Comments on: Death To Spies: Moment Of Truth Demo

By: js

js — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 03:32:16 +0000

Yes yes, I played the original’s 10 missions – great fun, thought it was too short a game. It’s more stealth-oriented so it’s a bit slower than Hitman.

With its 7 missions, Moment Of Truth is actually the standalone expansion in Russia. Localization took them a long time apparently so there’s absolutely no reason to call it an expansion.

With that said I know I’ll enjoy it this time around also.

By: D

Sat, 01 Aug 2009 01:08:03 +0000

The first also had levels set in a british embassy and in an american underground research facility. This is the advantage of russian developers! (Altho you were not allowed to kill too many diplomats/scientists.)

I’m glad to read people have had as good an experience with DtS as myself. At times I could spend hours setting elaborate traps of mines and grenade-on-doorhandles. It’s very much comparable to hitman, but with added war. The only criticism I can level against DtS was that I often ended up playing the mini-map too much, with its danger sight cones and VIP markers being very important.
I’ll skip the demo for now as I’ll end up getting the sequel no matter what.

By: James T

James T — Sat, 01 Aug 2009 00:28:44 +0000

It’s a bit apples-and-oranges comparing the all-but-linear (and gymnastic, and gun-happy) Splinter Cell to the more-open-than-Hitman DtS, although I do think Splinter Cell, like most games, would benefit if it allowed more exploration.

By: Soobe

Soobe — Sat, 01 Aug 2009 00:15:34 +0000

Sweet craziness! I was just thinking about this series the other day after hearing the newest Splinter Cell was being delayed.

No two ways about it, I absolutely loved the first one. Yes it was a bit stiff, yes it had translation problems, but it’s totally free from the commercial and popular demands put on the Splinter Cell series.

Simply put, this is a PC stealth game, with all the glorious baggage that comes with it.

In the first one levels rolled out with fantastic, deliberative pacing. Acting stupid would be promptly rewarded with a swift bitch slap, and little touches like being noticed for carrying the wrong backpack (Russian when you’re disguised as a German), made the experience very gratifying. You had to be on your toes the entire time, using your head as much as your sneaking skills.

It’s not a bad looking game to boot. I remember a great variety of levels from the first game, and never feeling like I’m playing the same area twice. There were catacombs, Fancy Manors, Wide open fields, and urban centers.

I’m all over this one. It’s everything Splinter Cell isn’t.

By: James T

James T — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 23:54:18 +0000

If the controls aren’t as awful as in the first game, I might just like this a lot. The world needs more Hitman.

They’re seeming pretty awful; it’s been yonks since I played DtS though, couldn’t say if they’ve improved or not (although I got quite a way through that one, so I must’ve gotten used to them).

Anyone know how to get out of that first room without instantly getting into a gun battle? Tried the traditional “whistle/make a noise and then hide”, but the sentry wasn’t lured into the room.

I don’t remember the original DTS being -quite- as harsh as described above in regards to matching uniforms with duty, but maybe the top difficulty level made the AI more of a stickler (I tend to play stuff on default difficulty). The main thing was to pack light, ‘cos you had to abandon your satchel as soon as you found a uniform to wear.

Incidentally, DtS wins the Bleak Prize for having a mission where you infiltrate a concentration camp. You’re there to save one guy, but this ain’t no liberation…

(I always thought “I’m a visiting officer” would be a good rationale for being an unfamiliar face in a top-ranking officer’s uniform… That’s how I justified Spy in Commandos 2, anyway. Ahh Commandos, now that was some stealth-and-subterfuge gold. Someone’s gotta rescue that series!)

By: LionsPhil

LionsPhil — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 22:39:59 +0000

@Diego: Search in page for Death to Spies, which I assume is the previous game.

…if the player has any visible Soviet gear on at all — even after changing uniform —, has a weapon out (unless dressed as a patrolman, and then only a weapon that the others have, usually an MP-40), is doing something that doesn’t match the disguise’s purpose or rank (stealing a truck without being in an officer or driver’s uniform) or is a patrolman/officer who can recognize if you are not one of them, they will almost immediately upon entering their “sight confirmation” begin to fire…

That kind of attention impresses me; the question is if they can generate a gameful of good missions using it.

By: Wooly

Wooly — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 18:04:59 +0000

The spy is a cake!

By: Caleb

Caleb — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 17:30:23 +0000

Actually, I’ve played the first DtS and with great pleasure. Solid as a rock, polished gameplay, decent graphics and competent AI. AND, i friggin’ HATE stealth games. This one I loved. Gonna try this sequel ASAP.

@Diogo Robeiro:
as far as i can tell, this is a little more realistic, I mean if you dress up as a common soldier you have a good chance of no one double checking your face, BUT you can forget about entering in the officers’ club. On the other hand, stealing the uniform of a high ranking officer may not be a good idea, ’cause it would seem these Nazis do wonder why their beloved colonel suddenly changed his face.

By: Diogo Ribeiro

Diogo Ribeiro — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 17:13:42 +0000

Is the stealth anything like the stealth approach of Hidden and Dangerous 2, where you had to outfit your character with nothing but Nazi gear (right down to the knives!) in order to lower suspicion levels?

By: Stabbie

Stabbie — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 16:58:56 +0000

@Jad: When I read your comment I thought “the animation didn’t seem that jarring to me…”. Then I watched it again. The combat parts are the worst, as he doesn’t even bend his knees for the attack.

By: A-Scale

A-Scale — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 16:44:55 +0000

The intro seemed VERY Mafia. I don’t think I’ll be trying this one. Invariably it will try my patience too much for me to enjoy it.

By: Jad

Jad — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 16:05:04 +0000

This video reminds me how much I love the improved animation in modern big-budget games nowadays. Graphics are always improving, but it really seems like there’s been an enormous leap in lifelike motion in the past couple of years. Its like the change when games all started getting physics engines and suddenly any game without physics seemed hopelessly outdated.

Anyway, this is to say a couple of years ago mannequins stalking other mannequins wouldn’t be a problem, but now its just jarring.