Summary
Despite its place as an alternate combat style in many blockbuster action titles, the tense gameplay and interactive systems that stealth gameplay generates ensure that titles that focus on it are fondly remembered. Beyond that, if such stealth is incorporated with a keen eye for realism, the immersive potential for the player can be astounding.
From progenitors of the stealth genre to modern classics adapting the genre’s typical setting, realism-focused stealth is a mechanic that can not only enhance but uphold an entire video game experience.
Although the name of City Interactive’s 2013 titleSniper: Ghost Warrior 2alludes to its incredibly competent sniper-focused gunplay, it does fail to represent the game’s arguably impeccable implementation of stealth.
With its diverse long-range and up-close combat relying on a dynamic weather system and traditional stealth techniques, alongsidea whole arsenal of varied weaponry,Sniper: Ghost Warrior 2packs a lot into its seventh-generation code. Implementing a convincing set of setpieces, combat barks, and enemy AI,Sniper: Ghost Warrior 2enforces a sense of realism that not only bolsters its gung-ho narrative but the tension in moment-to-moment gameplay.
While Arkane Studios' action-adventure FPS is a title that effectively lends itself to bombastic action-packed play, the incorporation of stealth systems with a notable sense of realism proves that"there is no right or wrong way to playDishonored".
Although the player can contort reality itself to pull off a whole host of destructive powers, the same mind-bending abilities also aid in providing a dynamic stealth playground. From ‘Blinking’ across gaps and into shadows to freezing time itself, the versatility ofDishonored’s abilities - and the game’s willingness to allow multiple play styles - is indicative of the title’s great stealth status.
Despite its 2D perspective and Saturday morning cartoon-inspired aesthetic, Klei Entertainment’s 2012 indie darlingMark of the Ninjais an effective and lethal portrayal of one of entertainment’s most recognizable stealth tropes.
In enforcing a stoic light and dark system, along with effective noise reaction,Mark of the Ninjais able to"return video game ninjas to the idea of stealth assassins, not brutal killing machines".While its visuals may not air on the side of realism, the mechanics and systems at play inMark of the Ninja’s moment-to-moment gameplay convey a sense of authenticity in every action.
In the space of nearly a quarter-century, IO Interactive’sHitmanfranchise has gone from a beloved stealth debut to an arguably sub-standard action-stealth affair, into seemingly the pinnacle of stealth gameplay in the eighth console generation.
With the repackaging of the threeHITMANtitles from 2016 to 2021 intoHITMAN World of Assassination, the dynamic stealth situations and AI interactions of these games are made all the more accessible. In bolstering the creative and authentic stealth antics ofHITMANandHITMAN 2with"arguably the bestHitmangame of all time"-HITMAN 3-World of Assassinationis not only a great value proposition but a one-stop shop for any fan of the stealth genre.
While the science fiction horror locales of theAlienmotion picture franchise have been utilized in video games for more than forty years, arguably no title has evoked the dread and dismay of Ridley Scott’s 1979 original more thanAlien Isolation.
However, even with the world ofAliengarnering a whole host of action-packed adaptations in the years since its release,Alien: Isolationis - at its heart - a stealth title. Withlittle to do when the titular Xenomorph is spottedother than run and hide,Alien: Isolationstrips the stealth genre of much of its power fantasy - leaving the player most likely feeling alone and afraid.
Utilizing the debut tech of Microsoft’s original Xbox system, 2004’sThe Chronicles of Riddick: Escape From Butcher Bayexpands the moment-to-moment stealth of many of its contemporary first-person titles to the eponymous multi-leveled Butcher Bay prison.
Despite its connection with the pulp action-sci-fi motion pictureThe Chronicles of Riddick: Pitch Black, Vivendi Universal Games' stealth FPS forges a path of its own with tightly wound gameplay and tone. In forging a"dark, brooding atmosphere",The Chronicles of Riddick: Escape From Butcher Baywas not only acclaimed at release but remains a touchstone title in not only tie-in media but the stealth genre as a whole.
Despite 20 years of hardware and software evolution since its initial release,Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell: Chaos Theoryremains not only a peak installment in theSplinter Cellfranchise but a standout stealth experience.
With complex lighting and stealth systems, alongside an open-ended mission structure,Chaos Theorycontains some of"the best moments of stealth sandboxes throughout allSplinter Cellgames". While theSplinter Cellproperty has had a tumultuous software history,Chaos Theoryarguably concentrates on the most engaging narrative, dynamic stealth system, and multifaceted gameplay of Ubisoft’s stealth franchise.
Considering the general acclaim posited towards 1998’sThief: The Dark Projectand its 1999 expanded editionThief Goldas"some of the best stealth games of all time", it’s no surprise that its adherence to mechanical and gameplay realism is still lauded to this day.
While many stealth titles in recent times have feasibly superseded their predecessors, Looking Glass Studios' original title remains arguably the best game in the franchise. With environmental arrows aiding in the levels of light and sound in an environment, despiteThief: The Dark Projectand its expansive sequels looking dated in the 21st century, the consistent faithfulness to a sense of stealth realism has ensured the series' cultural longevity.
