Alex Mercer’s abilities are either a burden or a gift depending on one’s perspective. Due to the virus in his body, he possesses various lethal abilities and the ability to assume the appearance of any person he consumes, essentially the same as mercilessly murdering that person. Alex did not consciously seek this “enhancement” for himself. Instead, he participated in a genetic experiment by the Gentek corporation. As he cannot recall what transpired, he is currently on a mission to discover his past and his motivation for revenge. Elizabeth Green, the second specimen, is responsible for infecting more and more of Manhattan Island with a mutated form of the virus that transforms humans into mindless zombies or vicious beasts. In the interim, the disease expands across the island.
In Prototype, an open-world game similar to Grand Theft Auto IV played from a third-person perspective, the player assumes control of Alex. He is free to roam the entire island of Manhattan, which contains such famous landmarks as Central Park and Times Square. However, Alex is more interested in adopting the Spider-Man approach than robbing older adults and stealing vehicles. By racing against a wall to gather momentum, he can ascend and leap to the roof quickly. Due to his extraordinary jumping ability and immunity to the detrimental effects of falling, he can circumnavigate the city from above, avoiding the need to navigate the crowded streets during rush hour. Even at that height, it is evident that evil individuals, such as hunters and the military, can reach him. For self-defense, Alex can utilize a vast array of skills. He can take up large objects and hurl them at his enemies, making bringing down even a fully-fledged aircraft easy. As previously mentioned, he also possesses the ability to assume the form of anyone he successfully captures and consumes. When done stealthily, it removes the pressure from Alex and, like hiding, will gradually lull his human pursuers back to slumber. On the opposite side, the monsters will proceed to attack him. In addition, he can now access previously inaccessible locations. Other abilities include razor-sharp claws, a shield, and boulder-like fists that enable the user to deliver a powerful punch and slash. Alex can utilize only one of these abilities at any particular time and must first unlock them. He achieves this by purchasing enhancements with the evolution points he earns for defeating foes and achieving objectives.
These upgrades can, for instance, increase his sprint speed, grant him new skills such as those powers, or enable him to perform further actions, such as gliding through the air rather than falling directly down. Each of these categories is subdivided into additional categories. In addition, specific skills, such as operating a tank or improving one’s skill with conventional weapons, can only be acquired by imbibing specific individuals whose heads are marked with a symbol. This is essential not only for restoring his health but also for revealing the secrets of the Web of Intrigue. “The Web of Intrigue” casts light on Alex’s past and clarifies what transpired during his tenure at Gentek. Some pedestrians, military personnel, or police officers had more or less direct contact with Alex or the project he was a part of. If he discovers and consumes them, a brief cutscene depicts what he learns from them. This information may pertain to the endeavor or those who had more or less direct contact with Alex. The player can access a detailed map from the primary menu to keep track of his overall progress. There, he can rewatch each film and observe how various pieces of information interact, providing him with an understanding of how each puzzle piece comes together.
If the player is not engaged in completing the primary plot objectives or destroying military outposts or hives, he may explore the city in quest of various minigames. Fight miniature conflicts on the side of the military or the infected, engaging in activities such as kill/consume missions and waypoint races at rooftops. Other activities include hostage rescue. In each event, players receive additional evolution points regardless of their performance. These minigames can be unlocked by advancing further in the primary storyline and obtaining a gold medal in one of the other minigames. The search for hidden landmarks and clues is another activity that can be performed on the island to earn evolution points. The player receives an increasing number of evolution points for this item based on the times it has been collected.
