PS3 News: Dishonored's Popularity Shows Gamers Still Love Stealth - PS3 News

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Dishonored's Popularity Shows Gamers Still Love Stealth

I have often lamented the rise of "twitch gaming;" i.e., much lower attention spans and the general prevalence of shooters have hindered other genres and the creation of different gameplay mechanics.

However, while it's probably true that the days of pure stealth adventures are gone - in lieu of the freedom found in games like Dishonored, where one has a choice - it seems gamers everywhere still appreciate the stealthy style. Of course, this is all assuming the sales of Bethesda's latest product match the overwhelming critical acclaim...and I think they will. Certainly not Call of Duty numbers, but even so, I predict a definite hit.

Thing is, while one does have a choice in Dishonored, the game sort of encourages the more patient, strategic approach. This is because the more you kill and the more chaos you cause, the darker and more depressing the city gets (more rats, more Weepers, etc.) Furthermore, the setup is very much designed to encourage sneak attacks as well; it's not like there are a bunch of enemies running at you the instant you step foot on the street. But if you really think about it, this isn't the only example of stealth's seemingly entrenched popularity.

Look at Assassin's Creed, arguably the second-biggest name in video games today. Again, you certainly have the option of drawing your sword on just about any enemy that stands in your way, but none of the games are set up to encourage that sort of approach. Just the opposite, in fact. Everything, from the way the enemies are positioned to the very controls, mechanics, and skills, points towards a stealthy format. I'm not sure if that will shift a little in ACIII - it might - but for at least four titles, AC has really focused heavily on stealth. And most people play it that way, too.

Granted, we're talking about games for the hardcore, here. But doesn't it sort of give you a nice, warm, fuzzy feeling to know there are still a lot of those core gamers out there who crave these sort of experiences?

Related Game(s): Dishonored

Tags: dishonored, bethesda, arkane studios, stealth games, stealth fans

10/20/2012 11:09:58 AM Ben Dutka

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Comments (27 posts)

xenris
Saturday, October 20, 2012 @ 1:10:39 PM
Reply

I think there is a certain appeal to the stealth genre that has yet to be tapped into. I think choices are great making a game so you can be stealthy or take a more head on approach is excellent.

But I think that there is something awfully appealing about stealthing and entering an area and eliminating every enemy without being detected. I think it scratches a certain itch people have, just the same as the shooting gunz blazing approach appeals to people.

The problem is stealth has to be done well, its frustrating if the controls arent spot on, and if the enemies can see you or hear you really easily. Likewise if the enemies are stupid its not really fun.

I think mark of the ninja is an excellent showcase of new age stealth done right, and so is dishonored. I'm not sure if mark of the ninja is coming to PSN soon but its on steam and xbla right now I definitely recommend it for any stealth fans.

I hope dishonored sells well, for the sake of the IP and future hope in the stealth genre.

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WorldEndsWithMe
Saturday, October 20, 2012 @ 1:35:26 PM

I hope The Last of Us handles this new age stealth really well for survival purposes.

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xenris
Saturday, October 20, 2012 @ 3:58:45 PM

Man me too. I hope there are situations where hiding and either avoiding or stealth killing is the better option.

Would be nice if some sections on higher difficulty modes required stealth because of the scarce resources.

Can't wait for that game.

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bigrailer19
Saturday, October 20, 2012 @ 1:12:57 PM
Reply

I think that sometimes we are so surprised at the amount of attention FPS' get and overlook the fact that other games like AC, now Doshonored, are very popular. Also look at the anticipation for Hitman, and how much hype surrounded Splinter Cell: Comviction.

It's easy to say a game is popular by sales numbers but, those sales numbers prove that people do want these games. It has and always will be this way I think. Im absolutely certain more people play CoD or any other "twitch" game and still anxiously await AC3 or another genre of game, than there is those who just play "twitch" type games.

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WorldEndsWithMe
Saturday, October 20, 2012 @ 1:32:51 PM
Reply

Proof that gamers haven't all descended into the ninth circle of twitchy Hell. Although I couldn't seem to do anything in AC that didn't make everybody notice me I did a fair job of hiding out in Dishonored. What was cool about Dishonored was that things aren't just set up for stealth but it is rewarded with a better ending and merciful deeds are encouraged through the character of Emily about whom there is a great plot twist.

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Ben Dutka PSXE [Administrator]
Saturday, October 20, 2012 @ 1:45:34 PM

That's really weird...I'm almost never spotted in AC and I'm frequently noticed in Dishonored. The guards in the latter are usually clumped together; taking out dudes in the much larger areas of AC and disappearing was a breeze.

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WorldEndsWithMe
Saturday, October 20, 2012 @ 2:14:37 PM

I think we have different play styles as I'm not very good at traditional stealth, but with Dishonored in a situation like that I can possess one of the guards and walk him back behind a dumpster for cut throat or raise a plague of rats to distract the men.

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Ben Dutka PSXE [Administrator]
Saturday, October 20, 2012 @ 4:17:31 PM

Well, yeah, but you can't do that kind of stuff in Dishonored for a while; you need 8 more Runes to get Possession up to Lv. 2 where you can control people. In AC, besides the different weapons, you have everything you need to kill with the hidden blade and then disappear among the crowds or on the rooftops. :)

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WorldEndsWithMe
Saturday, October 20, 2012 @ 4:41:28 PM

That's another place I had trouble, running or bumping into people was apparently a capital offense :(

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Ben Dutka PSXE [Administrator]
Saturday, October 20, 2012 @ 5:30:02 PM

Yeah, I spend 95% of my time on rooftops. Much easier that way.

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Lawless SXE
Saturday, October 20, 2012 @ 6:52:10 PM

I always had trouble with the main targets in Assassin's Creed. Even if you manage to isolate them before lining up your kill, as soon as they're dead the bells start ringing and it's everything on the line. Can't speak for the Ezio saga yet, but that was one major annoyance for me in the original.

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Underdog15
Sunday, October 21, 2012 @ 2:02:37 PM

Yeah lawless, that bell thing is exclusive to the first one.

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dillonthebunny
Saturday, October 20, 2012 @ 1:56:30 PM
Reply

the amount of effort they put in to the back story of Dishonored is quite something, everything you pick up and read there's a point to, maybe not now but I would wager that they have some pretty big plans for the series. quite frankly I loved it, as I've said on many occasions its far too short, but then all good game are whether they are 5 hours long or 50.

Dishonored was a fantastic starter, now I want the main course! lol

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WorldEndsWithMe
Saturday, October 20, 2012 @ 2:18:33 PM

I was really hoping I'd get to board a whaling vessel and maybe see one of the beasts, but hey at least there's tons of room for sequels. I didn't feel it was too short but it felt short because it made time fly by, 2-3 hours would just blow right by and I'd be like whaaa?

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Kiryu
Saturday, October 20, 2012 @ 2:00:57 PM
Reply

Metal Gear Solid is the god of Stealth games.

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LaasYaNir
Saturday, October 20, 2012 @ 2:08:25 PM
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Oddly, Dishonored is the only stealth game I've been able to enjoy.

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Beamboom
Saturday, October 20, 2012 @ 2:13:24 PM
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I hope far cry 3 keeps the stealthy aspects of fc2. It was the most fun way to play in fc2.
Last edited by Beamboom on 10/20/2012 2:14:58 PM

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JLB1
Saturday, October 20, 2012 @ 5:08:40 PM
Reply

Instead of solely stealth. I think the success of this game shows the industry that gamers react well to freedom. I'd love to see a statistical breakdown of who went the guns blazing route and who went the stealth route. Personally, I attempted the stealth route my first playthrough, but it wasn't working. So I just went all out and tried to complete each mission as over the top as possible. Now, on my second playthrough, I'm going the stealth route and while it's not easy, it's much simpler.

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AcHiLLiA
Saturday, October 20, 2012 @ 5:16:41 PM
Reply

Thank you Metal Gear Solid for getting me to like stealth games.
Last edited by AcHiLLiA on 10/20/2012 5:16:54 PM

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Lawless SXE
Saturday, October 20, 2012 @ 6:56:33 PM
Reply

I'd like to see the reception that Hitman: Absolution will get. It's going to be a stealth title too, and it'll be an awesome way to compare and contrast the genre. I think, however, that it's more the freedom that people latch onto as there is a definite bonus to being able to play largely in whatever way most appeals to you. So many games spruik freedom, but, more often than not, they're talking about the environment and not the mechanics.

On the other hand, perhaps Dishonored is more a showcase of gamers' general love of freshness at any point in a console lifecycle.

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Gamer46
Saturday, October 20, 2012 @ 9:13:15 PM
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Been a big fan of stealth games since MGS 1. If I have the option of playing through a game or segment of a game that way I will and appreciate Arkane for going in this direction with a new franchise rather than the easy way out of making a war based FPS and hyping the crap out of it.

The AC games have been as good as any at promoting stealth this gen as well, I really hope 3 doesn't stray too far from that but it looks like it might.
Last edited by Gamer46 on 10/20/2012 9:15:43 PM

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iankhaneagle
Saturday, October 20, 2012 @ 9:19:59 PM
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I thought dishonored was intriguing. Can't help but feel disappointed by it though. Felt the graphics fell way short and I grew tired of the RPG ask element to get clues every 2 seconds. I put it back at redbox feeling as though while I may be missing out on the Game of the year it was not the game for me. I opted to get a copy of Crysis 2 instead. I haven't given a dishonored a 2nd thought since then. While the AI is sometimes buggy...i find Crysis 2 scratches that transformers level sky is falling Sci FI action itch. Dishonored does not. I liked Xcom more.

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Ben Dutka PSXE [Administrator]
Saturday, October 20, 2012 @ 9:55:04 PM

Not sure what you mean about needing clues "every 2 seconds." Also not sure what you were asking for in terms of graphics.

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___________
Sunday, October 21, 2012 @ 4:48:38 AM
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ironic, considering its one of the worst stealth games this gen!
i wish the old spy espionage series would make a return, there use to be so many of them back in the ps1 days like 007, mission impossible, psi ops and so on.
one genre that really needs to make a comeback!

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iankhaneagle
Sunday, October 21, 2012 @ 10:46:09 AM
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@ Ben. I didnt like the RPG element. i felt it took away from my gaming experience. Graphically, i saw some "shimmering"/"rippling" within the games textures. that may be a function of my TV as it is an aging Vizio, just felt it wasnt up to snuff. as intoxicating as the powers were, i felt it was fun but i didnt feel it was my kind of fun and i sure as heck didnt feel it was worth the 60 bucks i would be charged if i kept the redbox copy. as i said, graphically i felt it was too artistic/water colored and for me it was a let down. my biggest gripe was the lack of weapons and the reliance upon the mystical powers. for as much as i thought it was cool, there came a point in my experience where it began to feel contrived and necessary rather than the freedom the developers speak of. when this game falls to the bargain bin or when i get a nice gift card i might get it, but before then probably not. id rate the game as a 6 not a 9.

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Ben Dutka PSXE [Administrator]
Sunday, October 21, 2012 @ 11:02:33 AM

Well, your 6 is a very personal thing. You have to look past a lot of your own opinions when doing professional reviews. I have to do it all the time. :)

It's true that more weapons should've been included, but I think it's clear that Dishonored is encouraging stealth. In that case, the weapons are almost irrelevant. And the graphics do have some shimmering; it's a trademark of Bethesda products, really (even if they're made by a studio like Arkane).

And if you're not a fan of RPGs and you don't like the stealth, I can see why Dishonored wouldn't be your type of game.
Last edited by Ben Dutka PSXE on 10/21/2012 11:02:49 AM

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iankhaneagle
Monday, October 22, 2012 @ 2:06:13 PM
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@ Ben its not that i dont like Stealth. its just been done to death. its the in vogue genre, and we can all see how it and FPS are dominating the market. aside from madden and maybe WWE and sports...FPS and stealth are constants as of the last...15 years. this trend goes all the way back to MGS 1 and Syphon Filter. my problem with it is now we are getting away from what defines certain genres. i dont hate Dishonored, i just dont see the GOTY for my own library as everyone else does. and i personally take journalists to task on that for motivating me to go out and rent it/buy it in the first place. i understand your stance, part journalist, part car salesman, part priest. each component has its place in the job that you do. i have a journalistic, communications background. i know what your referring to in terms of objectivity. its just that i have gaming probably longer than you have been alive. my first recollections of gaming go back to atari GI Joe games with endless waves of cobra soldiers comingg at you out of the giant red snakehead base and also a game even prior to that, a marvel comics painting title for the coleco vision. while i can respect your requesting objectivity and open minds, i have the equal right to come on here and tell you you were flat out overhyping something for the sake of pushing up scores for your interested advertisers and benefactors. as a connected man in the industry, you are undoubtedly connected to it and not beyond reproach.

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