Third-person action game where you control Alex Mercer, a man infected with the BLACKLIGHT virus who wakes in a Manhattan morgue with no memory and shapeshifting powers. Consume enemies to absorb their memories, skills, and appearance while uncovering a conspiracy involving a genetic engineering firm and a military cover-up. Combat involves using biological weapons formed from your body—claws, blades, hammers—against two opposing forces: Blackwatch soldiers trying to contain you and infected monsters overrunning the city. The virus grants superhuman strength, speed, and the ability to disguise yourself as consumed targets to infiltrate restricted areas. Story progression hinges on piecing together your past through absorbed memories. Missions alternate between combat encounters, stealth infiltration, and hunting specific targets across an open-world Manhattan. Abilities evolve as you consume more enemies.
