Prototype 2 Details Include Underground Lairs And Chambers

Design director at Radical Entertainment, Matt Armstrong, released a bit of information on Prototype 2 at EGM. Armstrong mentioned that James Heller will be able to upgrade abilities and weapons in the upcoming Prototype title for 2012. Radical has said that the idea to change how Heller learns and mutates abilities has nothing to do with the removal of the Move Store.

In Prototype 2, players will now be able to learn and upgrade abilities in underground lairs and from enemies, something that makes the game a lot more real. Playing through offers better abilities and growth for the main character.

Apparently the reason behind the change was after Radical shipped the first game and Armstrong played it through. He just finished annihilating the first boss, where 21 new abilities were magically unlocked.

“My heart just sank,” he told EGM. “I just couldn’t believe we actually shipped with that. I cannot image there was a single player, even the most obsessive-compulsive player in the world, who would sit there and read through the descriptions for 21 different abilities and then figure out which one actually had the most value to them, let alone be able to apply it coherently within the game.”

And because of the whole maximum-abilities-unlocked, Radical decided that lairs would be one way to gain abilities, where underground chambers would offer collectibles. Players will be able to find these spots on the map through various call signs, like, light leaking upwards from the ground. Once found, Heller will be able to lift the debris on the ground to enter the lair. Once in the lair, Heller will be able to upgrade powers and abilities after he consumed whatever is available.

Another upgrade for Prototype 2 is the ability for Heller to “ping” his surroundings. Basically, the ping will allow Heller to find enemies as their position will be pointed out. With the addition of this ability, Armstrong said that the game will slow down from its hectic pace, just for a few minutes.

Lastly, perks will be available through Black Net sets. Once a lair is completed, mutation will be earned and players will be able to put these in their own slots. For the perk system, you will apparently need to choose what to use wisely, as there’s limited space and each perk offers different attributes.

“You are always going to have more mutations than you have slots for, so you are going to have to make value judgments,” said Armstrong.