Curve Studios’ brutal action-platformer sequel coming to Wii U this year.
LONDON, UK – Released in 2012, Stealth Inc was created to answer a single question; “Why do Stealth games have to be so slow?” The original game introduced players to the trap, laser and death filled test chambers of the nefarious PTi industries, charging them with completing puzzles and platforming challenges across 80 different levels.
Since its original release, Stealth Inc and its PC counterpart, Stealth Bastard Deluxe, have been downloaded over one million times and have won multiple awards – not bad for a game that was started as a lunchtime project and originally released as a freeware puzzle game on PC.
In Stealth Inc 2, players return to the dark corridors of PTi Industries in Stealth Inc 2, but this time they aren’t limited to test chambers – they have full run of the facility, breaking into chambers and exploring an open world, employing brand new equipment in a quest to save fellow clones from human experimentation. For the first time, the game will also include co-operative gameplay via the Wii U GamePad.
Stealth Inc creator and Game Director on the project, Jonathan Biddle, said: “We’ve relished revisiting the world of Stealth Inc. It’s given us the chance to really fine tune the Stealth Inc experience, while also hugely expanding it with the addition of a larger explorable game world, and a more involved narrative.”
Stealth Inc 2 is due out for Nintendo’s Wii U system in 2014, and is being published by indie games publisher, Curve Digital.
- Game being brought to Wii U for many reasons
- Managing director Jason Perkins and design director Jonathan Biddle “love Nintendo and we want to give Iwata a hug”
- Stealth Inc incorporates many of the lessons learned while working on Fluidity for Wii and 3DS
- Nintendo asked Curve for a Nintendo version of Stealth Inc
- Curve couldn’t do it at the time since everyone was involved with bringing out an edition for Sony consoles
- Instead, Curve settled on bringing the game’s sequel to Wii U
- Designed exclusively from the ground up for Wii U
- Uses the GamePad features
- Co-op mode included
“I guess we really wanted to expand what we did the first time. One of the things with the original is because the levels are very short and built around this punishing loop, where you make a mistake and get sent back a very short time. They’re very cerebral, but also very precise. If you play too many of those levels in a row then you get burnt out very quickly. You’ll come back later as you enjoy it, but playing too quickly you get frustrated. So what we wanted to do was smooth that out a bit so you have the same gameplay but you’re able to have some downtime.” – Biddle
“What we’re doing with the sequel is still having that test chamber-based gameplay, but we’re pulling back. A clone will escape from the test into the facility at large, and then we’ll have a Metroid-structured game that sits in front of the test chambers. So you’ll explore the facility with a classic Metroidvania structure using abilities, getting to different areas and enemies in the exploration structure, but it’ll be more leisurely paced as regards the test chambers that you find and then enter in order to rescue the clones from within. There’s this dual-layer of gameplay so there’ll be intense tasks to do when you want, but also you can pull back and explore when you want to do more relaxed things. You’re not up against the clock any more so, if you can’t figure it, go off and leave it.” – Biddle
- Game will focus on the new functionality of gadgets
- Curve wasn’t happy with the gadgets in the first game in part because the whole thing was completed in three months
- More time and a clearer vision from the outset
- Curve hopes to integrate gadgets to encourage both varied gameplay, and a means through which to keep the exploratory section of the game expanding
“What we wanted to do this time was weave the equipment more fully into the game, to make it more of an integral part. Now we have the idea that the facility is testing lots of different gadgets. The first game was the goggles, but different areas test different things. In the first part of the game you’ll explore where the goggles are made and do tests based on them. Then you move onto a new section and explore another bit of equipment. Complete those tasks and beat the boss, you’ll unlock that bit of equipment to use in the exploration area. And so on and so forth to build power and access new places.” – Biddle
- Curve not saying what the new gadgets will be
- For gadgets, Curve wants to move outside of the traditional stealth-staples
- Devices will be unique and without widespread parallels
- Curve hopes that the more varied areas and gameplay will keep things fresh and prevent the burn out people experienced with the original
- Curve is working on Wii U due to positive past experiences working with Nintendo/wanting to help them out and the studio is intrigued by the challenge and possibilities offered by the GamePad
“Whenever a Wii U game gets announced, people clamber all over it. We really feel being a bigger part of that smaller selection of titles could be good for us. We will be doing other Wii U games as well. To really, properly give Iwata a hug. We’re not nervous. It’s a good decision for us.” – Perkins
- Curve not saying if Stealth Inc 2 will only be a timed-exclusive
