Overview: A 2D puzzle platformer and sequel to Stealth Bastard Deluxe.*
*Stealth Bastard Deluxe was released on the PS3 and Vita as Stealth Inc: A Clone in the Dark. Consequently, the sequel is named Stealth Inc 2 (as opposed to Stealth Bastard 2).
20190727:
I played Stealth Bastard Deluxe a long time ago and so I was looking forward to playing Stealth Inc 2. While I had some fun, the biggest problem I had with the game was having to go through the overworld in between test chambers. At first it was fun, but then it became tedious. At which point, I went to the "Test Chambers" option in the menu and saw that the "Test Chambers" were available from that screen, but then I was left a little confused. Did levels only become available there after unlocking them in the main game? I'll have to test this out tomorrow.
Setup: Keyboard. 1920x1080, Fullscreen.
Gameplay Log:
In Test Chamber 2-3, after making various other attempts, I randomly thought to try the right mouse button and it worked! Pressing the right mouse button will deploy the Inflate-a-Mate beneath the player character's feet. Note that the tutorial level tried to teach this, but may have erroneously instructed the player to use the left mouse button instead of the right mouse button.
Steam Game Time: 3.0 hours
20190728:
Today I played some more and confirmed that the player unlocks levels in the "Test Chambers" section by first finding them in the Campaign mode. I'm not sure whether or not the player has to also beat the level once or simply attempt it. In any case, I consider the "Test Chambers" to be the core of the game, and having to spend time in between the core action is a considerable waste of time.
Gameplay Log:
Tip: Any level that has been played can be revisited via the Test Chambers.
I discovered that the Inflate-a-Mate can be released midair and the player can immediately jump off of it.
I discovered that the player can get a jump boost with the Inflate-a-Mate. [A later level explicitly teaches and requires this technique from the player]
Tip: Some things on the overworld cannot be obtained until later in the game.
Steam Game Time: 5.3 hours (total game time) / 2.3 hours (session game time)
Thoughts:
Pro:
+ Good story. While the story is presented alongside the Campaign mode, it didn't have to be. It could have been told as cutscenes between Test Chambers.
Neutral:
~ I feel as if the original game made more use of hiding in the shadows (i.e., stealth) as a puzzle element.
Cons:
- The Inflate-a-Mate is difficult to use simply because the player's cursor is not always on the screen.
- The Campaign mode map is a distraction and sometimes annoying
- Leaderboards can be improved*; in particular, the ability to see more than just the top 10 would be nice
*Dustforce DX (PC) (2012) is a great example of a useful leaderboard.
Summary:
I enjoyed the levels, but disliked traversing the map that connected them. Actually, this style of level discovery and/or selection is not uncommon, but the levels in Stealth Inc 2 are relatively dispersed compared to other games which use a similar style of level placement. Fortunately, levels played can later be accessed via the menu (though I was initially not aware of this). With that being said, let's pretend
Hypothetically, if the game was just a series of levels like the first game, then I probably would have spent at least two additional hours on the game due to the improved pacing.
Overall, the levels are fun, but I the Campaign mode aspect of it annoys me. Some players may truly enjoy the slower-paced areas in between the fast-paced levels. Personally, this may have been the case if the developers had shortened the length to get from one level to the next.
Stealth Inc 2: A Game of Clones (PC) (2015)
Relevant Links:
Stealth Inc 2: A Game of Clones (Wikipedia.org)
Stealth Inc 2: A Game of Clones (PC) (MetaCritic.com)
Stealth Inc 2: A Game of Clones (Steam Store Page)
*Stealth Bastard Deluxe was released on the PS3 and Vita as Stealth Inc: A Clone in the Dark. Consequently, the sequel is named Stealth Inc 2 (as opposed to Stealth Bastard 2).
20190727:
I played Stealth Bastard Deluxe a long time ago and so I was looking forward to playing Stealth Inc 2. While I had some fun, the biggest problem I had with the game was having to go through the overworld in between test chambers. At first it was fun, but then it became tedious. At which point, I went to the "Test Chambers" option in the menu and saw that the "Test Chambers" were available from that screen, but then I was left a little confused. Did levels only become available there after unlocking them in the main game? I'll have to test this out tomorrow.
Setup: Keyboard. 1920x1080, Fullscreen.
Gameplay Log:
In Test Chamber 2-3, after making various other attempts, I randomly thought to try the right mouse button and it worked! Pressing the right mouse button will deploy the Inflate-a-Mate beneath the player character's feet. Note that the tutorial level tried to teach this, but may have erroneously instructed the player to use the left mouse button instead of the right mouse button.
Steam Game Time: 3.0 hours
20190728:
Today I played some more and confirmed that the player unlocks levels in the "Test Chambers" section by first finding them in the Campaign mode. I'm not sure whether or not the player has to also beat the level once or simply attempt it. In any case, I consider the "Test Chambers" to be the core of the game, and having to spend time in between the core action is a considerable waste of time.
Gameplay Log:
Tip: Any level that has been played can be revisited via the Test Chambers.
I discovered that the Inflate-a-Mate can be released midair and the player can immediately jump off of it.
I discovered that the player can get a jump boost with the Inflate-a-Mate. [A later level explicitly teaches and requires this technique from the player]
Tip: Some things on the overworld cannot be obtained until later in the game.
Steam Game Time: 5.3 hours (total game time) / 2.3 hours (session game time)
Thoughts:
Pro:
+ Good story. While the story is presented alongside the Campaign mode, it didn't have to be. It could have been told as cutscenes between Test Chambers.
Neutral:
~ I feel as if the original game made more use of hiding in the shadows (i.e., stealth) as a puzzle element.
Cons:
- The Inflate-a-Mate is difficult to use simply because the player's cursor is not always on the screen.
- The Campaign mode map is a distraction and sometimes annoying
- Leaderboards can be improved*; in particular, the ability to see more than just the top 10 would be nice
*Dustforce DX (PC) (2012) is a great example of a useful leaderboard.
Summary:
I enjoyed the levels, but disliked traversing the map that connected them. Actually, this style of level discovery and/or selection is not uncommon, but the levels in Stealth Inc 2 are relatively dispersed compared to other games which use a similar style of level placement. Fortunately, levels played can later be accessed via the menu (though I was initially not aware of this). With that being said, let's pretend
Hypothetically, if the game was just a series of levels like the first game, then I probably would have spent at least two additional hours on the game due to the improved pacing.
Overall, the levels are fun, but I the Campaign mode aspect of it annoys me. Some players may truly enjoy the slower-paced areas in between the fast-paced levels. Personally, this may have been the case if the developers had shortened the length to get from one level to the next.
Stealth Inc 2: A Game of Clones (PC) (2015)
Relevant Links:
Stealth Inc 2: A Game of Clones (Wikipedia.org)
Stealth Inc 2: A Game of Clones (PC) (MetaCritic.com)
Stealth Inc 2: A Game of Clones (Steam Store Page)
Date/Time
Saturday, July 27, 2019
@
20:45
No comments :