The History of Stealth – Assassins, Thieves, Agents that Made the Genre
Even Death Stranding, a courier simulator, draws on the stealth mechanics. Which actually goes to show how far this genre has come since the 80s. Today, we will look at the most important turning points in the history of stealth games.
Table of Contents
- The History of Stealth – Assassins, Thieves, Agents that Made the Genre
- Metal Gear and Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake
- Thief: The Dark Project
- Metal Gear Solid.
- Aliens vs. Predator
- Hitman: Codename 47
- Deus Ex
- Splinter Cell and Splinter Cell: Pandora Tomorrow
- Siren
- Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater
- Assassin's Creed
Hitman: Codename 47
- Developers: IO Interactive
- Year of release: 2000
The bald guy from IO Interactive built his reputation slowly, but steadily. With great focus, of course. Like John Wick. Truth be told, the beginning was rather bumpy, but they also brought a breath of fresh air, forming a specific niche in stealth games, in which Agent 47 now comfortably sprawls, and over which he holds absolute rule.
The first part was not perfect. The graphics were sort of lame, the technical condition was rather poor, and the controls seemed ill-conceived. But at the same time, the game brought many fresh ideas. The baldy had an element of Jason Bourne in him, but with a much more dramatic background story of a human tool that wants out. IO Interactive armed this game with a lot of well-designed camp – the bloody assassinations committed on bandits were juxtaposed with exaggerated elegance, and classical music.
And it was exactly the first Hitman that introduced the disguise system which allowed the player to blend into the background and move between enemies as a waiter or plumber. This idea opened up new tactical possibilities, allowing players to creatively overcome challenges, and at the same time created lots of leeway for the devs' salty humor.
HIDE AND SEEK
Even before Hitman, dressing up was possible in the game Commandos: Behind Enemy Lines. One of the characters in this isometric stealth game was able to steal a German uniform and thus walk freely between Wehrmacht' soldiers. Hitman took it to a whole 'nother level, though.
