Prototype, released in 2009, follows Alex Mercer, a man with shapeshifting powers loose in a virus-ravaged New York City, and its darker tone made Mercer a lasting figure in gaming culture. Short voice clips from the game have circulated on soundboards and in gameplay edits, where fans reuse his angriest moments as reactions rather than story context. This brief shout survives because it is instantly readable as frustration, fitting rage compilations, failed runs, and meme edits without needing any knowledge of the plot.