Work in the Shadows

We really suck at keeping this updated but here is another attempt at just that. 

A long long time ago I had a ridiculously involved conversation with Darth_Marth about ways that Ubisoft could improve its Assassin's Creed franchise. We talked about adding reconnaissance missions to figure out your target's routine, map out points of entry, plan out an escape route, chart NPC movements, even find places to conceal yourself. In this ridiculous conversation the use of a sniper rifle and making the the map large enough that you have to plan out your transportation to and from your base and target location. This conversation consequently reminded me that my favorite game genre involves a methodical approach, and an almost obsessive level of planning. Although you could get away with a more loosely structured style of gameplay, you will still want to make a plan for the situations you come across.

Stealth Action games are almost exclusively my favorite genre of videogames although Survival (Horror) are a close second since they require almost as much planning as the former. I treat Stealth Action games like Real Time Strategy games which is funny since I actually despise RTS games and I just cannot stand playing them at all. (Well, back to my original point sometimes I get lost in my own thoughts.) I treat my Stealth Action games like RTS games because I obsessively manage all of my resources whether it's currency, bullets, aid items, or special powers.

Dishonored is an excellent example of this, you get these snazzy powers that allow you teleport directly behind an unsuspecting enemy or summon a swarm of rats to devour all that stand in your way and many more powers designed to make short work of your obstacles. The thing is they use up your magic (mana) and unlike some games where it recharges over time like in Skyrim the only way to recharge your gauge is to use up potions. Or to use special non-magic using abilities that allow it to recharge magic and health with kills. That is a huge problem for me because I always want to hoard my potions because I never know when I am going to get myself into a situation where the shit has hit the fan. However, that never, ever, ever, ever happens to me because I always skulk around the levels so methodically that I never end up using any of the cool powers. Then i get to the end of the level without using any of the powers and not killing anyone which in its own way is pretty fun but I am also missing out on the cool mechanics that these awesome game companies spent so much money and time on.

This pretty much rings true for any game that is at all Stealth Action oriented from Skyrim to Metal Gear Solid and everywhere in between. Since it isn't just about the special powers and potion hoarding. I am also guilty of counting bullets in such awesome games like Hitman and Crysis. Maybe I have gamer-hoarding issues I need to deal with or maybe it's just that I hate going into boss battles completely unprepared. It may also contribute to why I sometimes find that games bore me towards the end; because I am so over prepared for everything and there is no challenge anymore. That however is a tale for another time.

Shadow hide you,
toodlekittens

post script
You didn't really think that I was going to be gone forever did you? This blog may have kept getting pushed aside and kept getting shoved towards the back of my to-do list but I have made a glorious return.