Mark of the Ninja 2012

Is it still worth playing?

Klei Entertainment's 2012 two dimensional side scrolling stealth platformer, first on Xbox 360 and then Windows. A nameless ninja of the present day is caught in a conflict between ancient ninja tradition and modern technology. On screen, everything the guards can sense is drawn. Enemies see you only in light, their line of sight is shown, and noise from running or thrown items appears as an expanding circle. Undetected, you can make one hit kills, and when spotted you hide until enemies return to patrol. Your tools work on those rules: daggers break lights or lure guards, smoke bombs cover escapes, and you can grapple between points. Later levels add guard dogs, shielded enemies, lasers, toxic gas and weather, and Honor earned for stealthy tactics and optional goals buys techniques, items and costumes. With every sound and sight line shown, stealth is still a matter of planning today.