The Fourth Protocol turns Frederick Forsyth's Cold War thriller into a computer strategy and espionage experience where information can be considerably more dangerous than bullets. The player becomes involved in intelligence operations, investigations, surveillance, and political maneuvering, trying to uncover a conspiracy before events spiral beyond control. The game favors careful thought rather than arcade-style action, so success depends on understanding information and making sensible decisions instead of simply pressing buttons at impressive speed. Its interface is unmistakably vintage, with menus and text carrying much of the burden, but that actually suits the subject matter. It feels rather like operating a secret government terminal that somebody forgot to make user-friendly. The atmosphere is tense without becoming melodramatic, and fans of spy fiction will appreciate the emphasis on deduction and planning. It is a fascinating example of how political thrillers could be adapted to computers.
How to play The Fourth Protocol
Game modes: single-player
Tips and how to play
The NATO Documents: You’re tasked with uncovering a leak in NATO’s intelligence. Use the game’s “Cencom” to store information, and monitor the “Assessment” icon to track your progress.
Assign “watchers” (agents) to surveillance and carefully examine each report or memo that comes in.
Tip: Take notes on suspect activity and connections, as the clues here are crucial for later sections
The Bomb: Now in the field, you’ll follow leads from the previous section to track a nuclear device. This phase introduces new icons for movement and object manipulation.
Use the “Communicate” icon to talk to NPCs or make phone calls. The “Manipulate” icon allows you to pick up, drop, and use objects—important for gathering evidence.
Tip: Prioritize gathering clues methodically, and examine each location thoroughly to avoid missing critical information
The SAS Assault: In this climactic section, you must locate and defuse the bomb. Rely on the intelligence you’ve gathered, as each piece plays a role in solving this final puzzle.
Tip: You’ll need to enter text commands in this phase, so make sure you’ve reviewed and memorized key details from the previous sections
To slow down the game emulation press CTRL+F11, to speed up the game press CTRL+F12. Press Escape (ESC) to exit fullscreen mode.
The Fourth Protocol runs in your browser thanks to the
Emularity library.
More about The Fourth Protocol
Status: abandonware
Genre: adventure
Released in: 1987
Publisher: Ariolasoft
Developer: The Electronic Pencil Co.
Play more games online
Not enough for you? Dive into Abandonware DOS and explore a vast collection of classic games you can play online for free, right in your browser—no downloads, no hassle. There’s always something new to discover.
