IGIPNP | Mark of the Ninja (720p HD) NK, NA, NSC, NG+ Walkthrough - Part 2: Breaching the Perimeter @IGIPNP | Uploaded 10 years ago | Updated 17 hours ago
So this second level is one of the instances where a stealth focus can be a superior option. Often killing will be easier, making a non-lethal approach part of a deliberate challenge, but there are times where you might be well-advised to go for a subtler approach even if you don't mind killing to get things done.
0:14 - It's interesting to note that I didn't use a single item (other than the standard and unlimited bamboo darts) for the entire level, but there were three times where I kind of exploited the AI to avoid doing so. Those times would coincide nicely with the three smoke bomb default limit.
2:37 - If you've memorized the general locations of a level's guards, you can create distractions in advance of you actually arriving to capitalize on them. If I would allow lethal options, it'd be a great way of quickly getting the guard into position under the platform.
2:53 - Being able to drag dead guards to ping the alarm lasers is one of my favorite conveniences of the game. Unfortunately, I won't be able to use that much in this particular guide.
4:37 - There's an optional objective here to get to the transformer in less than a minute, and as shown it's not that hard if you keep your pace up. There are no hidden scrolls or artifacts along the way to your objective, so you don't even need to double back and explore if you felt you rushed by.
5:35 - One of the optional objectives in this level is to break 20 lights. I didn't pay attention to whether or not I hit that limit by this run's end, but it's not particularly hard to do, especially if you hang back during the sections with timed lighting and break everything you can.
6:00 - If you're low on items and a checkpoint isn't nearby / didn't restock enough, entering and exiting one of these upgrade spots will refill you to maximum supplies. Handy in the tougher levels if you use a lot of items.
8:00 - Skip to 10:00 if you don't care about the challenge room's solution.
9:00 - One of the reasons I'm not fond of this first challenge room as that it doesn't really feel obvious that the switch controls the topmost laser because its blurry and out of view from the only point you can activate the switch. Seems like less-than-ideal puzzle design.
10:00 - This is a difficult guard to bypass without the use of some limited quantity distraction item. Had I not broke the lights earlier I might have been able to use those to better effect now, but I ended up exploiting the AI a bit with bamboo darts and hiding spots to slip past. No shame in using a noise maker or smoke bomb to pass if you need to.
10:57 - It's probably best not to snap to the vent here with your hook as it makes noise when doing so and can attract nearby guards.
12:40 - The tight space here makes retrieving the artifact non-lethally quite fussy. It is possible to use a dart and just hightail it out of there, but it definitely feels like an AI exploit. Again, another spot where a smoke bomb could be fine.
14:16 - It's possible to sneak by when using the other light in this room, but if you're quick you only would need to break the rightmost one.
15:04 - I checked my map quickly since it's very easy to miss the scroll #2 in this level. It's at an isolated location at 15:33.
15:46 - You don't get undetected bonuses on lampposts if you're too high, so dangling behind enemies is an easy way to be safe while still getting the bonus.
16:36 - In my opinion, it's generally much easier to get through this section by stealthing around in the dark rather than killing and having the timed lights come on. It's a great place to break lights for the optional objective and it definitely is possible to get through all floors with no alerts even if the lights come on, but I don't recommend it as it's far slower and trickier.
17:00 - Rather amusingly, you can get undetected bonuses by sailing over enemy heads during a grapple. It can make the guards appear oblivious in situations like this.
17:24 - This is another potentially tough guard to circumvent non-lethally, and distraction items are less useful here as another nearby guard may flank you if they notice one. Other than this odd bamboo dart combo or killing, I'm not sure how you'd get by without raising an alert.
19:23 - I've never had much luck with a same platform height jump over the stationary guard here, so a mid-air grapple seems better.
20:28 - Scroll #3, not too hidden but can be missed if you rush.
So this second level is one of the instances where a stealth focus can be a superior option. Often killing will be easier, making a non-lethal approach part of a deliberate challenge, but there are times where you might be well-advised to go for a subtler approach even if you don't mind killing to get things done.
0:14 - It's interesting to note that I didn't use a single item (other than the standard and unlimited bamboo darts) for the entire level, but there were three times where I kind of exploited the AI to avoid doing so. Those times would coincide nicely with the three smoke bomb default limit.
2:37 - If you've memorized the general locations of a level's guards, you can create distractions in advance of you actually arriving to capitalize on them. If I would allow lethal options, it'd be a great way of quickly getting the guard into position under the platform.
2:53 - Being able to drag dead guards to ping the alarm lasers is one of my favorite conveniences of the game. Unfortunately, I won't be able to use that much in this particular guide.
4:37 - There's an optional objective here to get to the transformer in less than a minute, and as shown it's not that hard if you keep your pace up. There are no hidden scrolls or artifacts along the way to your objective, so you don't even need to double back and explore if you felt you rushed by.
5:35 - One of the optional objectives in this level is to break 20 lights. I didn't pay attention to whether or not I hit that limit by this run's end, but it's not particularly hard to do, especially if you hang back during the sections with timed lighting and break everything you can.
6:00 - If you're low on items and a checkpoint isn't nearby / didn't restock enough, entering and exiting one of these upgrade spots will refill you to maximum supplies. Handy in the tougher levels if you use a lot of items.
8:00 - Skip to 10:00 if you don't care about the challenge room's solution.
9:00 - One of the reasons I'm not fond of this first challenge room as that it doesn't really feel obvious that the switch controls the topmost laser because its blurry and out of view from the only point you can activate the switch. Seems like less-than-ideal puzzle design.
10:00 - This is a difficult guard to bypass without the use of some limited quantity distraction item. Had I not broke the lights earlier I might have been able to use those to better effect now, but I ended up exploiting the AI a bit with bamboo darts and hiding spots to slip past. No shame in using a noise maker or smoke bomb to pass if you need to.
10:57 - It's probably best not to snap to the vent here with your hook as it makes noise when doing so and can attract nearby guards.
12:40 - The tight space here makes retrieving the artifact non-lethally quite fussy. It is possible to use a dart and just hightail it out of there, but it definitely feels like an AI exploit. Again, another spot where a smoke bomb could be fine.
14:16 - It's possible to sneak by when using the other light in this room, but if you're quick you only would need to break the rightmost one.
15:04 - I checked my map quickly since it's very easy to miss the scroll #2 in this level. It's at an isolated location at 15:33.
15:46 - You don't get undetected bonuses on lampposts if you're too high, so dangling behind enemies is an easy way to be safe while still getting the bonus.
16:36 - In my opinion, it's generally much easier to get through this section by stealthing around in the dark rather than killing and having the timed lights come on. It's a great place to break lights for the optional objective and it definitely is possible to get through all floors with no alerts even if the lights come on, but I don't recommend it as it's far slower and trickier.
17:00 - Rather amusingly, you can get undetected bonuses by sailing over enemy heads during a grapple. It can make the guards appear oblivious in situations like this.
17:24 - This is another potentially tough guard to circumvent non-lethally, and distraction items are less useful here as another nearby guard may flank you if they notice one. Other than this odd bamboo dart combo or killing, I'm not sure how you'd get by without raising an alert.
19:23 - I've never had much luck with a same platform height jump over the stationary guard here, so a mid-air grapple seems better.
20:28 - Scroll #3, not too hidden but can be missed if you rush.
