NowGamer takes a look at Sega's sneaky spy RPG Alpha Protocol

Alpha Protocol has come a long way since we last saw the game during E3 2008. While we always had confidence in the ability of Obsidian Entertainment to deliver a solid RPG experience – these are the guys who created Fallout and Planescape Torment after all – previous demos of the espionage-themed RPG left a lot to be desired. But a new E3 brings a new build, and a vastly improved set of expectations.

Unlike genre stablemates such as Mass Effect and Fallout 3, Alpha Protocol operates on a hub system. The protagonist Michael Thornton is a super spy in hiding, who works out of a secret underground base. From this base area you can interact with NPC characters via email, dress Thornton up in a variety of disguises to suit each mission, buy, sell and upgrade weapons, select missions, and review intelligence reports on individuals in the game. These intelligence reports are important, as dialogue and conversation plays a large role in Alpha Protocol, frequently determining what missions Thornton can access, and what bonuses he can glean.

For instance, in one mission demoed to us, Thornton met a tough female Russian PMC leader, who is a bit of kinky sadist, and likes aggressive behaviour. By manipulating her with the right responses during conversation, Thornton was able to recruit her to provide fire support while he thwarted a gun smuggling cartel. During conversations in Alpha Protocol, a ticking timer forces you to select dialogue options quickly, making NPC interaction a far more fast-paced and engaging activity than in most RPGs.

But it’s not all chit-chat. Obsidian is bringing an in-depth action combat system to the table that blends skill-based shooting, with tactical RPGn planning and decision making. You can upgrade weapons with Mods, to increasing things like accuracy and damage, and you can gain special moves and general weapon proficiency by spending points gained via Exp. The exp system looks incredibly similar to Mass Effect’s, with each skill tree harbouring special moves that are unlocked when a certain amount of points are spent in them.

Alpha Protocol is still a little rough around the edges. Animations are a bit rigid, and enemy AI looks like it needs some work. But our overall impressions of our presentation were very positive, and there are a lot of cool new ideas in the game, especially with the cinematic approach to dialogue. Definitely one to keep an eye on.