Stealth Boom Boom | A Stealth Video Games Podcast

In 2005, filmmaker Christopher Nolan was about to become mainstream with the first movie in his superhero trilogy. Meanwhile, a group of developers in Derby were working on a video game tie-in for said movie that wouldn't turn out to be quite as popular. We're taking a look at an action adventure game that was neither a precursor to a game based on The Dark Knight, nor The Dark Knight Returns. We're talking Batman Begins.On this episode of Stealth Boom Boom, we chat a little bit about trailers that feature Batman smiling, Trailer Voice Man, and Phoenix International. We also look at how important it was for this to be an interactive version of the movie in almost every way, as well as a cavalcade of celebs: a disinterested Morgan Freeman, a bloodthirsty Cillian Murphy, anbemused Michael Caine, and a Christian Bale that thinks all this video game stuff is a complete waste of time.Here are some of the things you're gonna hear us chat about in our review: the first glimpses of many things that would become staples in the Arkham games; instilling fear in your enemies by interacting with very specific parts of the environment; goons dropping their guns when they're scared; the optic cable from Splinter Cell; an exceptionally violent inverted takedown; familiar punching and kicking, as performed by a more acrobatic, yet less fluid Batman; the weird context-sensitive special move thing; NO BATARANG BUSINESS; climbing things with 70% arm and 30% leg; bonus Game Boy Advance opinions; a lack of yellow paint; training in the Himalayas; driving the tumbler around Gotham like it's a Burnout game; dingy rooms illuminated by beams of light coming through blinds; restrictions vs limitations; being rewarded(?) with clips from the film in between levels; odd differences in the narrative; Gary Oldman's absence; and a lockpicking minigame that's the same every single time.After all that, we take you through what some of the critics were saying about the game around the time it came out, and then we give you our final verdicts on whether Batman Begins is a Pass, a Play, or an Espionage Explosion.For those who would like to play along at home, we'll be discussing, reviewing and dissecting Deus Ex on the next episode of Stealth Boom Boom.IMPORTANT LINKS TO THINGS

Imagine a game so successful that during the making of it, you actually end up coming up with three games. That's what Capcom did when they were prototyping Resident Evil 4. They got that, they got Devil May Cry and they also got the game we're talking about on this podcast. We're going back to 2005 to take a look at a survival horror that didn't get quite as many sequels as those other series just mentioned. We're talking Haunting Ground.On this episode of Stealth Boom Boom, we chat a little bit about the much better Japanese name of DEMENTO, as well as a tagline that Josh likes and doesn't like at all. We also look at a trailer with a lot of slobbering and panting, their reasons for including a dog, and mo-capping said dog.Here are some of the things you're gonna hear us chat about in our review: being reactive after you are definitely spotted by one of your pursuers; hiding under beds, inside wardrobes, and behind doors; Alien: Isolation; a distinct lack of fear; special hiding spots; Hewie the attack dog; fairy earrings; the sound of vase-breaking vs dog-barking; how much your bond with your pooch; German Shepherd-sized holes; some real headscratchers of puzzles; some of the flattest boss fights; shoddy glowing fireflies; Resi 4 comparisons; nice-looking maps that are a bit hard to read; a story with some heavy sexual themes, delivered through some ludicrous characters and dialogue; Manhunt; the strangely calm Fiona Belli; setting the scene via static camera angles; the looks of a late PS2 game; and a wonderful lack of loading screens. After all that, we take you through what some of the critics were saying about the game around the time it came out, and then we give you our final verdicts on whether Haunting Ground is a Pass, a Play, or an Espionage Explosion.For those who would like to play along at home, we'll be discussing, reviewing and dissecting Batman Begins on the next episode of Stealth Boom Boom.IMPORTANT LINKS TO THINGS

After the launch of Don't Starve, Canadian developer Klei Entertainment was on solid ground in every way. They'd put their hand to many genres and had been successful in pretty much all of them. We're going back to 2015 (or 2013, if you want to include this game's EARLY early access launch) when they revisited sneaking, but put a different spin on what they'd done before. We're talking Invisible, Inc.On this episode of Stealth Boom Boom, we chat a little bit about why this game changed its name, and what stealthy aspects they could explore here that they didn't in Mark of the Ninja. We also look at trying to enjoy the journey in difficult games, rather than just seeking the reward; and we chat about how much we enjoy early access vs its importance to devs. Here are some of the things you're gonna hear us chat about in our review: Soliton Radar: The Game; red, yellow, and blue EVERYWHERE; peeking around corners to uncover more of the map; Monaco: What's Yours Is Mine; a camera you don't have full control of; a procedurally-generated table that's just in the way; a slow and exhilarating chase; forecasting the movement of guards; five rewinds; single malt; the wonderfully-balanced and easy-to-use Incognita; Gunpoint; collections of boxy rooms with samey heists that blur together; finding the exit and then deciding what to do next; 72 hours; the auto thump; a ever-rising security level; Metal Gear Acid; breaking your pal out of their cell; an entirely irrelevant plot; some colour in character bios; and generating a campaign where a ko'd enemy stays down for 100 turns.After all that, we take you through what some of the critics were saying about the game around the time it came out, and then we give you our final verdicts on whether Invisible, Inc. is a Pass, a Play, or an Espionage Explosion.For those who would like to play along at home, we'll be discussing, reviewing and dissecting Haunting Ground. on the next episode of Stealth Boom Boom.IMPORTANT LINKS TO THINGS

What do you do when you have a brand new handheld console coming out? You turn to a series that is synonymous with your home console. We're going back to late 2004 (or early 2005… or late 2005, depending on the region you're in) to look at a turn-based strategy spin-off. We're talking Metal Gear Acid (or Metal Gear Ac!d, however you're meant to pronounce that).On this episode of Stealth Boom Boom, we chat a little bit about importing a Japanese PSP as well as an American UMD, and a back of the box for the handheld's launch window. We also look at how acid dissolves metal, fashionable acid jazz, and Colm does his longest “how does this game play?” bit ever.Here are some of the things you're gonna hear us chat about in our review: Hitman Go; doing nothing, watching the enemy, and plotting a route; trying to figure out if a gun without a silencer is just as quiet as a gun that does have a silencer; hiding quite important things like how to view the map from an aerial view and how to shoot some weapons; chasing down a guard before the call goes through after he's spotted you; not enough places to hide and plenty of guards to kill; failure via randomisation (and just deck management, in general); mission-critical cards; Balatro; how cost changes who goes when; controlling Snake AND Teliko; stacking buffs; the power of the XM8; mystifying decisions around movement; a game of Ludo; a story that's nutty in a slightly different way to regular Metal Gear Solid, but told in a terribly boring way; a dramatic performance; music that's better than you expect; and the most peculiar in-game adverts. After all that, we take you through what some of the critics were saying about the game around the time it came out, and then we give you our final verdicts on whether Metal Gear Acid is a Pass, a Play, or an Espionage Explosion.For those who would like to play along at home, we'll be discussing, reviewing and dissecting Invisible, Inc. on the next episode of Stealth Boom Boom.IMPORTANT LINKS TO THINGS

We're going back into the shadows and listening out for footsteps on tiled floors, as we revisit a series that all of us enjoyed back in season 1. We're going back 25 years to 2000 to look at a massively influential first-person stealth game. We're talking Thief II: The Metal Age.On this episode of Stealth Boom Boom, we chat a little bit about the architecture of Meet Joe Black, co-operative thieving, and crunching to hit the release date. We also look at a trailer that Eddie Vedder (and by extension John McEnroe) would be happy with, some of the hopes developer Looking Glass Studios had for the franchise, and the closure of the studio only months after launch.Here are some of the things you're gonna hear us chat about in our review: staying in the pitch black shadows and extinguishing flames with your water arrows; walking on carpet and shooting at tiled floors with your moss arrows; the Stealth Strepsil; the guards that never shut up; many different ways to move; new magic potions; the Scouting Orb and whether there's a need for it; the golden rule: get behind ‘em; a glitchy romance; cameras and big robots with faces; combat is punishment for being spotted; Dishonored; praise for quick save functionality; more objectives for higher difficulties; framing a lieutenant at the local police station; Kevin Keegan; a fondness for worldbuilding rather than plot; Blood Omen 2; sarky Garrett; religious texts; Karras as played by Droopy Dog; one of the best arguments; a UI that didn't please Josh; and a specific sound that pleases everyone.After all that, we take you through what some of the critics were saying about the game around the time it came out, and then we give you our final verdicts on whether Thief 2: The Metal Age is a Pass, a Play, or an Espionage Explosion.For those who would like to play along at home, we'll be discussing, reviewing and dissecting Metal Gear Acid on the next episode of Stealth Boom Boom.IMPORTANT LINKS TO THINGS

Who knew that a Jack Nicholson-sounding extra-terrestrial in a Grand Theft Auto-like would become a cult classic? We're going back 20 years to 2005 to look at a third-person action-adventure game that spawned more sequels than you realise. We're talking Destroy All Humans!On this episode of Stealth Boom Boom, we chat a little bit about Pandemic Studios family-friendly game that accidentally led to a violent, angry alien blowing things up. We also look at the original E3 trailer and whether this game was going to be sneakier, a banger track for the Japanese audience, King of the Hill and some theremin.Here are some of the things you're gonna hear us chat about in our review: looking like a human thanks to the easy-to-use (but also limiting in some ways [but also not difficult to circumnavigate those limitations]) Holobob; becoming more mentally powerful via the thoughts of others; being aware of nearby, pesky Majestic agents; a GTA wanted level system that mostly works but is not without jank; hypnotising, if it takes your fancy; a little bit of something; answering questions as the Rockwell mayor; yearning for a stealth brain extraction; getting all the benefits of a probe (and the rest of your arsenal); the fluidity of your giant flying saucer; flinging folks around with Psi-Ops-like telekinesis; playing boring repetitive side missions just so you can progress; satirising pretty much everything about 1950s America; very easy company; the wonderful duo of Crypto and Pox; After all that, we take you through what some of the critics were saying about the game around the time it came out, and then we give you our final verdicts on whether Destroy All Humans is a Pass, a Play, or an Espionage Explosion.For those who would like to play along at home, we'll be discussing, reviewing and dissecting Thief II: The Metal Age on the next episode of Stealth Boom Boom.IMPORTANT LINKS TO THINGS

We're living by honour and killing by stealth… again. For only the second time ever (although it will be happening a lot more throughout this season), we are returning to a series. We're going back to 2000 to look at a third-person stealth-action game. We're talking Tenchu 2: Birth of the Stealth Assassins.On this episode of Stealth Boom Boom, we chat a little bit about Rich spending his 18th birthday making levels in the mission editor, Josh's fondness for Tekken 3 (oh that volleyball was classic, wasn't it?), and bent coppers. We also get an apology for the lack of a PS2 version, word of 21 new stealth techniques, and a note on regional differencesHere are some of the things you're gonna hear us chat about in our review: trying to judge how far away enemies are with the Ki meter without seeing them; differing opinions on the brilliance of guards' eyes and ears; a very sneaky and very slow crouch; movement that some people love and other people don't like one bit; a redundant right stick; movable corpses that have new items (none of which is mentioned in the game); manuals; (inverted) throwing poisoned rice on the floor; a white sheet washed with Daz that turns you invisible; combat that could do with with a lock-on; zero checkpoints; chucking grenades bosses; the sound of blood pouring out of your enemies; a returning grappling hook that's been tweaked and thus divides the crowd; a tutorial that grated for some; Silent Hill draw distance that stands out more in the new daytime levels; hiding in the water with a bamboo reed; an involved, interweaving three-campaign story; the lack of more lads like Genbu; the MGS connection; and an owl hooting instead of banging music for some reason.After all that, we take you through what some of the critics were saying about the game around the time it came out, and then we give you our final verdicts on whether Tenchu 2: Birth of the Stealth Assassins is a Pass, a Play, or an Espionage Explosion.For those who would like to play along at home, we'll be discussing, reviewing and dissecting Destroy All Humans on the next episode of Stealth Boom Boom.IMPORTANT LINKS TO THINGS

On this episode of Stealth Boom Boom, we take a look at a lead character's striking resemblance to a West Bromwich Albion fan and Guardian columnist (see: the bust on this episode's cover art). We also take a look at the origins of a small, independent, Japanese developer called Capcom, and how these big fights actually happened IRL. Crazy, right?Here are some of the things you're gonna hear us chat about in our review: Dr. Otto Octavius as played by Alfred Molina; a surprising level of sophistication in relation to the sound you make and the guards can hear; Assassin's Creed social stealth; Hitman disguises and the multiple choice quiz you might have to take when someone's suspicious; holding items behind your back; being punished for not completing stealth sections in a very specific way; the pain of an accidental jog; connected environments to can creep around; picking up coins to furnish your flat; Dead Rising; the chaos of battles being you vs LOADS; the balancing act of both the nasty and the silly when it comes to the violence; the Salvos scoring system fitting the theme perfectly and encouraging you to try different weapons; another game that's just too long; Road Rash B.C. (otherwise known as Rome Rash); a difficulty that ramps up and up; escort missions from a certain era; a fake brother called Sextus; pointless chats with trainee gladiators; Yakuza / Like a Dragon; an engaging whodunnit around the assassination of Julius Caesar; Maecenas Oven Chips; a pacing problem; Gladiator II (and also The Pope's Exorcist); the majesty of Agrippa; and how Ryse: Son of Rome is probably the closest thing to a Shadow of Rome 2.After all that, we take you through what some of the critics were saying about the game around the time it came out, and then we give you our final verdicts on whether Shadow of Rome is a Pass, a Play, or an Espionage Explosion.For those who would like to play along at home, we'll be discussing, reviewing and dissecting Shadow of Rome on the next episode of Stealth Boom Boom.IMPORTANT LINKS TO THINGS

What do you do after you've had one successful first-person zombie game that is owned by a publisher? You don't develop the proper sequel in that series and you instead make your own version of that thing. We're going back to 2015 to look at a first-person zombie action survival game. We're talking Dying Light.On this episode of Stealth Boom Boom, we take a look at Techland finding their niche in the zombie world with Dead Island, before their relationship with that game's publisher ended. We also discuss a a very good tagline that was almost definitely inspired by George Clooney; an announcement trailer that was almost definitely inspired by Peep Show; a world-building trailer that was almost definitely inspired by those poetry adverts; Techland's answer to a housing crisis; and battering punching bags in the car park.Here are some of the things you're gonna hear us chat about in our review: the vicious, running Volatile zombies give chase at night; GTA 4 police radar; fairly uninteresting nighttime sneaking; waiting hours to rub zombie guts on yourself a la The Walking Dead to blend in; enemies are attracted to sound, but you have no way to regulate the noise the protagonist makes, but you can throw firecrackers; crossbows come in handy with humans; swinging all manner of melee weapons at the heads of the undead; an uninviting crafting menu that makes you wait for your items; no fun human battles; fluid parkour (once you've levelled up and bought skills like “slide on the ground”) that gets the David Belle seal of approval; Mirror's Edge; the grappling hook; the skill trees; slower first-person platforming puzzles; a decent Escape from New York-style setup that is let down by some terribly boring characters; American saviour Kyle Crane and his very quick turn to good; and a contained zombie outbreak.After all that, we take you through what some of the critics were saying about the game around the time it came out, and then we give you our final verdicts on whether Dying Light is a Pass, a Play, or an Espionage Explosion.For those who would like to play along at home, we'll be discussing, reviewing and dissecting Shadow of Rome on the next episode of Stealth Boom Boom.IMPORTANT LINKS TO THINGS

Around this time of the year, other video games podcasts will be doing their game of the year pods and talking about games like Astro Bot, Tekken 8, Helldivers 2, Dragon's Dogma 2, Silent Hill 2, Hades II, Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree, Metaphor: ReFantazio, Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, Balatro, Like A Dragon: Infinite Wealth, Animal Well, Lorelei and the Laser Eyes, Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown, and others. Well... NOT US! This episode is the culmination of the second year of Stealth Boom Boom. And that means this is the 2nd Annual Stealth Boom Boom Awards – Game of the Year 2024.In other words... The Boomies!On this podcast you'll hear us discuss the 20 games we've reviewed on the podcast this year. Over the course of this mammoth 3+ hour episode, you will hear us organise that list of 20 games into a top 20. There are some changes to the format this year, but fans of last year's goty pod needn't worry because one thing had to make a comeback: TOMOTTOM.Once we've gone through the Tomottom phase, we then order each individual group – Bottom 7, Middle 7, and Top 6. Every place matters, of course, but our ultimate goal is to determine Stealth Boom Boom's game of the year for 2024.These descriptions are often full of episode talking points, but it feels spoilery to even suggest what we speak about on the pod. Instead, here is an alphabetised list of the 20 games up for discussion today:A Plague Tale: InnocenceAlias Alien: IsolationApe EscapeCounterSpyDays GoneHitman GoJames Bond 007: Everything or NothingLeft AliveMini NinjasMurdered: Soul SuspectPsi-Ops: The Mindgate ConspiracyRogue WarriorSecond SightSekiro: Shadows Die TwiceSly 2: Band of ThievesSyphon FilterThe Chronicles of Riddick: Escape from Butcher BayUntitled Goose GameWatch DogsWith all that said... please enjoy The Boomies 2024.... Actually, one more thing... a HUGE thank you to anyone that's listened to a single second of Stealth Boom Boom. It's an absolute pleasure to make this podcast and we're so thankful there are people who have made it part of their listening schedule.Whether you're celebrating something this holiday season or not, Colm, Adam and Josh hope you have the loveliest time!For those who would like to play along at home, on the first episode of year three of Stealth Boom Boom, we'll be discussing, reviewing, dissecting... Dying Light.IMPORTANT LINKS TO THINGS

Richard Marcinko was a U.S. Navy Seal, a Vietnam War veteran and an author. And in the mid-00s, Bethesda and Zombie Studios were going to make a video game based on him. And then that changed to Bethesda and Rebellion. We're going back to 2009 to look at a first-person shooter featuring Demo Dick. We're talking Rogue Warrior.On this episode of Stealth Boom Boom, we take a look at a video game that we didn't play over the last two weeks called Rogue Warrior: Black Razor. We also discuss a great box, one single trailer, how Golden Globe and BAFTA-winning actor Mickey Rourke got involved, and much the real-life Marcinko likes knives.Here are some of the things you're gonna hear us chat about in our review: briskly strolling up behind a blissfully ignorant enemy and murdering him in the most vicious possible way a.k.a. THE KILL MOVE; a knife guy; an irrelevant radar; a hidden, game-changing third-person perspective cover mechanic; Arkham Asylum's Predator Mode; silenced pistol divisiveness; superfluous night vision goggles; an inadequate Gears of War shooting gallery; hefty weapons; a snowy hedge maze; one of the finest video game objectives ever; a Cold War tale for the ages; a truly astonishing level of swearing; border education; surprise Neal McDonough; the Sons of Liberty connection; Josh's school; and the greatest credits song of all time.After all that, we take you through what some of the critics were saying about the game around the time it came out, and then we give you our final verdicts on whether Rogue Warrior is a Pass, a Play, or an Espionage Explosion.For those who would like to play along at home, we'll be discussing, reviewing and dissecting… every single game we've reviewed this year on the next episode of Stealth Boom Boom. Because the next episode of Stealth Boom Boom is going to be our Game of the Year 2024 episode, otherwise known as the second annual edition of The Boomies!IMPORTANT LINKS TO THINGS

After years of making bloody, adult, violent video games, the Danish video games developer we're talking about today decided to make something that they could play with their kids. We're going back to 2009 to look at a third-person action-adventure game featuring some small shinobi. We're talking Mini Ninjas.On this episode of Stealth Boom Boom, we take a look at the origins of Hitman developer IO Interactive and how that series influenced their family-friendly game. We also discuss the perceived target audience for this, and an animated series that reminds Adam of fake merchandise.Here are some of the things you're gonna hear us chat about in our review: memorable box art; samurai with impeccable eyesight; turning into a chicken or bear or an oddly-faced monkey; being spotted in the long grass; a discussion on whether you kids of 15 years ago liked being sneaky; being rewarded for murder and thus punished for playing stealthily; boring button-mashing combat (or something slightly different for those on Nintendo Wii); stopping time for a completely over-powered kill move; large, sparse areas of linear levels; a nice enough world to be in; Hiro's friends feel pointless; Windy Pants and their absolutely outrageous farts; repetitive QTE boss battles; a story that's merely there; and The Worst Witch.After all that, we take you through what some of the critics were saying about the game around the time it came out, and then we give you our final verdicts on whether Mini Ninjas is a Pass, a Play, or an Espionage Explosion.For those who would like to play along at home, we'll be discussing, reviewing and dissecting Rogue Warrior on the next episode of Stealth Boom Boom.IMPORTANT LINKS TO THINGS

In 1979, the screenplay of Dan O'Bannon was turned into a movie directed by a fledgling English filmmaker named Ridley Scott, and starring a young actress called Sigourney Weaver. It did alright. There were some more movies, some comics, some books, loads of merch, and even a few video games. We're going back to 2014 to look at a first-person survival horror game that divided opinion. We're talking Alien: Isolation.On this episode of Stealth Boom Boom, we take a look at a phone call that lead developer Creative Assembly to working on FIFA International Soccer, all the way to the Sega acquisition. We also discuss how the difficulty was being addressed before the game came out; Harry Dean Stanton's reaction to how old the original film was when he was being interviewed, and how the team really wanted to distance themselves from Aliens: Colonial Marines.Here are some of the things you're gonna hear us chat about in our review: a nameless Tesco employee; a strong, scary, smart, stomping xenomorph; feeling absolutely petrified; a rulebook that's occasionally ripped up; a feeling of vulnerability rather than power while hiding; the risk and reward of the Motion Tracker; patience; simple mini games made stressful; the relief of coming upon a phone box to save your game; peeking at humans; a hefty duration; the Working Joes; thinking about your ammo, location, and loudness before firing your gun; THE FLAMETHROWER; confusing crafting menus; MacGyver; the 1979 sound of the Sevastopol; Tom & Jerry; the San Cristobal Medical Facility; a killer premise that doesn't deliver on its promise; secondary characters that are merely quest-givers; a fixer upper of a space station; Seegson X Ryanair; Blade Runner; and the split between America and the UK on this game.After all that, we take you through what some of the critics were saying about the game around the time it came out, and then we give you our final verdicts on whether Alien: Isolation is a Pass, a Play, or an Espionage Explosion.For those who would like to play along at home, we'll be discussing, reviewing and dissecting Mini Ninjas on the next episode of Stealth Boom Boom.IMPORTANT LINKS TO THINGS

How many Slack conversations have you had that have been life-changing? If you answered anything other than “zero”, you are a liar. OR you are a member of the team that made the game we're talking about on this podcast. We're going back to 2019 to look at a stealth-puzzle game that became a phenomenon. We're talking Untitled Goose Game.On this episode of Stealth Boom Boom, we take a look at developer House House's confusion around why people didn't like the bird made up of two colours. We also discuss the use of sandbox on the physical box; three minutes of gameplay that put the game on people's radars; and celebrities like Mark Hoppus, Chrissy Teigen, Kyle MacLachlan and Beaker.Here are some of the things you're gonna hear us chat about in our review: being seen on purpose to manipulate and misdirect villagers; too many opportunities to brute force; HONKING; taking a corner like a car; a slapstick, warm Hitman; a stellar Hyacinth Bucket impression; maintaining eye contact; lineless, pastel CBBC characters; a reactive silent movie-like (also Breath of the Wild) piano; the weight of the waddle; grabbing things in your gob because you don't have hands; gliding along the water; a gorgeous and also sometimes ambiguous to-do list; a bin toothbrush; getting on TV; model villages; walking with a bell in your mouth; the post-game; and being a horrible goose.After all that, we take you through what some of the critics were saying about the game around the time it came out, and then we give you our final verdicts on whether Untitled Goose Game is a Pass, a Play, or an Espionage Explosion.For those who would like to play along at home, we'll be discussing, reviewing and dissecting Alien: Isolation on the next episode of Stealth Boom Boom.IMPORTANT LINKS TO THINGS

There were a lot of big games out 20 years – many of those games we've reviewed on this podcast, this year. But this game involving a raccoon, a turtle and a hippo is a special game for us, as it is the first time we are going back to a series for a look at a second game. We're going back to 2004 to look at a 3D platformer that has big Ocean's 11 energy. We're talking Sly 2: Band of Thieves.On this episode of Stealth Boom Boom, we take a look at what developer Sucker Punch Productions were thinking going into this sequel, including how they really wanted to put a big emphasis on the game's heists. We also discuss the improved AI the team was striving for, a Ratchet & Clank demo, the inspiration of Tenchu: Stealth Assassins, and a woman named La La Anthony.Here are some of the things you're gonna hear us chat about in our review: patrolling guards and their flashlights that are basically vision cones; a health bar; enemies that can hear you run; tables you can now hide under; improved stealth fundamentals; fluidly moving around the rooftops of these large hub worlds; the brilliance and inconsistency of the Stealth SLAM (and also Silent Obliteration); spending coins in the new upgrades shop, and the fiddliness of equipping those upgrades; pickpocketing and too much of a good thing; Bentley's strong but heft-less tranq crossbow; the fists of The Murray; boss battles; the mission structure and how everything you do is in service to a big heist; a duration that is way too long and impacts everything; a mini-game mixed bag; going back to the base to switch characters; one of the world's biggest drug operations; and a narrative that is both dark and contains a lot of nice lads being nice.After all that, we take you through what some of the critics were saying about the game around the time it came out, and then we give you our final verdicts on whether Sly 2: Band of Thieves is a Pass, a Play, or an Espionage Explosion.For those who would like to play along at home, we'll be discussing, reviewing and dissecting Untitled Goose Game on the next episode of Stealth Boom Boom.IMPORTANT LINKS TO THINGS

A decade ago, a small indie developer called Dynamighty got a phone call (NB: don't know if it was a phone call.... could've been an email, a fax, carrier pigeon, or many other multiple means of communication) from a large publisher called Sony. And a game about the cold war was born! We're going back to 2014 to look at a 2D stealth-action game about a spy that infiltrates superpower bases. We're talking CounterSpy.On this episode of Stealth Boom Boom, we discuss how the team was influenced by Bond (but apparently there was a much darker version of CounterSpy in the works at one stage, too). We also chat about the founders LucasArts and Pixar heritage and whether or not they named their company after early 00s British singer/rapper Ms. Dynamite.In our review, you'll hear some chat on the Lacanch Range Master; you go from left-to-right, but enemy guards are living in 3D; trying to figure out a safe distance; blowing up safes around the ever-suspicious guards; no real way to break up the pack; cruel AI; the importance of the constant DEFCON levels; isolating and threatening an officer; going into cover when trying to dodge roll or dodge rolling when trying to go into cover; looking at the world from a different perspective (and finding the aiming fiddly) when you're in a shootout; shopping for new weapons and level buffs; Wile E. Coyote; the limits and repetition of procedural generation; PSP video game Coded Arms; the thrill of running for the end of the level once the countdown starts (and also the annoyances you run into here); breezy satire; and big capital v Vibes.After all that, we take you through what some of the critics were saying about the game around the time it came out, and then we give you our final verdicts on whether CounterSpy is a Pass, a Play, or an Espionage Explosion.For those who would like to play along at home, we'll be discussing, reviewing and dissecting Sly 2: Band of Thieves on the next episode of Stealth Boom Boom.IMPORTANT LINKS TO THINGS

Independent developer Airtight Games partnered with Square Enix around a decade ago to prove that the hardest murder to solve is in fact your own. In many ways, that is a factual statement. In relation to this game, however... not so sure. We're going back to 2014 to look at a third-person adventure game about a ghost detective. We're talking Murdered: Soul Suspect.On this episode of Stealth Boom Boom, we take a look at Airtight's difficult beginning, middle and end, with some higlights including Dark Void and the Ouya. We also chat about how a considerable amount of this game's pre-launch marketing really positioned Murdered as a horror game, and Die Hard.In our review, you'll hear some chat on why this game even has stealth sections where you're bothering crows, hiding in spectral residue pockets, and sending demons back down to Hell via QTEs; escort missions where you must turn on specific printers and TVs; L.A. Noire; pixel-hunting at a crime scene and then selecting solutions until the game allows you to move on; Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective; the sheer possibilities of being a ghost vs a shoddy teleport or controlling a cat for a bit; ghost walls; reading the minds of Salem's residents; the newspaper that explains how the beach woman died so she can go to Heaven; a central mystery that does just about enough to keep the interest; a very normal Salem; a fancy hat, tattoos, and cigarette does not turn Ronan O'Connor into a protagonist for the ages; and Julia's Thoughts.After all that, we take you through what some of the critics were saying about the game around the time it came out, and then we give you our final verdicts on whether Murdered: Soul Suspect is a Pass, a Play, or an Espionage Explosion.For those who would like to play along at home, we'll be discussing, reviewing and dissecting CounterSpy on the next episode of Stealth Boom Boom.IMPORTANT LINKS TO THINGS

20 years ago, Starbreeze Studios was going through some tough times, and they were looking for one of their games to be the hit they needed. Across the water, Hollywood actor Vin Diesel was looking to get into video games with his new company called Tigon Studios. So, they decided to come together, and they launched a stealth-FPS in 2004. We're talking The Chronicles of Riddick: Escape from Butcher Bay.On this episode of Stealth Boom Boom, we take a look at the developer's really rocky path to their first Riddick game, and discuss whether the general public would be excited about seeing Normal Mapping on the box. We also mention late 90s / early 00s rapper Xzibit and his thoughts on Pac-Man.In our review, you'll hear some chat on how this game is as dark as Splinter Cell and Thief, but not as deep; the oddity that is Eyeshine; our feelings towards the trade off of a sleek and minimal HUD vs ambiguity when it comes to the safe zone of an enemy's vision cone; Adam's preview of Assault on Dark Athena; being a Batman-like predator; trigger happy guards that are standing behind a door waiting for you; some of us think the shooting isn't very good, some of us think the shooting is good, but all of us quite liked it for some reason; The Darkness; a more involved melee system; The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild; side quest-giving NPCs; where the prison guards live and shop; a little story about a horrible place; NanoMED treats you right; Richard B. Riddick is a nasty piece of work; and an outrageously sexy menu cube.After all that, we take you through what some of the critics were saying about the game around the time it came out, and then we give you our final verdicts on whether The Chronicles of Riddick: Escape from Butcher Bay is a Pass, a Play, or an Espionage Explosion.For those who would like to play along at home, we'll be discussing, reviewing and dissecting Murdered: Soul Suspect on the next episode of Stealth Boom Boom.IMPORTANT LINKS TO THINGS

25 years ago, a PlayStation-exclusive was released that required a new peripheral called the DualShock It had not one, not three, but TWO ANALOG STICKS. So, this one definitely made an impact at the time. We're going back to 1999 to look at a 3D platformer chock full of puzzles and monkeys to collect. We're talking Ape Escape.On this episode of Stealth Boom Boom, we take a look at how Japan Studio had to communicate how players would use their new controller, and some big TV ad campaigns that ran in the States. We also take a look at some Japanese adverts that we would've welcomed on out television screens back in the day.In our review, you'll hear some chat on a giant satellite dish called a Monkey Radar that tells you where the escaped apes are (as well as how quick, powerful, and perceptive they are); an enemy's trousers tell you a lot; the Metal Gear Solid similarities in the game's visual language; going into the foetal position and being “nearly invisible”; catching a monkey sneakily vs them seeing you and jumping into a spaceship; the joy one can derive from catching a misbehaving time traveller; swinging gadgets around via the right analog stick; swimming in a 3D space with your Water Net; whacking those cheeky little guys over the head with Stun Club more than you need to; a Hoop, a Sky Flyer and an RC Car for puzzle-solving; the art of rowing a boat; phenomenal level design; trashing sandcastles; a big dinosaur; Specter doesn't want to go back to Monkey Park; two different English-voice casts with two different scripts; a much more fun Watch Dogs profiler; an AI construct called Casi; Spike's Shinobi Deathblow; and a soundtrack that doesn't fit but definitely fits.After all that, we take you through what some of the critics were saying about the game around the time it came out, and then we give you our final verdicts on whether Ape Escape is a Pass, a Play, or an Espionage Explosion.For those who would like to play along at home, we'll be discussing, reviewing and dissecting The Chronicles of Riddick: Escape from Butcher Bay on the next episode of Stealth Boom Boom.IMPORTANT LINKS TO THINGS

In June, 2012, almost every member of the general public decided they witnessing something special. The dissenting voices were few and far between. And then it came out two years later and opinions changed somewhat. We're going back to 2014 to look at an open-world, action-adventure hack-a-thon. We're talking Watch Dogs.On this episode of Stealth Boom Boom, we take a look at that big E3 2012 reveal, and the connections this game has to Driver. We also chat about pockets, a behind closed door session that took a turn, a hidden-camera bit where everyone was probably an actor, some parkour (for some reason), Jimmy Fallon, an iconic special edition, and a PR stunt gone wrong.In our review, you'll hear some chat on Colm's first gaming PC; completely fine standard stealth that also has plenty of limitations; travelling around a space via CCTV cameras, and setting off car alarms, all while standing outside the gate; Astral Projection from Second Sight; hiding in the front seat of a car; weapons that are a means to an end; the option to run away like a coward; a decent GTA style driving experience; how easy it is to hack traffic lights while driving vs the thrill of a car chase; a spin on the Ubisoft tower; differing opinions on Chicago; a nightclub; a revenge plot that is overly complicated; the gravelly-voiced and not terribly compelling Aidan Pearce; the profiler; a peek behind the curtain that is both childish and nasty; and just the staggering amount of people playing Watch Dogs in 2024.After all that, we take you through what some of the critics were saying about the game around the time it came out, and then we give you our final verdicts on whether Watch Dogs is a Pass, a Play, or an Espionage Explosion.For those who would like to play along at home, we'll be discussing, reviewing and dissecting Ape Escape on the next episode of Stealth Boom Boom.IMPORTANT LINKS TO THINGS

After years of being a support studio on Pixar games, and dabbling in new technology like the Kinect and HoloLens, French developer Asobo Studio got to work on the game that would be their breakout hit. We're going back to 2019 to take a look at a stealthy, puzzly action-adventure game. We're talking A Plague Tale: Innocence.On this episode of Stealth Boom Boom, we take a look at the big The Last of Us vibes this game was giving off pre-release. We also talk about why Sean Bean is in one of the trailers, the fact they employed kids to voice the characters, and the fact this game is not completely based on fact.In our review, you'll hear some chat on no frills stealth that some think is fine, some think is boring, but everyone thinks works; a tension that never lessens; curated scenarios that don't allow for a ton of experimentation; flinging rocks, sneakily, at the heads of The Inquisition guards with your sling; the glorious filth bag rats that are sometimes your enemy, sometimes your friend, sometimes something that can change a physical space, and just how good they are; spiders in Uncharted 3; trying to aim a headshot while an enemy is rushing you; upgrading your equipment vs being an alchemist; Naughty Dog-style chase sequences; the mental lightbulb being separate to the physical graft in puzzles; Ghost Recon: Rodrik; the ludicrous BioShock-esque final boss that fires rat tornados at you and might be called Life Benevolent; the relationship of Hugo and Amicia de Rune; 'Allo 'Allo! accents; you only understand child characters after you have a real child or something; a manky and swanky score; incredbile environments (plus a Ghost of a Tale shout out); and a celebration of AA. After all that, we take you through what some of the critics were saying about the game around the time it came out, and then we give you our final verdicts on whether A Plague Tale: Innocence is a Pass, a Play, or an Espionage Explosion.For those who would like to play along at home, we'll be discussing, reviewing and dissecting Watch Dogs on the next episode of Stealth Boom Boom.IMPORTANT LINKS TO THINGS

Being done with Syphon Filter, and having some successes with a Resistance spinoff and an Uncharted spinoff, Bend Studio got to work on Sony's next big PlayStation exclusive. We're going back to 2019 to take a look at an open-world action-adventure game. We're talking Days Gone.On this episode of Stealth Boom Boom, we take a look at how folks at the studio just could get people to understand that this definitely isn't a zombie game, but how they also had to fight zombie fatigue in potential customers. We also discuss – in a rare move for us – some post-launch Days Gone news and some of the comments made by people who worked on the game.In our review, you'll hear some chat on more on-screen stealth indicators than anticipated (that are often irrelevant because they just repeat information you can get elsewhere); avoiding revving your engine; sneaking around enemies that may or may not see you; throwing rocks; a rigid and dull system when up against humans vs a more tense time when up against the Freakers at checkpoints; eavesdropping on very long NERO conversations; a steady-handed sniper rifleman; an unused crossbow; the Chicago Chopper, as seen in The Mask; the splat when an axe meets brain; placing traps and planning your attack on the first horde, 30-ish hours in; the joy of going for a ride on the Drifter Bike; a ludicrous amount of petrol and motorcycle enthusiasts; surprises on the road; the beauty of Oregon; the jobs are very samey, but the currency makes sense; collecting ears for some reason; a gigantic bear; using Gabe Logan espionage to get into an encampment; the sheer length of the thing; delayed story resolutions; cringey dialogue; a wedding; Courtnee Draper as Sarah Whitaker; the Syphon Filter connection; walkie-talkie woes; and Lewis Capaldi.After all that, we take you through what some of the critics were saying about the game around the time it came out, and then we give you our final verdicts on whether Days Gone is a Pass, a Play, or an Espionage Explosion.For those who would like to play along at home, we'll be discussing, reviewing and dissecting A Plague Tale: Innocence on the next episode of Stealth Boom Boom.IMPORTANT LINKS TO THINGS

Square Enix Montreal were initially going to be making the next big PC and console game in the Hitman series, until they were put on mobile phone duty. A third of the team left because they were so gutted. And then the remainder created a 2014 turn-based puzzle game. We're talking Hitman Go.On this episode of Stealth Boom Boom, we take a look at the formation of the studio, and the board game idea was first prototyped. We also discuss the golden era of mobile games and whether we played them, as well as a nice physical model and whether or not this game might've grabbed a few Candy Crush or Words With Friends In our review, you'll hear some chat on enemies with different coloured jackets and narrow vision cones, giant potted plants to hide in, okay instafail because of a quick restart, translating the parts of big Hitman for small Hitman, they move only when you move (but can you make fewer moves), optional objectives and replayability, firing your sniper rifle at a statue (or getting a double-kill), the relief of killing a baddie (and then not hiding the body), perfect motion sensor air freshener-esque mood-setting music, Ave Maria, dummy items in levels, an Eyes Wide Shut get together, trap doors, walking escalators, character rich static scenes that prove divisive, the wealthy, and major problems with a mouse.After all that, we take you through what some of the critics were saying about the game around the time it came out, and then we give you our final verdicts on whether Hitman Go is a Pass, a Play, or an Espionage Explosion.For those who would like to play along at home, we'll be discussing, reviewing and dissecting Days Gone on the next episode of Stealth Boom Boom.IMPORTANT LINKS TO THINGS

After effectively creating the Soulsborne genre and having a wild amount of success with it, one of the most celebrated developers of the 21st century decided to tinker the formula once more. And, again, to great success. We're going back to 2019, to a stealth action game that picked up so many game of the year awards that particular year. We're talking Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice.On this episode of Stealth Boom Boom, we take a look at the early days of FromSoftware and how it took the studio close to two decades to achieve overnight success. We also discuss a YouTuber making the Loaded Axe and Loaded Umbrella in real life, as well as the link between this game and Tenchu. Of course, there's some chat on the differences between this game and Dark Souls / Bloodborne that were highlighted in pre-launch interviews... and there's some talk on the dreaded difficulty discourse that comes up around every From Software game launch.In our review, you'll hear some chat on the advantages of taking a stealthy approach and then giving a boss a Shinobi Deathblow, luring moronic enemies away from the herd, the sheer relief after you've stabbed an enemy and downed them, the frustratingly good peripheral vision of enemies, trying to pick off a group one-by-one, lobbing bits of pot off a wall, eating sweets to remain unseen, being a Sengoku Spider-Man with the grappling hook, The Last Samurai starring Tom Cruise, feel the rhythm to break the other guy's Posture (and the joy when that happens), nonstop trial-and-error, Perilous Attacks, breaking rhythm with the Mikiri Counter, the Nighjar's acrobatics and woo, dirty tactics with the Shinobi Prosthetic, Dragonrot and resurrection, the sheer amount of items and skill trees and menus, grinding for skill points, Genichiro Ashina (and then Genichiro, Way of Tomoe), the autumnal environs of Senpou Temple and immortality, a story that's out of time (and has cutscenes), micro narratives, and one nasty sword.After all that, we take you through what some of the critics were saying about the game around the time it came out, and then we give you our final verdicts on whether Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice is a Pass, a Play, or an Espionage Explosion.For those who would like to play along at home, we'll be discussing, reviewing and dissecting Hitman GO on the next episode of Stealth Boom Boom.IMPORTANT LINKS TO THINGS

Around 20 years ago, J.J. Abrams and Jennifer Garner came together to produce one of the most popular shows on TV for a number of years. What's the next logical step? Make a game based on it, of course. We're going back to 2004 to a stealth action game that based on a hit ABC TV programme. We're talking Alias.On this episode of Stealth Boom Boom, we take a look at the topsy-turvy history of Acclaim Entertainment. We also discuss a trailer that had quite a few live-action shots of the TV show in it, as well as a featurette that includes a celebrity being genuinely excited about the video game they're in.In our review, you'll hear some chat on crab walking and competency, mission-specific spy gadgets, semi-involved hacking puzzles, enhanced vision, some Hitman-like wardrobe changes (and the outrageous outfits), split screen moments, punching and kicking that has a bit to it but is ultimately very clunky, weapon degradation that is astoundingly represented via in-game visuals, Broom or Fist, museums and embassies, a story that takes place between episodes 19 and 20 or season 2, a drop of Milo Rambaldi's blood, some lost charm, and the truly awful Marshall Flinkman.After all that, we take you through what some of the critics were saying about the game around the time it came out, and then we give you our final verdicts on whether Alias is a Pass, a Play, or an Espionage Explosion.For those who would like to play along at home, we'll be discussing, reviewing and dissecting Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice on the next episode of Stealth Boom Boom.IMPORTANT LINKS TO THINGS

The game we're discussing today may have the most star-studded cast of any game we'll ever review: Mya, Shannon Elizabeth, Heidi Klum, Judi Dench, John Cleese, Willem Dafoe and Pierce Brosnan. We're going back to 2004 to an action-adventure game starring one of the world's most famous fictional agents. We're talking James Bond 007: Everything or Nothing.On this episode of Stealth Boom Boom, we look at the early days of Visceral Games (when they were still called EA Redwood Shores). We also discuss a teaser trailer that doesn't have Bond's voice and gives GoldenEye vibes, as well as some top celeb interviews about facial expressions and the size of controllers when in the hands of Richard Kiel.In our review, you'll hear some chat on the co-op campaign that Josh enjoyed 20 years ago, a decent amount of opportunities to employ serviceable stealth, how we see the character fitting in stealthy scenarios, the Q Spider and your modest assortment of gadgets, the Nano Suit and a draining battery, an INVISIBLE CAR (but can the enemies hear it?), solid cover shooting before the golden age of the third-person shooter, the safety of fine-tuning your aim behind a wall, difficulty spikes and trial-and-error set-pieces, the coolness of the rappel gun, trying to read the map while shooting missiles and breaking the speed limit in your Need for Speed car, optional Bond Moments, lobbing spanners at heads, Jaws what are you doing here, fireworks in Peru, flamethrowers attached to motorbike, absolute popcorn nonsense, nods to old movies, a checked out Brosnan, a poor supporting cast, a tingling Bond Sense, and where does Everything or Nothing by Mya rank on our list of THE GREATEST BOND SONGS EVER!?!?!?!After all that, we take you through what some of the critics were saying about the game around the time it came out, and then we give you our final verdicts on whether James Bond 007: Everything or Nothing is a Pass, a Play, or an Espionage Explosion.For those who would like to play along at home, we'll be discussing, reviewing and dissecting Alias on the next episode of Stealth Boom Boom.IMPORTANT LINKS TO THINGS

Five years ago, there was a little bit of buzz around a game that Square Enix was publishing. Some of the people involved in making it had worked on Dark Souls, Armored Core, Metal Gear Solid. But, then it came out, and people were not happy one bit. We're going back to 2019 to look at a stealth-action survival game that was a Front Mission spin-off. We're talking LEFT ALIVE.On this episode of Stealth Boom Boom, we look at how something resembling a bit of a dream team was brought together to make this game at developer Ilinx. We also discuss how Toshifumi Nabeshima was fielding questions about how hard the game was before it was even released, as well as that initial response from the general public.In our review, you'll hear some chat on the trouble with normal difficulty, the enemies' exceptional vision, the red laser sights of 100 guns pointing at you, Casual Mode and how it actually allows you to perform stealth takedowns, flying drones (that can move at speed on the ground), running away from soldiers that lose interest, uninteresting challenge, the question of whether enemies can hear you or not, stealth in an open warzone, the Enemy Sensor, CAN MAN, escorting survivors that will inevitably be seen and lead to your downfall, bullet sponge baddies with bulletproof heads, awful aiming, harmful (but not fatal) Molotovs, three different kinds of landmines and the overly-complicated crafting menus, the fun to be had in one of the few agile Wanzer mechs available to you, battering a guy from behind with a pipe as a treat, a solid and silly premise that is treated with far too much seriousness in its story, the dweeby twerpy dorky loser Mikhail, a loan company, pristine posters for World of Tanks, and CAUTION: THE ENEMY IS APPROACHING.After all that, we take you through what some of the critics were saying about the game around the time it came out, and then we give you our final verdicts on whether LEFT ALIVE is a Pass, a Play, or an Espionage Explosion.For those who would like to play along at home, we'll be discussing, reviewing and dissecting James Bond 007: Everything or Nothing on the next episode of Stealth Boom Boom.IMPORTANT LINKS TO THINGS

In the late '90s, Sony was looking for an action espionage thriller. They were looking for their GoldenEye. So, they turned to the only studio they knew that could pull it off: the one that made Bubsy 3D. We're going back to 1999 to look at the first game in a long-running PlayStation exclusive series. We're talking Syphon Filter.On this episode of Stealth Boom Boom, we look at how the first iteration of this game was set 200 years in the future in a a post-apocalypse world. We also discuss how developer Eidetic (who would go onto become Bend Studio) were "making it up as [they] went along," as well as the TV advert that was very PlayStation.In our review, you'll hear some chat on the OPM 47 demo disc, the ambiguity of safe distances to enemies and the noise you make while crouching, Buzz Lightyear, a distinct lack of cover, a radar that doesn't stick to the rules, enemies that appear out of thin air, tank controls (but mostly strafing), a gymnast's somersault, a weighty secret agent, running through glass, awful first-person aiming, corner peeping, the importance of headshots and flak jacket-wearing baddies, gas grenades, the DANGER bar, a shotgun with range, setting guys on fire with the taser, the sense of achievement when you complete a big multi-objective mission (and how annoying it is to see "Objectives Incomplete" when you reach your goal), the deflation you feel when the game asks you to effectively repeat a level, hopping atop a train carriage, James Bond in a museum, a perfectly standard story that's delivered in a senselessly convoluted way, characters being disinterested in their own conversations, and a really big jump.After all that, the lads take you through what some of the critics were saying about the game around the time it came out, and then they give their final verdicts on whether Syphon Filter is a Pass, a Play, or an Espionage Explosion.For those who would like to play along at home, we'll be discussing, reviewing and dissecting LEFT ALIVE on the next episode of Stealth Boom Boom.IMPORTANT LINKS TO THINGS

What does a podcast that looks at older stealth / stealthy videos games do after reviewing Psi-Ops: The Mindgate Conspiracy on its last episode? It goes back 20 years to look at a stealth-action game from 2004 that is often compared to the aforementioned Psi-Ops! We're talking Second Sight!On this episode of Stealth Boom Boom, we look at the formation of developer Free Radical Design and how Redemption was going to be their first game before Timesplitters was even thought about. We also discuss the work of Death In Paradise's Jermain Julien on a behind-the-scenes feature, as well as what David Doak was saying publicly about the studio's number one competition.In our review, you'll hear some chat on enemies with awful peripheral vision, MGS touches like lockers and surveillance cameras, avoidance as an option, how two of us missed quite important in-game prompts, herky-jerky movement, decent and alright and grand stealth sections, optional Resident Evil camera, the Charm (and power) of invisibility, possessing lads, scoping out an area as a ghost fella, psi blasting in secret (?), the inability to simply throw while using Telekinesis, John Vattic being a machine with a gun in his hands, first-person flourishes, a peculiar sniper scope view, another asylum, a very unconvincing street gang, unnecessary training, a compelling twisty-turny sci-fi story, Nigel Thornberry, and toothless & fishy characters that some of us like.After all that, the lads take you through what some of the critics were saying about the game around the time it came out, and then they give their final verdicts on whether Second Sight is a Pass, a Play, or an Espionage Explosion.For those who would like to play along at home, we'll be discussing, reviewing and dissecting Syphon Filter on the next episode of Stealth Boom Boom.IMPORTANT LINKS TO THINGS

It's time to do it again as we kick off Stealth Boom Boom season 2! According to our first game of 2024, your mind is the ultimate weapon. In fairness, that does make sense; if you're reading this, your brain is capable of big things (because you're an intelligent person who is about to listen to this podcast). We're going back 20 years to look at a cult classic third-person action-adventure game from 2004. We're talking Psi-Ops: The Mindgate Conspiracy.On this episode of Stealth Boom Boom, we look at the storied history of Midway Games and how Metal Gear Solid inspired the team to begin development on ESPionage. We also discuss COLD and their rock n' roll banger With My Mind, as well as how the story of The Mindgate Conspiracy was quite similar to the story of an unreleased movie.In our review, you'll hear some chat on Far Cry-like perceptive enemies, a prompt to be mindful of your sound (even though it seems like it doesn't matter?), a silenced pistol that is absolutely pointless, training sections that imply the game will allow you to perform stealthy kills, mind controlling a guard and getting trigger happy. the lost oppportunity of first-person ghosting through doors in Remote View, a cover system that some of us missed, Pyrokinesis by Ronseal, the JOY of flinging lads against walls with Telekinesis, some really weightless and unsatisfying weapons (except for the sniper rifle), a three-headed devil dragon, the fact we're just living in a world of flying invisible alien squid crab spiders, psychic-armoured guards, a surprisingly boring story, characters who speak fluent exposition, AN EVIL TWIN SISTER, Nick Scryer being a video game man that says video game things, John Readsyourmind, mom's favourite, a Psi-Ops 2 tease, and the AA video game.After all that, the lads take you through what some of the critics were saying about the game around the time it came out, and then they give their final verdicts on whether Psi-Ops: The Mindgate Conspiracy is a Pass, a Play, or an Espionage Explosion.For those who would like to play along at home, we'll be discussing, reviewing and dissecting Second Sight on the next episode of Stealth Boom Boom.IMPORTANT LINKS TO THINGS

Around this time of the year, other video games podcasts will be doing their game of the year pods and talking about games like Alan Wake 2, Baldur's Gate 3, Super Mario Bros Wonder, Spider-Man 2, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. NOT US! No, no, no. This is the culmination of the first year of Stealth Boom Boom. And that means this is the 1st Annual Stealth Boom Boom Awards – Game of the Year 2023. In other words... The Boomies!On this podcast you'll hear us discuss the 25 games we've reviewed on the podcast this year. Over the course of this mammoth 3+ hour episode, you will hear us organise that list of 25 games into a top 25. Firstly, we try and place games into our three groups – the Bottom 9, the Middle 8, and the Top 8. However, as you'll hear, something called TOMOTTOM quickly becomes integral to proceedings.Once we've placed games into their groups, we then order each individual group. And, ultimately, we end up determining Stealth Boom Boom's game of the year for 2023.These descriptions are often full of episode talking points, but it feels spoilery to even suggest what we speak about on the pod. Instead, here is an alphabetised list of the 25 games up for discussion today:Among UsAssassin's CreedBasingstokeBatman: Arkham AsylumChicken RunCommandos: Behind Enemy LinesDARKDeus Ex: The FallFar CryForbidden Siren Ghost of a TaleGunpointManhuntMetal Gear SolidMonaco: What's Yours is MineOutlastPenumbra (Overture, Black Plague, Requiem)Remothered: Tormented FathersSly Cooper and the Thievius RaccoonusTenchu: Stealth AssassinsThe Last Of UsThief: The Dark ProjectTom Clancy's Splinter CellTomb RaiderXIIIWith all that said... please enjoy The Boomies 2023.... one more thing... a HUGE thank you to anyone that's listened to a single second of Stealth Boom Boom. It's an absolute pleasure to make this podcast and we're so thankful there are people who have made it part of their listening schedule. You folks are the best!Whether you're celebrating something this holiday season or not, Colm, Adam and Josh hope you have the loveliest time!For those who would like to play along at home, on the first episode of year two of Stealth Boom Boom, we'll be discussing, reviewing, dissecting... Psi-Ops: The Mindgate Conspiracy.IMPORTANT LINKS TO THINGS

In the summer of 2000, celebrated animation UK animation studio Aardman Animations released their first feature-length film in cinemas around the world. Chicken Run was a phenomenal success, becoming the highest-grossing stop-motion animation movie of all time. We're going back 23 years to look at the game based on that very movie. Yep. We're talking Chicken Run.On this episode of Stealth Boom Boom, we look at the Oliver Twins and their journey from bedroom developers to Blitz Games (the studio behind this particular movie tie-in). We also talk about the Game Boy Color version because why not, and how Chicken Run is the game that beat Colm's research methods.In our review you'll hear some chat on Metal Gear Solid But For Kids, the efficacy of confusing dogs with brussel sprouts, Harry Gregson-Williams, thieving from other games, the very odd choices made around the exceptionally awkward camera, losing quest-pivotal items when you're caughts, happy running around vibes, love for '00s style mini-games, disdain for '00s style mini-games, International Track & Field, the Bunty Eggs-Press, SPALL FACT, the realisation of Tweedy's Farm, an awful retelling of a great story, whether or not people might've played the game without seeing the movie, the little hits of joy when you play sequences that are only briefly mentioned in the film, Enter The Matrix, loading screens and the lovely-looking main menu. After all that, the lads take you through what some of the critics were saying about the game around the time it came out, and then they give their final verdicts on whether Chicken Run is a Pass, a Play, or an Espionage Explosion.For those who would like to play along at home, we'll be discussing, reviewing and dissecting every single game we've reviewed this year on the next episode of Stealth Boom Boom. Because the next episode of Stealth Boom Boom is going to be our Game of the Year 2023 episode, otherwise known as the inaugural edition of the Boomies!IMPORTANT LINKS TO THINGS

After discussing Tenchu: Stealth Assassins, Commandos: Behind Enemy Lines, and Metal Gear Solid, we are – for the final time in the first year of Stealth Boom Boom – returning to 1998, the Year of Stealth. We're going back 25 years to look at the first-person sneaker that influenced so many that came after. We're talking Thief: The Dark Project (... or Thief Gold...)On this episode of Stealth Boom Boom, we look at the origins of Looking Glass Studios and how they started making a 6D video game based on King Arthur before landing on the video game that is beloved by many today. We also talk about some ROCKING promo music and some classic '90s (friendly) mudslinging between LGS and id Software.In our review, you'll hear some chat on moving from shadow to shadow, dropping bodies in the dark, sneaky leans and sneaky walks, Tomb Raider 2, smooth acrobatics, a magical bow that shoots magical water and moss arrows, loud tiles and quiet carpets, enemies that both whistle AND sing, quite a few mentions of Splinter Cell, the horror soundtrack, differing opinions on sword-fighting, blackjack whacking, you and Garrett scribbling notes on your map, lookalike corridors, the Gold BONUS of the Thieves Guild, how changing difficulty also changes your objectives, the platforming and trippiness of The Sword, a cocky Garrett, the believability of The City (but also the monsters of The City), some very stylish cutscenes, and a thief that actually thieves.After all that, the lads take you through what some of the critics were saying about the game around the time it came out, and then they give their final verdicts on whether Thief: The Dark Project (... or Thief Gold...) is a Pass, a Play, or an Espionage Explosion.For those who would like to play along at home, we'll be discussing, reviewing and dissecting Chicken Run on the next episode of Stealth Boom Boom.IMPORTANT LINKS TO THINGS

19 years after writer Jean Van Hamme and artist William Vance created a Belgian comic that revolved around a very strong and athletic amnesiac, Ubisoft decided to create a video game adaptation of it. We're going back to 2003 to look at a stealthy first-person shooter. We're talking XIII.On this episode of Stealth Boom Boom, we look at how the comic book's story and art compare to that of what Ubisoft Paris created (and how people thought the source material was "ugly" apparently). We also make note of how the leading man and woman – David Duchovny and EVE – were feeling about XIII before it came out.In our review, you'll hear some chat on Josh's fourteen copies of the game, an advert for our podcast on the XIII remake (coming 2029), TAP TAP TAP (and how style meets function with onomatopoeic SFX), surveillance camera pop-up panels, The Bourne Identity by Robert Ludlum, whacking brooms over the heads of others, the ludicrously overpowered crossbow, varied ammo drops, BAAOOM BAAOOM, the reward for a headshot, the return of Gun Pervert Wise, enemies popping up far away and up on high, secondary fire mode, a unique grappling hook, the rush of killing a guard in between them saying "ALERT" and them setting off the alarm, "YOU CAN FLY", a bank with some dynamite in it, the undercooked individual targets of The XX, a baggy middle, that late '60s / early '70s tone, the cliffhanger for XIII 2 (or XIV), mixed-up memories, and the curious performance of David Duchovny (and his album Hell or Highwater, available in all good record shops).After all that, the lads take you through what some of the critics were saying about the game around the time it came out, and then they give their final verdicts on whether XIII is a Pass, a Play, or an Espionage Explosion.For those who would like to play along at home, we'll be discussing, reviewing and dissecting Thief: The Dark Project on the next episode of Stealth Boom Boom.IMPORTANT LINKS TO THINGS

Rockstar North was on a real high. They were coming off of the both the biggest game of 2001, Grand Theft Auto 3, AND the biggest game of 2002, Grand That Auto: Vice City. The series that saw you stealing cars and driving dangerously through pedestrian-filled streets had propelled them into video game superstardom. Then they decided to do something quite different. We're going back to 2003 to take a look at one of the most controversial video games of all time. We're talking about Manhunt.On this episode of Stealth Boom Boom, we look at how DMA Design became the biggest developer in the world (while also swearing loads in interviews like absolute mad lads). We also discuss New Zealand's history with the game, as well as how Manhunt was briefly connected to a murder story.In our review, you'll hear some chat on how the stealth is dependable to some and boring to others, James Earl Cash and his Splinter Cell love of shadows, battering walls with your fists to attract the attention of guards, the SOCOM PS2 headset, the comfort of the stealth loop, urban horror, the gruesome kill animations and their effect 20 years on, John Wick pencils, Red Dead Redemption 2 train tracks, swinging baseball bats like swords in Skyrim, a weightless protagonist, the power guns have when they're introduced, the bullet-fuelled carnage of the second half, David Fincher's bipigal Piggsy, an attempt at deconstructing violent video games, Brian Cox delivering dialogue with gusto, the shared GTA universe, Detroit, 00s edginess, The Warriors, John Carpenter, "hide you shit," and an ever-present beating heart.After all that, the lads take you through what some of the critics were saying about the game around the time it came out, and then they give their final verdicts on whether Manhunt is a Pass, a Play, or an Espionage Explosion.For those who would like to play along at home, we'll be discussing, reviewing and dissecting XIII on the next episode of Stealth Boom Boom.IMPORTANT LINKS TO THINGS

In 1999, Keiichiro Toyama and Team Silent created one of the most-celebrated horror video games of all time: Silent Hill. Almost every superlative you can think of was thrown at Harry Mason's jaunt around the foggy American town. A few years later, Toyama and others that worked on the Konami classic took their talents elsewhere and tried to do it all again. We're going back to 2003 to look at a PlayStation 2-exclusive horror game. We're talking about Forbidden Siren (or just Siren for some of you).On this episode of Stealth Boom Boom, we look at how developer Project Siren was keen to work on a horror game with more of a Japanese flavour, citing the J-horror boom as reason enough to give it a go. We also discuss how one TV ad for the game had to be cancelled after seven (7!) complaints, as well as how they pushed that Forbidden Siren was much more hardcore than other games of this ilk.In our review, you'll hear some chat on how Sightjacking is a very cool idea (and also how two of us think it doesn't work, and one of us thinks it does), darkness and fog, Commandos' mult-cam setup, orienteering, cautiously crouch-walking at the speed Solid Snake and Jack Carver move about on their bellies, the annoyance of ambiguity / the thrill of ambiguity, being aware of sound and light, awkwardly swinging a metal pipe, Shibito character models, mission objective 2, the Link Navigator, Butterfly Effect puzzles, the baffling Interaction List Menu system, a photo album that caught Josh's attention, ten characters that couldn't grab the attention of Adam, L.A. Noire, and classic lines of dialogue such as "I told you to wait in the car." After all that, the lads take you through what some of the critics were saying about the game around the time it came out, and then they give their final verdicts on whether Forbidden Siren is a Pass, a Play, or an Espionage Explosion.For those who would like to play along at home, we'll be discussing, reviewing and dissecting Manhunt on the next episode of Stealth Boom Boom.IMPORTANT LINKS TO THINGS

During the mid-to-late 2000s, film fans were breaking down the doors of cinemas all over the world in order to see how new life had been given to the Batman. Around this time, the alter ego of Bruce Wayne had a similar renaissance in video games. We're going back to 2009 in order to look at the action-adventure game that became the measuring stick for future comic book games. We're talking Batman: Arkham Asylum.On this episode of Stealth Boom Boom, we look at how a young English developer named Rocksteady Studios was tasked with bringing the story of Batman writer Paul Dini to life. We also discuss how getting the cape right was so important to Brian and all his colleagues, as well as how a singer almost owned Eidos Interactive.In our review, you'll hear some chat on the sameyness of (most) Predator rooms – but also gargoyles with dynamite on them, how Detective Mode is OP, What's The Time Mr. Scarecrow, the rhythmic flow of punching and kicking baddies, the superhero launching himself at said baddies, glove-fixing, combo breakers, learning inverted takedowns on the job, Batman's gadgets that he left in the boot of his car, Metroidvania-ness in an open (space) world, setting up a crime scene without jurisdiction and scanning for Old Country tobacco, awful boss fights and a mohawked Joker, the beauty in the awful of Arkham Island, comic book characters in a comic book world, Christopher Nolan, Mark Hamill's menace and joy, the opening ten minutes, breaking the fourth wall, interview tapes, stellar easter eggs, and Commissioner Jim Gordon's COG-like physique.After all that, the lads take you through what some of the critics were saying about the game around the time it came out, and then they give their final verdicts on whether Batman: Arkham Asylum is a Pass, a Play, or an Espionage Explosion.For those who would like to play along at home, we'll be discussing, reviewing and dissecting Forbidden Siren on the next episode of Stealth Boom Boom.IMPORTANT LINKS TO THINGS

Before Gus Fring from Breaking Bad signed on, before you were doing some first-person platforming up a tower, and before your map was filled with icons, this series had you mowing down some angry monkeys, angry men, and angry monkey men. We're going back almost 20 years, to 2004, to look at a first-person shooter that spawned many sequels. We're talking Far Cry.On this episode of Stealth Boom Boom, we look at how X-Isle got the attention of Nvidia, many years before the dinosaur island became Far Cry. We also discuss how Crytek were always looking to mix action and stealth in the game, as well as some dream casting for the Uwe Boll film.In our review, you'll hear some chat on how to pronounce the name of the game, how you're noisier when dragging your belly on the ground, the excellent sight and hearing of every enemy, BIG ZOOM ENERGY, the stealth-o-meter, tagging guys via your binoculars, thermal goggles that make the Splinter Cell (and X-Files) noise, the MP5, the Trigens that can leap up into the air, the Trigens that can go invisible, the Trigens that are called fat boys, gun perviness, incredible headshots, punching PC monitors, overpowered baddies, bad stamina, a good-looking jungle, hang glider vs helicopter, poor pacing, the second half of Crytek games, and unintentional Duke Nukem.After all that, the lads take you through what some of the critics were saying about the game around the time it came out, and then they give their final verdicts on whether Far Cry is a Pass, a Play, or an Espionage Explosion.For those that would like to play along at home, we'll be reviewing Batman: Arkham Asylum on the next episode of Stealth Boom Boom.IMPORTANT LINKS TO THINGS

Around the early 2010s, there was a real boom in first-person horror-stealth and today we're looking at one of the most popular games in said genre. We're going back a decade, to 2013, to look at a video game that has since spawned two sequels – one of which only came out this year. We're talking Outlast.On this episode of Stealth Boom Boom, we talk about how developer Red Barrels was set up by three people who had some stealth pedigree, having previously worked on both Assassin's Creed and Splinter Cell. We also discuss how their game was inspired by Aphex Twin and Mirror's Edge, as well as how they saw the camcorder as a gun.In our review, you'll hear some chat on how the night vision camera both helps and terrifies, an asylum stuffed with batteries, a heartbeat that gets faster and faster, hiding in lockers, the thrill of being chased (and looking behind you while you're being chased), some differing opinions on the game's jump scares, staring competitions with NPCs, the fairly narrow path in Mount Massive, the name "Mount Massive", generators... just in general, running out of frustration, absolutely slamming doors, Robbie Williams in the Rock DJ video, little tiny robots, being really scared, not being scared anymore, MKUltra, an optional story, a hippo and a giraffe eating chocolate eclairs, and a line of dialogue about a cat.After all that, the lads take you through what some of the critics were saying about the game around the time it came out, and then they give their final verdicts on whether Outlast is a Pass, a Play, or an Espionage Explosion.For those that would like to play along at home, we'll be reviewing Far Cry on the next episode of Stealth Boom Boom.IMPORTANT LINKS TO THINGS

A quarter of a century ago, we got some real stealthy classics – some of which have already been covered on this very podcast. Today we're looking at the game from that year that introduced many to the fact that video games can also be a lot like movies. We're going back to 1998 to take a look at the third game in one of the genre's most beloved (and maligned) series. We're talking Metal Gear Solid.On this episode of Stealth Boom Boom, we talk about how director / producer / writer Hideo Kojima, who wanted to make films from a young age, broke into the games industry. We also discuss some of the very explosive, '90s ways this game was marketed. We chat about pre-launch press coverage too, which includes some Resident Evil and Lego mentions, a research trip to see a SWAT team, and some chat on the influence of Yoji Shinkawa.In our review, you'll hear some chat on the excellent Soliton Radar (and why it needs to be excellent, because the game has a fixed camera), fading footprints in the snow, chaff grenades, hiding in cardboard boxes, disappearing enemies, F.R.E.E. (full reactive eyes entertainment), Benny Hill, floopy-doop weapons, mostly great boss fights, Psycho Mantis reading your mind, that opening hour, how anti-war this war game is, Meryl's codec number on the back of case, the briefing tapes, the Yakuza / Like A Dragon games, some of the most verbose and melodramatic people ever, "press the select button," and the alert noise.After all that, the lads take you through what some of the critics were saying about the game around the time it came out, and then they give their final verdicts on whether Metal Gear Solid is a Pass, a Play, or an Espionage Explosion.For those that would like to play along at home, we'll be reviewing Outlast on the next episode of Stealth Boom Boom.IMPORTANT LINKS TO THINGS

What do you do after you've already rebooted a series and have effectively gotten everything you can out of it? Well, you reboot it again and give it another go. We're going back to 2013 to take a look at the first entry in Lara Croft's third (?) series under the same name. We're talking Tomb Raider (2013)... to be specific... but obviously it's just called Tomb Raider. Yeah!On this episode of Stealth Boom Boom, we talk about how Batman and James Bond inspired developer Crystal Dynamics to have another go at creating a new Tomb Raider series. We discuss the marketing hype behind this game, which was partly fronted by Shazam actor Zachary Levi... sadly. We also chat about the press coverage, which includes some discussion on the protagonist apparently being relatable now because she wears trousers, an "attempted rape" scene that dominated the narrative around this game, and the sexualisation of a female video game character.In our review, you'll hear some chat on scripted stealth (and something about a quiet rollercoaster), context-sensitive animations (that some enjoyed and some hated), the bow and how it's the best weapon in the game, pretty needless hunting, how the action is really frantic, an assault rifle from Splatoon, being able to literally curve Lara around objects like a bullet in that film Wanted, climbing that involves you, dated concepts like QTEs and set-pieces, rubbish tombs (that some didn't mind), awful secondary characters, a shoddy plot, a failed attempt to humanise the lead character, the fetishistic punishment that Lara goes through, and DELICIOUS LUDONARRATIVE DISSONANCE.Colm doesn't test the gaming knowledge of Adam and Josh in another edition of Who Am I? this week. We're gonna take a little break with Who Am I? for a bit. We may get back to it down the line. So, at the end of the episode, the lads give their final verdict on whether Tomb Raider is a Pass, a Play, or an Espionage Explosion.For those that would like to play along at home, we'll be reviewing Metal Gear Solid on the next episode of Stealth Boom Boom.IMPORTANT LINKS TO THINGS

Developer Ubisoft Montreal was given one job: make a game like Metal Gear Solid, but better. And they decided to make something a bit like MGS, but also a bit like Thief. We're going back to 2002 to look at the first entry in one of the most celebrated stealth-action series of all time. We're talking Splinter Cell... specifically Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell... just in case you find one done by someone else...On this episode of Stealth Boom Boom, we talk about how Splinter Cell came from a sci-fi third-person shooter called The Drift, which was almost a James Bond game. We discuss Michael Ironside basically insulting the script, how it was important for the team to make Splinter Cell feel realistic, and did we mention Splinter Cell was going to take Metal Gear Solid's lunch?In our review, you'll hear some chat on the astonishing light and dark system (and how you can create darkness by shooting out lights), hopping on the spot, the blend of silliness and Tom Clancy realism, excellent gadgets like the optic and diversion camera, some frustrating trial-and-error design, an unnecessary split jump, satisfying shooting, THE SC-20K, goggles (both night-vision and thermal), a divisive CIA office, Kombayne Nikoladze's coup, glitchy news broadcasts, a reluctance to look at The Fifth Freedom, Sam Fisher, Faithless, and THAT'S THE NAME OF THE GAME.Colm tests the gaming knowledge of Adam and Josh in another edition of Who Am I? And then the lads give their final verdict on whether Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell is a Pass, a Play, or an Espionage Explosion.For those that would like to play along at home, we'll be reviewing Tomb Raider on the next episode of Stealth Boom Boom.IMPORTANT LINKS TO THINGS

What does a publisher do after they've successfully resurrected a series that was laying dormant for years? Well, they put it on iPhone and iPad, silly! Or, at least that's what Square Enix did about a decade ago with Deus Ex. We're talking immersive sim-lite Deus Ex: The Fall (and also some Deus Ex: Human Revolution, because it's hard not to in relation to this).On this episode of Stealth Boom Boom, we talk about New Jersey-based developer N-Fusion Interactive and how they really found their niche, in the mobile games space, in the early 2010s. We discuss how they got the gig to take care of this Deus Ex spin-off, as well as how fans of Adam Jensen were a bit cross The Fall wasn't the PC and console sequel they were anticipating.In our review, you'll hear some chat on how – in 2023 – the only way to play this mobile game is on PC, inconsistent AI in The Drug Den, "prescribed verticality", vanishing bodies, how cloaking is OP, hacking and why it's brilliant or confusing (depending on who you ask), absolutely dreadful shooting, shit font, cool takedowns that transport you to the middle of the floor, Nutri-Grain bars, an oddly laid-out shop / inventory, a spider-bot on a rooftop, Panama City, a drug conspiracy, boring Ben "don't call me Jean Reno" Saxon, a pleasant sci-fi score, and how The Fall shows glimpses of Deus Ex-y-ness.Colm tests the gaming knowledge of Adam and Josh in another edition of Who Am I? And then the lads give their final verdict on whether Deus Ex: The Fall is a Pass, a Play, or an Espionage Explosion.For those that would like to play along at home, we'll be reviewing Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell on the next episode of Stealth Boom Boom.IMPORTANT LINKS TO THINGS

It all began in darkness. He awoke to a world of pain. Eric… Eric Bane. The name shot through his head like a bullet… it was his name These words will stay with you for the rest of your life once you've listened to this very episode of the Stealth Boom Boom podcast. We're going back a decade for this deep dive, as we discuss the stealth-action vampire game DARK (and definitely not Dark).On this episode of Stealth Boom Boom, we talk about German developer Realmforge Studios and how they really wanted you to know that their game about bloodsuckers is nothing like Twilight. No sparkly fanged creatures here. No way. We also chat about why they chose a cel-shaded artstyle, as well as why they decided to make a stealth game in the first place.In our review, you'll hear some chat on no-nonsense line-of-sight, how players of DARK are rewarded for being sneaky, the act of sucking necks dry, the top-of-class shooters of M17, the interesting idea for a save system, some motion-detecting museum exhibits, vampire abilities that favour the more aggressive players, the RPG trappings that fall flat, a shoddy version of Blink from Dishonored, a never-ending song, and some of the most memorable video characters we've come across in quite a while.Colm tests the gaming knowledge of Adam and Josh in another edition of Who Am I? And then the lads give their final verdict on whether DARK is a Pass, a Play, or an Espionage Explosion.For those that would like to play along at home, we'll be reviewing Deus Ex: The Fall on the next episode of Stealth Boom Boom.IMPORTANT LINKS TO THINGS

There's no doubt about it, this one was a bonafide success. The series may lay dormant now, but there was a time when this game was as important to its publisher as Tomb Raider. We're going back 25 years to the year of stealth, once again, as we discuss the real-time tactics game Commandos: Behind Enemy Lines.On this episode of Stealth Boom Boom, we talk about the fledgling games industry in Spain, and the developer that was leading the charge over there: Pyro Studios. We chat about the movies its creative director was pulling from, the emergent gameplay elements the studio was looking to implement, and whether or not they knew they had a hit on their hands.In our review, you'll hear some chat on two-tone vision cones, covering the green beret in snow, a clear map, some sturdy rules, the spy being good at wearing clothes, observant enemies, a tricky multi-cam set-up, aqua-based stealth with the marine, how tough the missions on larger maps are, blowing up buildings (by blowing up barrels), dissenting opinions on the driver, the shooting feels like you're clicking a mouse because you are), camera-panning issues, a different kind of D-Day, History Channel-esque presentation, endearing (if stereotypical) voices, spikey briefings, and some beautiful visuals.Colm tests the gaming knowledge of Adam and Josh in another edition of Who Am I? And then the lads give their final verdict on whether Commandos: Behind Enemy Lines is a Pass, a Play, or an Espionage Explosion.For those that would like to play along at home, we'll be reviewing DARK on the next episode of Stealth Boom Boom.IMPORTANT LINKS TO THINGS

Nobody cared about this game when it first launched. And then, two years later, a pandemic happened and it became a phenomenon. It mightn't be the biggest video game in the entire world anymore, but it's still pulling in pretty good player numbers in fairness. We are going back five years (but also kind of three years), as we discuss the social deduction game that spawned many others, Among Us.On this episode of Stealth Boom Boom, we talk about the humble beginnings of Innersloth on Newgrounds, how they almost canned one of the biggest games of the last decade, and its rise via streamers and content creators. We also touch on the burnout the team felt bringing the game to consoles, as well as the benefit the studio has being independent.In our review, you'll hear us chat about the wonderful tension that playing against human players can create (and GTA: Liberty City Stories, obvs), trying to convince people of your innocence in the discussion phase, the terrible quick chat radial wheel, menial tasks (and Zombi U, obvs), superfluous roles, the fleeting enjoyment of Hide n' Seek, the Flash visuals, the lack of music, and trying to play catch-up with an established online multiplayer game.Colm tests the gaming knowledge of Adam and Josh in another edition of Who Am I? And then the lads give their final verdict on whether Among Us is a Pass, a Play, or an Espionage Explosion.For those that would like to play along at home, we'll be reviewing Commandos: Behind Enemy Lines on the next episode of Stealth Boom Boom.IMPORTANT LINKS TO THINGS

In 2013, after shinier games like Crash Bandicoot and Uncharted, Naughty Dog decided t try their hand at something a bit more serious. And then it became such a success that they did a sequel and then a HBO TV show. You probably know by now, but this episode of Stealth Boom Boom features lots of chat on 2013 stealthy action-adventure, The Last of Us.On this episode, we talk about the hype machine that Sony were building around this game, with lots of dev diaries and featurettes on pretty much every aspect of The Last of Us. We also touch on the confidence that the development team were exhibiting in interviews with the press - they said they were gonna "change the f**king industry" in one.In our review, you'll hear us chat about how good the Clickers are, Joel's magical ears, how the game pushes you towards a more third-person shooter way of playing, the heft of melee combat, the simplicity of the crafting system, a flamethrower (lol), character-building, incidental dialogue, hundreds of murderings, and The Last of Us TV show (of course). There's a lot to cover.Colm tests the gaming knowledge of Adam and Josh in another edition of Who Am I? And then the lads give their final verdict on whether The Last of Us is a Pass, a Play, or an Espionage Explosion.For those that would like to play along at home, we'll be reviewing Among Us on the next episode of Stealth Boom Boom.IMPORTANT LINKS TO THINGS

A decade ago, one member of the games press decided to try his hand at development, and it worked out pretty alright for him. So, for this episode of Stealth Boom Boom, we decided to take a look at that 2013 2D puzzle-stealth game from indie dev Suspicious Developments. We're talking Gunpoint.On this episode, we talk about the vlogging developer Tom Francis was doing, in the lead-up to the game's launch, on topics such as action games vs stealth game, as well as the heartbreak and triumph you encounter while making a game. We also chat about all the interviews Francis did in and around the game's launch – most of them are on whether his work at PC Gamer influenced Gunpoint in some way.In our review, you'll hear us discuss successful instafail, sharpshooting guards, the gift that is the Crosslink, a pair of superhero trousers, cartoon violence, a gun with a timer, kicking doors off their hinges, dialogue options that don't matter, and some jazz synth fusion.Colm tests the gaming knowledge of Adam and Josh in Who Am I? And then the lads give their final verdict on whether Gunpoint is a Pass, a Play, or an Espionage Explosion.For those that would like to play along at home, we'll be reviewing The Last Of Us on the next episode of Stealth Boom Boom.IMPORTANT LINKS TO THINGS

The largest town in the county of Hampshire is relatively local for at least one of the crew, but we decided against reviewing the birthplace of Liz Hurley. Instead, we decided to take a look at the 2018 stealth roguelike from indie developer Puppy Games. We're talking Basingstoke (the video game and not the place... although there is some chat about Wote Street Willy).On this episode, we don't have a ton of marketing or press coverage to chat about, sadly. However, thanks to an incredible two-part postmortem the developer published on their Patreon, we are able to chat about the issues they faced: their publisher dropping out, a PR mix-up, Steam sales and much more.In our review, you'll hear us discuss the joy of a well-done flashlight, a new fear of plastic bollards, utter dejection, some mixed emotions on the items, and the Shaun of the Dead vibes.Colm tests the gaming knowledge of Adam and Josh in Who Am I? And then the lads give their final verdict on whether Basingstoke is a Pass, a Play, or an Espionage Explosion.For those that would like to play along at home, we'll be reviewing Gunpoint on the next episode of Stealth Boom Boom.IMPORTANT LINKS TO THINGS

We're going back to the 1100s and a period of history that video games don't tackle all that much, because we're looking at the 2007 action-adventure game that would go on to spawn one of the most successful series of all time. We're talking Assassin's Creed.On this episode, we have a lot of pre-launch marketing and press coverage to talk about: there's the totally un-Ubisoft vlogs, Kristen Bell pointing everyone towards a website, and just the unrelenting hype. In our review, we chat about the inconsistencies in the social stealth, the mission repetition, the counter (that's way too good), THE INTRODUCTION OF UBISOFT TOWERS, the mission repetition, and the fact that the modern-day stuff is actually pretty decent.Colm tests the gaming knowledge of Adam and Josh in A TOTALLY NEW GAME (that will probably just be called Who Am I?) and then the lads give their final verdict on whether Assassin's Creed is a Pass, a Play, or an Espionage Explosion.For those that would like to play along at home, we'll be reviewing Basingstoke on the next episode of Stealth Boom Boom.IMPORTANT LINKS TO THINGS

If I'd paid more attention in French class, I'd try writing the entire blurb en français, but I didn't, so I'm afraid English will have to do. Either way, this week on the Stealth Boom Boom podcast, you're getting over two hours of chat on 2013 indie heist game, Monaco: What's Yours Is Mine.On this episode, we chat about the wonderful vlogs from Pocketwatch Games' Andy Schatz and how the developer prefers Out Of Sight to Ocean's Eleven. In our review, we discuss the visual motif of the game and how everything is in service to the game's theme; we chat about the variety in the game's roster of criminals, and we discuss the shotgun... because it's brilliant.Colm tests the gaming knowledge of Adam and Josh in another round of Trivia Espionage Action and then the lads give their final verdict on whether Monaco: What's Yours Is Mine is a Pass, a Play, or an Espionage Explosion.For those that would like to play along at home, we'll be reviewing Assassin's Creed on the next episode of Stealth Boom Boom.IMPORTANT LINKS TO THINGS