At first glance, Velvet Assassin’s
incorporation of stealth-action gameplay in a World War II setting may strike
observers as contrived and gimmicky. At its worst, critics might quirk a brow
at the possibility of trivializing the unimaginable horrors of a war that only
ended a few decades ago. Fortunately, Velvet Assassin pays tribute more
respectfully to the heroes of the war than most other WWII games. Stealth and
spy-centered games have typically relied on somewhat imbalanced gameplay, in
which a superhero-like character trounces their way through mobs of weaker
foes. While this cliché has not been altogether avoided in Velvet Assassin,
the sleek and thoughtful presentation lends appropriate depth to what might
have otherwise been a meaningless set of actions.
The game’s protagonist,
Violette Summer, is based on a real character;
more importantly, the narrative is developed through her perspective. The
player is even responsible for guiding her through dream sequences; these are
rather nicely depicted through a number of visual effects, and serve to
strengthen the sense of personal inner struggle that one rarely comes across
in an action game. The mechanics of silently stalking and cautiously avoiding
detection are reasonably varied when put into practice, though the lack of
open level design does make the game feel slightly dated. Probably one of the
most memorable methods of enemy execution relies, not surprisingly, on
stealth. Sneaking up behind a Nazi, priming a grenade on his belt, and then
slipping into the shadows to watch the fireworks makes for some very
satisfying scenarios – RPG fans will certainly be reminded of Oblivion’s
similar tricks.
Other gameplay elements, such as
the open firefights, feel extremely underdeveloped by contrast. The enemy AI
is almost inexcusably poor for such a recent game, and the aiming feels
(perhaps appropriately) like a nightmare. While it is understandable that this
lone spy is not capable of easily mowing down squads of Germans with a
handgun, the shooting sections are much too unwieldy. Even Sam Fisher was able
to pop off a few well-placed rounds to down a charging foe before the
developers started handing him shotguns and the like. The only potentially
positive aspect of Violette’s clumsy aim would be
that it encourages players to stick to stealth whenever possible. It goes
without saying that stealth is where most of the game’s enjoyment lies,
anyway.
Presentation, however, is what
will likely make Velvet Assassin stand out from its peers. While Splinter Cell
might have been a visual powerhouse in its day, Velvet Assassin has a great
deal to contend with on the graphical front. That being said, much of the
game’s artistic design is admirably lavished with attention that many games
fail to receive. Vivid sunsets and sleek animations contribute to an extremely
dense game to gaze upon, even if much of it is cast in heavy shadow. The only
real complaint I can muster is that some greater devotion to gameplay
development would have made any graphical irregularities much more forgivable.
As it stands, the game feels almost too pretty for its own good.
Predicting enemy patrol routes is
disappointingly easy in Velvet Assassin – the lack of spontaneity doesn’t
bring much to the replayability table. However,
what’s left is an extremely atmospheric stealth action game that offers just
enough novelty to make the journey worthwhile. The mixture of striking visuals
and sometimes horrifying sound effects do an excellent job of revealing the
often overlooked aspect of humanity in a war zone, from the idle chatter of
soldiers to the anguished cries of war prisoners. Without spoiling anything, I
will say that the general presentation and narrative are really a cut above
your mediocre action game. Any fan of stealth action will find Velvet Assassin
a satisfying romp, but a revamped sequel could really give current genre kings
a run for their money.
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Gameplay: 7.0
Fairly
solid mechanics, but there is a lack of polish in some spots.
Graphics: 8.0
The
usual assortment of effects and enhancements keep the game looking nice, even
when the subject matter isn’t.
Sound: 7.0
Sounds are
generally convincing, though a bit more variety might have raised overall
immersion.
Difficulty: Medium
The
same frustrations associated with stealth action games, but nothing too
terrible.
Concept: 8.0
A
fresh spin on a somewhat risky genre, with a few memorable moments.
Overall: 7.7
There are many aspects of Velvet
Assassin that could benefit from further time in development. Still, the game
is strong enough to stand on its own, and will leave players ready and waiting
for a sequel.
