In the years since Looking Glass created the stealth genre, it's gravitated more towards action, with Splinter Cell, Hitman, and Tenchu always leaving the option, however small, for a "guns blazing" scenario. Deadly Shadows, however, is not stealth action. The pace is gradual--so gradual, in fact, that if I hadn't been reviewing this game, I probably would have given up after a few sessions. I'm glad I stuck with it, though. The goodness creeps up on you. It takes a while for Deadly Shadows to get going, but once it does, it will grip you.