handguns to sabotage and technical acumen, all of which lead to distinct skills. Cash obtained by completing missions can be spent in various ways, including purchasing strong weapons on the black market, hiring mercenaries, and purchasing numerous gun upgrades to improve attributes such as damage, accuracy, recoil, stability, and magazine capacity.
