History Headscratchers / Prototype2

* Even given The Anchor, his methodology really doesn't make any sense. [[spoiler:He says that humanity is dying, but ''he'' rereleased the virus on purpose, which is causing humanity to die. He says that all of humanity deserves to suffer, but is directly opposed by someone who [[PapaWolf has a sizable amount of empathy, more than he himself]], and knowing that at least [[WhatHappenedToTheMouse Bradley Ragland]] and [[MoralityPet his sister Dana]] were decent people. He says that all of humanity is corrupt, but [[WhatAnIdiot he practically sought out people to prove this viewpoint, whether repentant or not]] and blamed humanity for people [[FelonyMisdemeanor caring about living]] before concerning themselves with people who they might not even know. He says that he will end disease... by infecting all of humanity with a disease, and ''being'' a [[TheVirus walking, talking,]] [[{{Plaguemaster}} Blacklight sample]].]] For these reasons, he decides [[spoiler: to [[PutThemAllOutOfMyMisery cause]] a ZombieApocalypse to [[ArtisticLicenseBiology "force evolution"]] on the populace.]]

*** We don't know what Ragland actually did while at Gentek. all we know is he refused to work on BLACKLIGHT. Gentek might of had some less then evil projects at the time.

* So...what's Heller's appeal supposed to be to players, again? It seems to me that he has no personality outside of AngryBlackMan, constantly yelling at his allies and just being unlikeable in general. One particular example that stuck out to me was when in a side mission, Heller found out about a scientist he wanted to consume. Whilst describing the scientist, Heller says (paraphrased) "Likes cricket...is a member of MENSA...what a douchebag." Sorry, liking a sport that's not popular in America makes you a douchebag? Are we supposed to laugh with Heller in this scene? Add to the fact that Heller rarely displays any emotion other than anger (I think there's maybe two scenes where he acts sad about his daughter and wife before immediately switching back to anger?) and I really have to wonder about the meta reason for why Heller was designed that way. In-universe, sure, that's just the sort of person he is, but outside of the universe, what's his appeal supposed to be? Being angry is cool?

** It's funny that people are so upset with Heller's characterization, when he is more or less a black version of Kratos. Heller's MENSA comment makes sense when you think about the fact that highly educated people tend to talk down to people without the same level of education. The cricket comment I can't even defend, because I like cricket myself. I think it's less about anger being cool, and more about losing your family being a BerserkButton. But then again, people see me as nothing more than an AngryBlackMan so maybe I'm biased.

** Pretty much. [[BlueAndOrangeMorality Mercer doesn't exactly]] [[TheUbermensch have a]] [[TheUnfettered normal mindset]], and he probably figured that when given the same powers that he had (note that none of the other Evolved had the same diversity of powers as Heller did) he would get that same AboveGoodAndEvil mindset that Mercer has.

** It's simpler than that: [[spoiler:Galloway]] clearly state that all but two evolved are mind controlled by Alex, and those two are herself and Heller. She also say pretty much say that making evolved is not an exact science. She got an advanced version of the "viral sonar" and isn't under Alex control, [[spoiler: Roland is under Alex control]], but he has a spiked shield no one else demonstrate, that evolved girl with the whipfist etc. Whenever Alex is making an evolved, he's playing russian roulette as far as what the evolved capabilities will be, and he simply got the loaded chamber with Heller.

** Well, we see Cross turning against Blackwatch because he didn't agree with their plans. He at least had sympathy for civilians and regret over what had happened. He even helped Alex until he was eaten by the Supreme Hunter. Cross was probably the best example for why humanity wasn't hopeless. This guy was an enemy, and tried to kill him several times, but he didn't have the CrushKillDestroy mentality of Randall. If there is good in an enemy, then humanity can't be ''[[HumansAreBastards all]]'' bad. It's not important that Mercer didn't know Cross very long, it's that the man turned against his organization because he thought they had gone [[NukeEm too far]].

** As much as it pains me to defend an abortion of writing like this one, I have to make a point of order: of all of the above, the Brilliant Strategist bit is actually quite defensible, and something that might've even been a valid character evolution that's foreshadowed in the first game. It might *seem* like Mercer has little mind for tactics in Prototype 1, but [[GameplayAndStoryIntegration read between the lines.]] Take a look at a number of the strategies he - and you the player - can and sometimes even have to use. By all accounts, he strategically consumed VIPs, tactically sorted out his powers and used them in combat(which you *need* to do to get past Cross at all), and even *used the enemy's resources against them* through things like calling in strikes while disguised as an officer or hijacking vehicles. Heck, take a look at ''Patsy.'' This power *would not exist* without the ability to GET in the enemy's head on a very, VERY fundamental level and manipulate their fears and instincts in order to get them to kill each other off. That's why the "Alex Mercer, strategic mastermind" bit was just about the only thing that *didn't* bother me or come off as a derailment from the original character. [[DamnedByFaintPraise That doesn't stop the rest of your post from being absolutely true, though.]]

** To be fair, the only one of his allies Heller really yells at is Galloway, who got on my nerves too. He snarks at Father Guerra and at Dana, but he's not particularly rude to any of them. As far as calling the scientist a douchebag goes, he's probably starting from the baseline of "guy works for Gentek or Blackwatch? Douchebag." Considering every single one of the collectible recordings we find and the memories we see and the experiments we witness feature Blackwatch and Gentek being horrible people, it's hard to blame Heller for assuming the scientist was a douche. If anything, Heller's not really an ''appealing'' character, but he is something of an interesting character if you factor in that most of how he acts are classic signs of PTSD. It's even noted in the psych eval in the intro cutscene that he's got PTSD and has a homicidal fixation on Mercer.

*** A far more likely explanation than any of the above was that the writers for this game didn't really pay much attention to the previous one; TheyJustDidntCare. It's not just that the characterization clashes like this; it's that there's not the slightest hint of ''acknowledgement'' that the characterization, backstory, and views of the characters we see in Prototype 2 bear no resemblance to the original. Nothing in-game in Prototype 2 suggests that Virus!Alex ever had a shred of humanity, compassion, or humanity to him at any point, or that Human!Alex was ever anything but a paragon of virtue; the most likely explanation was that the writers for 2 were going off of a plot summary of 1 and didn't realize they were getting it wrong.

* I've been wondering the same exact thing. Mercer's plan was to have Heller by his side when he destroyed Blackwatch.
And then what? By then, Heller would already be very powerful, and he certainly wouldn't want to take part in the next part of Mercer's plan, which is world domination. It also seems very odd that Mercer reacted so angrily toward Heller tearing his plan apart after learning the truth, considering their entire "relationship" was built on Mercer lying to him about who killed his family. Like, what did you expect he would do? Just suddenly go along with your plan? And why even lie to him in the first place then if you expect his cooperation? Mercer clearly did not think his plan through.