Who knew that a Jack Nicholson-sounding extra-terrestrial in a Grand Theft Auto-like would become a cult classic? We’re going back 20 years to 2005 to look at a third-person action-adventure game that spawned more sequels than you realise. We’re talking Destroy All Humans!

On this episode of Stealth Boom Boom, we chat a little bit about Pandemic Studios family-friendly game that accidentally led to a violent, angry alien blowing things up. We also look at the original E3 trailer and whether this game was going to be sneakier, a banger track for the Japanese audience, King of the Hill and some theremin.

Here are some of the things you’re gonna hear us chat about in our review: looking like a human thanks to the easy-to-use (but also limiting in some ways [but also not difficult to circumnavigate those limitations]) Holobob; becoming more mentally powerful via the thoughts of others; being aware of nearby, pesky Majestic agents; a GTA wanted level system that mostly works but is not without jank; hypnotising, if it takes your fancy; a little bit of something; answering questions as the Rockwell mayor; yearning for a stealth brain extraction; getting all the benefits of a probe (and the rest of your arsenal); the fluidity of your giant flying saucer; flinging folks around with Psi-Ops-like telekinesis; playing boring repetitive side missions just so you can progress; satirising pretty much everything about 1950s America; very easy company; the wonderful duo of Crypto and Pox; 

After all that, we take you through what some of the critics were saying about the game around the time it came out, and then we give you our final verdicts on whether Destroy All Humans is a Pass, a Play, or an Espionage Explosion.

For those who would like to play along at home, we'll be discussing, reviewing and dissecting Thief II: The Metal Age on the next episode of Stealth Boom Boom.

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