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Stealth-based Game




Stealth games are Video Game s that, unlike traditional Action Game s, revolve around patience, lurking, and avoiding detection (or getting rid of an enemy silently and quickly without calling attention) in order to complete missions. The genre of stealth-based games is fairly old, but there are still few games that fall strictly within the genre. However, since the popularization of the '' Metal Gear '' series with '' Metal Gear Solid '' in 1998 , many recent action games have borrowed elements from stealth-based games.


HISTORY

The earliest game to feature stealth elements was '' Castle Wolfenstein '' (not to be confused with the unrelated '' Wolfenstein 3D ''), released in 1981 by Muse Software . Stealth elements were only rarely used again until Hideo Kojima 's '' Metal Gear '', released in 1987 by Konami for the MSX2 , and shortly thereafter for the Nintendo Entertainment System (although the Nintendo Entertainment System installment in the series had a much less heavy emphasis on stealth elements). The game became a success, particularly in North America , after selling over a million units.

''Metal Gear'' was followed by two independently-produced sequels that were both released in , placing an even greater emphasis on stealth. While the early ''Metal Gear'' games were moderately successful, the concept did not develop beyond those few games for almost a decade.

During the development of '''' (November) on the PC, all released in 1998. '' System Shock 2 '' also encouraged the player to use stealth through use of respawning enemies, severely limited ammunition and weapons that wear down with repeated firing.

Stealth games did not gain mass popularity until the release of '''', along with many more games in this genre, most notably the '' Splinter Cell '', '' Manhunt '' and '' Hitman '' series. Other games incorporated a stealth approach as an option to players, notably '' Deus Ex '' and Bungie's '' Oni ''. Many action games, such as '' Medal Of Honor '' and '' Syphon Filter '', include stealth-based levels. Some Survival Horror Game s ('' Siren '' being one example) implement aspects of this genre, as well as Platform Game s such as '' Sly Cooper ''.

In recent times, stealth games have grown even further in popularity, so much so that some mainstream First-person Shooters , such as '' No One Lives Forever '' and '' Goldeneye '''s spiritual successors '' Perfect Dark '' and '' Perfect Dark Zero '', have included stealth and spying elements in their gameplay. Closely related to the intermingling of first-person shooters and stealth games is the first-person shooter subgenre '' Tactical Shooters '', such as Tom Clancy's ''Rainbow Six'' . '' Far Cry '' expanded on this genre by having a lush outdoor environment (the player may hide behind boulders and trees or in shrubs).


GAMEPLAY

The dynamics of stealth games are quite different from First-person Shooter s or other action games. Stealth games are typically designed to stack the odds against the player in situations involving multiple hostile enemies, and players who neglect to utilize a game's stealth mechanics in such situations are usually killed very quickly. Stealth games generally emphasize accuracy, planning, keen observation, and puzzle-solving skills, whereas other action games revolve more around quick reflexes. In stealth games, a player cannot simply walk into multiple enemies pathways, unlike most action games. Stealth based games require that the player eliminates targets silently and without detection.

Whereas the excitement in most action games is the adrenaline rush of combat, the enjoyment in a stealth game is usually (but not always) cerebral in nature. The ability to silently stalk an opponent or be within arm's reach of a potentially dangerous enemy and yet be completely unseen appeals to many gamers. These games also tend to have more emphasis on story, as part of a stealth game's impact comes from the ambiance that the game has, emphasizing urgency and the need to remain hidden. Likewise, stealth games also tend to contain more visual and sound cues than other games, again to heighten the experience. Fans of stealth games often find great excitement in the high-risk, high-tension gameplay and cinematic experience that is typical of the genre, whereas other gamers may find stealth games unenjoyable due to the lack of frantic action and occasional frustration at the high finesse that is often required.


IMPORTANT GAMES AND MAJOR SERIES



Important Games

Games that contain gameplay mechanics, game structures, or other landmark achievements that advanced the stealth genre as a whole.

  • '' Castle Wolfenstein '' ( 1981 ): First stealth game. First to feature the ability to hold up enemies and frisk them for items, and the ability to sneak in plain sight using enemy uniforms.

  • '' Metal Gear '' ( 1987 ): First mainstream stealth game and first stealth game on a console (NES). First to feature an alert mode where more guards appear once the player is spotted, and the ability to use fists or silencer weapons to knock out enemies.

  • '''' ( 1990 ): First stealth game to feature the ability to crouch and crawl (to hide behind objects and crawl under objects or into airducts), a radar screen, noise detection on different terrains, the ability to knock on walls, and enemy guards with a wider field of vision (rather than straight lines) patrolling entire areas (rather than a single screen) and being able to hear noises and footsteps.

  • '''' ( 1998 ): First 3D stealth game, and the first 3D stealth game on a console.

  • '' Metal Gear Solid '' ( 1998 ): First mainstream 3D stealth game. First to feature the ability to shoot from a crouching or crawling position.

  • '''' ( 1998 ): First 3D stealth game on the PC. First to rely on light and shadow to hide, instead of just line-of-sight. Also the first to use audio, such as hearing footsteps and eavesdropping on conversations, as the primary means of keeping track of unseen foes.

  • '' Hidden & Dangerous '' ( 1999 ): First stealth game to use squad-based tactics and the ability to control multiple characters.

  • '' Syphon Filter 2 '' ( 2000 ): First stealth action game to include versus multiplayer.

  • '' Deus Ex '' ( 2000 ): First game to allow stealth and action to be equally viable means towards completing objectives.

  • '''' ( 2000 ): First 3D stealth game to allow the player to obtain disguises from any enemy, thereby focusing stealth on "hiding in plain sight."

  • '''' ( 2001 ): First 3D stealth game to feature a collective artificial intelligence for enemy guards working in squads (where they interact and communicate with each other), and the ability to prevent an enemy guard from calling for backup on his radio after the player is spotted (by knocking him out or destroying his radio), hide in lockers (another form of hiding in plain sight), and use obtained items as distractions.

  • '', is also the first commercial stealth game to incorporate online co-op.

  • '''' ( 2004 ): First to incorporate stealth based "hide and seek" gameplay into versus multiplayer.

  • '''' ( 2004 ): First stealth game to incorporate camouflage as a means of hiding (another form of "hiding in plain sight"). The game also features the need to hunt for food and a stamina meter.

  • '''' ( 2006 ): First stealth game to offer open-ended mission selection. Missions change based on who you are allied with, how much they trust you, and how skilled you are at stealth.



Major Series

  • ''Metal Gear'' Series : A major pioneer of stealth gameplay, which popularized the stealth game genre in both the 2D and 3D eras and added gameplay innovations with each game in the series.

  • ''Thief'' Series : Pioneered 'first person sneaking' (as opposed to 'shooting').

  • ''Deus Ex'' Series : Open ended FPS-RPG hybrid, which provides sneaking and action based solutions to objectives.

  • ''Splinter Cell'' Series : Best-selling, critically acclaimed. Pioneered realistic stealth.

  • ''Syphon Filter'' Series : Established as a hybrid containing both sneaking and shooting based levels; in later games the player is often allowed to play the game however they please (although by sneaking through the level the player is better rewarded, and obviously eliminates the risk of dying by enemy gunfire).

  • ''Hitman'' Series : Open ended game where the goal of each mission is to assassinate a target or targets (with some other sub-objectives).

  • game incorporating stealth as the main focus of its gameplay. The overall score on each level is roughly determined by how many stealth kills the player has subtracted by how many times the player has been spotted.

  • ''No One Lives Forever'' Series : A stealth-oriented FPS featuring a '60s spy theme.



Other stealth-based games, or games featuring stealth elements



EXTERNAL LINKS

  • [http://www.gamingtarget.com/article.php?artid=6786 The Unseen History of the Stealth Game]