Discussion
I'll be picking it up as I love Thief games. So that'll be a copy of this arriving soon enough for the Xbox One.
I've not seen any reviews yet, but I am slightly concerned about some preview editorial suggesting that it had gone a bit 'Hollywood' trying to compete with Dishonoured. Which was a great game, but not as good as the Thief we know and love.
I've not seen any reviews yet, but I am slightly concerned about some preview editorial suggesting that it had gone a bit 'Hollywood' trying to compete with Dishonoured. Which was a great game, but not as good as the Thief we know and love.
Very mixed reviews. Some love it, some hate it. It sounds like the PC version is a very good port, but nevertheless a port. From the videos I have seen, it doesn't quite have the atmosphere of the previous games, and doesn't look dark enough. For all that it is set at night, and involves a huge amount of stealth, it all looks rather bright and well lit. Although this might just be gamma turned up for YouTube recording.
I think I'll probably buy it in the next big Steam sale.
I think I'll probably buy it in the next big Steam sale.
dalzo said:
Needed a new pair of boxers after chapter five, the basement part when the enemy's turned up was easy but until I knew what was lurking I was sh**ing myself! first time I've had that in a game in ages
when the enemies turned up it was easy Download outlast for a similar experience
I too have experienced the 'atmosphere' created by the developers, some really chilling moments that cause a release of chemicals down my spine. Chapter 3 onwards changed my opinion of the game for the better. Having never played any PC games before, I've not experienced previous titles and had no idea what to expect, but the fear factor is very refreshing indeed and has often led to me saying 'no' when the Mrs asks if I want to play it, for which she has to leave the room when I do as it scares the s
t out of her!
t out of her!Just finished this a few minutes ago, and I'm not really that impressed. 
There may be spoilers below.
It's definitely a game of two halves. I avoided reading any reviews when it came out as I really wanted to experience everything afresh. I wonder if they thought the same?
When the game starts off, it's quite promising. I loved the golden sheen of the first few minutes of the game, it gave the impression that there would be quite a rousing colour palette in store. However, the graphics quickly descend into various shades of smokey blue and stay there. It's not ugly or unpleasant, but the entire game is pretty much comprised of these shades of blue. The docks are particularly visually fatiguing. Anyway, I digress...
So yeah, it starts off quite well. The smaller scale missions are fun, and early on it's neat navigating the hub levels between mission, stumbling on secrets, looting lofts and flats and doing jobs on the side. However, this soon becomes an issue as the hub level of the game is just too big. Later on, you'll be going from one end of the map and back just to complete a side mission and drop the reward off. This soon becomes tiresome as you meet the same enemy patrols as you go, and it just feels like they are there to slow you down.
The story missions generally get worse too, as the game goes on. They're long, often a little over-long, and often broken into segments of varying quality. Take the brothel mission, for instance. It starts off as a fun, inventive mission in interesting surroundings with lots to see and do and many ways to tackle it. Then you discover a hidden chamber beneath the brothel; this seems like a good place to wrap the mission up. Instead, it descends into a sunken library with an irritating puzzle, extending the level by an unwelcome 20 minutes. Other missions later on do this, and the 'tower' mission is a slog from start to finish with no redeeming features. By the end of the game, balancing is an issue and choke points in the levels are simply rammed with enemies overlapping each other, creating a tedious game of 'save and reload' as you slowly work out a path through the mix. I was playing on Master difficulty, but I understand this only changes enemy sensitivity and behaviour, not numbers. The story is a load of cack too. It's never interesting, and feels utterly contrived and silly by the closing chapters. When the end comes, it feels anti-climactic, though you'll sigh with relief knowing that it's over. The last boss fight is stupid too, if you were supposed to care about that Erin woman, the developers have failed. She is never likeable, and is always a pain in the arse.
This brings me on to my next gripe. It doesn't feel like a Thief game. The word 'Taffer' is mentioned once, in passing, in ambient conversation. It's clearly a nod to the previous games and an in-joke for fans, but it highlights the change that has beset the series (demonstrated when you discover the ruins of the old city, deep in the caverns below the new city). I know Steampunk is in, but the Victoriana didn't work for me. I missed the Middle Ages feel of the previous Thief games. It also feels like a direct challenge to the elephant in the room, Dishonored. It apes Dishonored in some ways, and clearly that game was an influence to the Thief developers. In following Dishonoured's lead, Thief has given away some of it's identity.
The voice acting was also dire. I didn't like the mix of jaded American accents juxtaposed against the English ones. Garrett's voice acting sounds woefully thin whenever he is under stress and Erin is a pain in the arse to listen to as well.
I've no real desire to replay any of it now. I had initially thought I'd go back for a collectible run, but I just can't be bothered. The whole thing just goes on too long; I don't usually complain about a long game but this one wears thin and the second half is a real struggle to stay interest. So do I want to do it all again, more thoroughly? No. It does provide some fun, for a while, but it never gives the joy and elation of Deadly Shadows. It feels anodyne and characterless in the face of the previous Thief games. If Garrett is ever to return, they'd do well to forget that this one ever happened.
However, aside from the other complaints, the Moira Asylum level was pretty good, with headphones on. It had a few proper 'spook ya fking tits off' moments.
There may be spoilers below.It's definitely a game of two halves. I avoided reading any reviews when it came out as I really wanted to experience everything afresh. I wonder if they thought the same?
When the game starts off, it's quite promising. I loved the golden sheen of the first few minutes of the game, it gave the impression that there would be quite a rousing colour palette in store. However, the graphics quickly descend into various shades of smokey blue and stay there. It's not ugly or unpleasant, but the entire game is pretty much comprised of these shades of blue. The docks are particularly visually fatiguing. Anyway, I digress...
So yeah, it starts off quite well. The smaller scale missions are fun, and early on it's neat navigating the hub levels between mission, stumbling on secrets, looting lofts and flats and doing jobs on the side. However, this soon becomes an issue as the hub level of the game is just too big. Later on, you'll be going from one end of the map and back just to complete a side mission and drop the reward off. This soon becomes tiresome as you meet the same enemy patrols as you go, and it just feels like they are there to slow you down.
The story missions generally get worse too, as the game goes on. They're long, often a little over-long, and often broken into segments of varying quality. Take the brothel mission, for instance. It starts off as a fun, inventive mission in interesting surroundings with lots to see and do and many ways to tackle it. Then you discover a hidden chamber beneath the brothel; this seems like a good place to wrap the mission up. Instead, it descends into a sunken library with an irritating puzzle, extending the level by an unwelcome 20 minutes. Other missions later on do this, and the 'tower' mission is a slog from start to finish with no redeeming features. By the end of the game, balancing is an issue and choke points in the levels are simply rammed with enemies overlapping each other, creating a tedious game of 'save and reload' as you slowly work out a path through the mix. I was playing on Master difficulty, but I understand this only changes enemy sensitivity and behaviour, not numbers. The story is a load of cack too. It's never interesting, and feels utterly contrived and silly by the closing chapters. When the end comes, it feels anti-climactic, though you'll sigh with relief knowing that it's over. The last boss fight is stupid too, if you were supposed to care about that Erin woman, the developers have failed. She is never likeable, and is always a pain in the arse.
This brings me on to my next gripe. It doesn't feel like a Thief game. The word 'Taffer' is mentioned once, in passing, in ambient conversation. It's clearly a nod to the previous games and an in-joke for fans, but it highlights the change that has beset the series (demonstrated when you discover the ruins of the old city, deep in the caverns below the new city). I know Steampunk is in, but the Victoriana didn't work for me. I missed the Middle Ages feel of the previous Thief games. It also feels like a direct challenge to the elephant in the room, Dishonored. It apes Dishonored in some ways, and clearly that game was an influence to the Thief developers. In following Dishonoured's lead, Thief has given away some of it's identity.
The voice acting was also dire. I didn't like the mix of jaded American accents juxtaposed against the English ones. Garrett's voice acting sounds woefully thin whenever he is under stress and Erin is a pain in the arse to listen to as well.
I've no real desire to replay any of it now. I had initially thought I'd go back for a collectible run, but I just can't be bothered. The whole thing just goes on too long; I don't usually complain about a long game but this one wears thin and the second half is a real struggle to stay interest. So do I want to do it all again, more thoroughly? No. It does provide some fun, for a while, but it never gives the joy and elation of Deadly Shadows. It feels anodyne and characterless in the face of the previous Thief games. If Garrett is ever to return, they'd do well to forget that this one ever happened.
However, aside from the other complaints, the Moira Asylum level was pretty good, with headphones on. It had a few proper 'spook ya f
king tits off' moments. Gassing Station | Video Games | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff