Lunchtime Discussion: Stealth
Talking sneaking.
Published: 12:00, 23/09/2010 by Kris [Halbpro].
44I’ve recently played through Splinter Cell: Conviction and I must say it was fantastic. Whilst it did feel significantly more action based than earlier titles in the series, there were certainly some very nice stealth mechanics featured. When you couple that with the recent information about Blood Stone and my essentially constant state of Batman contemplation; a discussion of stealth seems the only option.
So let’s talk about stealth, albeit in a slightly hushed tone. Perhaps the classic stealth game in my gaming past is the first Metal Gear Solid. I loved the feeling of sneaking through the various areas of Shadow Moses and ocassionally fighting your way out of a tight corner. I remember my younger self being fairly amazed as I crawled forwards on my stomach, desperately attempting to avoid making a sound. Hiding round corners and avoiding the gaze of the all pervasive security cameras was fairly thrilling in a time when I was used to playing platformers.
So strong is my memory of stealth in the first Metal Gear Solid (and in the second to some extent) that the seemingly action based nature of the fourth title in the series has actually put me off it some extent. I’d much rather be crawling through a ventilation duct than crossing a battlefield if I’m playing Metal Gear Solid.
There are other fairly traditional stealth games I could mention, in particular Splinter Cell as it’s now overtaken Metal Gear Solid as my favourite spy series, but I think that Assassin’s Creed deserves a mention. The ‘hiding in plain sight’ stealth mechanics featured in the series give me the same feeling as when I played the first Metal Gear Solid, that excitement of playing something that feels new and fresh.
Finally a quick word on how poor stealth can be. I’ve certainly mentioned this before, but one of the things that I hated in Halo 3: ODST was the use of stealth. There were certainly points in the game where you couldn’t easily fight you way through and seemed to be expected to sneak around the enemies without starting a fire fight. Sadly all you had in the way of stealth was the ability to crouch, no clinging to walls of climbing onto ledges to try and avoid the Covenant presence. It was one of the things I disliked most about the title, and showed just how the term stealth can be misused.
What are your thoughts on stealth mechanics? Do you like sneaking your way through a game, or do you prefer to just run and gun? Is a mix of the two your preference? On top of that what games do it well and what games fall down when it comes to stealth?
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23/09/2010 at 12:02
Member since: May 2009
The new Deus Ex is supposedly being “True to the series” – You wouldn’t tell that from the videos though. Seems like stealth is a dirty word.
23/09/2010 at 12:04
Member since: May 2009
I love me a bit of stealth in MAG. You can think your way through a defence at times, and then rip out the guts of their backup facilities. It’s so satisfying. Even applying a bit of thought goes a long way, so that once a bunker falls you go, not straight forward, but cross diagonally to the side where there won’t be any troops spawning.
Once you’ve wrecked one side of a map, you can then saunter over to the other side. It’s just a lot of fun :)
26/09/2010 at 17:53
Member since: Jan 2010
So true, and the amount of times it works, you’d have thought we were the only ones who try it! But you’re right, so much fun
23/09/2010 at 12:06
Member since: Forever
I really can’t stand stealth in games, I think it usually comes from me missing a vital headshot and the enemies hoarding around me anyway. I have far more success just rushing in and dispatching whatever enemies there are quickly in a hail of bullets and the odd grenade.
Although when playing Warhawk I ALWAYS have the knife armed, so I’m invisible on the map and only arm another weapon when involved in a firefight… I don’t understand people who run around with their rifles or a rocket launcher armed as they’re visible on the map to everyone, especially if they’re making an offensive manoeuvre or taking up a defensive position.
23/09/2010 at 12:08
Member since: May 2010
I’m a runner and gunner, i die a shitload. But i die heroically! !! well, thats what i tell myself anyway.
23/09/2010 at 12:08
Member since: Oct 2008
Tenchu used to be a personal fave, I played it again about a year or two ago and couldnt stop laughing at it. It was good at the time though.The first MGS was another too, in fact I remember playing almost every game stealthily because I was always scared of my characters being killed ! Even Tomb Raider 1, especially when the Atlanteans were spewing fireballs at you, I was like “what are you even doing in this game !!”
23/09/2010 at 12:09
Member since: Jul 2009
Tenchu Stealth Assassin! That was so much fun. The special kills being quite superb. *goes to read article*
23/09/2010 at 12:20
Member since: Mar 2009
Now theres a series that needs a PS3 HD remake possibly with Move support. Saw that there was a version on the Wii but never got round to trying it. Loved the original PS1 game and think I still have the PS2 one floating around at home.
23/09/2010 at 17:15
Member since: Apr 2010
Yeah Tenchu was awesome, played it on the ol’ PS1… That would be great to have a reboot.
23/09/2010 at 12:09
Member since: Jan 2010
I think being stealthy in multiplayer games can be the most rewarding, compared to sneaking on AI opponents as in MGS and Splinter Cell. Although both those singleplayer titles make use stealth perfectly.
23/09/2010 at 12:09
Member since: Jul 2009
I love both stealth and run and gun, kinda like Spiderman Shattered Dimension, when playing as Noir it’s required stealth but they it will involve battles aswell. MGS was the best for me as I managed to finished the game without firing a single shot (except bosses) in MGS. Oh but I do love hiding in a locker with a babe poster in front of it xD and oh hiding in boxes lol had fun playing that online lol.
Another thing is Predator’s stealth in AvP which I really did enjoy it offline and online especially as a Marine with a tracker loving the beeping or an Alien seeing green.
Stealth for me is my favourite, the only rubbish stealth game I can think of is Prison Break.
23/09/2010 at 12:09
Member since: Dec 2009
MGS is my fave series ever.
Stealth has never been dealt with better than MGS in my opinion. Although Splinter Cell handled it very well in 1 and Pandora tomorrow [being SC peak imo].
Stealth in AC2 was brilliant, loved the being in the middle of the hustle and bustle without being detected whilst eyeballing the target.
Snake Eater had some great stealth elements, especially the way it made you adapt and use the environment as a cloak.
Third Person Stealth a thons are my fave sort of games really…
Metal Gear Solid
Splinter Cell
Assassins Creed
Syphon Filter
Soulreaver [Had a few good stealthy parts]
Psi Ops
Second Sight
The Suffering 1 and 2
Love a bit of Stealth!
23/09/2010 at 12:17
Member since: Jul 2009
I utterly adore stealth as an option in a game. I’m not sure I always want to have a stealth game, as such but the option is great. With that in mind, I loathe when a game has the bad guys spot you even when you’re hidden. Especially when it’s a situation that really ruins the moment and you’ve put in so much effort to get into position. As it happens, as much as I loved Uncharted, it suffered with that quite a bit sometimes. However, they really went to town on fixing it for the sequel.
It’s the perfect example of an action adventure where there are plenty of quiet kills to be had if you so wish. I think it’s the option that makes me happy.
Then again, Tenchu Stealth Assassin was blindingly satisfying as you often left the level without anyone knowing you were even there! Ultimate gratification. Quieter than a ninja’s fart in church.
23/09/2010 at 13:31
Member since: Forever
In uncharted2 they generally need to have line of sight (or have you miss a headshot) to spot you, but in Far Cry 2 the enemy AI was basically a 100m proximity sensor, as soon as you went in it, they could see you, even through thick undergrowth or buildings.
23/09/2010 at 16:20
Member since: Jul 2009
Good mention, fella. Far Cry – a good game but the times that basic stealth (in frikkin’ jungle for god’s sake) let you down was awful. The very place where you could get within spitting distance but NO, would they let you? Not bloody likely.
Sadly, it changes the dynamic of the game and I think developers have to make a conscious decision at the start although I’d rather them leave it up to us to choose.
23/09/2010 at 17:30
Member since: Jan 2009
I managed to get a bit of stealth from Far Cry 2. I managed to sneak past everyone on a level to take out a gaurd in a watch tower. Snuck up behind him to knife him only for him to die LOUDLY and alert everyone in the complex!! Put it this way, the my dualshock nearly got snapped in two, lol. Took me ages aswel, lol.
25/09/2010 at 15:26
Member since: Jan 2010
I’ve found to my cost that a upon dying unfairly for the umpteenth time, a rage-fuelled downwards twist with the right hand and upwards with the left hand, will produce the neccessary torque to shear a dualshock effectively.
23/09/2010 at 12:30
Member since: May 2010
i’m more of a shoot-first-ask-questions-later kind of guy, but i do like the be given the option of stealth. AC2 is a good example; when there were lots of enemies, i enjoyed killing the first two by dropping from the rooftop, and then proceed to killing all the rest in the good old fashion :]
23/09/2010 at 12:41
Member since: Jul 2009
“i’m more of a shoot-first-ask-questions-later kind of guy”
The American police force are looking for guys like you. ;-)
25/09/2010 at 15:27
Member since: Jan 2010
hell so are the british, woe betide anyone in London wearing a Brazilian football shirt.