GameCyte

One expects to see a number of prototypes at CES, but how many of them can run up the side of a building, hijack a helicopter, and physically consume a human being? Alex, the protagonist of Activision's "Prototype," was busy doing all of these things when we sat down for a preview last week.

Developed by Radical Entertainment, "Prototype" tells a story which has, for the most part, yet to be revealed: Alex, the game's (anti-)hero, wakes up on a slab in a Manhattan morgue, and finds he has inexplicably gained superhuman powers. Beyond the ability to hurl cars, glide between skyscrapers, and kill people in terrifying ways, Alex can physically absorb other characters in the game. This allows him to assume their physical appearance, make use of their various skills (e.g., flying helicopters or driving tanks), and access their personal memories. It is through these memories that Alex will piece together what has happened to him -- and to the entire city.

One hopes Alex discovers these answers quickly, because "Prototype's" Manhattan is not a very normal place. Say what you will about New York City, but even on its worst days it isn't usually the site of a full-scale war between heavily-armed military forces and hordes of super-powered humanoid creatures. While Radical assured us that the game starts out with a relatively sane setting, the scene we witnessed was anything but: Total chaos reigned on all sides, with screams, sirens, explosions, gunfire, and nonstop carnage for Alex to run and fight his way through. The overall effect was somewhere between "State of Emergency," "Mercenaries," and "Spider-Man."

Even after all hell breaks loose in "Prototype," however, there will be ways for Alex to avoid a constant fight for survival. Thanks to his aforementioned absorption/disguise powers, Alex can, for instance, assume the shape of military personnel, and walk freely and calmly through the army-controlled zones, unmolested. Of course, if he starts attacking other soldiers or climbing up buildings all bets are off.

As Alex makes his way across Manhattan searching for clues, he will have plenty of activities to keep himself occupied. Beyond the story-centric missions, called "Web of Intrigue" points, Alex can also undertake "Event" missions for fun and profit. Alex might find himself commandeering a tank with an objective to kill a few hundred Infected within two minutes. Radical also confirmed that these side missions will grant Alex the "Evolution Points" he needs to unlock new super-powers, allowing players a way to progress their characters without being rigidly locked into the story, for added open-world freedom.

The environment will also not be "gated," promised Radical; the entire island of Manhattan will be available to explore from the start. While the map may not be a 1-to-1 replica of the New York borough, Radical has produced a fairly realistic replica, having researched the island through "thousands" of photos, and hours of video.

It sure matched my memories of the last full-scale biological apocalypse I saw in Manhattan.