I like stat-building and dialogue trees and dynamic storylines. I’m more excited by games like Dragon Age than Call of Duty. Alpha Protocol seeks to balance action and RPG elements and if, like me, you have a strong preference for one over the other, it will have a real impact on how much you enjoy the game.

You are Michael Thorton. As a new agent of the US government’s Alpha Protocol initiative, you’re charged with eliminating threats to the United States and arranging world affairs in its favour. Your career begins with you tracing the source of a missile attack on an American airliner and you head to the Middle East to shoot, sneak or fist-fight your way to the truth. You’ll encounter a range of shady individuals and organisations, including Halbech (read: Halliburton), a company seemingly arranging war for profit.

RPG fans: Each mission begins with a conversation in which you can be aggressive professional or suave. You can vary your responses as you wish but be aware that what you say impacts on how you are perceived. These sequences really work. They encourage you to manage your relationships effectively which can result in you receiving stat bonuses, gaining access to information dossiers and unlocking certain storyline elements. Convincing an NPC to assist you (or alternatively, to stay the hell out of your way) can mean the difference between success and failure.

Shooter fans: Combat sucks. There, I said it. Each mission requires you to avoid being spotted by guard or camera as much as possible. Detection often feels entirely arbitrary rather than a result of the way you’re moving through the level. Once the alarm has been tripped, armed goons rush your position. The AI is poor. Enemies repeat actions over and over and actually seem intent on being shot by you. I even had an enemy soldier climb a ladder as I was beating on him only to have him suddenly come back down the ladder so I could finish the job. You can choose from a variety of typical guns, but the rifle is by far the most effective, although it takes a long time to aim. In fact, most of the firearms are frustratingly inaccurate, particularly at the outset.

RPG fans: Don’t stress about the above as you can upgrade your character during the game to the point of virtual invincibility. During some missions, I actually avoided certain attack patterns because they resulted in easy kills every single time. In others, I convinced NPCs to take the lead. The good news is that character customisation allows to you approach the game in different ways. For instance, cracking safes and hacking computers is a breeze if the right skills are upgraded and near impossible if not. Each skill can be enhanced to provide special abilities and reinforce your style of play. Whether you’re a stealth and sabotage specialist, a technical wiz or a martial artist, Alpha Protocol will cater to you.

The game features three mission hubs (Taiwan, Russia and Italy). Each requires you to select and complete objectives in the lead up to the final hub mission, which invariably demands that you make a difficult choice. Should I rescue someone I know or save a group of strangers? Should I protect the president or prevent a riot? Characters you meet actually reference your actions throughout these missions.

Graphically the game is average, with overall detail lacking and environments merely serviceable. The cut scenes work best when propelling the story, which is genuinely compelling. For the most part, the voice actors do a good job of bringing the characters to life. Unfortunately, the one exception is David Vincent as (you guessed it) Michael Thorton.

My experience was immeasurably enhanced by the knowledge that my actions were having a real impact on the story. I varied my decision making during a full second play through and I was rewarded with multiple variations in plot and gameplay. Alpha Protocol excels in story, character and customisation. Give it a go if you’re an RPG fan. Stay away if you need a competent shooter.