Maker: Activision.
Platforms: Reviewed on Xbox 360. Also available for PS3, PC.
Hits: Prototype 2's is mostly fun in its free roaming ability. Mutations give Heller unmatched speed and agility which you will use often as you bound from rooftop to rooftop in the chaotic New York area. I also found myself spending the majority of my time doing side quests where Heller hunts down people of interest and "consumes" them, a cornerstone of the series. Consuming targets allows you to see the target's memories and use them as clues for your next hunt. The game's stream of side quests and rewarding upgrades you receive along the way make for a very addictive gameplay that draws on the player's lust for power, just as the virus did for Mercer.
Misses: As much as I enjoy the mobility and openness of the game, the all too frequent occasions when you must do battle indoors throws the flow off completely. Your talents and abilities, as well as the camera, are made for open environments. When you are stuck in a room, even the simplest task of jumping turns you into and erratic beach ball bouncing between wall, floor and ceiling as you try to regain your focus on the enemy.
By the same token, the controls and their response both have the potential of great wonder and great disappointment. If you aren't careful how you aim yourself while running or jumping, you will most likely end up going wildly off course, which was very similar to the problem I had with the Assassin's Creed games.
The final issue I had was not really with the game but the execution of the story. It was not hard for me to find awe in Mercer's almost godlike power and feel sympathy for Heller's tragic past, but the story and its pacing seem to distance you from them. As funny as it is to say, I found this to be a rare case where the characters and the concept were bigger than the entire game. by matthew crowson
Content Rating: Mature.
Recommendation: I remember putting Prototype down and never wanting to play it again, but now with this release I feel the urge to go and make another attempt at it. Despite its downfalls, Prototype 2 has surprised me. I was expecting little from it, but after these last few days of consuming and destruction, the Mercer virus has infected me as well.
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