Clandestine is Logic Artists’ newest title and it really shows the indie developers strong suits, even if it takes a few missteps along the way.
Developer: Logic Artists
Price: $24.99
Platform: PC
MonsterVine was supplied with a PC copy for review
Clandestine is an extremely unique asymmetrical co-op experience, and while it can be played comfortably by a single-player Clandestine is at its best when played with a friend. What’s really surprising about Clandestine is that while games have shown the hacker/agent relationship hundreds of times, none have presented the experience from both sides. What is usually a scripted-one minded venture of shooting and following pre-recorded intel becomes a dynamic experience dependent on communication and attention.
Player one fulfills the role of the agent, where espionage, stealth
and shooting are your main tools. From a gameplay perspective things are pretty smooth here, but some rough animations, a non-intuitive UI and the odd inability to perform close-quarters-combat when detected. This is your basic combat role.
The other half of the game, and personally my favorite half, is the role of the hacker. 
The hacker’s perspective is more like a Windows ‘95 desktop than a game. There are 4 ‘windows’ open at all times and are essentially a map, a camera perspective, a firewall/virus minigame and a generic “hacker” screen. These are functional, and quite often vital, to success. Aside from basic overwatch from cameras around the map or the agent’s camera, the hacker can shut off cameras, scout the area or turn them away from the agent, preventing her from being seen. The map is your connection to building blueprints, map outlines, camera locations and enemy placement. The virus/firewall minigame plays very much like an old arcade game, in which you have to move from node to node while avoiding a ‘firewall’ icon and moving to specifically functioning nodes like doors or other computers. Aside from this there are a few other minigames and scripted moments that the hacker is responsible for, but this player’s main priority is to keep the agent going.
Both roles are fun and they really work with the different gamers’ personalities, and the need to rely on another person is both stressful and exhilarating. While this sort of two-person relationship is both incredibly enjoyable and unique, the supporting elements of the game aren’t so successful. The graphics aren’t bad, but they’re not great. Animations are sometimes wonky, especially during non-playable moments. The story is full of cliches, and is mostly uninteresting. Enemy AI, while functional, often felt incredibly stupid and even broken at times. Even though Clandestine can’t quite pull all of these aspects of the game off, it doesn’t really matter, because it accomplishes what is sought out to do. Logic Artists have created a unique and authentic relationship between two players in scenarios that we’ve been dreaming about since James Bond and Splinter Cell first arrived. The asymmetrical co-op is enough fun in itself that they could throw me against starfish and mannequins for all I care.
The Final Word
Clandestine’s graphics, AI and story aren’t quite up to par when compared to other modern titles. However, it makes up for in part with simple gameplay, challenging scenarios and an incredibly engaging two-player relationship in with both parts have to work independently and rely on each other to accomplish their goals.
– MonsterVine Rating: 3 out of 5 – Average
