Preview: 'Alpha Protocol'

Quite fittingly for the shadowy world of espionage that it is set in, Alpha Protocol has rather slipped under the radar in gaming circles. Developed for Sega by Obsidian Entertainment, the game puts forward the interesting proposition of an RPG based around modern-day spying. In this, players will be thrust into a truly interactive world in which every choice they make really does mean life or death, for someone at least. So Digital Spy entered the special briefing room with Obsidian's programming producer Nathan Davis to have a sneak peak at a pre-beta build of this intriguing new title.

In the game, players take on the role of Michael Thornton, who was formerly part of the Alpha Protocol agency before going rogue. The game focuses on four main hub locations - Taipei, Rome, Moscow and Saudi Arabia - which can be played in any order and skipped between at leisure. Instead of an open-world approach, individual missions are launched from a safehouse, which also offers various other features that we will discuss later on. The most important aspect of the game, though, is in terms of its reactive world and the multiple approaches available to each individual interaction.

Our demo starts as Thornton reaches Moscow to interrogate a hardened Ruski named Grigori, who is the source for intel on some heavy weapons. Interrogating non-playable characters (NPCs) involves using the game's conversation mechanic. Rather than choosing between specific phrases, the conversation system involves adopting different approaches which are based on the three JBs - James Bond (suave), Jack Bauer (aggressive) and Jason Bourne (professional). When playing the game for real, players will only have one stab at each NPC conversation, but for the demo it was useful to see how these different approaches lead to different outcomes.

As Thornton addresses Grigori, the three approach options appear on the screen and one must be selected before the timer expires (otherwise the last one chosen is auctioned). After taking the aggressive approach (or what Davis calls "supreme dick Mike"), Thornton slams Grigori's head onto the bar and then demands information until the Russian gives up the name of Sergei Surkov. Thornton may have got the intel that he wanted, but this has come at the cost of frightening the other man, which has got other ramifications. Following this, Grigori may warn other people of Thornton's prickly attitude and then they may react accordingly in future interactions.

Taking the Bond-style suave approach brings a much different reaction from Grigori. After playing nicey-nicey with the Russian, Thornton gets the same name as before, but he is also asked to "accidentally" divert a cargo of munitions from Leningradski station into Grigori's hands. Therefore, this flags up a side mission that was not offered under the aggressive approach. In a nice touch, before finishing the conversation Grigori thanks Thornton for not being an "asshole like other agents", before adding that he came to him as a human being which should be "rewarded".

If the professional approach was taken, then a whole different set of responses would be unlocked. This mechanic is all about encouraging players to judge the personalities of NPCs and then respond to this information accordingly. Sometimes it can be an advantage to please other characters with your conduct, but it can also be good to "really infuriate them" as this may present a situation to exploit. After all, nothing says "co-operation" like a vodka bottle in the face. Interaction with characters is also linked to the reputation system in which upsetting or impressing people lowers or raises the player's standing with that individual. Essentially, every choice carries a "certain level of consequence" which must be weighed up accordingly.

After each mission and dialogue section, Thornton returns to the safehouse, which is basically a plush pad replete with espionage accoutrement. This includes a computer terminal giving access to the email system, which reacts to events/actions in the game as with everything else. Replying to emails involves choosing from three main options - brief, cordial or snarky - with players able to read the responses before sending them. For example, one message from Thornton's handler/fixer Mina asks whether he knows the password to a locked server. After selecting the snarky response, Thornton replies that the password is M1LFLuv3r. However, Mina fails to see the funny side, leading to one lost reputation point.

The computer also gives access to the black market for purchasing guns, gadgets, equipment and intelligence documents (depending on contacts made in the game). Various guns are available across four main areas - pistols, SMGs, shotguns and assault rifles - along with mods such as laser sights to upgrade accuracy. Everything is geared up to enable players to adopt one of three main play styles - combat-ready Soldier, gadget-mad Tech Specialist and stealth-orientated Field Agent. In turn, central to all gameplay is the RPG mechanic, in which players can level up Thornton's skill over certain different key areas, including firearms ability, stealth and martial arts.

Advancement points are earned after each mission to be spent on different ranks in whatever area the player wants. These individual upgrades are designed to give the player something "very cool" which makes a noticeable difference in subsequent missions. Whether it may be using sniper rifles or hacking into computer terminals, everything Thornton does is linked to an RPG mechanic. The game also has a perks system in which little bonuses are earned for completing missions under certain parameters, such as without raising a single alarm.

After purchasing/selecting the appropriate weapons and kit, Thornton enters the mission with an opening cinematic featuring a group of terrorists being dispatched by a blonde bombshell with an M60 machine gun called Sie. Another dialogue section then throws up options to challenge or ally with Sie, with the latter approach meaning that her goons will not attack the player during the mission. Of course, taking the aggressive route leads to a boss battle with the character instead. Indeed, the majority of bosses can be approached in various ways - killed, allied with or just ignored entirely. There are further nuances in between; for example, sparing the boss after beating them could bring maximum respect with that character, leading to them to do something good for you in the future.

The action sequences in Alpha Protocol will feel familiar to anyone who has played the Metal Gear Solid series. Thornton has a fixed reticule which can be focused from orange to red for a kill shot. The major aspect here, though, is that everything the player does is connected to an RPG skill. For example, upgrading stealth enables a mechanic called shadow operative which makes the player invisible for a period of time. However, active skills such as this all have a cool down period before they can be used again. A really fun mechanic is the chain shot, which involves stopping time and lining up multiple head shots (up to six if fully upgraded) which Thornton then quickly executes when time restarts.

After locating Grigori's weapons inside a rail carriage, Thornton has the choice to blow them up or steal them, with further options to either send them to himself or the Russian. As usual, each decision has positives and drawbacks. Sending the stolen munitions to yourself would significantly improve your arsenal, but sending them to Grigori increases the player's reputation with him and could lead to good things. Indeed, this enhanced reputation comes in handy at a later stage when Thornton breaks into the US Embassy in Moscow to extricate Sergei Surkov.

If the player had been aggressive to Grigori, then there would be heavily armed marines outside the building waiting for him (which is not necessarily a bad thing as he could potentially persuade the marines to ally with him following some nifty dialogue). But also, when Thornton comes to apprehend Surkov, then the other man may be wary and could even respond with force, as opposed to simply acquiescing to the move if the player had taken the suave approach. It is with these multiple options and seriously weighty decisions that Alpha Protocol will really be able to excel. So far, the signs look positive for some seriously good spying later in the year.

Alpha Protocol will be released in Europe on PS3, PC and Xbox 360 in October.