10 Times Changing Protagonists Killed Video Games

10. Prototype 2 (2012)

An underrated gem from the Xbox 360 era, Prototype took place in a New York City overrun with a virus that turns its denizens into mutated monsters. Players take on the role of Alex Mercer, an amnesiac who discovers the virus has given him shapeshifting powers.

Throughout his quest for answers, players use Alex's abilities to wall-run and glide their way through the city, eviscerating any infected or military personnel who get in their way. It was pure blood-soaked carnage, and it was just as exhilarating to play as it sounds.

Prototype was a hit, and a sequel was released in 2012. Set one year later, Prototype 2 followed new protagonist James Heller as he sought revenge on Mercer for killing his family. Though the sequel was as visceral as its predecessor, Heller's generic tough guy persona was a huge downgrade from brooding antihero Mercer. The result was a game that was as bland as its new protagonist.

Prototype 2 sold so poorly that Activision shut down developer Radical Entertainment later that year. Following the underwhelming reception to the series' remastered Biohazard Bundle in 2015, it's unlikely Prototype will be revived anytime soon.