Summary
Square Enixis one of the biggest companies in the video game industry, even if their recent history has been a bit rocky. While Square is mainly known for JRPGs, their international ventures have led to them tackling mainstream genres popular in the West.
This includes elements of thestealth genrethat are rife in some of their games that target the Western market. It was a short-lived venture, but fans were more than happy with the multi-faceted gameplay of these games and how staying undetected was a viable option to take out their foes.
TheTomb Raiderrebootwas something many fans were anxiously waiting for, excited to see this iconic archaeologist in the fledgling years of her career before she became an accomplished tomb raider. After being shipwrecked on an island, Lara Croft must deal with the islanders who will waste no time killing her off if she’s spotted.
This makes stealth invaluable in the game if players don’t want to expose Lara to the dangers that await her. Taking out enemies using her trusty bow along with some good old-fashioned stealth takedowns is something that players will have a great time pulling off over and over again.
TheThiefreboot could’ve been a special return to form for Garrett, letting a new generation of gamers understand why fans love this classic stealth series. However, in a bid to rideDishonored’s hype, 2014’sThieffailed to stand out as a unique title and disappointed most players.
However, even its biggest detractors had to admit thatThief’s stealth gameplay was one of its strongest aspects. Taking out enemies from the shadows and entering areas without being detected is a thrill that players will enjoy and may just make up for the lackluster story and Garrett’s lackluster characterization.
After her harrowing adventures in 2013’s reboot,Lara Croft returned with a banginRise of the Tomb Raider. This entry expanded the open-ended areas present in the first game of the Survivor trilogy to let players enjoy a game that gave them more options in combat.
Players will go through numerous enemy encounters where both stealth and combat are viable. Of course, there’s something inherently satisfying about taking out foes from the shadows, especially with the marginally improved stealth systems compared to the 2013 game.
Deus Exfans couldn’t believe that a new game in the series would finally reach their console of choice.Human Revolutiontook placewell before the original game, with nano-augmentations being far from widespread, as most people relied on mechanical augments instead.
Adam Jensen is a cool protagonist who can use intense takedowns to eliminate enemies without making any noise. Maintaining energy levels by eating protein bars felt silly, but the game made up for it with its impeccable style, faithful stealth gameplay, and eye-catching combat.
The final game in theTomb RaiderSurvivor trilogy pulled out all the stops to let players enjoy the biggest and boldest game in the series. While the lack of innovation preventedShadow of the Tomb Raiderfrom being a runaway hit, fans didn’t mind as long as they got to enjoy controlling Lara moments before she hit her prime.
The addition of underwater gameplay does wonders to make stealth more layered and viable than ever before. Getting the drop on enemiesafter emerging from a body of wateris fun every single time, with players feeling like stealth experts as they take out every enemy in an encounter without raising any alarms.
WhileDeus Ex:Mankind Divided’sunnecessary monetization and incomplete story frustrated fans, they were willing to deal with these issues as long as the core gameplay was solid. Thankfully, the title was more than competent in this regard.
The enjoyment players had from sneaking around and getting the drop on enemies was exceptional, especially if players smacked them through a wall or took out two hostiles in one go with Adam Jensen’s many augmentations. While things could go south and players could be roped into a high-stakes firefight in no time, they had enough options in combat to come out unscathed even after being spotted.
IO Interactive got a chance toreboot theHitmanseries, with Square Enix acting as publisher. This led to players being treated to a unique stealth game where every level released as one episodic chapter of the complete game. Fan reception to this approach was mixed back in the day, but it helped every level feel fleshed out, as players had numerous options to take on their foes.
Square Enix wiped their hands clean of this studio later on, but IO were thankfully saved by Warner Bros., who gave them the resources they needed to developHitman 2. The company eventually garnered a massive fanbase, with theWorld of Assassinationtrilogy boasting a massive player count that is downright impressive and shows how important theHitmanreboot was, letting players enjoy excellent stealth gameplay in a game with the iconic Agent 47 at the helm.
