Infiltrating Bases

Prototype Guide

Infiltrating Bases

Following 'The Wheels of Chance,' bases that contain a Web of Intrigue target and one or more officers that yield an upgrade when consumed will have a plus sign affixed to the Military Base icon on the city map. Be sure to visit these bases between missions as they become available.

Infiltrating a Military Base is simple. First, you must assume a military disguise to enter the perimeter of the base undetected. If you don't currently have access to a military disguise, try to Stealth Consume one of the soldiers patrolling the streets outside the base.

While disguised, certain actions will fill the meter below the disguise icon. When the meter is completely full, your disguise is compromised, and the military will be set on alert. Performing movement abilities (such as Sprint and Glide) while disguised does not fill the meter, but attacks do, as does having a power equipped. To evade the military once they've been alerted, get out of sight and change to an uncompromised form. Read through the in-game tutorial to learn more.

Once you have a suitable disguise, you'll need to locate the base Commander. The Commander is distinguished by his short-sleeved shirt, fitted military cap, and sunglasses. When you've found the Commander, use Stealth Consume to assume his identity. Then, stand in the yellow marker outside of the base and press the Y/Triangle button to enter. You're in!

Assume the identity of the base Commander to gain entry to the Military Base undetected.

Once inside, you should notice one or more marked units. Units marked by a blue DNA strain icon yield an upgrade and perhaps a Web of Intrigue node when consumed, while units marked by a red profile icon are Web of Intrigue targets exclusively. You'll want to Stealth Consume these targets before alerting the military to your presence. Follow the target around until they are out of sight of the other soldiers and perform Stealth Consume to acquire the upgrade or Web of Intrigue node. If it helps, try stealth consuming nearby soldiers to ensure that you are not being watched.

You'll receive a Stealth Infiltration and Base Capture EP bonus after consuming each of the marked targets in the base interior. If the military is alerted, the base will be locked down, and you'll be forced to fight the waves of soldiers that come through before you can set back outside. Alternatively, you can easily evade the military to end the alert by ducking behind the munitions crates on the raised platform as Alex Mercer, waiting until your military disguise is safe to use, and then switching back to it.

Consider destroying the Military Base once you have acquired the skills from each marked target, as doing so yields a large amount of EP and will cut down the military presence in the area of the city the base is situated.

To level the building, you need to damage its exterior considerably. Outside, you'll need to get your hands on a Missile Launcher, or find a tank that can be used to significantly damage the building. Cause a stir to alert the military, and then hijack one of the tanks that arrive. Once in a tank, start by blasting any other manned tank in the perimeter, and then turn your attention to the building. Hit the building with primary and secondary fire until it crumbles.

Infected Hives can be destroyed in much the same way; just hit the Hive with cannon fire until it crumbles. Destroying Hives and infiltrating and destroying Military Bases is a good way to amass EP early on.

Infiltrating bases will become tougher as you progress through the storyline, as the military begins to employ Viral Detectors, UAVs, and turret emplacements. Inside the base, however, security remains the same throughout.

Viral Detectors can see through Alex's disguise, and will alert the military to his presence if he remains within the radius of one for a long enough period. The radius of each Viral Detector is outlined on the mini-map. A Viral Detector won't rat you out immediately; it'll take time for the meter below the disguise icon to fill completely. The longer you stand in the radius of a Viral Detector, the more the meter will fill. Once full, the military will be alerted, and you'll be forced to fight or flee. To avoid alerting the military, just Sprint away from the detector and the meter will slowly empty.

UAVs can make remaining undetected rather difficult, as they tend to follow whatever triggers their detection system. As with Viral Detectors, the detection radius of each UAV is outlined on the mini-map. Avoid standing in the radius of a UAV for too long, as the longer you remain, the more the disguise meter fills.

During 'The Altered World,' Alex gains the ability to sabotage Viral Detectors, and retains this ability afterwards. To begin the sabotage process, approach the detector and press the Y/Triangle button. Then, you have five seconds to input the sequence of buttons that appears onscreen to deactivate it. If you take too long or mess up, the Viral Detector will go off and the military will be alerted to your presence.

Get close to the Viral Detector and press Y/Triangle to begin the sabotage process. Correctly press the sequence of buttons that appear onscreen before time runs out!

Sabotaging every Viral Detector in the perimeter can take awhile, so rather than using Stealth Consume to acquire the key from the Base Commander, consider just running in there, picking up the Commander with a Sprinting Grab, and then fleeing somewhere safe to Consume him. Then, evade the military, and return to the base with your new disguise. You just need to gain access to the base interior—where there aren't any Viral Detectors or UAVs—undetected.