Played this at launch as a kid and remember it scaring the hell out of me. It still is pretty creepy due to the amazing atmosphere Monolith were able to create. Not many games can blend geniune horror (which relies typically on disempowerment) with matrix style shootouts where you're armed to the teeth. Monolith delivers. Unfortunatley, you will have to get a fan patch from PCGamingWiki.com but it is simple to download and place in FEARs directory. Game has run flawlessly afterwards. Easy to recommend this and Monolith's other game from the time, Condemned: Criminal Origins!
THE BEST pure stealth games ever made! Even now in 2024. The graphics are charming with the T2fix mod and they still feel super immersive. You really feel like a master thief and yet many of it's contemporary rivals cannot replicate that feeling. The sound propagation method is INSANE for being from the 90s. Again many newer games may use high quality sound effects, but none outside of Gloomwood, sound as good as thief. Even Dishonored failed at this despite being on the record as trying to modernize thief, as did Thief's 2014 dog dookie reboot. Reject modern triple A, embrace Thief
Something about Looking Glass / OG Irrational games just feel amazing to play even in 2024. Yes, it is due to some great design (with a few caveats) and writing, but there is just something that feels so satisfying when playing their games (Ion Storm too with OG Deus Ex). Perhaps it's the lack of hand holding (even though I am suprised at how helpful SS2 is at onboarding new players with it's extensive tooltips and such) and that the game doesn't treat you like an imbecile which in 2024....is quite rare. Perhaps it's the stellar atmosphere that accompanied OG imisms or feeling of completeness when all of the game mechanics and systems work together to create something amazing. Whatever it is, it's perfect and not a day goes by that the industry isn't made worse by not having Looking Glass as a pioneer. Just think of how many more amazing games they could've made. And no, I have no nostaliga for any of these games, as I did not play them growing up. I played many within the last year, but I as someone learning game dev, I do appreciate solid design and mechanincs. As well as the risk it must've been to make a game like this (or Thief) when Doom and Quake were still in their heyday. Additonally, almost being 30 means I grew up when the industry was different and saw first hand as companies started to take less risk with new innovative IPs in the hopes of milking past successes until there was nothing left but disdain from their loyal fans. Going back to games like these feels like opening a time capsule back to when passion and the desire to give fans a solid expierence was more important than money and more money. Do yourself a favor and look up MandaloreGaming on youtube, watch his SS2 video, and go to the top comment for a comprehensive guide on how to set this game up with a few mods that give it a face lift without detracting from the devs original version. The process is very simple. Or simply look up a modding guide, tho some may be outdated.
Save for Hitman, I cant think of a game that does stealth this well. Deff worth a play if you can get past the aged graphics. Its all about the sound anyway since youre basically playing as a human submarine and constantly listening for guards. Not to mention the black parade mod which adds A TON more maps that are serioulsy just as good (if not better than a few...) as the base game levels.
