Editing Stealth game (section)

===Establishing a genre: 1998–2002===
Although stealth gameplay had appeared in previous games, 1998 is seen as a turning point in gaming history because of the release of ''[[Tenchu: Stealth Assassins]]'', ''[[Metal Gear Solid (1998 video game)|Metal Gear Solid]]'', and ''[[Thief: The Dark Project]]''.<ref name="nytimes">{{cite web|url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C04E0DA1139F937A15755C0A9629C8B63&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=all|title=GAME THEORY; First Use Your Brain, Then Unleash Your Brawn|author=Charles Herold|date=2004-06-24|work=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref><ref name="maxpc0408">{{cite book|publisher=Maximum PC|date=August 2004|title=PCs and Consoles: Unlikely Bedfellows?|author=Thomas L. McDonald}}</ref> The [[ninja]]-themed ''Tenchu: Stealth Assassins'' was the first 3D stealth based-game.<ref name="gamesradar"/> Months later, the highly anticipated ''Metal Gear Solid'' transformed its modestly successful franchise into a mainstream success. The increased power of the PlayStation console over previous platforms allowed for greater immersion in terms of both story and game environment.<ref name="MGhistory"/> ''Metal Gear Solid'' has been credited with popularizing the stealth genre.<ref name="IE2007">{{cite book|title=IE2007: Proceedings of the Fourth Australasian Conference on Interactive Entertainment|publisher=RMIT University|year=2007|author=Scott Beattie}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gamezone.com/top10/stealth_4.htm|title=Top 10 Stealth Games|author=Hop|publisher=GameZone|date=2008-06-10|access-date=2009-03-16 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080802135623/http://www.gamezone.com/top10/stealth_4.htm |archive-date = August 2, 2008}}</ref> ''Thief: The Dark Project'' is also credited as a pioneer of the genre.<ref name="netten">{{cite web|url=http://www.games.net/article/netten/1/112821/the-10-most-important-modern-shooters/|title=Net Ten: The 10 Most Important Modern Shooters (page 1)|publisher=games.net|author=Sid Shuman|access-date=2009-03-16|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716022452/http://www.games.net/article/netten/1/112821/the-10-most-important-modern-shooters/|archive-date=2011-07-16}}</ref><ref name="teamxboxinterview">{{cite web|url=http://interviews.teamxbox.com/xbox/780/Thief-Deadly-Shadows-Paul-Weaver-Interview/p1/|title=Thief Deadly Shadows: Paul Weaver Interview|author=César A. Berardini|publisher=Team Xbox|date=2004-04-16|access-date=2009-03-16|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716073938/http://interviews.teamxbox.com/xbox/780/Thief-Deadly-Shadows-Paul-Weaver-Interview/p1/|archive-date=2011-07-16}}</ref><ref name="maxpc0408"/> It was the first stealth game using the [[First-person (video games)|first-person perspective]], dubbed a "first-person sneaker".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://uk.top100.ign.com/2003/31-40.html|title=IGN's Top 100 Games of All Time|website=ign.com|access-date=1 May 2018|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131104104343/http://uk.top100.ign.com/2003/31-40.html|archive-date=4 November 2013}}</ref> Among its contributions to the stealth game was the impact of light and dark areas, the latter which could be used for concealment, and the sound design approach that allowed players to track the movement of unseen enemies, while at the same time making the player-character's movement across certain surfaces louder, such as on stone, than on other surfaces, like carpetting, and helping in their stealth.<ref>{{cite magazine | url = https://www.pcgamer.com/stealth-is-everywhere-in-games-but-the-innovations-of-thief-have-been-forgotten/ | title = Stealth is everywhere in games, but the innovations of Thief have been forgotten | first = Jeremy | last =Peel | date = December 25, 2022 | accessdate = December 27, 2022 | magazine  = [[PC Gamer]] }}</ref>

With further releases, many games in the genre drifted towards action by allowing the option of direct confrontations.<ref name="deadlyshadows">{{cite web|url=http://pc.ign.com/articles/518/518951p1.html|title=Thief: Deadly Shadows Review|author=Tom McNamara|date=2004-05-25|publisher=IGN|access-date=2009-03-16|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040624214306/http://pc.ign.com/articles/518/518951p1.html|archive-date=2004-06-24}}</ref> The ''[[Hitman (franchise)|Hitman]]'' series, the first installment of which was released in 2000, allowed this play style,<ref name="deadlyshadows"/> but rewarded the player for stealthy and elaborate assassination of antagonists. ''[[Hitman: Codename 47]]'', the first of the series, was the first 3D game to employ the genre's device of disguises.<ref name="gamesradar"/> ''[[The Operative: No One Lives Forever]]'', an espionage themed parody also released in 2000, again allowed the player to combine or choose between stealth and overt violence.<ref name="gamesradar"/> In 2000, the first-person [[action role-playing game]] ''[[Deus Ex (video game)|Deus Ex]]'' also allowed the player the choice of taking a stealth approach.<ref name="gsutra_stealth">{{cite web|last=Al-Kaisy|first=Muhammad|title=The history and meaning behind the 'Stealth genre'|url=https://www.gamedeveloper.com/design/the-history-and-meaning-behind-the-stealth-genre-|publisher=[[Gamasutra]]|access-date=15 September 2011|date=2011-06-10|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111109113140/http://www.gamasutra.com/blogs/MuhammadAlkaisy/20110610/7764/The_history_and_meaning_behind_the_Stealth_genre.php|archive-date=9 November 2011}}</ref> A [[USA Today]] reviewer found "At the easiest difficulty setting, your character is pureed again and again by an onslaught of human and robotic terrorists until you learn the value of stealth."<ref>{{cite news |last=Berman |first=A.S. |title=''Deus Ex'': Breathing new life into a tired genre |publisher=USA Today |date=2000-08-10 |url=http://www.cincinnati.com/freetime/games/reviews/deusex.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070621233333/http://www.cincinnati.com/freetime/games/reviews/deusex.html |archive-date=2007-06-21 |access-date=2007-07-21 }}</ref>

1998 also saw the release of ''[[Commandos: Behind Enemy Lines]]'', a real-time strategy game with heavy stealth gameplay. Players control a team of several soldiers, each with different limited sets of abilities. Missions are completed by navigating or clearing densely layered enemies patrols with "vision cones", similar to the Soliton radar in Metal Gear Solid. The game is recognized for its difficulty, demanding precision and memorization of hot keys.<ref>{{Cite news|date=2018-07-13|title=Wot I Think – Commandos: Behind Enemy Lines|language=en|work=Rock Paper Shotgun|url=https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/07/13/wot-i-think-commandos-behind-enemy-lines/|access-date=2021-08-09}}</ref> ''Commandos'' gave rise to other sequels along with third-party clones such as the [[Desperados (video game series)|''Desperados'']] series and ''[[Robin Hood: The Legend of Sherwood]]''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.polygon.com/2013/6/24/4459240/nordic-games-atari-desperados-silver-acquisition|title=Nordic Games acquires rights to Atari's Desperados and Silver|website=[[Polygon (website)|Polygon]]|date=24 June 2013}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://pc.gamespy.com/pc/robin-hood-the-legend-of-sherwood/5621p1.html|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20051226184010/http://pc.gamespy.com/pc/robin-hood-the-legend-of-sherwood/5621p1.html|archive-date = 2005-12-26|title = GameSpy: Robin Hood: The Legend of Sherwood - Page 1}}</ref>

''[[Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty]]'', released 2001 for the PlayStation 2, further evolved the stealth gameplay series. It featured an array of new abilities, including "leaping over and hanging off of railings, opening and hiding in storage lockers," and sneaking up behind enemies to "hold them at gunpoint for items and ammunition."<ref>Greg Kasavin (2001-11-13), [http://www.gamespot.com/ps2/adventure/metalgearsolid2sonsol/review.html Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty Review] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090809150953/http://www.gamespot.com/ps2/adventure/metalgearsolid2sonsol/review.html |date=2009-08-09 }}, GameSpot, Retrieved on 2009-06-29</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Metal Gear Solid 2 PS2 Game Guide|publisher=Absolute PlayStation|url=http://www.absolute-playstation.com/metal_gear_2/metal_gear_2_feature_1.htm|access-date=2009-08-20|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090105124933/http://www.absolute-playstation.com/metal_gear_2/metal_gear_2_feature_1.htm|archive-date=2009-01-05}}</ref> ''Metal Gear Solid 2'' holds a Guinness World Record for being the first stealth game to feature collective artificial intelligence.<ref name=Guinness2>{{cite web|title=First Stealth Game to feature collective Artificial Intelligence|publisher=Guinness World Records|url=http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/first-stealth-game-to-feature-collective-artificial-intelligence|access-date=February 16, 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160604030544/http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/first-stealth-game-to-feature-collective-artificial-intelligence|archive-date=June 4, 2016}}</ref> ''Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty'' sold 7 million units in sales, followed by ''Metal Gear Solid'' with 6 million units.<ref name="metalgear2cm">{{cite web|url=http://contactmusic.com/new/home.nsf/webpages/metalgearsolid3x21x05x03|title=Konami of America and Sony Computer Entertainment America Announce That Metal Gear Solid 3 Will Be Available Exclusively for PlayStation 2|date=21 May 2003|access-date=2006-11-26|publisher=Contact Music|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070306102440/http://contactmusic.com/new/home.nsf/webpages/metalgearsolid3x21x05x03|archive-date=2007-03-06}}</ref><ref name="Konami-Corp-Jul-2004-20-F">{{cite web|url=http://edgar.secdatabase.com/2373/119312504122301/filing-main.htm |title=Konami Corp, Form 20-F, Item 4. Information on the Company, Filing Date Jul 22, 2004 |publisher=secdatabase.com |access-date =May 14, 2018}}</ref>{{Clear}}