Superheroes have come a long way since the development of video games, but in a new dawn of exciting graphics and ground-breaking technology, a new hero has emerged.

The anti-hero has been hacking and slashing its way onto our little screens recently, with the release of 'Prototype', where the player will be able to roam an open world, while fighting off evil.

In 'Prototype', the player assumes the role of Alex Mercer, a man who finds himself at the receiving end of an infectious virus. After the spread of the virus, Mercer finds himself in a morgue with no recollection of what happened. He then sets off to discover the truth, and along with it, his newly-found super powers.

During the tutorial mission, players will be able to see the full extent of Alex's powers, but as the game progress, the player will have to upgrade their powers to reach the same level of force.

As mentioned before, it takes place in an open-world New York City, so Alex can pretty much go wherever he pleases. As part of his supernatural arsenal, Alex can also run faster than the average man and he also has the ability to scale sheer buildings. Jumping is also no problem as he can leap hundreds of metres in one go.

But jumping and running aren't the only things that make him cool. Various abilities can be purchased, and although it isn't necessary to buy them all, it sure is nifty. His primary ability is to shape shift, which means that he can assume the form of anybody. By the simple press of a button, Alex will consume his target and transform into that disguise.

With his shape-shifting ability comes the trick of transforming parts of his body into deadly weapons. Just like a modern Wolverine, Alex can turn his hands into dangerous blades, which makes chopping so much easier. His arm can also be extended into a Bio-whip, which is good for clearing an area with lots of enemies.

The 'Ground Spike' is also one of Alex's most dangerous weapons, where he tunnels spikes through the ground and cause them to pop up directly underneath his enemy. This makes for a rather painful sosatie.

But it's not all blood and guts, as Alex can take a bit of a break too. If the action is getting too much, Alex can complete his current mission and enter 'Free Roam' mode. In this mode, the player can explore the city and also tackle some side-missions. Various side missions will test every ability, and a nice reward will be given if completed successfully.

'Prototype' has been one of the most anticipated games of the year, and although it's a good title, it might not be remembered when 'Modern Warfare 2' and 'Bad Company 2' come around. It's a good action title, with some awesome super powers, but it might just lack that something special to keep players hooked.

Even though Alex has to uncover what happened to him and his family through some great cut-scenes, and also fight the military in the process, the gameplay can become monotonous at times. It might seem as though the same mission is being fought over and over, just with varying enemies.

With that said, it is a great action title. The graphics are of the usual high standard and the character development is smooth, but also leaves a space for the player to draw their own conclusion. The action is fast-paced and intense, which will have the player sitting on the edge of their seat during many missions.

If you love high-powered action, with some really cool supernatural moves thrown into the mix, this title is definitely for you. It's also not for the faint-of-heart, as blood and guts will be the order of the day. With a side plate of chips.

EntertainmentAfrica.com

Buy this game: PS3 | Xbox 360 | PC

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