I really like stealth, even a bad stealth section can effortlessly generate tension. You know what I hate? Games the f**k up stealth sections by failing to make them even slightly possible to complete on the first try.
Alpha Protocol for example can bugger off when it respawns me in full view of a guard when I load. Or when it makes me choose between a lightweight brighly coloured shirt or a clunky heavy black one. Or when it placed enemies where no player could possibly hope to see them while evading ground targets.
But just a minute ago I almost found a fun stealthing section in a game. Mafia 2. Here you are made to sneak into a government building and nick some paperwork in order to appease your new Mafia masters. Your new boss only expresses one rule: no shooting. He says he wants a clean job, no gunfire. Fair enough sounds like a challenge.
I climb in through a window, start sneaking about. The game prompts me to knock out guards using left click when I am behind them. Sounds helpful, So I promptly clear the main room of all threats and nick the documents with no problems. But as soon as I have the documents the alarms all go off and I am chased away by gun totting cops. So wait, was it the safe alarm that gone off? Whatever, mission complete. I didn't let off a single round so maybe this was a scripted event.
My boss isnt happy. Turns out that wasn't right. So hang on I didn't get seen, and I didn't let off any rounds... what happened? Hang on, was it because I knocked out those guards? I look online and sure enough what the game REALLY meant by no gunfire was absolutely no evidence of a break in whatsoever. Oh thanks Mafia you made that so bloody clear when we started. I especially liked the way the game told me how to knock out guards without also mentioning that was the WRONG the thing to do. Imagine if Half Life 2 told you how to pick up the can at the start, and then that made the guard go killcrazy and shoot you in the face. Thats basically what Mafia 2 just did to me.
So anyway have you ever felt cheated by a stealth section in a game before? Any examples of the most stressful stealth section you have ever played?
Alpha Protocol for example can bugger off when it respawns me in full view of a guard when I load. Or when it makes me choose between a lightweight brighly coloured shirt or a clunky heavy black one. Or when it placed enemies where no player could possibly hope to see them while evading ground targets.
But just a minute ago I almost found a fun stealthing section in a game. Mafia 2. Here you are made to sneak into a government building and nick some paperwork in order to appease your new Mafia masters. Your new boss only expresses one rule: no shooting. He says he wants a clean job, no gunfire. Fair enough sounds like a challenge.
I climb in through a window, start sneaking about. The game prompts me to knock out guards using left click when I am behind them. Sounds helpful, So I promptly clear the main room of all threats and nick the documents with no problems. But as soon as I have the documents the alarms all go off and I am chased away by gun totting cops. So wait, was it the safe alarm that gone off? Whatever, mission complete. I didn't let off a single round so maybe this was a scripted event.
My boss isnt happy. Turns out that wasn't right. So hang on I didn't get seen, and I didn't let off any rounds... what happened? Hang on, was it because I knocked out those guards? I look online and sure enough what the game REALLY meant by no gunfire was absolutely no evidence of a break in whatsoever. Oh thanks Mafia you made that so bloody clear when we started. I especially liked the way the game told me how to knock out guards without also mentioning that was the WRONG the thing to do. Imagine if Half Life 2 told you how to pick up the can at the start, and then that made the guard go killcrazy and shoot you in the face. Thats basically what Mafia 2 just did to me.
So anyway have you ever felt cheated by a stealth section in a game before? Any examples of the most stressful stealth section you have ever played?