HoonDing

I agree it's a good game, and if the hacking minigame controls + fractured subtitles will get patched, it will become a great game. Some of the skills may be unrealistic (frankly I don't understand how some reviews say that pistols suck... Chain Shot is teh awesome), but they're definitely more fun than Mass Effect's spamming of magic missiles every 5 seconds. I think that's more a case of horribad facial animations, honestly. Otherwise she looks an awful lot like Yvonne Strahovski.

A big reason for why I'm running out of time with dialogues is because for some inexplicable reason, subtitles do not appear on screen in complete sentences, but are fractured. This makes it harder for someone with bad English skills. Chain Shot FTW.

Know what, these *****ing minigames are the worst I have ever come across in any game. Hacking makes even the one from Fallout 3 seem like fun. I don't know how I even managed to pass the one in the tutorial... the block on the right moves by itself, for crying out loud. Hilarious. As for dialogue stances, by the time I'm ready to go and pick something, I'm usually out of time. I don't want to be rushed into doing things, dammit.

I think that's partly the point of OP. While fun, the game feels more like it was developed by an Eastern European independent developer rather than an overseas developer supported by a large publisher. That is perhaps why the European reviews are so positive compared to overseas ones: European reviewers are more used to lesser production values. If Alpha Protocol was developed by, say, Cypron Studios, Gamespot would've probably given a 3.0 score.

In before Mass Effect/Fallout 3/Dragon Age has even worse AI/graphics/animations/combat. Seriously, OP is spot on about the hacking minigame. Maybe it's my mouse, but it took me half an hour to even pass the one in the tutorial. I also dislike the main protagonist's voice-over... even worse than Mark Meer.

Win indeed. Bethesda should've hired more renowned game voice actors instead of Hollywood celebrities (save of course, Ron Perlman). Maybe even use some BioWare voice actors like Jennifer Hale, Mark Meer or Raphael Sbarge, just for lulz. It would have allowed them at least to use more money to buy better monkeys for their typewriters.

Viconia's reaction to sleeping with the hag is superb. Her romance really is the only good one BioWare's ever written. Anyone know who wrote it?

At least one can be sure New Vegas won't have the same management problems. Bethesda surely keeps a tight leash with regular project briefings and reports to the Toddster.

At least one can be sure Fallout: New Vegas will be an overwhelming success. Bethesda's backing & name on the box guarantees it. Heck, even a total train-wreck like Rogue Warrior somehow became a cult game (courtesy of F-bombs every 5 seconds).

There is no way Gamespot & IGN will shamelessly tear apart AP. Obsidian is a respected developer in those parts.

If BG2 were made in the present day, I bet there'd be a gratuitous threesome with Viconia thrown in for good measure. R00fles!

With a media fully controlled by the State & spouting propaganda 24/7, they're all hopelessly brainwashed. They're led to believe the outside world is evil and out to get them, similar to '50s Soviet Union. Invading such a country might even trigger the population into full guerilla mode.

Strangely enough this review extravaganza takes me back to Neverend

It's almost as if the Destructoid reviewer missed a deadline, and then quickly copy-pasted a Rogue Warrior review and changed the names.

European reviewers seem to fixate less on technical issues & look more at the overall package. It was the same story with games like Risen & Divinity II.

I hope those Robot thingies in FO:NV will be voiced by the person that did the Mr Gutsy's. Those things were hilarious. I came across Sergeant RL-3 all the way near Republic of Dave once. No idea how the bugger even managed to get there.

Irenicus is driven purely by petty vengeance for something that is his own stupid fault. He's... pathetic. Sarevok & Melissan were both crafty, and their plans failed only by a hair. I like 'em much better.

No, really

Well, I picked up the game anyway. \o/ Seriously, **** those reviews.

Meh, I don't think Irenicus is THAT good as a villain. To be honest I've quite a lot of difficulties in finding a credible WRPG villain.. Kreia was a good character, but she fell flat as a villain in the end, Irenicus has a great build-up but I never felt he was interesting enough as a villain , The Master, considering the structure of Fallout, feels a bit tacked-on at the end, and while the Enclave has a better build-up they feel a bit flat and uninteresting as villains (they fit nicely in the setting though) and I could go on... It's because of the excellent voice actor. If not for this, he would be as memorable as the Lizard Queen from NWN. He's basically a major idiot for thinking a mortal could force himself into the Seldarine, somehow thinking Corellon Larethian would accept it, and giving up the love of his life (a hawt Elven Queen) for it. It's crap writing that an archmage isn't familiar with basic D&D lore.

I think I'll wait buying the game until a few patches are out. I'm playing some other games atm anyway.

Which quest?

^I had a similar experience with the Dungeon siege flick. I had a similar experience with the Dungeon siege flick. The action scenes are entertaining enough & Jason Statham kicks enough ass through it. And there's Claire Forlani.

Gamespot gave NWN2 a 8.6 even though it was a buggy mess on release. "Neverwinter Nights 2 isn't without some technical issues, but the engaging, dynamic story and proven D & D framework make it an RPG that shouldn't be missed. " Regardless of D&D, I can't see why the above wouldn't apply to AP... is it because the game is multi-platform? EDIT: of course, maybe they take into account the fact that the game was delayed for a considerable time... not to mention perhaps they are less willing to give the benefit of the doubt, after two previous buggy titles.

Maybe they should speak with a fake Italian or French accent, huh? At least it isn't so blatantly obvious as in Oblivion (except for the elderly people). I noticed only after a few playthroughs that for instance Star Paladin Cross & Reilly have the same voice actress. And at least plot important characters (Sarah Lyons, Dr Li, Dad, Three Dog, Amata) have unique voices. Overview: Beatrice Armstrong: Reilly / Star Paladin Cross / Victoria Watts Karen Carbone: Catherine (Mother) / Moira Brown / Red / Suzie Mack Mike Rosson: Colin Moriarty / Doctor Lesko / Charon / Gob / Roy Phillips / Male Ghouls (Argonians in Morrowind/Oblivion) Craig Sechler: Butch DeLoria / Harkness / Billy Creel / Crazy Wolfgang / Sticky / Andy Stahl / Sergeant Bejamin Montgomery (Operation Anchorage) / Male Talon Company merceneries (Dunmer/Bosmer/Altmer in Oblivion) James Lewis: Mr. Brotch / Jericho / Eulogy Jones / Smiling Jack / Captain Ishmael Ashur - The Pitt / Male Raiders Wes Johnson: Mr. Burke / Fawkes / Uncle Leo / Scribe Bigsley / Super Mutants / Protectron / Sentry Bot / Tracker Yokels - Point Lookout Jan Johns: Lucy West / Clover / Sierra Petrovita Duncan Hood: Overseer Alphonse Almodovar / Dukov / Scribe Reginald Rothchild