Superhero games have always been fairly tame, violence-wise. This is for the best, as it keeps little Timmy from asking why his favorite costumed crusader ripped a thug into a pile of bloody pieces. Thankfully, Prototype has created an all new character in Alex Mercer, and because he isn’t bound by the rules of traditional superheroism, he is allowed to do whatever he damn well pleases. I recently went hands-on with Prototype, and what I played left me excited about the potential of this open-world action extravaganza.

Alex Mercer doesn’t possess standard powers. Instead of having the ability to fly or shoot lasers out of his eyes, Alex is able to absorb other living things and modify his body based on what is needed in a situation—like turning his hands into claws to maul oncoming soldiers. While absorbing, Alex can read people’s memories and must do so during the adventure to learn more about his past. In addition, Alex has the strength and agility of a god, allowing him to punch through tanks and run up buildings with ease.

The gameplay of Prototype is very similar to Radical Entertainment’s previous superhero effort, The Incredible Hulk: Ultimate Destruction. Like that game, you have a gigantic sandbox of a city at your disposal to wreak as much havoc in as you see fit. Also similar is the opposition you will face as armed soldiers, helicopters and tanks will be sent to take you down after you start causing trouble. To keep himself alive, Alex can hijack certain enemy vehicles to turn the tide of a battle and can also learn how to use some of the military’s more advanced weaponry later in the game.