This list is so stealthy that I bet you did not even notice it coming!
Jokes aside, I am a huge fan of thestealth genre(yes, Mr. Kojima, you can be proud of me), simply because it not only tests our skills, but also our patience and strategy.
10 Non-Stealth Games With Great Stealth Mechanics
When infiltration is an option, there’s no better alternative.
It can even expand or deepen some games' stories, as it explores the idea of avoiding conflict rather than embracing it – which, for a long time, was seen as almost mandatory for gameplay to be fun and dynamic.
And the PlayStation 2 was one of the consoles that helped popularize stealth games around the world, being home to spies, assassins, ninjas, and soldiers who prefer the shadows and managed to subtly steal the hearts of many players.
So we decided to pay a little tribute to some PS2 games that proved that the best weapon is not always the loudest.
10Spy Fiction
A Metal Gear-like?
Spy Fiction
I get that many players feel a little hurt thatSpy Fictionis heavily inspired by Metal Gear Solid – to the point of even being called a “rip off” by some – but I see it as more like a Snake meets aMission: Impossiblemovie.
Basically, it is a spy game that has everything you would expect from the genre: technological gadgets, dangerous missions,plot twists, and even two protagonists with different sides to the story.
It indeed is extremely fun, and I remember that I had a blast with it when I was a kid, especially with its great disguise mechanic, which allows you to disguise yourself as any character in the game. I mean, how can that not sound awesome?
9Shinobido: Way of the Ninja
My Ninja Way
Shinobido: Way of the Ninja
Sure,Shinobido: Way of the Ninjais far from a perfect game, but it is one of those forgotten crooked gems from the PlayStation 2 that has a magnetic charm.
You play as a ninja who has lost all his memory and now needs to collect the fragments of his own soul to be himself again, leading to a plot full of twists and intrigues between feudal lords.
Its mentioned charm, however, lies in the gameplay. It is practically impossible to complete the game without stealth strategies, which reinforces the ninja vibe of the experience, and you have several ways and possibilities to act in the shadows, giving you a lot of freedom.
8Tenchu: Wrath of Heaven
Hold My Shurikens
Tenchu: Wrath of Heaven
If you have ever wanted to have a solid ninja stealthy experience, with an amazing atmosphere and diverse gameplay,Tenchu: Wrath of Heavenshould be your pick.
It is probably my favorite title from the Tenchu series – which we can consider the granddaddy of stealth games – since it was the first experience that really made me feel like a true badass, cunning ninja.
I like how your movements can be so smooth while remaining unseen, and how enemy and level designs encourage you to use several different weapons from your arsenal, from shurikens to mist screens and poison needles.
The only reason it is not ranked higher is its story, which is rather basic and is not as sharp as the gameplay.
7Deus Ex: The Conspiracy
I know,Deus Exis not exactly a stealth game, since it mixes so many genres, but it is undeniable that stealth is an extremely important part of the game – and that has influenced many other titles.
What I love about it is that stealth is not mandatory and is not a simple mechanic. It is actually a very rewarding tool that shapes the way that you interact with the level design, and its fun little secrets, such as hidden areas and optional dialogue choices.
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Not quite shooters. Not quite RPGs. Intrigued?
Also, it is important to remember that the PlayStation 2 version is slightly different from the PC one, being a simplified version with a few changes to make it more “console friendly”, such as more areas separated by loading screens.
6Sly 2: Band of Thieves
Stealing Hearts Away
Sly 2: Band of Thieves
I am the kind of player who loves 3D platformers and stealth games, so whenSly 2: Band of Thievescame to perfectly mix both, my mind was blown away by it.
It also came with an art direction that was a nice breath of fresh air. Instead of a realistic and dark setting – usually used in stealth-themed experiences – we got a vibrant,cartoonish look.
Add that idea to a nice story with memorable characters and solid gameplay, which is not so deep or complex, simply fulfilling what initially promised with fun and varied options.
Brutally Stealthy
You may rememberManhuntas one of the most controversial games from Rockstar Games, but you should actually remember it as themost brutalstealth we ever got to see on the PlayStation 2.
Its story follows a killer sentenced to death row, who is suddenly released and forced to murder a bunch of people for snuff films – and it is as twisted as it sounds, with disturbing settings and enemies.
Inside that violent scenario, stealth is pretty solid and straightforward, becoming an important part of the gameplay, for the protagonist to be able to kill even the most grotesque of criminals.
4Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty
SNAAAAAAKE
Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty
It is interesting howMetal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty’s deceptive nature was not so well-received by some players, because nothing reflects more “stealth” for me than that!
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Even the most careful infiltrations can lead you to an unavoidable combat.
Sure, this is an experience that is much more narrative-driven than the other titles from the franchise, making its gameplayalmost there, but it can still deliver a taste of the old tactical espionage action that we all love.
There is just something so fun and rewarding about peaking around corners, hiding up against the walls, sneaking in confined spaces, and, of course, having to desperately run and hide when seen.
3Hitman: Blood Money
Sneaky Bald Man
Hitman: Blood Money
Oh, the bald perfectionist we all came to know and adore!Hitman: Blood Moneywas my first experience with the franchise – and I think it will always be the perfect Hitman game.
It has the perfect tone, with a balanced level of dark and quirky humor, so it is more serious in comparison to the most recent era of the series. And it is much harder and less forgiving too, resulting in some of the most challenging stealth levels I have ever played.
Also, every map is incredibly fun and immersive, alongside great targets and an awesome soundtrack that rent free in my head.
2Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory
More Like Stealth Theory
Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory
I like to describeSplinter Cell: Chaos Theoryas one of the most old-school stealth games we have ever seen, since it does not underestimate the player, not even for a second.
Let us start with its story, which is full of elements that makeJames Bondand Ethan Hunt terribly jealous of it: political intrigues, warfare crises, plot twists, and deadly conspiracies.
But the most impressive element is its gameplay, by far. You have so many gadgets at your disposal, and it is almost surreal the number of ways you can solve situations, making the idea of killing everyone and simply rushing it a terrible waste.
1Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater
Stealthy Masterpiece
Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater (2004)
Remember when I said that Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty was almost there in terms of gameplay? Well, that is becauseMetal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eatercompletely got there.
It is the most satisfying and challenging Metal Gear title that added a camouflage system and a more modern camera, basically changing the way you approach stealth.
And its story is set in the Cold War-era Soviet Union, with an unexpected (and completely hypnotizing) 1960s jungle setting.
Basically, MGS3 gives everything (and a little more) of what you would expect from the genre – it is nearly stealth perfection, that pushed the PlayStation 2 just as far as it could go.
