Developed Created Shat out in 2007, this (fictional) game, titled Protocol, referred to by fans as PROTOCINO (PROTOCOL In Name Only) was a third person shooter, and it wasn't very good. Leon was now a generic brooding "angsty" soldier, playing up his Anti-Hero qualities while ignoring his more likable side (completely missing the point of his character), the creators nixed all of Mikado's good traits and just combined him with Goliath, more than half of the cast isn't present except for Roxanne and Vincent, and they removed everything that made the series fun or even different. No spells, no other characters to play as, not even any multiplayer, this game is the exact opposite of the series: it's joyless, grim, and just not fun. It's almost never acknowledged by the creators or the fans for good reason.
Now, a generic third person shooter wouldn't be so bad, but this is an incompetent generic third person shooter. Basically the game is broken beyond all belief, and it is considered one of the worst games ever.
When Anthology rolled around, a Joke Character named "Noel" based on this incarnation of Leon was created solely for Leon Prime, or anyone else you play as, to beat the shit out of. In fact, Anthology in general was likely made in response to the failed reboot to show that PROTOCOL CAN be made into a good shooter. And it was.
Tropes associated with this failed reboot
- Adaptational Villainy: Mikado gets this treatment!
- Composite Character: The character of Goliath is cut entirely, and his traits replace Mikado's more positive traits.
- Darker and Edgier: Tries to be this, and fails spectacularly.
Trivia
-
Fan Nickname: "Noel" or "LINO" (Leon In Name Only). The former was even accepted as that character's official name (in the canon series, at least). - Old Shame: Actually no! Lead developer Steve McMelonlemon takes PRIDE in this game, and he calls anyone who dislikes the game, even THE CREATORS OF THE SERIES THAT HE BUTCHERED, "jealous haters". He even tried to sue them over their portrayal of "Noel" when Anthology came out. Mc Melonlemon was also pissed that PROTOCINO was excluded from the HD Collection.
YMMV
- Narm: The whole game if you take into account how the canon characters actually act.
- The Scrappy: "Noel" is LOATHED by PROTOCOL fans and critics alike. In fact, his sole reason for existing in the canon universe is getting the shit kicked out of him.
- So Bad, It's Good: This game can be so absurdly stupid in how seriously it takes itself, in direct contrast with the real PROTOCOL series. Also, the glitches that occur that don't outright crash the game (and hell, even when they DO!)
