Image via Complex Original
With the resurgence of Sam Fisher in recent years with Splinter Cell: Conviction and now E3 2012's Splinter Cell: Blacklist, we're a little antsy to see a few other stealth titles return to the spotlight. Why let Fisher have all the fun, right? Michael Ironside's a busy guy, anyway, and there are tons of other entries in the genre we'd love to see more of. So keep the Splinter hype train rolling, but bear these greats in mind too, devs!
10. Dark Sector
A criminally underrated third-person action shooter, Dark Sector brilliantly incorporated stealth elements that were used in conjunction with the addictive Glaive powers and double-decap lattes you administered throughout each area (hey, that's what the achievements called them, not us!). Like Predators, you could turn invisible and slink through each segment without fear of being caught. A sequel would be most appreciated.
9. Rogue Ops
Rogue Ops was an intriguing experiment as to what kind of game we might see if we swapped out Sam Fisher with a female lead. Granted, the game wasn't great all on its own, but in this day and age we may well have come as far as to see the premise taken much further. All it really needs is better writing, better mechanics, and a graphical overhaul. We could see it go the way of the Tomb Raider reboot -- and only up from there.
8. Commandos
This RTS is based in World War II, and finds a squad of six soldiers creeping along through landmarks across the country to complete missions -- usually after recruiting a sniper or a spy's talents. We haven't heard from the Commandos since 2006, and we're jonesing for more. Can we get someone to step in and perhaps give us a console adaptation?
7. Gregory Horror Show
We're willing to bet most of you haven't even heard of this underrated gem, let alone clamored for a sequel. Fair enough -- but now that you've been educated you no longer have an excuse. Combining unsettling elements of stealth and cartoony character design, it weaves a wicked web of terrifying cube-shaped doom and "please-don't-touch-me-Lizard-woman" ecstasy. Seriously. Check it out, and be prepared to hide in every empty room. Or under your blankets.
6. 005
Before Metal Gear arrived, there was 005. Developed and published by Sega, this rudimentary arcade game tasked players to get to the chopper (or "choppa," if you prefer) while carrying a briefcase chock-full of secret documents. Across multicolored buildings swarming with enemies, their flashlights, and helicopters, you must dash along the play field to reach safety. Plenty of boxes and warehouses to hide in. It didn't hit arcades until 1981, but we're sure we could make a remake work.
5. Hidden and Dangerous
Though its sequel outshined the original in many ways, Hidden and Dangerous served up decadent bouts of stealth with plenty of multiplayer maps and enormous single-player missions. Its varying locales (Bruma, Libya, and Norway to name a few) and more realistic style of play were a breath of fresh air at the time, and if you're into tactical shooters, it's in your best interests to go back and explore the first two titles in the event we're graced with another.
4. SOCOM: US Navy SEALs
It's been quite a few years since we saw an appearance of the SOCOM we know and love on the PlayStation 3 (2008, to be precise) and we're missing that particular brand of stealth action. Remember when you first bought a PlayStation 2 and SOCOM online was the place to be? We do too. Considering Confrontation's generally lukewarm reception and varying reviews, it's time to bring SOCOM out of hiding and improve on the original PlayStation 2 great.
3. No One Lives Forever
Cate Archer, quite possibly one of the greatest female characters of all time, made No One Lives Forever brilliant. But it also relied on some stellar stealth sequences and spy mechanics to weave a tale both hilarious and engaging. Contract J.A.C.K., on the other hand, was a different matter. And while N.O.L.F. received a sequel, it's likely we'll never see another riff on H.A.R.M. or any other excellently-written stories from this franchise. That only makes us want it more. Forbidden love. That's the best kind.
2. Syphon Filter
For many of us, aside from Metal Gear Solid, this was our go-to stealth shooter on the PlayStation. Gabriel Logan's escapades were a little out there, but the tale of The Agency and the plight to down an international terrorist is one we still remember. Even the cover art from 989 Studios conjures up positive memories. Unfortunately, we haven't had an entry into this series since 2007, with Syphon Filter: Combat Ops -- hardly the back-to-basics release we've been waiting for. Could there be a future for the series? We hope so.
1. Thief: The Dark Project
Thief 4 has been floating around for a while, and we're grateful, but we think like other less deserving HD reboots and remakes the original hit deserves an update of its own. Slinking around town as Garrett, club in hand, masking the sound of our footsteps with moss arrows, "taffing" about -- it's great fun, even in 2012. And rather than just a sequel mired in the trappings of "modern" conventions, a slicker version of the original would suffice. That's not to say we aren't salivating over Thief 4, but this would make a great preorder bonus or something loony like that, right?