Stealth Inc 2 Review - A sleeper hit

It’s not often that a Wii U exclusive comes from a third party publisher, and despite the Wii U eShop having an extensive library now, there aren’t many games I would really call essential. However tiny this list may be, though, Stealth Inc 2 needs to be added to it, because it’s a lovely puzzle platformer with a lot to offer to everyone.

For those not aware of what Stealth Inc is about, the player character is basically  a clone who is infinitely replaceable and not much cared for. You work in a large facility where scientists put you through test after test to observe, and eventually, kill you. The premise isn’t unlike Portal, what with the facility, the clones, test chambers and even some of the snarky attitude you get from your overseer, but the gameplay of course feels entirely unique

At its core, it’s a basic game of avoid-the-light for the most part. Turrets, cameras, enemies and traps can stand between you and your objective and the best way to solve these puzzles is usually to obscure the vision of whatever it is you are trying to avoid. Moving blocks and platforms in the way of light sources so you can creep through the shadows is the best method, but while playing you’ll learn of a myriad of ways to dupe your opposition; an early technique you learn of is using steam, which can be blown about levels by fans and air ducts, and will temporarily disable vision for your opponents. This adds in an element of timing, forcing you to move quickly and seize opportunities, and when you’re climbing precarious ledges and making risky jumps you can really feel the pressure start to build.

 

Stealth Inc 2 includes gadgets to use to help you on your path to freedom – the first of these is the Inflate-a-mate, a simple inflatable pal you can use to climb, destroy explosives, press switches, block light, trap enemies, kill enemies… The ways in which you can use this one item is quite staggering. You later get the Jack Boy, which will allow you to take over enemy robots, giving you access to their abilities and more. What happens is the game constantly throws at you more and more ways to explore and solve puzzles.

Puzzles themselves are quite linear, with one solution really available, but this isn’t much of a complaint given how wildly the test chambers can vary. One test chamber can be simple and completed in less than a minute, while the next can get you quite stuck and struggling for a little while. The challenge is beautiful and ramps up quite a bit later in the game, with you hopping between some very precarious shadowy areas, fearing the light.

The gadgets and test chambers are really just trials though, with the real goal being to explore the laboratory overworld and then find out what exactly is happening. There are loads of different paths to take, some of which will be unreachable before you are able to use specific gadgets, giving a Legend of Zelda style approach to exploring the overworld of Stealth Inc 2.