Prototype Official Guide / Primer / Blog 02/06
Part 02: ATTACK and OBFUSCATE: Upgrades Primer
The Upgrades chapter gives blow-by-blow accounts of your greatest attacks, such as this second hit from a Claws Combo chain.
Upgrade Powers such as the Whipfist introduce longer-ranged attacks, which can be useful when you're hoping for a ride from a helicopter.
Surf conditions are currently bloody, with a slight chance of disembowelment: The Body Surf is both entertaining and gruesome.
Part of the excitement of Prototype is rampaging through the streets, throttling the Infected, crushing skulls, and beating down anything that moves with a variety of sharp sinewy mutations and blackened tendrils. With this in mind, I went about this gigantic chapter (filled with close to 500 screenshots) by comprehensively benchtesting every single move in the game. This allowed me to separate every single one of Alex Mercer’s moves, and write about their effectiveness, either for combat or maneuvering. The results are a thorough and exciting romp through Alex’s madcap techniques, but never confusing, as the information is presented exactly as it is read in the in-game menus. Alex has a variety of Upgrade types at his disposal, and spending Evolution Points on the right ones is the key to ultimate enjoyment of the game.
By far the most deadly of Alex’s Upgrades are his Powers; if you’ve seen video of Alex tearing through enemies using a prehensile blade fused to his arm, you’ll have seen a Power at work. After a chart showing exactly when in your adventure each Power becomes available (and its cost), every one of the Power’s techniques receives attention, taking the form of a moves list like a fighting game guide. For example, with Alex’s Blade Power, all of the techniques he can muster, such as Blade Combo Chains, the Air Slice, the Blade Frenzy, and the special Consume animations he does when grabbing a victim are shown, with a screenshot for each hit in a Combo, or each technique itself. Then comes a Tactical Overview; essentially running through every particular technique and its effectiveness, along with when to use it in a combat situation.
The Blade, Claws, Shield, Armor, Hammerfist, Whipfist, Musclemass, and Sensory Powers all receive this meticulous going-over. Then comes Movement Upgrades, which are techniques that allow you to leap and glide from building to building without touching the ground, Diverolling to avoid ground attacks, Sprinting increases, and Jumping upgrades. Then comes information on Survivability Upgrades, increasing your Critical Mass, Health, and Regeneration. All of this sounds confusing, but the guide shines a light on the exact techniques to cherry-pick and use first, and which to save for a later purchase.
There are normal Combat Upgrades too. This provides a host of additional offensive moves to your arsenal, including the disgusting Body Surf, the always-helpful Flying Kick, and crowd-clearing ground pounding such as the Bulletdive Drop. Next comes Area Effect attacks, which include Devastator attacks; the strongest and most impressive offensive skewering available. Next are Disguise Upgrades, allowing you to quicken your Consuming, or even attempt Stealth Consumes without anyone spotting you. There’s even information on calling in massive Artillery Strike firepower, and fooling the enemy with a Patsy move.
The final sets of Upgrades to learn are those involving Vehicles; you’ll learn how to hijack a Tank, skyjack a helicopter, and learn the techniques needed to reach an airborne chopper to maximize your maneuverability. There are Upgrades to increase your effectiveness inside vehicles, and finally, a series of Upgrades for using the Military’s array of weapons, from Missile Launchers to Assault Rifles. Emerge from this chapter fully capable to challenge the most fearsome (and not to mention, mutated) foes!
The mutated foes in question are alluded to in Blog 03, which shows off the guide’s entities, from the shambling to the shredding, and including frightened humans as well as frightening and many-tendrilled beasts. Check back here for the information.
Purchase The Prototype: Prima Official Game Guide from here.
