 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
Alpha Protocol
- Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Windows
- Price: $59.99
- Genre: Third-person shooter
Common Sense Media says
Violent, sexy spy game has players make moral decisions.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that Alpha Protocol is a violent action game featuring plenty of combat, frank sexuality, scattered but strong profanity, and a scene with drugs. Blood is seen frequently in firefights, though there’s no gore. The protagonist can be a traditional hero with a noble and suave demeanor, but the game’s complex narrative allows players to make moral decisions by deciding whether to be mean and aggressive when talking to non-player characters, flirt with female characters, or kill unarmed captured enemies.
What's it about?
In ALPHA PROTOCOL players take on the role of a secret agent working for a clandestine organization undertaking missions that involve stealth, shooting, hand-to-hand combat, and mini-games to bypass locks and hack computers. Players begin by choosing the background of the game’s protagonist, Mike Thorton, then proceed to develop their characters by earning experience points, acquiring new abilities, and upgrading their arsenal of gadgets and weapons. A major facet of the game is its complex dialogue system, which allows players to select Thorton’s demeanor while interacting with non-player characters, choosing from selections such as aggressive, suave, professional, and suggestive. Decisions in conversations can alter relationships, change mission objectives and results, and have an impact on the overall narrative.
Is it any good?
There’s no doubt Alpha Protocol has the foundation of a deep and satisfying action-oriented RPG. Its character growth system is complex and clever, and the dynamically changing conversations and their narrative consequences are impressive. Unfortunately, many other parts of the game are woefully underdeveloped.
Gunfights are frustrating until you’ve managed to level up your skills and find some decent weapon upgrades. Ditto for situations requiring stealth. Melee combat is perhaps the best part of the action, but even that is hindered by poor navigation; our hero’s turns are too wide and he gets stuck in canned animations while enemies back away and take aim at him. Then there are the glitches. The screen tears when turning the camera quickly, details sometimes slowly pop-in when new environments load, and the camera sometimes gets stuck while in cover. There is plenty of potential here, but this game needed a lot more baking.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about the depiction of sex in video games. In most cases, scenes involving an act of sex involve no interaction and are not part of the game but rather a facet of the narrative. Does that make them completely superfluous in an interactive medium? Or do they serve a worthwhile and valuable narrative purpose for adult players?
Families can also discuss games that allow players to mold their characters through complex dialogue trees. When given the option, do you make decisions you think you would make if you were in that situation? Or do you try to be meaner -- or perhaps more gallant -- than you would be in real life? What prompts you to these decisions?
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AGE
Good, but bad
Good game includes violence, sex and swearing but not TOO bad. A good messages because of the decisions you make
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AGE
17 or up!!
It is M.It has a lot of bad stuff in it like it is violent,and has sex!17 or up,that is it.It is pretty fun,but not realllllllly fun.
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AGE
the mesage is very hart warming to me and brings me goy
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AGE
This game has been rated "M" by the ESRB,It may contain:Blood,Intense Violence,And Strong Language,This game is only for ages 17 and older
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AGE
most of the sex is an choices made by the player and no that much blood
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Kid, 12 years old
January 26, 2011
AGE
Stupid spy game that isn't worth it!
This game is really boring and pretty darn stupid. It has lots of sex, plenty of graphic violence, drugs, and awful role models. I beat it super fast to so in a way I don't even think it is quite worth it. The only thing I like about this game is that you can make decisions which may change gamplay!
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AGE
Violence, Sex and Language
As no one has given an in depth review of this game I thought I'd give you guys one.
Alpha Protocol is themed violent because of being a spy, Which automatically suggests its going to be a pretty violent game. There is blood when you shoot but its not gore like exploding and going into fits. You just shoot them, a bit of blood and then they drop dead. Having the ability to break necks and hear the crack isn't really that good for kids either. Some small puddles of blood and a lot of hand to hand combat, some of which are pretty violent but with no blood. The sexual content is suggestive rather than visual. You have people lying on a bed and then the lights go out, So you can really guess what happens next. But none of it is visual. The language is going to occur in this obviously and you do have the main swear words but fortunately not that frequent. Also there is a slight drugs theme with someone snorting cocaine. Quite mature if you ask me.
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AGE
Just slightly worse than Call of duty or Battlefield.
I got this when I was 12 but I still wouldn't recommend it to anyone under 14.There is lots of shooting,hand to hand combat and some stabbing.And you can also break enemies necks complete with loud snapping sounds,This is not something for Tweens or immature children but if your children can handle Call of duty,try letting him to move on to the next stage:Alpha Protocol before moving on to games like Halo or Left 4 Dead,then GTA then games like Dead Space then games like Manhunt which are extremely gory then finally AO rated games then......Need I go on?
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| Platforms: | Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Windows |
| Available online? | Not available online |
| Genre: | Third-person shooter |
| Developer: | Sega of America |
| Release date: | June 1, 2010 |
| Price: | $59.99 |
| ESRB rating: | M for Blood, Drug Reference, Intense Violence, Sexual Content, Strong Language |
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