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[Let's Play] Alpha Protocol: I am an awesome spy. (Part 1, Set 1)
Ninja Snarl P
My helmet is my burden.Ninja Snarl: Gone, but not forgotten.Registered User regular
My helmet is my burden.Ninja Snarl: Gone, but not forgotten.Registered User regular
[Let's Play] Alpha Protocol
This will get a bit schnazzier once I figure out the new board.
Updates will stay up here for faster access:
Intro:
Part 1 (Recruit run):
Part 2 (Veteran run):
Welcome back! This is my first LP in the better part of a year. Alpha Protocol was trounced by reviewers, but I enjoyed the game a great deal. The reasons for the bad reviews aren't really hard to figure out; the gameplay is not stellar, the gunplay is pretty loose, the game has a lot of content cut, and it's really, really, REALLY poorly optimized. I'm running this on the same hardware as my STALKER/Crysis LPs, but Alpha Protocol somehow takes a LOT more system resources to run well. Oh, and it doesn't even look very good. They aren't terrible, but certainly not good enough to justify how much it takes to run the game.
This LP isn't entirely blind because I have played before, but that was back near when the game came out back in May of 2010. So for those who have played Alpha Protocol to death, yes, I know I'm missing stuff. I don't mean I know because of a gut feeling, I mean I know because I vaguely remember certain things being here or there. And in regards to that, I would DEFINITELY like for people to try and make sure I don't miss awesome stuff. I'll do my best to be thorough, but I also have to keep the LP moving without bogging it down by an extra hour of exploration every time. Just make sure to post suggestions and reminders in spoilers for the sake of those who want the surprises.
Down to the brass tacks. Alpha Protocol is about a spy named Michael Thornton. He does spy stuff. There is sneaking and shooting, but the real meat and potatoes of the game is how you handle conversations and relationships. It sounds a little bizarre, but the results can be pretty amazing. The right conversation choices can get people to help or fight you, earn XP and ability points, and reveal all sorts of information. One of the best things is that finding info can really help you out; developing your dossiers on agencies and individuals is invaluable to figuring out the right conversation choices.
Even with all the cut content (cut do to the game being in development hell for so long), the story is remarkably fluid. Because of that, I will actually be playing the game twice through: once as a good-guy Recruit (zero ability points at the start and unique dialogue options) and once a King of Dicks Veteran (tons of bonus Ability Points and other unique conversation options). I will also vary the playstyle for each playthrough. The first time will be getting the basic effective stuff up to speed and the next time will be going crazy murder-spy.
I'm pretty busy for the time being, so updates will probably only show up once a week. Also, depending on how the different playthroughs stack up, I may or may not be cutting things from the second playthrough for the sake of brevity. If I remember correctly, a normal playthrough runs something like 20 hours. However, a Veteran playthrough can probably be something like half that because you can be a murder-machine right from the start and make a lot of people regret choosing to live long enough to meet Michael Thornton, Ender of All Things. But if that gameplay doesn't prove entertaining enough, I'll cut out most of it in favor of the drastically different cutscenes.
So let the espionage commence!
This will get a bit schnazzier once I figure out the new board.
Updates will stay up here for faster access:
Intro:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Yk2egj1f8oPart 1 (Recruit run):
Set 1: I am an awesome spy
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=66iiKZPGf2k
Set 2: Ah, irony
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yYzmeQEnuLQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=66iiKZPGf2kSet 2: Ah, irony
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yYzmeQEnuLQPart 2 (Veteran run):
Welcome back! This is my first LP in the better part of a year. Alpha Protocol was trounced by reviewers, but I enjoyed the game a great deal. The reasons for the bad reviews aren't really hard to figure out; the gameplay is not stellar, the gunplay is pretty loose, the game has a lot of content cut, and it's really, really, REALLY poorly optimized. I'm running this on the same hardware as my STALKER/Crysis LPs, but Alpha Protocol somehow takes a LOT more system resources to run well. Oh, and it doesn't even look very good. They aren't terrible, but certainly not good enough to justify how much it takes to run the game.
This LP isn't entirely blind because I have played before, but that was back near when the game came out back in May of 2010. So for those who have played Alpha Protocol to death, yes, I know I'm missing stuff. I don't mean I know because of a gut feeling, I mean I know because I vaguely remember certain things being here or there. And in regards to that, I would DEFINITELY like for people to try and make sure I don't miss awesome stuff. I'll do my best to be thorough, but I also have to keep the LP moving without bogging it down by an extra hour of exploration every time. Just make sure to post suggestions and reminders in spoilers for the sake of those who want the surprises.
Down to the brass tacks. Alpha Protocol is about a spy named Michael Thornton. He does spy stuff. There is sneaking and shooting, but the real meat and potatoes of the game is how you handle conversations and relationships. It sounds a little bizarre, but the results can be pretty amazing. The right conversation choices can get people to help or fight you, earn XP and ability points, and reveal all sorts of information. One of the best things is that finding info can really help you out; developing your dossiers on agencies and individuals is invaluable to figuring out the right conversation choices.
Even with all the cut content (cut do to the game being in development hell for so long), the story is remarkably fluid. Because of that, I will actually be playing the game twice through: once as a good-guy Recruit (zero ability points at the start and unique dialogue options) and once a King of Dicks Veteran (tons of bonus Ability Points and other unique conversation options). I will also vary the playstyle for each playthrough. The first time will be getting the basic effective stuff up to speed and the next time will be going crazy murder-spy.
I'm pretty busy for the time being, so updates will probably only show up once a week. Also, depending on how the different playthroughs stack up, I may or may not be cutting things from the second playthrough for the sake of brevity. If I remember correctly, a normal playthrough runs something like 20 hours. However, a Veteran playthrough can probably be something like half that because you can be a murder-machine right from the start and make a lot of people regret choosing to live long enough to meet Michael Thornton, Ender of All Things. But if that gameplay doesn't prove entertaining enough, I'll cut out most of it in favor of the drastically different cutscenes.
So let the espionage commence!
Ninja Snarl P on
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And before any Alpha Protocol vets yell at me, YES, I will be going back to go over the characters I dumbly missed.
On the one hand, I *loved* your Crysis LP.
On the other hand, I actually own Alpha Protocol, and want to play through it; I don't want no spoilers.
Damn, damn, damn.
Steam: Elvenshae // PSN: Elvenshae // WotC: Elvenshae
Wilds of Aladrion: [https://forums.penny-arcade.com/discussion/comment/43159014/#Comment_43159014]Ellandryn[/url]
Bravely Default / 3DS Friend Code = 3394-3571-1609
But TOR Beta and DX:HR and Baby in three weeks say "Not likely."
Steam: Elvenshae // PSN: Elvenshae // WotC: Elvenshae
Wilds of Aladrion: [https://forums.penny-arcade.com/discussion/comment/43159014/#Comment_43159014]Ellandryn[/url]
Also, if you listen to the whole of the TV broadcast you get a minor perk that makes buying intel in Saudi a little cheaper.
Though, pointing out that there isn't really much cut content in AP (which is also why the story is fluid) "just" rearranged content. The game went through several major revision during development. Most of the content you may have heard about was cut (like the major ally) wasn't even planned for the final version.
That doesn't make the whole thing any less of a mess, of course. On the contrary, probably even more of one.
It scratched an old-school RPG itch for me and that's all I really wanted out of it. So I'm looking forward to your LP, Ninja Snarl P.
I would have recommended you to do the tutorials. You can get some extra cash and the rifle scope.
Pissing Darcy is always good.
Edit: also change your avatar to the picture of Chris Avellone wearing a vest.
"We have years of struggle ahead, mostly within ourselves." - Made in USA
I've already played AP all the way through so I'm looking forward to seeing what you do differently.
And I'm not doing anything goofy with Mike's appearance this time around because he's supposed to be all professional tight-laced rookie. Next time? There will be beard. You can count on that. Veteran kiss-my-ass Michael is all about the beard.
Plus, I don't know if there would be enough people who would state their preference. This LP will go slow enough as-is without having to wait an extra 2-3 days for votes.
As for this set, I actually start it off by going back to do the tutorial stuff I missed before, especially to make sure I introduce the characters involved with the tutorial sections. It's is also nice to finally learn/remember which buttons are for sneaking and which ones are for giving myself away like a jackass. Honestly, I don't know what it is with LPs and me being unable to sneak; it's like I'm trying to stealth my way around while suffering from seizures and dragging a bunch of tin cans tied to my feet.
I'm not necessarily doing a completionist run, but meeting all those people is too important to the game to skip over. Plus, I probably needed the refresher just to help me stop screwing up so badly.
Good game, but it gets a bit tiring to play after a while.
Oh, and doublefuck the hacking minigame on the PC version. I fucking HATE it.
- The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse (2017, colorized)
Huh. I had no idea about that.
As for getting a better score in weapons training, it did occur to me to worry less about time and more about aim if I wanted to do another run. However, I wanted to keep the LP moving and not get bogged down in earning vanity points for doing better on weapons training.
Do better on weapons and gadgets training, get bonus training missions. That's what I was asking about.
Oh well, that's what second playthroughs are for!
"We have years of struggle ahead, mostly within ourselves." - Made in USA