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Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops


The sneaky history of stealth games

Hide and seek through the ages

Words: Shane Patterson, GamesRadar US


Chronicles of Riddick: Escape from Butcher Bay/Assault on Dark Athena – 2004, 2009
As far as movie-based games go, this one is completely surprising. Based off the Riddick/Pitch Black series, you play as Vin Diesel in this FPS combat/stealth game. Essentially, you rely on your cunning to escape prison. This involves hiding, shivving and the odd firefight. Dark Athena is a planned remake, but has been in development so long that the campaign has been expanded. Don’t miss it.


Cy Girls – 2004
A generic action-stealth game starring hot chicks. No one remembers. We’re surprised someone at the GR towers did though.


Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines – 2004
Your ability to go undetected is heavily influenced by your Dexterity and Stealth ratings in this Source-based RPG. Other noteworthy features: gaining experience by completing quests and not killing enemies, and you’re penalized for using your vampiric abilities in front of humans. Both features influence your gameplay decisions and increase replay value.


Spy Fiction – 2004
The second most notable thing about this game is being able to disguise yourself as any character. The first most notable thing is how forgettable the game was and the lack of impact it made.


Psychonauts – 2005
In Tim Schaefer’s critically well-received puzzle platformer, your character Raz earns different power-ups for his Psi ranking. The invisibility power-up naturally helps Raz avoid enemies.


Haunting Ground – 2005
After a car accident, Fiona wakes up in a haunted castle. In order to escape all the creepy goings-on, she’ll use the help of a white German shepherd. Oh and you need to scold the dog if it doesn’t do what you say. Stealth and dog training all in one game. This would’ve made a great DS game.


Indigo Prophecy – 2005
The predecessor to the amazing-looking Heavy Rain, IP’s a paranormal thriller enabling you to play from multiple sides of a crime. Stealth sequences include the tense opening where you play as the murderer trying to hide a dead body in a crowded diner restroom with cops nearby. Other stealth scenes include flashbacks where you and your brother sneak around a military base in search of a downed UFO. Can currently be downloaded as an Xbox original.


Shadow of the Colossus – 2005
If you haven’t played this masterpiece, then slap yourself. Of the 16 colossi you need to defeat, none are purely stealth-based. In fact, we mention SotC because you need to trick one Colossus into thinking he knows where you are. Then you run down an underground tunnel and pop up behind him. Before he knows what’s happening, you’re climbing wildly on his back.


Resident Evil 4 – 2005
Everyone remembers “holy shit” moments like the opening village battle or mine cart chase. But don’t forget the parts where you sneak around the blind clawed maniac. Or playing as the all-but-useless Ashley as she avoids suits of armor and possessed Spaniards.


Geist – 2005
Not really a stealth game per se, Geist enables you to possess objects and people in order to save the world from a demon. In order to do so, you have to scare the crap out of armed guards and animals so you can get inside their body all Ghost-like and progress through the levels. An overlooked and decent shooter.


Sniper Elite – 2005
What’s stealthier than a sniper game? Nuthin!


The Getaway: Black Monday – 2005
Keeping with Resident Evil 4’s theme of awesome action-shooter for the male protagonists and so-so stealth sequences for the secondary female characters, The Getaway sequel enables you to sneak about as a teenage girl. Very progressive.


 
49 Comments
Order Comments: Newest First | Oldest First
John-117  - 9 months 27 days ago 
Fantastic job shane, I haven't played too many of these games but I absolutely love some stealthy action.

Some of these games I never even knew had stealth elements, but I may go play some of them if I can find them cheap.

It's interesting to hear that Uncharted 2 will incorporate stealth into the gameplay because I always felt the first cried out to let you sneak in around the cover.

P.S. MGS series owns them all!(in my opinion :P)
skyguy343  - 9 months 27 days ago 
my friends paid me to do the forsaken fortress for them!

like the joker said, if ur good at something, never do it for free
skyguy343  - 9 months 27 days ago 
and before i forget, another SotC reference!!

WOOOO!!! XD
ELpork  - 9 months 27 days ago 
.......I want to play bioshock
The_Lurcher  - 9 months 27 days ago 
wow an SotC and beyond good and evil reference but granted both are very sexy... anyway awsome article cant wait for the talkradar for this week
jamminontha1n2  - 9 months 27 days ago 
Great list Shane. The only game that I can think of that wasn't on this list is Golden Sun on the GBA when you have to sneak into the thief town by using the shadows.
reyalejandro13  - 9 months 27 days ago 
Garr, i hated the temple of the Ocean King. One i got the ability to kill those guys, i did it with pride!
rocketfuel  - 9 months 27 days ago 
Another game I know is missing from that list is Shadow of Rome. When you took a break from chopping off limbs you'd play as octavian and sneak around hiding from Roman soldiers or killing them and stealing their outfits but otherwise great list. I'm a huge fan of bethesda and the stealth in their games.
AnonymouZ  - 9 months 27 days ago 
gigglesnort* sneakily
KaylaKaze  - 9 months 27 days ago 
You forgot Messiah, too.
climbing wolf  - 9 months 27 days ago 
5 pages!!?!?!?!? :)
jesusfrk15  - 9 months 27 days ago 
yes! i now count three times splinter cell has been mentioned!
WaldoOfWhere  - 9 months 27 days ago 
OMG What About Rainbow Six Vegas or did I miss IT.
Montag  - 9 months 27 days ago 
No System Shock 2?

Good call on Deus Ex tho..... Stealth if you like, not because you have to... nice
cart00n  - 9 months 27 days ago 
Not usually a big fan of "stealth games" - there are far too many other, cheaper ways to aggravate myself! However, BG&E was awesome. Assassins' Creed was a whole lot of fun, too.
Tasty_Pasta  - 9 months 27 days ago 
Hell yeah, Sniper Elite. The AI and sneaking were horrible, but the weapon ballistics were awesome!
Red  - 9 months 27 days ago 
If I had to pick two things that I absolutely hate about games, it would be mandatory stealth sections and mandatory protect the NPC missions. Games that force you to stay hidden AND keep your companions alive/hidden are the wosrt of all.
There's almost nothing more irritating than being almost finished with a mission/level only to turn around and find your dumbass companion standing out in the open. MISSION FAILED.
game-thugsta  - 9 months 27 days ago 
Snake is and always will be the king of stealth... and in general the best video game character ever.
key0blade  - 9 months 27 days ago 
Put down all the stealth games you want to, but Metal Gear *Solid* as a series is, always has, and always will be WIN
AMayer  - 9 months 27 days ago 
I remember I used to play GoldenEye for so long that shotting people in the back of the noggin became second nature.
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