Stealth games...gone forever?

[Netrigan]

I would love to see Assassin's Creed add a stealth difficulty mode. It's actually quite a lot of fun sneaking through missions, but most of them can be brute-forced through. Brotherhood even lets you brute force the absolute stealth levels by calling in some really unstealthy assassins to kill people. Mission only fails if they spot you.

But if they did something like Thief where hard limits were placed on what you could do at higher difficulties, it would be cool. Only being able to kill your target (and remaining undetected before the assassination) could be quite fun. First mission of the first game set that up... before ignoring it completely.

 

[gigastar]

MGS:Rising.

Isnt that the one that is supposed to be based around the breakdancing ninja who claimed to be Raiden in MGS4?

OT: Assassins Creed is very stealth based, though its entirely optional.

 

[Harkonnen64]

I see a lot of people referencing Splinter Cell: Conviction, but it really isn't a stealth game, at least not in comparison to the earlier titles.

In the original games, there you had a health bar and a limited number of health packs in each level. This meant you had to play more conservatively (i.e. stealthily) to ensure you made it through the level. And God help you if one of the guards got the drop on you; unless you were quick to the draw and a bit lucky, an given guard could kill you in one machine gun burst.

Then we get to Conviction and the regenerating health component, which almost completely eliminates the stealth factor of the game. If you can take the brunt of a full on machine gun assault from one, or even three, mooks and just shrug it off a few seconds later, you've really got no need to be stealthy, save for particularly large groups. Otherwise, being stealthy just slows down the game.

Conviction is a good ACTION game, but it's not a stealth game in the classical sense.

 

[Woodsey]

Skyrim has apparently been polished up from the crude stealth in it's predecessor, Oblivion. Add that to a new engine fit for 2011 = saucy.

Though, you'd have to like Viking-esque fantasy.

Don't know if I'd call it crude. It was simple, yes, but a very viable option. Crude implies it didn't really work, or that it was shoved in.

OT: If they're done at all, they're mixed in with other genres.

I do miss them though. Hopefully the new Thief and Splinter Cell games will drag them back to where they should be; Conviction functioned for a fair bit as a stealth game, but I never felt like it wanted to be one.

 

[Wayneguard]

Thief 4 is in development and we're all waiting for the big hitman 5 e3 "reveal". The near future will see the release of new entries in, hands down, THE two best stealth franchises in existence. I'm pumped.

 

[JUMBO PALACE]

I thought there was a new Theif game coming out. The new Deus Ex will allow you to use stealth to get through various situations. Metal Gear Solid 4 on higher difficulties requires stealth.

This is a new Thief coming out, and you're right about Deus Ex. I also heard somewhere that two new Splinter Cell games are in production. A sequel to Conviction and another game as well.

 

[Onyx Oblivion]

Skyrim has apparently been polished up from the crude stealth in it's predecessor, Oblivion. Add that to a new engine fit for 2011 = saucy.

That said...the stealth in Oblivion is very good for it's time, considering it's not a proper stealth game. And it's functional. Fallout 3 improved it...So, I can only hope Skyrim makes it even better. The new SK's we saw are promising.

Shockingly, I found some of the best stealth in ages in games where it's optional...Like Metro 2033 and others.

 

[spartan231490]

As the title suggests, it seems that all stealth games are just...gone and no-one intends to resurrect them. I'm talking about games like thief, splinter cell and velvet assassin but there seem to be no more stealth games out there. Anyone have any stealth games that you have really enjoyed that I have not mentioned?

I believe tenchu is still making games, and they're my favorite series of stealth games anyway.

 

[GrizzlerBorno]

Splinter Cell: Conviction

Is NOT a stealth game. It just isn't. And Assassin's Creed, for the record is only kind of a stealth game. It doesn't have the "sneaking around in the shadows" type stealth at all.

OT: I intend to go back and find a copy of Thief 2.

In the meantime, Have you guys tried out Trilby [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/content/games/yahtzee/artoftheft]? It's the free game that Yahtzee made some time ago. I'm playing it now, and I like it.

It's simple and 2D but the stealth play is SOLID. Saving system is a little stupid, so it's bit frustrating to have to play a whole fucking level when you Fuck-up, but otherwise Good game.

 

[Woodsey]

Skyrim has apparently been polished up from the crude stealth in it's predecessor, Oblivion. Add that to a new engine fit for 2011 = saucy.

Though, you'd have to like Viking-esque fantasy.

Don't know if I'd call it crude. It was simple, yes, but a very viable option. Crude implies it didn't really work, or that it was shoved in.

OT: If they're done at all, they're mixed in with other genres.

I do miss them though. Hopefully the new Thief and Splinter Cell games will drag them back to where they should be; Conviction functioned for a fair bit as a stealth game, but I never felt like it wanted to be one.

ok OK I admit, poor choice of words I still can't find anything more fitting though xD

Haha, my hope for Skyrim would be that they implement some environmental stuff (blowing out torches, etc.), and acknowledge stealth options in the areas that aren't a part of guild missions. A lot of the caves and stuff have a habit of being blocked off by a wall and funneling you too much - that's OK for portions of it, but it'd be nice if you could clamber over stuff and whatnot. Seems like a good reward for exploration. XP all round of course!

 

[ultrachicken]

Splinter Cell: Conviction

Is NOT a stealth game. It just isn't. And Assassin's Creed, for the record is only kind of a stealth game. It doesn't have the "sneaking around in the shadows" type stealth at all.

Excuse me, how is Splinter Cell: Conviction not a stealth game? It involves sneaking around and taking out enemies silently, and the main character is shit in a fire fight. When you respond, I'd like you to leave the elitist in you behind.

 

[GrizzlerBorno]

Splinter Cell: Conviction

Is NOT a stealth game. It just isn't. And Assassin's Creed, for the record is only kind of a stealth game. It doesn't have the "sneaking around in the shadows" type stealth at all.

Excuse me, how is Splinter Cell: Conviction not a stealth game? It involves sneaking around and taking out enemies silently, and the main character is shit in a fire fight. When you respond, I'd like you to leave the elitist in you behind.

Sue you sneak around. You sneak around for 1 minute to find one (usually conveniently placed) enemy to stealth kill...........then you tag the five remaining enemies (THROUGH a safe wall) and press the "KILL ALL ENEMIES IN ROOM" Button AKA the "Mark and execute" mechanic.

That feature literally Broke the game. That's not me being an elitist (in fact, my post points out that I haven't played the great stealth legends like Thief or the ORIGINAL Splinter Cells, so I CAN'T be an elitist). That is not even my opinion. That is fact.

The Mark and execute Feature made all the stealth, all the gadgets, and all the gameplay of that game completely redundant.

 

[Russano_Greenstripe]

Also, the Sly Cooper series is getting a fourth entry, which means there'll still be a simpler, easy-to-learn stealth game for people to come to love before they go for more punishing games like MGS.

 

[Ironic Pirate]

No, just harder to find.

And other games with optional stealth have gotten less shit at it. I remember being afraid of stealth levels a few years ago, because they were always incredibly frustrating and horrible, now they can be some of the most fun parts of a game.