I think it works in this one. It keeps the conversation flowing, and you have to decide rather quickly what to say. Like in real life :)

Well if you want to put it that way... ;)

Specifically, I might have minded it less had they been specific rather than just having "Professional" or "Aggressive" (the latter often doesn't sound aggressive enough and overlaps with other choices)
The problem is that in real life, your thoughts flash through your head quickly. You don't look at 3 choices and slowly consider what they entail, if you catch my drift. More realistically when speaking, you tend to subconsciously stall here and there. Besides, your course of action can easily be professional and suave. Or in Jack Bauer's case, aggressive and professional.

I usually hate a timed response in RPGs. In this case, however, I found I didn't mind it. The game seemed to work well with it. For me, at least.

Just finished the first mission (airport tower bug) and i like it. It is 'obsidian clunky'(TM), but not bad.

The entire point of the dialog being timed is that it is a series of flowing conversations, a lot of them without the player being in control of the situation, and of course to add a sense of urgency. Once again, the most tense segment of the game is for me the conversation with Marburg in Rome. Damn. You need to have Madison killed and find out she is related to him. He will flip out, and Marburg being Marburg, he will murder the shit out of him.
On the other hand, getting Marburg and Parker's full dossiers leads you to realize just what happened to him, what Deus Vult was, and who was responsible of betraying Marburg. Shit. Now I want to play it again, haha.

The game had it's problems but I enjoyed it. A much improved sequel would be awesome though I know it won't happen.

We can always try to make a petition for the AP2 :)

(I know, it's useless..)

Not under SEGA, but Obsidian owns the IP so there is always a REMOTE chance.

Also: HECK!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0qSPTnozsfU

Loved Alpha Protocol. Very similar to Deus Ex, just less freedom. Never had issues with any bugs or performance issues.

I got this game for free in a pcworld download store promotion - not tried it yet because been put off somewhat by all the negative reviews.

Might just give it a go after whats been said here - once ive finished Mass Effect 2, Witcher 2, Fallout New Vegas, etc etc.....;o)

As other folks are mentioning, one of the main thing the game suffers from is lack of polish. Obsidian, unfortunately, does have a reputation for getting stuff out the door before it's a hundred percent done. Or even like 90% done, or maybe even 80% done. Whatever the case, there's just some bits that feel clunky. I can't put my finger on what, exactly, it's just an overall sense I got while playing the game.

That being said, though, if you can ignore that, there's a lot to like about it, especially if you're a fan of the spy/thriller genre. (Which I am.) The game has an interesting cast of characters. Creepy professional superspy types, the deadly ingenue, the brash, homicidal loudmouth (both male and female varieties,) Macchiavellian businessmen, your typical damsel in distress. And of course, a raving Coke fiend whose mansion is glitzed up like an 80s movie.

The plot suffers a little bit at times from writing that could afford a little tightening up, but again, if you can overlook that, too, it's still a good yarn.

This. I loved it to bits. Some parts were very annoying (failing a mission because a critical person had gotten shot for example. God knows how many times...), but I really enjoyed it.

Really started to get the hots for Michael Thorton by the end. Sexy bugger. Had to keep reminding myself he was just made out polygons. >_>

And yeah, I never experienced any bugs or performance issues either. Played the 360 version. Maybe that version was slightly more polished? Who knows.

That's me with Triss from The Witcher 2.

I played on PC. Was fine.

This is for anyone who has/can make a gamersgate account.

I will gift two copies of Alpha Protocol, first come first serve. Let me know in this thread. I will then PM you and ask your email (it's needed for the gift). This offer is valid for 6 hrs (until the daily deal for the game ends)

But there is a catch. You must try it, and then let us know, in this thread, whether you liked it or not :)

We'd have to agree to disagree then ;)

BTW I also feel compelled to reinstall the game just to try out for some of the different endings. I was quite taken aback when I learned you can join Halbech and just backstab the shit out of everyone. That's a very nice act of C&C.

I also have another question regarding Mina. When she betrayed you, she launched the first missile strike that caused you to go rogue. I'm confused. Isnt' there only one missile strike, the one that had 3 incoming missiles?