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'''Stealth game''' is a [[video game genres|video game genre]] in which the player must avoid detection, using stealth to evade or ambush antagonists. Games in the genre employ mechanics such as hiding in shade, disguises, and noise which can alert enemies. Some games allow the player to choose between a stealthy approach or directly attacking antagonists, perhaps rewarding the player for greater levels of stealth. The genre has employed [[espionage]] and [[counter-terrorism]] themes, with such protagonists as [[special forces]] operatives, spies and [[ninja]]s. Some games have employed stealth game elements with those of other genres, such as [[first-person shooter]]s or [[platform games]].
'''Stealth game''' is a [[video game genres|video game genre]] in which the player must avoid detection, using stealth to evade or ambush antagonists. Games in the genre employ mechanics such as hiding in shade, disguises, and noise which can alert enemies. Some games allow the player to choose between a stealthy approach or directly attacking antagonists, perhaps rewarding the player for greater levels of stealth. The genre has employed [[espionage]] and [[counter-terrorism]] themes, with such protagonists as [[special forces]] operatives, spies and [[ninja]]s. Some games have employed stealth game elements with those of other genres, such as [[first-person shooter]]s or [[platform games]].


The genre dates back to [[1981 in video gaming|1981]] with the release of ''[[Castle Wolfenstein]]'', and attained some early success with ''[[Metal Gear (video game)|Metal Gear]]'' (1987) and ''[[Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake]]'' (1990). However, the genre was not popularized until [[1998 in video gaming|1998]], with the mainstream success of ''[[Metal Gear Solid]]'' as well as ''[[Tenchu: Stealth Assassins]]'' and ''[[Thief: The Dark Project]]''. ''Tenchu: Stealth Assassins'' was the first 3D game in the genre, while ''Metal Gear Solid'', released some months later, transformed the relatively obscure [[Metal Gear (series)|''Metal Gear'' series]] into a highly acclaimed, profitable franchise with three further sequels. ''Thief: The Dark Project'' pioneered 3D stealth games on PC. These influential games inspired other successful series, such as ''[[Hitman (series)|Hitman]]'' and ''[[Splinter Cell]]''. Later games in the genre have allowed the player to choose between, or combine, stealth tactics and direct confrontation. The genre's best selling game to date is ''[[Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty]]'' with 7 million in sales.<ref name="metalgear2cm"/>
Elements of the genre date back to [[1981 in video gaming|1981]] with the release of ''[[005]]'' and ''[[Castle Wolfenstein]]'', and attained some early success with ''[[Metal Gear (video game)|Metal Gear]]'' (1987) and ''[[Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake]]'' (1990). However, the genre was not popularized until [[1998 in video gaming|1998]], with the mainstream success of ''[[Metal Gear Solid]]'' as well as ''[[Tenchu: Stealth Assassins]]'' and ''[[Thief: The Dark Project]]''. ''Tenchu: Stealth Assassins'' was the first 3D game in the genre, while ''Metal Gear Solid'', released some months later, transformed the relatively obscure [[Metal Gear (series)|''Metal Gear'' series]] into a highly acclaimed, profitable franchise with three further sequels. ''Thief: The Dark Project'' pioneered 3D stealth games on PC. These influential games inspired other successful series, such as ''[[Hitman (series)|Hitman]]'' and ''[[Splinter Cell]]''. Later games in the genre have allowed the player to choose between, or combine, stealth tactics and direct confrontation. The genre's best selling game to date is ''[[Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty]]'' with 7 million in sales.<ref name="metalgear2cm"/>


==Definition==
==Definition==
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==History==
==History==
=== Early stealth games===
=== Early stealth games===

''[[005]]'', a 1981 [[arcade game]] by [[Sega]], was the earliest game in which the goal was to navigate past enemies instead of killing them. It consisted of many stages, the main one involving stealing a briefcase and exiting a warehouse while avoiding the armed guards. The main character is armed only with a gas canister, which can be used to temporarily disable guards, and must avoid the guard's flashlight beams while navigating a maze to the exit.<ref>{{KLOV game|id=6759}}</ref><ref>[http://www.arcade-history.com/?n=005&page=detail&id=3 005], Arcade History</ref> Some consider it the first example of a stealth game.<ref name=Popularplay>{{cite web|title=005 from Sega|publisher=Popularplay|url=http://www.popularplay.com/a/61/005-from-Sega-.php|accessdate=2009-08-20}}</ref>


''[[Castle Wolfenstein]]'', originally available on the [[Apple II]] in 1981, employed stealth elements as a focus of the gameplay. Players were charged with traversing the levels of ''Castle Wolfenstein'', stealing secret plans and escaping. Players could acquire uniforms to disguise themselves and walk by guards undetected.<ref name="gamesradar">Shane Patterson (2009-02-03), [http://www.gamesradar.com/f/the-sneaky-history-of-stealth-games/a-2009020393535662028 The Sneaky History of Stealth Games], GamesRadar, Retrieved 2009-06-21</ref> The game spawned a sequel, ''[[Beyond Castle Wolfenstein]]'', in 1984.<ref>Kat Bailey, [http://www.1up.com/do/feature?cId=3169774 Top 5 Overlooked Prequels], 1UP, Retrieved on 2009-06-24</ref>
''[[Castle Wolfenstein]]'', originally available on the [[Apple II]] in 1981, employed stealth elements as a focus of the gameplay. Players were charged with traversing the levels of ''Castle Wolfenstein'', stealing secret plans and escaping. Players could acquire uniforms to disguise themselves and walk by guards undetected.<ref name="gamesradar">Shane Patterson (2009-02-03), [http://www.gamesradar.com/f/the-sneaky-history-of-stealth-games/a-2009020393535662028 The Sneaky History of Stealth Games], GamesRadar, Retrieved 2009-06-21</ref> The game spawned a sequel, ''[[Beyond Castle Wolfenstein]]'', in 1984.<ref>Kat Bailey, [http://www.1up.com/do/feature?cId=3169774 Top 5 Overlooked Prequels], 1UP, Retrieved on 2009-06-24</ref>

Revision as of 14:20, 24 August 2009

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Stealth game is a video game genre in which the player must avoid detection, using stealth to evade or ambush antagonists. Games in the genre employ mechanics such as hiding in shade, disguises, and noise which can alert enemies. Some games allow the player to choose between a stealthy approach or directly attacking antagonists, perhaps rewarding the player for greater levels of stealth. The genre has employed espionage and counter-terrorism themes, with such protagonists as special forces operatives, spies and ninjas. Some games have employed stealth game elements with those of other genres, such as first-person shooters or platform games.

Elements of the genre date back to 1981 with the release of 005 and Castle Wolfenstein, and attained some early success with Metal Gear (1987) and Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake (1990). However, the genre was not popularized until 1998, with the mainstream success of Metal Gear Solid as well as Tenchu: Stealth Assassins and Thief: The Dark Project. Tenchu: Stealth Assassins was the first 3D game in the genre, while Metal Gear Solid, released some months later, transformed the relatively obscure Metal Gear series into a highly acclaimed, profitable franchise with three further sequels. Thief: The Dark Project pioneered 3D stealth games on PC. These influential games inspired other successful series, such as Hitman and Splinter Cell. Later games in the genre have allowed the player to choose between, or combine, stealth tactics and direct confrontation. The genre's best selling game to date is Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty with 7 million in sales.[1]

Definition

File:Splinter Cell Screenshot vision01.jpg
Splinter Cell: the protagonist crouches behind a car to avoid being seen by the patrolling antagonists

Unlike most action games, stealth games challenge the player to avoid alerting enemies altogether.[2] The core gameplay elements of the modern stealth game are to avoid combat, minimize noise, and strike enemies from the shadows.[3] There are usually multiple ways to achieve a goal with different pathways or styles of play.[2] Some games offer a choice between killing or merely knocking out an enemy.[2] Players can hide behind objects or in shadows,[2][4] and can strike or run past an enemy when they are facing the other way.[4] If the player attracts the attention of enemies, they usually must hide and wait until the enemies abandon their search.[5] Thus, planning becomes important,[2][4] as does trial-and-error.[2][6] However, some stealth games put more emphasis on physical combat skill when the player is spotted.[5]

Game Design

Because the player can hide in the dark,[2][4] light and shadow are important parts of the level design.[7] Usually the player is able to shoot and disable certain light sources.[5] Stealth games also emphasize carefully designed audio, because players must be able to hear the subtle sound effects that may alert enemies to their actions.[6][8] Noise will often vary as the player walks on different surfaces such as wood or metal.[2][9] Players who move recklessly will make more noise and attract more attention.[6]

Artificial intelligence is carefully crafted for the stealth game experience, and enemies must have logical reactions to what the player does, such as when the player turns off the lights.[8] Enemies typically have a line of sight which the player can avoid by hiding behind objects or staying in the shadows, and enemies will react if the player accidentally touches them.[10] Overall, stealth games vary in what player actions the AI will perceive and react to,[5] with more recent games offering a wider range of enemy reactions.[2] Often, the AI's movements are predictable and regular, allowing the player to devise a strategy to overcome his adversaries.[7]

Although games like Thief: The Dark Project are designed entirely around stealth gameplay, other games occasionally pose challenges where victory can only be achieved by stealth. In these situations, players must avoid discovery or combat to complete a mission. In order for a game to include stealth gameplay, the knowledge of the artificial intelligence must be restricted to make it ignorant to parts of the game world.[11]

History

Early stealth games

005, a 1981 arcade game by Sega, was the earliest game in which the goal was to navigate past enemies instead of killing them. It consisted of many stages, the main one involving stealing a briefcase and exiting a warehouse while avoiding the armed guards. The main character is armed only with a gas canister, which can be used to temporarily disable guards, and must avoid the guard's flashlight beams while navigating a maze to the exit.[12][13] Some consider it the first example of a stealth game.[14]

Castle Wolfenstein, originally available on the Apple II in 1981, employed stealth elements as a focus of the gameplay. Players were charged with traversing the levels of Castle Wolfenstein, stealing secret plans and escaping. Players could acquire uniforms to disguise themselves and walk by guards undetected.[15] The game spawned a sequel, Beyond Castle Wolfenstein, in 1984.[16]

Hideo Kojima's Metal Gear, released in 1987 for the MSX and the Nintendo Entertainment System in 1988,[17] utilized stealth elements within an action-adventure framework, and was the first mainstream stealth game to be released on consoles.[15] The MSX was popular in Japan and Europe, but not the US and thus the Nintendo Entertainment System port was aimed at American gamers.[17] A sequel, Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake, was released in 1990 for the MSX2. It featured improved graphics, more abilities (such as crouching, crawling into hiding spots, and distracting guards by knocking on surfaces), improved enemy AI (including a greater field of vision, hearing noise, and a three-level security alert) and additions such as a radar, as well as a complex storyline.[18] The game was only released for the MSX2 however, which limited its accessibility to gamers in the US.[17] A Metal Gear game named Snake's Revenge was released for the Nintendo Entertainment System, also in 1990. Kojima was not involved in the game's development, which was instead conducted by another Konami team. The result was a more action based game than previous installments, which is not part of the Metal Gear canon.[17]

Alien vs Predator, released in 1994 for the Atari Jaguar, allowed the player to become invisible and stalk enemies. 1997's PlayStation game Oddworld: Abe's Oddysee rarely required the player to combat enemies, while certain levels in first-person shooter GoldenEye 007 (released the same year) could be completed via hand-to-hand combat and the destruction of surveillance cameras.[15]

Establishing a genre: 1998 - present

Although stealth gameplay had appeared in a several games in the 1980s and 1990s, 1998 is seen as a turning point in gaming history because of the release of Metal Gear Solid, Tenchu: Stealth Assassins, and Thief: The Dark Project.[4][19] The ninja-themed game Tenchu: Stealth Assassins was released several months before Metal Gear Solid, making it the first 3D stealth based-game.[15] The highly anticipated Metal Gear Solid transformed its modestly successful franchise into a large mainstream success. The increased power of the PlayStation console over previous platforms allowed for greater immersion in terms of both story and game environment.[17] Metal Gear Solid has been credited with popularizing the stealth genre.[2][20] Thief: The Dark Project, which featured devices such as burglary and lock-picking, is also credited as a pioneer in the stealth game genre.[3][8][19] The core elements of these games, such as avoiding confrontation, minimizing noise, and attacking antagonists from "the shadows", influenced many future stealth game series.[3]

With further releases, many games in the genre have drifted towards action by allowing the option of direct confrontations.[21] The Hitman series, the first installment of which was released in 2000, allowed this play style,[21] but rewarded the player for stealthy and elaborate assassination of antagonists. Hitman: Codename 47 was also the first 3D game to employ the genre's device of disguises.[15] No One Lives Forever, an espionage themed parody also released in 2000, again allowed the player to combine or choose between stealth and overt violence.[15]

The acclaimed Metal Gear series continued with Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty (PlayStation 2; 2001)[22] which further evolved the stealth gameplay. It featured an array of new abilities,[23] as well as an improved enemy AI where, unlike previous games in the genre, the enemy guards in Metal Gear Solid 2 work together in squads, can communicate with one another,[24] and react in a more realistic manner towards the player. The game's enemy AI is still considered one of the finest examples in the genre.[25] Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty became the genre's best selling game with 7 million in sales, followed by Metal Gear Solid with 6 million in sales.[26][1] They were followed by two more sequels, Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater (PlayStation 2; 2004)[27] and Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots (PlayStation 3; 2008).[28]

2002 saw the first installment of the Tom Clancy licensed Splinter Cell series, an attempt at a more realistic game in the vein of Metal Gear.[15] Sly Cooper, a cell-shaded game released in 2002, was a "stealth platformer",[15] while 2003's Siren combined the survival horror genre with the stealth genre.[4] The controversial Manhunt (also 2003) employed a snuff movie theme and allowed the player to kill antagonists with varying levels of violence, dependant on how much time was spent sneaking behind them.[29] In 2007, Assassin's Creed introduced a social element to the stealth game, where the player is able to hide among a crowd of civilians if they take care to blend in.[30]

References

  1. ^ a b "Konami of America and Sony Computer Entertainment America Announce That Metal Gear Solid 3 Will Be Available Exclusively for PlayStation 2". Contact Music. Retrieved 2006-11-26.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Scott Beattie (2007). IE2007: Proceedings of the Fourth Australasian Conference on Interactive Entertainment. RMIT University. {{cite book}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help)
  3. ^ a b c Sid Shuman. "Net Ten: The 10 Most Important Modern Shooters (page 1)". games.net. Retrieved 2009-03-16.
  4. ^ a b c d e f Charles Herold (2004-06-24). "GAME THEORY; First Use Your Brain, Then Unleash Your Brawn". New York Times. Retrieved 2009-03-16.
  5. ^ a b c d Dale Nardozzi (2004-06-01). "Thief: Deadly Shadows Review (Xbox)". Team Xbox. Retrieved 2009-03-16.
  6. ^ a b c Greg Kasavin (2003-04-04). "Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell (PlayStation 2)". CNET. Retrieved 2009-03-16.
  7. ^ a b Edward Byrne (2005). Game level design. Charles River Media. {{cite book}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help)
  8. ^ a b c César A. Berardini (2004-04-16). "Thief Deadly Shadows: Paul Weaver Interview". Team Xbox. Retrieved 2009-03-16.
  9. ^ Geoff King, Tanya Krzywinska (2006). Tomb Raiders and Space Invaders. Palgrave Macmillan. {{cite book}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help)
  10. ^ Ian Millington (2006). Artificial Intelligence for Games. Morgan Kaufmann. {{cite book}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help)
  11. ^ Andrew Rollings & Ernest Adams (2006), Fundamentals of Game Design, Prentice Hall
  12. ^ Stealth game at the Killer List of Videogames
  13. ^ 005, Arcade History
  14. ^ "005 from Sega". Popularplay. Retrieved 2009-08-20.
  15. ^ a b c d e f g h Shane Patterson (2009-02-03), The Sneaky History of Stealth Games, GamesRadar, Retrieved 2009-06-21
  16. ^ Kat Bailey, Top 5 Overlooked Prequels, 1UP, Retrieved on 2009-06-24
  17. ^ a b c d e Shoemaker, Brad (1998-09-29). The History of Metal Gear, GameSpot, Retrieved 2009-06-23
  18. ^ Mark Ryan Sallee. "Kojima's Legacy: We reflect on the influence of Hideo Kojima's 20 years in gaming". IGN. Retrieved 2009-08-20.
  19. ^ a b Thomas L. McDonald (2004-08). PCs and Consoles: Unlikely Bedfellows?. Maximum PC. {{cite book}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help); Check date values in: |date= (help)
  20. ^ Hop (2008-06-10). "Top 10 Stealth Games". GameZone. Retrieved 2009-03-16.
  21. ^ a b Tom McNamara (2004-05-25). "Thief: Deadly Shadows Review". IGN. Retrieved 2009-03-16.
  22. ^ Greg Kasavin (2001-11-13), Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty Review, GameSpot, Retrieved on 2009-06-29
  23. ^ "Metal Gear Solid 2 PS2 Game Guide". Absolute PlayStation. Retrieved 2009-08-20.
  24. ^ "Metal Gear Solid 2 R review". NTSC-UK. Retrieved 2009-08-20.
  25. ^ Mark Ryan Sallee. "Kojima's Legacy". Retrieved 2009-08-20.
  26. ^ "Item 4. Information on the Company". Konami Corp - KNM Annual and Transition Report (foreign private issuer) (20-F). Konami. 2004-07-22. Retrieved 2008-01-14.
  27. ^ Greg Kasavin (2004-11-17), Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater Review, GameSpot, Retrieved on 2009-06-29
  28. ^ Kevin VanOrd (2008-06-13), Metal Gear Solid 4 Review, GameSpot, Retrieved on 2009-06-29
  29. ^ Greg Kasavin (2004-04-20), Manhunt Review, GameSpot, Retrieved on 2009-4-20
  30. ^ Review of Assassin's Creed. GameAxis Unwired. 2007-09. {{cite book}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help); Check date values in: |date= (help)
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