While it wasn’t the biggest surprise in the world, it was still nice to discover that the Initiative’s next game was indeed aPerfect Darksequel. The prevailing rumor surrounding the studio, paired with the numerous industry veterans joining the development team, led many to believe the studio’s inaugural game could be aPerfect Darkentry. Lo and behold, the stealth-action game that was arguably a progenitor for the stealth genre is being brought back by a new studio. It’s been a long time coming for the series, but the timing couldn’t be better. In the last few years, there’s been a sore scarcity of stealth-first games.
Ironically enough, after a decade of dormancy, the nextPerfect Darkmay be doing more than just bringing back a long-thought “dead” franchise. Stealth games have branched out a lot since theSplinter Celldays, evolving away from being strictly stealth-only to a variety of genres. Horror games, action/adventure games, RPGs, many of the recent releases in these genres incorporate stealth mechanics, but it’s never the focus of the experience. Games likeHitmanandDishonoredare a rare breed of games that reward intelligent stealth well, but most other stealth games cater to niche audiences.Perfect Darkcould emphasize the desire for stealth-focused games.
Perfect Dark Emphasizes the Sorely Missed Stealth Game
Now, to be fair, there’s been no gameplay shown for the newPerfect Darkgame publicly. Considering how recently announced this game is, that makes sense. However,Perfect Darkas described by the Initiative, sounds like a game that’s going to be emphasizing espionage and stealth mechanics as the main draw. Described as a “secret agent thriller,“Perfect Darkseems to be focusing inherently on concepts of “getting into places unseen,” alongside the use of gadgets and technology. Similar to what game director Dan Neuburger states in the developer interview, there truly aren’t any games out there thatspecificallyfocus on stealth and espionage gameplay.
That kind of stealth-genre enthusiast game really isn’t available in modern games, save for a few outliers. Even then,recently released stealth games like theHitmanreboot,Dishonored,Alien Isolation,Metal Gear Solid 5, these all have stealth mechanics but aren’t necessarily stealth-driven. In all of those aforementioned examples, those games do not punish/discourage players from playing “loud” or aggressively.Perfect Darkcould be the game to show how simulatory stealth experiences, despite enticing a niche audience, are still worth catering too. It’s why some of the best stealth franchises, likeSplinter CellandDeus Ex, are loved by stealth game fans.
Stealth Games Could See New Life, Thanks to Perfect Dark
However, assumingPerfect Darkdoes become the true-to-form stealth game that the developer interviews infer, it may be able to reinvigorate that stealth-first genre. Critical and media reception of the game will certainly dictate what the reaction to a traditional stealth game is like, and whether future efforts in the genre may succeed. For years now, fans have been asking for a traditional reboot or sequel ofSplinter Cell, one of Ubisoft’s biggest franchises. Granted, it doesn’t help thatSplinter Cell’s protagonist Sam Fisher has had more cameo appearancesin other Ubisoft games throughout the last decade than appearances in actualSplinter Cellgames.
AssumingPerfect Darklives up to its promise of espionage-focused “secret agent” style gameplay, it could hopefully instill some confidence in Ubisoft’s long dormant franchise as well. To be fair, as popular asSplinter Cellused to be, stealth games have certainly become more niche than they ever were previously. Most modern games are dedicated to providing players options, rather than honing in on and emphasizing one specific gameplay method.Perfect DarkandSplinter Cellreleasing on next-gen consoleshave the chance to breath new life into a genre that hasn’t seen much support in the last decade, at least in comparison to its previous popularity.
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The Stealth-Focused Action Game Deserves a Revival
Recently released games have at least shown that there’s potential in a strictly stealth-oriented game. For as much backlash asCyberpunk 2077has received,stealth gameplay in CD Projekt Red’s latest RPGis very reminiscent of classicSplinter Cellgames likeChaos Theory. Utilizing hacking and gadgets to distract enemies for takedowns, or even avoiding fights altogether, is exactly what madeSplinter Cell Chaos Theoryso special as a stealth game.HitmanandDishonoredmarch to a similar beat, though they don’t quite match the inherently stealth-focused gameplay of traditionalSplinter Cellgames.
Regardless, withPerfect Darkpotentially adopting a similar gameplay style to previousSplinter Cellgames, there may be hope for fans looking for a proper stealth game. ConsideringUbisoft hasn’t exactly instilled confidence inSplinter Cellfanshoping for a new entry,Perfect Darkmay be the next best bet. If anything, assumingPerfect Darkreleases prior to a newSplinter Cellgame (which it very well could at this point), perhaps the reception ofPerfect Dark’s stealth gameplay may serve as an encouraging sign for more stealth-focused gameplay experiences.
Perfect Darkis currently in development.
MORE:The Next Splinter Cell Game Could Be a Remake Like Prince of Persia
