Critical Reception: Radical Entertainment's Prototype 2

This week's edition of Critical Reception examines online reaction to Radical Entertainment's open-world sequel Prototype 2, which reviews describe as "an enjoyable but predictable action title." Prototype 2 currently earns a score of 78 out of 100 at Metacritic.com. Bryan Vore at Game Informer gives Prototype 2 a score of 8.5 out of 10. "[The original Prototype] fell short with a frustrating combat system, lackluster visuals, and inconsistent missions," he notes. "Prototype 2 feels like a well-heard response to fan feedback, addressing nearly every issue from the original." Movement controls have seen a noticeable upgrade. "Bouncing through the city and pounding the hell out of everything is the real focus here," Vore explains. "The city traversal is some of the best I've seen. Like Mercer before him, Heller can sprint up a skyscraper in seconds, dash and glide through the air, and commandeer tanks and helicopters -- but now the controls feel more natural." "Combat has evolved even more," Vore continues. "Instead of constantly fiddling with a weapon wheel, two powers are mapped to separate face buttons, allowing you to mix up ground-pounding Hammerfist area attacks with speedy melee claws. Or maybe you'd prefer pairing an arm blade with the long-range Whipfist that can cut groups of enemies in half." "Prototype 2 has officially redeemed this franchise," Vore summarizes. "The mechanics feel the way you wished they would have in the first installment, and it's a rush to abuse your incredible powers any way you see fit. If you've stayed away from the first game because of the lackluster word of mouth, don't hesitate to jump right into the sequel." Official Xbox Magazine's Cameron Lewis grades Prototype 2 at 8 out of 10. "Returning protagonist-turned-villain Alex Mercer infects Heller during Prototype 2's opening encounter, turning your character into a shape-shifting mass of bubbling guts that can consume and simulate any human form," Lewis explains. "You'll wear the faces of everyone from military brass to lab technicians as you infiltrate underground strongholds, foil ghastly experiments, and use the purloined memories of your victims to understand the ongoing conflict between Mercer and his erstwhile Blackwatch masters." The storyline loses focus fast, however. "The narrative rapidly descends into a nonsensical mess, populated with dim-witted baddies who stupidly act against their own interests," Lewis recalls. "Don't despair: Heller's a scowling one-note dope with an inexplicable hatred of computers and anyone with a triple-digit IQ, but he's also an incredibly flexible one-man wrecking ball." While the game offers a number of ability upgrades, missions lack variety. "If only the missions exhibited as much imagination as your options for self-improvement," Lewis laments. "The trouble is, they're all so darn familiar -- a veritable parade of worn-out tropes. Even wholly optional side pursuits like infected lairs and multi-part Blacknet missions too often present little more than cookie-cutter clear-the-room mopping assignments and time-trial courses." "And yet, even when your objectives sound about as thrilling as a Sunday-afternoon grocery run, the sheer chaos Heller unleashes upon the distressed and detailed world of New York Zero while completing them keeps Prototype 2 from feeling like a chore," Lewis admits. "If you can turn off your brain and just enjoy the frenzied carnage, you'll have a blast." IGN's Greg Miller rates Prototype 2 at 7 out of 10, calling it "forgettable fun." The gameplay formula remains solid, Miller explains: "It's a delicious recipe. Leaping into the air, targeting a foe and swooping in for a claw attack that beheads the bad guy is fun. Sneaking around a base disguised as a solider and absorbing unaware enemies is cool. Prototype 2 excels at making you feel like a badass." The game suffers from weak dialogue and cutscenes, however. "Sgt. James Heller becomes a relatable character and we want to see him use his superpowers to exact revenge on those responsible," Miller notes. "But that motivation is lost when the game starts and Heller begins shoehorning curse words into every other sentence. The emotional connection to our protagonist is severed. Heller becomes an angry caricature, and Prototype 2 becomes an enjoyable but predictable action title." "Even though becoming this ultimate killer is cool, it doesn't hide the fact that nearly every mission is running into a base, forcefully assuming an identity, and exiting the alert," Miller continues. "It doesn't hide the fact that the animations for many of Heller's moves look like those of the nearly 3-year-old Prototype, which look like those of the nearly 7-year-old The Incredible Hulk: Ultimate Destruction." "I enjoyed leveling up Heller and completing side quests, but none of it really meant anything to me," Miller concludes. "Outside of the Achievements I have for my efforts, I doubt I'll remember much of Prototype 2's sterile side missions and curse word-laden dialogue. Prototype 2 is fun, but it sure is forgettable."