Alpha Protocol (Xbox 360)

Pros: 1. dialogue choices decide how other characters in the game behave towards you
2. actions taken during gameplay influences how the story develops
3. your combat style can be customized
4. it is set in the real world
5. it has a very high replay value

Cons: The game ending was not as epic as I expected

Summary: Alpha Protocol is a spy-themed RPG where you play an agent recruited into a secret organization.

The game is linear but the missions can be completed in a number of ways depending on you tactical approach and how you have levelled your character. At the end of most missions you are forced to make a moral or strategic choice that influences how the rest of the game develops.

The skills your character starts with, such as shooting accuracy, are not that great but this is what levelling is for. You can also modify your weapons until they have the characteristics you want. Accuracy also relies on common sense, you need to crouch and shoot from cover for the best result. As in all RPGs you can't be good at everything, you can only max out 3 or 4 out of the 9 skill trees.

The AI will react to sight and noise, and you can actually customize your armor to be more silent. There are few enemy AI glitches in the game, the AI is very good and responsive.
The AI characters will even evaluate your dialogue choices against your actions, calling your bluff if what you say is not in accordance with how you have acted.

Alpha Protocol is a highly underrated RPG. It gives people like me, who are not that interested in magic and elves, an excellent alternative. We need more RPGs that are set in the real world.

The game also has a high replay value; as soon as I completed my first playthrough I was already planning the next one: choosing different answers in dialogues, different strategic gameplay choices, different combat customizations, and using different gear.