Thief: Deadly Shadows is maybe the weakest game in original trilogy: the limitations of engine and Xbox console led to small levels divided by loading zones; there are no swimming and climbing on rope arrows anymore. The movement system is clunky and awkward. But weakest doesn't mean "bad" in this case. It's still Thief, game with high level of interactivity: you can stack crates, distract or KO guards, douse torches... The sandbox nature of first games still preserved here. The graphics are also good despite it's not that important for me. I think that TDS also has the best plot out of all three games: mysterious conspiracy involving faction of Keepers, magical artifacts, urban legends and missing orphans in the past... I only advice to play it with latest version of Sneaky Upgrade (just google it or visit this thread: https://www.ttlg.com/forums/showthread.php?t=138607) especially if you have troubles with launching this game "out of the box". And of cource to play previous games, Thief: The Dark Project (Thief Gold) and Thief II: The Metal Age.
Thief 2 is what you can expect from the proper sequel. It retains all the fundamental features of the original while expands… somewhat. It’s complicated bag. The main positive here is that Thief 2 still is collection of sandbox levels that provide both challenges and ways and means to overcome them. It's still the net of interconnected game systems - you can stack crates, hide in shadows etc. As it was with the 1st game, each level is a small playground of playing with guards, whose number and variety is expanded with the introduction of Mechanists (derived from Hammerites, religious power in City) and their guard robots, turrets and cameras. You can’t simply KO those mechanical enemies and must find new ways of overcoming them. The levels become seemingly bigger and more complex than those of the original. Basically, there are more secrets, secret passages, interconnections that were before. Some levels – rooftop city level Life of the Party, huge multileveled Bank mission, big mansion with complicated architecture in Masks, and Sabotage in Soulforge (final level – pure mechanical gauntlet which can and will challenge your sneaking skills) – are standouts in entire series. Thief 2 went through troubled production when it’s creators, Looking Glass suffered from financial problems and was in process of closing down when the game was released. It sadly shows in the game. The main issue is that some levels are repeating (you explore the same city district two times in two missions as well as certain big multileveled mansion near the end of game). While new enemies are interesting at first, you quickly may find the easy and cheap way of disabling some of them. Despite those shortcomings, it still very good sequel to Thief: The Dark Project and perhaps the peak of Thief series – at least in eyes of other people while I myself slightly prefer the original game. In any case, this is game worth of your time if you enjoy stealth games and systemic games.
Thief games belong to small list of games I constantly replaying. I also often playing its fan-missions (fan-made mods) despite I'm not an avid player of mods. It's essentially a stealth game in which you are to avoid your opponents rather than fighting them (possible on lower level of difficulty). Each level of Thief is small sandbox full of obstacles and problem-solving. Developers paid attention to architectural aspects - not only fancy window-dressing, the architecture of level serves to gameplay purposes: you can shoot rope-arrows into wooden surfaces or stack crates, you can climb on some heights, heck you can even went out of the level! The events of Thief set in gloomy and moody steampunk world not unlike what envisioned in expressionist works, films noir and early comics: the big, sprawling and seemingly neverending medieval/clockwork City in which operating the main (anti)hero called Garrett, former novice of mysterious faction/sect of Keepers. Garrett is great tactician and undisputable master of silent infiltration into seemingly impregnable mansions of City lords, hideouts of secret sects, cathedrals full of undead, sinister mountain caves... You can explore each level and figure out your approach to every obstacle you face. The immersion and interactivity of Thief is what distinguishes this game from other stealth-oriented games (strategy games, like Commandos, or action games, like Splinter Cell or Hitman - despite I like them very much): here are no clearly defined algorithms for solving problems, and interactivity of objects plays a colossal role. Let me explain : there are boxes on almost every level. You can build a mini-pyramid out of them and climb, or you can throw them and distract enemies. You can also break closed doors with a sword. I have already mentioned rope arrows. Today the biggest nitpick of this game is weak AI. The bottom line is that Thief is very atmospheric and tactical game still well worth your time despite its age.
