The mini games.

[zazei]

While I read a lot of complaints on how hard the hacking mini game can be I would like to ask why none ever mention the real challanging mini game in AP. I'm talking about the one we have to do when cracking keypads on doors or breaking Alarms. I have Alpha Protocol on PC and some of the later ones on hard for the pipe line mini game include up to 11-12 lines to find in about 18-20 seconds. I don't think I ever managed one of those on the first try or managed to do any of the ones with 12 at all. Honestly can anyone do these without several attempts or a EMP?

 

I abused EMP's quite a lot toward the end of the game but still beyond a few insane examples on hard I personally find all the mini games interesting and somewhat fun. Mostly since they are almost always a challange and besides normal locks that was quite easy I was never 100% certain I would would make it. I wonder though if there is a system to it. The mini games doesn't always seem to follow the rule to just get harder the futher into the game I got. Some normal doors on the later levels just had 3 or so things to crack while others had 6 and some keypads had 6 while others had 12. I think what made me most afraid to try them on my own toward the end of the game was the risk of running into one of those I can't do on my own without knowing in advance how challanging this one would be.

 

Still it's part of the charm really. I think AP is rather rare in the regard that I was always a bit uncertain if I could manage a mini-game or not. In most games they are rather easy and while I don't always manage to do them 100% of the time I manage it well enough to always asume I can do it. In AP it's far more uncertain and I rather like it.

Edited June 8, 2010 by zazei

[Orchomene]

So far, it seems to me that the the mini games are harder for non essential elements in the mission, like obtaining dossiers or cash. I do also abuse of EMP grenades more and more, up to the point to now carry 12 grenades per mission.

What is also difficult is that there is nothing very helpful between level 2 and level 14 in sabotage. Equipment wise, there is also the possibility to use integrated circuitry with your armor.

Nice to have a perk to allow you to carry more EMP, because if you want to be stealthy, triggering an alarm doesn't help.

[Spiked]

The mini games are a great contribution to the gameplay once you get used to them. Sure, the controls are wonky, and you probably won't figure out on your first playhtrough that you should put those 6 AP points in sabotage, but after you do, they are a blast! I especially like hacking, because no matter how good you are at it, no matter how many of them you finished, if you are not really focused once the game starts, your screwed, and then the alarm stars, and then you have to reload because it screwed up your stealthy approach. Awesome stuff, really adds a lot to the tension.

 

And they are also great as a mini representation of stuff like hacking and bypassing, they are actually believable, unlike mini games in Mass effect.

 

So yeah, love them.

[Orchomene]

Well, with lockpick, I can manage almost half the time, which is quite challenging at a reasonnable level (I'm fully equiped with the armor mod and have 2 in Sabotage).

On the other hand, the hacking is just too difficult with less than 5 seconds of refresh. Without a lot of luck (having the keyboard control part not too far), it's impossible to solve it because of the time it takes to move this part.

Then, the electronic devices are somewhat impossible near the end if you have less than 20 seconds and 12 "labyrinth path" to select.

But at least there are technical ways to bypass it and it sufficient. I would have hate to be blocked in the game because I can't solve a mini game.

 

Now, to the concept of mini game, I don't specifically like it. I buy a RPG, I don't buy Tetris or any casual game. If I want to play mini games, I can find tons of flash games. There is just no real interest for me.

[Jackalmonkey]

Item 3 of this list puts it pretty well, I think:

But the minigames in Alpha Protocol are varied and fit neatly into the concept of spying. They include pattern recognition, trigger button finessing, and a reverse maze game to represent hacking, lock picking, and rewiring. They're almost always optional. What's more, you can change their difficulty based on your character's skills and the gear you equip.

And given that you can bypass any minigame by way of spending a single common resource, the EMP grenade (or, for alarms specifically, by using the radio mimic), you can opt out of the gameplay if it doesn't suit you. It's smart design all over the place.