14 DAY TRIAL // Mark of the Ninja, the upcoming game from independent developer Klei Entertainment, aims at providing a precise stealth experience thanks to its 2D nature, a hallmark of the small developer that had previously worked on Shank and Shank 2.
Klei Entertainment impressed many gamers with its top-notch 2D brawler franchise Shank. Currently, the studio is branching out with Mark of the Ninja, a stealth game that once again has a distinct visual style and retains the 2D nature of the studio's previous titles.
This aspect makes creating the stealth experience much easier, at least according to the game's lead designer, Nels Anderson, who talked with EGM about his desire for a precise stealth game.
"I’ve always loved stealth games, ever since playing Thief, so personally, I just really wanted to make one that evoked the things I found so appealing about those quintessential stealth games. We made it in 2D partially because really stylized 2D is kind of Klei’s wheelhouse, but 2D does also afford certain things that 3D doesn’t," Anderson said.
"Having really tight, precise controls and solid game feel is easier—at least for us—in 2D. Plus, because the game isn’t first-person and you’re embodied in character in a way that isn’t literally inhabiting them, we can do that—like providing visual feedback about the game’s core stealth systems—without it feeling too incongruous."
Anderson also noted the revival of the stealth genre with quite a few interesting experiences being set to appear in the near future, including blockbusters like Dishonored or Hitman: Absolution, but also other independent projects.
"It seems stealth games might actually be getting a bit of renaissance in the near future. Dishonored is looking fantastic, and I’m hoping for the same for the new Hitman. Plus, Monaco and Gunpoint hopefully won’t be too much longer."
As of yet, however, Mark of the Ninja has no concrete release date, but you can expect Klei to post some new details soon enough.