Stealth Boom Boom | A Stealth Video Games Podcast

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🎧 Subscribe to Stealth Boom Boom🐦Stealth Boom Boom on Twitter📸 Stealth Boom Boom on Instagram🎵 Stealth Boom Boom on Tiktok🌤️ Stealth Boom Boom on Bluesky Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

2 Apr 20243h 3min

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🎧 Subscribe to Stealth Boom Boom🐦Stealth Boom Boom on Twitter📸 Stealth Boom Boom on Instagram🎵 Stealth Boom Boom on Tiktok🌤️ Stealth Boom Boom on Bluesky Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

19 Mars 20242h 1min

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🎧 Subscribe to Stealth Boom Boom🐦Stealth Boom Boom on Twitter📸 Stealth Boom Boom on Instagram🎵 Stealth Boom Boom on Tiktok🌤️ Stealth Boom Boom on Bluesky Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

5 Mars 20242h 20min

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🎧 Subscribe to Stealth Boom Boom🐦Stealth Boom Boom on Twitter📸 Stealth Boom Boom on Instagram🎵 Stealth Boom Boom on Tiktok🌤️ Stealth Boom Boom on Bluesky Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

20 Feb 20242h 29min

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🎧 Subscribe to Stealth Boom Boom🐦Stealth Boom Boom on Twitter📸 Stealth Boom Boom on Instagram🎵 Stealth Boom Boom on Tiktok🌤️ Stealth Boom Boom on Bluesky Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

6 Feb 20242h 5min

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🎧 Subscribe to Stealth Boom Boom🐦Stealth Boom Boom on Twitter📸 Stealth Boom Boom on Instagram🎵 Stealth Boom Boom on Tiktok🌤️ Stealth Boom Boom on Bluesky Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

23 Jan 20242h 16min

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🎧 Subscribe to Stealth Boom Boom🐦Stealth Boom Boom on Twitter📸 Stealth Boom Boom on Instagram🎵 Stealth Boom Boom on Tiktok🌤️ Stealth Boom Boom on Bluesky Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

9 Jan 20242h 13min

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🎧 Subscribe to Stealth Boom Boom🐦Stealth Boom Boom on Twitter📸 Stealth Boom Boom on Instagram🎵 Stealth Boom Boom on Tiktok🌤️ Stealth Boom Boom on Bluesky Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

26 Dec 20233h 10min