Ever since we secretly saw Radical Entertainment's Prototype for the first time, we thought there was a good chance it could be something special. An extended look at the game during last summer's Sierra press event made us even more excited, but it wasn't until last week's Game Developers Conference that we really got to spend some serious time with the game. Not only were there sessions dedicated solely to the game's design philosophy and artistic stylings, there was also a behind-closed-doors showing of the game for select journalists. Luckily for us (and, by extension, you), we were on that short list, and now we're going to spill the beans on one of the year's most-anticipated titles.
Prototype tells the tale of one Alex Mercer, a man who wakes up without any memories. Thankfully, his memories have been replaced with some truly amazing powers, which come in quite handy when doing battle with the forces that are ripping New York City apart. The developers are staying fairly mum about the game's story, but we've been able to glean a few things from the demos we've seen so far. This seems like one of those titles that will be a lot deeper than we initially thought, so we're hopeful that the team won't let many cats out of their proverbial bags.
As we just mentioned, the game takes place in what appears to be modern-day New York City, albeit one with bigger problems than crime or poverty. A virus of some sort has been wreaking havoc with the populace, turning some of them into terrifying creatures. In an effort to combat this menace, the government has moved in and quarantined sections of the city. This means that you'll not only be fighting the creatures that are stalking you and attacking the citizens, you'll also have to deal with some overzealous soldiers.
During the art session, Maurice Kimball, the game's art director, explained that the team wanted to make the player feel like they are in the middle of a blockbuster action movie, yet somehow keep the game grounded in reality. Taking this into account, the artists and designers painstakingly recreated New York City, and while it's not 100% accurate, we were told that there are 110 real-life landmarks and sponsored signage that reflects the advertising seen in the actual city. Still, there's no denying that there are some fantastical elements in the game, and one need only look at the effects of the virus for proof.
