Assassin’s Creed Chronicles: China

 Short Take, Stealth Games  Comments Off on Assassin’s Creed Chronicles: China
May 182015
 

Status: Completed Most Intriguing Idea: converting Assassin’s Creed into a stealth-focused 2D game Best Design Decision: copying Mark of the Ninja liberally Worst Design Decision: combat is too complex given how useless it is to fight Summary: Assassin’s Creed Chronicles: China is not the first time AC games have gone 2D—side-scrollers focused on platforming and combat were created for Ezio and Altaïr. Chronicles: China discards that approach in favor of aping Mark of the Ninja’s design as openly as possible. This isn’t a bad idea at all, as Mark of the Ninja is among the best stealth games ever made. [Read more…]

Gunpoint

 Puzzle Games, Short Take, Stealth Games  Comments Off on Gunpoint
Jul 082013
 

Status: Complete Most Intriguing Idea: Taking hacking into the realm of everyday wiring. Best Design Decision: The scrollwheel switch into electrician mode. Worst Design Decision: The equipment shop. Summary: Gunpoint is a clever game about a spy, expert in rewiring electricity wirelessly, who can jump very high and fall very far without dying. Using both positional and light/shadow stealth motifs in its 2D levels, it allows for a fairly versatile set of approaches despite the fragility of the main character and (for most of its length) his limited offensive options. The story includes enough convolution and betrayal to satisfy its espionage noir [Read more…]