prototype(video game)

The plot of Prototype centers on a large conspiracy regarding an unnamed mutagenic virus currently infecting New York City. The effects of the virus have been witnessed before in the town of Hope, Idaho in 1971. After being released in Penn Station in New York, the virus spreads through the city, necessitating at first subtle government actions to combat it, then martial law and evacuation. Alex wakes up with heavy amnesia in a morgue under the scalpels of two HAZMAT-suited scientists and escapes dazed into the city. He then begins to come to terms with his powers (including the ability to absorb memories - which is crucial to piecing together his own), and makes contact with his sister, Dana Mercer. Dana assists him in finding members of the conspiracy, which include government officials, military personnel and employees of bio-engineering firm GENTEK, where it is revealed Alex was previously employed.

Alex encounters several characters, not all of which have currently been revealed. His primary physical antagonist is the Specialist, leader of the Blackwatch special forces branch of the US military. Other characters include Karen Parker, a researcher at GENTEK and Alex's former girlfriend, Dr. McMullen, head of GENTEK, and Dr Ragland, a pathologist that assists Alex and studies the infected.

As Alex adds more and more nodes to the Web of Intrigue (by consuming people's minds), the virus begins to spread further and further through New York, and the military is forced to step up operations in order to prevent spreading further. The city is evacuated, quarantined and placed under martial law as the military moves in with a full-scale lockdown with tanks, infantry and air support. The virus grows stronger and stronger, mutating citizens of New York into various monstrous forms. As the conflict begins to consume the city Alex's actions will play a part in deciding the course of the battle and perhaps the ultimate victor. As the game features non-linear sandbox play, the player is free to explore the city with Alex's superhuman agility through the course of the game. Steve Mele, Art Production Manager of Radical Entertainment, said in a blog "Speaking of exploring, I know there is a severed human leg on a rooftop somewhere in the city which initiates a side-story when found



Alex's primary power is that of shapeshifting: He can control his mass, transforming himself into an arsenal of deadly weapons, like a five foot long blade-arm which releases a quarry of swift attacks, being able to cut steel and chop flesh, five pairs of razor sharp claws, which can be charged up for a "ground spike" attack, in which Alex can send his biomass tunneling underground and spray out into deadly spikes, and a sharp bio-whip that can stretch up to 50 feet and bisect, slice, and stab enemies from afar and is also useful in jacking military vehicles. He can also concentrate his bio-mass into his arms which increases his punches and makes him capable of lifting objects heavier than a car, and can concentrate up to 700 pounds of bio-mass into his arms and hands, transforming them into huge rock-hard clubs that are able to crush concrete and powder bone. Alex can also shapeshift his biomass into defensive forms, like a rudimentary shield that goes from the side of his back to his forearm, and can cover up to three quarters of his body, protecting him from oncoming bullets. He also has an armored form, which covers his whole body with three thick layers of hardened bullet-proof biomass, giving him a compact, tank-like humanoid form; while he is slower in this form and cannot employ his signature parkour, he is dense enough to simply plow through most obstacles.

The fuel for these transformations is the biomass of fallen enemies that Alex absorbs in quick, graphic cutscenes. After killing a foe, the distinctive red-black tentacle mass that accompanies all of Alex's powers will burst from his body and drag the victim's form into his, consuming his memories and skills, and appearance along with his flesh. After consuming a foe, Alex can shapeshift to copy their appearance, allowing him to perfectly impersonate them. His powers can also adjust his senses to allow him to see infection or traces of infected, but, with prolonged use, the infected vision can start leeching his health. He can use "Thermal Vision" to see through obscuring smoke and other debris; however, this costs him some range of vision.

In addition to these shapeshifting powers, Alex is extraordinarily fast, agile and strong. He is capable of running at over 100 miles per hour, running up and across the sides of buildings, and jumping hundreds of meters, and moves in a style reminiscent of parkour. Alex is also capable of gliding. He is strong enough to easily grab and throw a car and eventually a tank as a projectile. He is also very durable and heavy, noticeable when he cracks the ground upon landing from great heights. Fire from an M16 assault rifle appears to do minimal damage to his body, but heavier weapons such as mounted machine guns, rockets and tank shells can cause serious damage to him, from which his body heals at a slow rate, but he will quickly regain a larger amount of health by consuming someone, or, by consuming the biomass of infected hunters, he gains a bigger boost of health. However, he can only retain a certain amount of biomass; if he consumes too much he must release it by using a Devastator attack. Even without shapeshifting, Alex still possesses superhuman strength and agility. He can use a variety of kicks and punches, as well as more spectacular, gymnastic moves such as multiple "bouncing" tombstone drops, air combos, or sliding along the ground using an enemy's body as a surfboard.

Alex's most powerful moves are Devastators: huge, area-affecting attacks that use large amounts of biomass. Two Devastators have been seen in preview videos - one is an attack similar to the whipfist that sends dozens of razor-sharp tendrils shooting in every direction from Alex's body to impale or destroy all nearby foes, the second is a variation of the ground-spike attack, in which Alex shoves his biomass into the ground, causing dozens of gigantic pillar-sized spikes to erupt from the ground in an expanding circle around him, either impaling or sending everything above them flying.

Characters

* Alex Mercer

The protagonist. Alex has the ability to modify his genetic code on the fly to produce amazing powers of attack, defense, and perception. He can also easily perform superhuman feats of strength, endurance, speed and agility. Alex was an employee at GENTEK before the "incident" which took place 3 weeks before the start of the game.

* Dana Mercer

Alex's younger sister. She followed in her brother's footsteps and ran away from home at young age to fulfill her dreams. She aids Alex by performing research, aided by her studies in journalism.

* Karen Parker

A GENTEK researcher and Alex's previous love interest from before the incident.

* Dr. Bradley Ragland

The doctor who examined Alex before he first awoke with his powers. He is one of Alex's allies against the infection and an accomplished pathologist. His involvement with the virus, and the entire incident, goes deeper than the surface suggests.

* Dr. Raymond McMullen

The head of research at GENTEK. Little else is currently known about this character.

* The Specialist

Blackwatch's finest. He has dealt with Alex's kind before. Nothing surprises him in biological war. He's seen it all, and is totally merciless. He is well equipped to deal various forms of the infection, including the player character.

* Elizabeth Greene

A name that appears in a document recovered from Alex's laptop. She is currently in isolation at the GENTEK facility in New York City. It is assumed that she has abilities that are similar in nature to Alex's. She appears to be a young girl.