Thief™ 2: The Metal Age

Somehow this improves on the first one. I didn't think there was much to even address. In this one you are almost never asked to play it any way other than stealthy. Every single level is incredibly well designed and almost all of them have a different goal that is driven by stealth: steal, eavesdrop, frame, etc. They are absolutely massive and open. There's so many different paths you can take. You will get lost, you will end up realizing you've gone in the wrong direction, adding to the difficulty that is part of what we love about this genre. The story is gripping. It really delivers on exploring what this world would look like if the fascistic Old Testament Hammerites were in charge, if the pagans were not at all able to keep them in check. The robots and cameras are incredibly disturbing and provide tremendous challenge. And despite how strong of a card the developers had with those they don't actually overplay it. Which means that every single time you encounter one of these mechanical monsters it makes a strong impression. You're given new tools that are a real joy to use. I love the eye. You can literally remove one of Garrett's eyes, toss it and then use it as a remote camera. This means that you can use it to see some of an enemy's patrol route without having to lean or otherwise potentially expose yourself. You pick the eye back up when you're ready to do so and you can use it as many times as you want. There are some excellent plot twists; you will not guess where it's going. And they manage to convey a lot in the world building instead of just exposition dumping everything. I will say I did not find the cinematics quite as gripping as in the first. Some of them just go on for too long and keep going after they've made the point they were trying to convey. I am thrilled that they maintained the distinct stylization with silhouette shots and such. Yes, I am aware that some of it was due to technical limitations of the time.

Thief Gold is responsible for a lot of stealth mechanics we take for granted today, as well as non-linear level design we love in games like Dishonered. It was a flawed experiene though. The supernatural elemnents were great for atmosphere but fighting the undead was an utter chore. Thief was at its best when stealth was the main focus and you were skulking in the shadows around guards but the game liked taking you away from that In Thief 2, all of that is sorted out. You will encounter ghosts but they are not enemies and will not affect alert status, they are simply there for atmosphere. The game features interesting envirenmental story telling in the form of notes, placement of loot, and guard conversations you can eavesdrop on. The game really makes you feel immersed in a setting where you are vulnerable but empowered by your wits. Light/darkness and sound play a huge importance and both are exeuted well. Different floor types make different amounts of sound, light and darkness can be manipulated and guards can be distracted by thrown objects and tools you have. This is a 25 year old game, yet the mechanics are as good if not better than modern titles if you can look past the vintage aspects of the game such as graphics and input mapping (which can be edited)

The Dark Project was an untested experiment. The levels were great, but there was no unifying theme. Thief II fixed all that, creating great levels using the philosophy of making the design fit the story. The levels are enormous and well detailed and though they are sometimes a little predictable, the design is solid overall. The maps are FAR more open and much less claustrophobic than the Dark Project. That is not to say that TDP was bad, just that TMA was better. The texture quality jumped forward a great deal, despite this game using a modified version of the original Dark Engine which powered TDP and its gold version. There are a handful of new items to use, including flares, which would have been VERY useful in some of the dark caverns of TDP. However, they seem superfluous in this game as the levels are not that dark, but still gloomy and medieval with bits of steampunk sticking out. Also the game scales back on the random zombie parts. Garrett must now operate in more urban environments with the occasional trip to the country. Speaking of steampunk, this game moved forward in terms of setting. The Metal Age is upon the city and Garrett must now face steam powered sentries and other mechanical beasts. This goes along with the plot as Order overtakes Chaos to the point where, once again, Garrett gets (involuntarily) involved to restore the balance. This game improves on the original in every way. However, I can't help but feel that the game settings feel too "neat". In any case, this is a great sneaking game. Get this one or Thief Gold or both. They are great games.

The peak of the series, deadly shadows while graphically superior feel massively dumbed down almost consolized in comparison. As a series the game play is stunning and unique using stealth as a key factor & rewarding you for being what you really are 'a thief' and not just any thief. In the metal age you are Garrett, master thief and temporary ally of one of the three main factions (the keepers). What makes this series truly great though is that the top notch game play is mixed with the best storyline revealed in cut scenes that reveal the dark and gritty fantasy world Garrett exists in. This series is for the completionist because though extremely challenging it is immensely rewarding leaving no stone unturned as part of the challenge to strip the metaphorical 'gold from their teeth'.

I love the original Thief and Thief 2 is a close second. The graphics are largely similar to the first game (with a few enhancements) but this series was never about the graphics! In Thief 2, the gameplay focuses a bit more on sneaking and thieving (unlike the latter levels of the original) and gives players another spectacular time doing so. The story of this game takes the series in the opposite direction. The first game focused on an imbalance in the world, namely nature and the pagans threatening to shift that balance with the return of the trickster. Thief 2 also has an imbalance, but this time in the form of science and technology threatening the balance. As always, the keepers are present in the shadows trying to guid Garret in an attempt to restore order and balance. This game is worth it. Trust me.