This game kind of fell under the radar, and that's a shame. The controls weren't the best, and the puzzles sometimes affected pacing, but at it's best, this is Indiana Jones through and through. Every fist fight is absolutely electrifying, with satisfying impacts, clever use of the environment, and a great feeling of *power.* A single Nazi is no match for Indiana Jones, and 4 at a time just makes it more fun. Not until Arkham Asylum did any game handle hand-to-hand combat so well. Add in an absolutely fantastic soundtrack that easily bests John Williams's unfortunate Crystal Skull effort, and this makes for a game to play again and again.
The first time I played Thief: the Dark Project, I was giddy at the AI - just running around and doing as I pleased made me die again and again, until I tried playing "as a human." The glory of Thief revealed itself then, although it was a tiptoe into a new genre. Thief II went all in, and became the most immersive game I've ever played. I can still recall moments of tenseness as I accidentally walk from soft grass to pavement, the jolts at hearing a guard yell "HEY!", the satisfaction at clearing a level without being seen or knocking anyone out...just perfection, in my eyes. Ugly, ugly perfection.
This game starts off looking like a champion, with a classic RPG style and interesting graphics and characters (like Leonardo da Vinci) which quickly becomes a lonely, drab, brown-toned clickfest. I can't imagine why its rating is so high here.
This one will linger in my memory for a long time. I purchased from GOG because I am too lazy to dig up my CDs and deal with the copy protection even though I had this game at full price years ago. This game sets tone PERFECTLY. Right from the start, you're greeted with music from a string quartet that's evocative of a bygone era, and jumping right into the character selection screen, you're faced with a collection of adorable Victorian-style portraits. From conversations about tea to the antiquated use of magic, Arcanum just oozes atmosphere. It's only unfortunate that it was rather buggy upon release and never gained a wide audience. I would have liked to have seen a sequel or two.
