The Stealth Genre Needs Innovation

After spending time with the Thief, Assassin’s Creed, Hitman, and other stealth-focused series over the years, the editors over at The Kartel seem to think that the stealth genre is “overdue for innovation”. Looking to the future, they spotlight Alpha Protocol as having some real potential:

Paranoia can be a compelling gameplay mechanic, and performing counter-intel to make sure your phones aren’t tapped, your transactions aren’t tracked, and your organization isn’t compromised by double agents will be worth it to avoid setbacks later. The challenge would be making a dialogue system that’s just as fun and intuitive as gunplay. But it is also complicated to create a meaningful light/ sound engine for environments and the AI to perceive it. There are other ways to avoid detection, like improvising diversions. Remember when Jason Bourne assembled a molotov on the fly from materials he grabbed as he was running through the mall? That’s a kind of spy game I would want to play, one based on authentic craft. That’s why the upcoming Alpha Protocol has me excited: it promises to allow open-ended espionage gameplay based on RPG framework. Yum!

Without question, Thief did more for the stealth genre than any game before or since. I’m sure Alpha Protocol will have its moments, but I’m skeptical that a modern multi-platform game can approach the level of complexity necessary to achieve a similar greatness. Here’s to hoping I’m wrong.