Thief | Review thread

Shiieeeet...

EatChildren, cant you record a sensual, intimate clip for me to fall asleep to? Dat voice.

Said nobody ever about a bogan accent :P

So a game mechanic that's very risk/reward is now considered a problem?

It's now a problem because the necessity to use additional tools has been diminished. You've got the tools but you rarely truly "need" them. The tools have shifted from essential equipment used by Garrett in risk/reward scenarios that require inventory economising, to high reward low risk tools that are easy to resupply. I didn't make my way through half the game without using water arrows because I felt I needed to economise them. I did so because I never felt the need to use them.

Do the difficulty modifiers help to enhance the game further? Is there a specific configuration of modifiers that help to recreate the classic Thief experience or make the game interesting?

Yes. I advise everybody proficient with stealth games to play on Master Custom, where the AI is more alert and deals the most damage, but not so much that it's cheap. Under the custom option lock off focus (super powered ability, not needed at all). You can also try turning on "stealth takedowns only" disables vertical takedowns and requires AI not be in an alert state, which will lessen the easiness of blackjacking. You may also turn on other options, like more expensive resources and slower movement. I didn't, but in retrospect maybe should have.

You can turn on/off almost everything related to the hud. I advise turning off waypoint markers to make level exploration more interesting. Turning off guard status display also demands you pay more attention to their stance/audio.
 
It's now a problem because the necessity to use additional tools has been diminished. You've got the tools but you rarely truly "need" them. The tools have shifted from essential equipment used by Garrett in risk/reward scenarios that require inventory economising, to high reward low risk tools that are easy to resupply. I didn't make my way through half the game without using water arrows because I felt I needed to economise them. I did so because I never felt the need to use them.

I can vouch for that as well. They give you lot of tools and the ability to sorta quasi do what you want. Yet sometimes there just isn't enough reason to. I used water arrows once right towards the end of the game. That's it. The tool I used the most honestly was the wrench.
 
Uhh thank you for the link, had not noticed it in my inbox.
Maybe we can add that in the OP?

I deliberately didn't add this because it's not a review.

There are many "first looks", "first gameplay" and similar Youtube videos out there. If I add Total Biscuit to the OT I must add any other "first look" video as well and that would derail the purpose of this thread.
 
Oh, I'll pick this up when it goes on sale.

Ive seen enough to know it is probably fun, but not one of those games to press to your chest and cradle forever as one of your favorite games.
 
7's are bad? Man, the state of game reviews...

I guess I'm just used to jRPGs getting 6's and 7's so often that I don't really care any more.
 
Expected given the streams from last week and all of the previews.

Clarification: I'm not saying 7s are bad. Just that we knew this game wouldn't be exemplary.
 
Uhh thank you for the link, had not noticed it in my inbox.
Maybe we can add that in the OP?

It's a first impressions video though, not so much a review. He's only played a small portion of the game, so he may end up disliking it a lot more down the road. I think these threads should be for full reviews from people who played it start to finish.
 
Our review is coming tomorrow. I can tell you that the game is damn good.

People sometimes complain over the dumbest shit in games. Try it yourself before reading a critic's review (including ours).
 
p0V7Yu8.png

Sacrificed himself to warn us. Never forget.
 
It's a first impressions video though, not so much a review. He's only played a small portion of the game, so he may end up disliking it a lot more down the road. I think these threads should be full reviews from people who played it start to finish.

Yeah, he mentioned he's 6 hours in.
Idk, it looks like something I'd get for sale. My backlog is huge anyway.
 
I can vouch for that as well. They give you lot of tools and the ability to sorta quasi do what you want. Yet sometimes there just isn't enough reason to. I used water arrows once right towards the end of the game. That's it. The tool I used the most honestly was the wrench.

Yep, exactly. There's (from memory) three 'tools' I think you can buy that are very useful and important, but they're almost like if you had to buy lockpicks; you're an idiot if you don't buy them asap and they have unlimited use. Actual resources like your arrows are where the economy and design imbalances show up. In my review I show off the gas arrow. That was the first time I used it, and I recorded the footage after I'd already finished the game, just for the review.

I'd also like to add that when I say "3/5" I like to think I'm operating on the full review spectrum and legitimately mean "just above average". Those who've listened to my review will note that I say Thief is not a broken game, and the stealth systems are responsive and sufficient, and do not regress to dudebro combat Garrett. I think it will appeal to a lot of people who like the idea of stealth games but maybe aren't all that good at them, but also don't want a stealth game that becomes a combat sim. Thief is in all respects a stealth game, so instead of taking the easy combat way out for players having a little bit of trouble, it instead provides them with stealth related tools to make the job a bit easier. You're always sneaking, regardless of skill and difficulty, and that's a good thing.
 
Yes. I advise everybody proficient with stealth games to play on Master Custom, where the AI is more alert and deals the most damage, but not so much that it's cheap. Under the custom option lock off focus (super powered ability, not needed at all). You can also try turning on "stealth takedowns only" disables vertical takedowns and requires AI not be in an alert state, which will lessen the easiness of blackjacking. You may also turn on other options, like more expensive resources and slower movement. I didn't, but in retrospect maybe should have.

You can turn on/off almost everything related to the hud. I advise turning off waypoint markers to make level exploration more interesting. Turning off guard status display also demands you pay more attention to their stance/audio.

Thanks for the answer. I'm still interested in picking this up despite the "bad" scores and the modifiers and light/dark stuff mean I'll probably get a good amount of enjoyment from the game.
 
I don't know what to think. Sites I have no respect for (review wise) like ign, kotaku, etc giving it shit scores, but then Edge and RPS (two sites I do) seem to like it. Everything I've seen makes it look like a typical shallow AAA game which the likes of RPS would usually rip apart. Interested in reading user opinions in a month or so.
 
Shiieeeet...

EatChildren, cant you record a sensual, intimate clip for me to fall asleep to? Dat voice.

Yeah, he is a regular Nick Cave.

And yep, this is getting those usual 7.5 pity scores that big sites give away to big publisher games, im sure Derrick01 is smiling from down there with delight.
 
Yep, exactly. There's (from memory) three 'tools' I think you can buy that are very useful and important, but they're almost like if you had to buy lockpicks; you're an idiot if you don't buy them asap and they have unlimited use. Actual resources like your arrows are where the economy and design imbalances show up. In my review I show off the gas arrow. That was the first time I used it, and I recorded the footage after I'd already finished the game, just for the review.

I'd also like to add that when I say "3/5" I like to think I'm operating on the full review spectrum and legitimately mean "just above average". Those who've listened to my review will note that I say Thief is not a broken game, and the stealth systems are responsive and sufficient, and do not regress to dudebro combat Garrett. I think it will appeal to a lot of people who like the idea of stealth games but maybe aren't all that good at them, but also don't want a stealth game that becomes a combat sim. Thief is in all respects a stealth game, so instead of taking the easy combat way out for players having a little bit of trouble, it instead provides them with stealth related tools to make the job a bit easier. You're always sneaking, regardless of skill and difficulty, and that's a good thing.

Yep. Agree with this 100%. I think quite a few will try this down the road from after being scared off and walk away having enjoyed it.
 
Rps is really interesting, they always strike me as the most honest reviews and frequently align with my tastes. I'm now considering this for pc. Is it still available for 33 bucks on gog?
 
Never planned to get this day one, but overall the scores aren't as bad as I expected based on earlier discussions.

With that kind of range, it's harder to tell where it would fall on my personal scale. I'm skeptical of both reviewers and GAF because Dishonored was average to me and clearly didn’t grab me like it did others.

I'll probably give it a try but not at full price.
 
Not sure what to do. Game looks really interesting in Sesslers review. And reviews were totally wrong about Ryse. I might just buy this after all.
 
After all that time of wanting a new Thief game, this is utterly disappointing, not that the previews didn't ring the alarm bell.

Well, next game to wait for: Dark Souls 2
CE PreOrdered
 
So it sounds like a good game with some problems, and not the unholy abomination of Satan's bowels that some people I've seen made it out to be. Ok then!
 
I am actually surprised the gaming press hasn't eatin' a games like this up. Doesn't it respond to their meta-narrative likes? Washed out, uninspired, cinematic, helpful cues, illusory choice...

Or is it because it lacks chest high wall multiplayer ADS?

Jesus, this post.
 
Framerate was decent but it did dip throughout. Yes, the atmosphere went a long way into keeping me playing further. It's a game I'd revisit for the atmosphere alone, that's how strongly I enjoyed that aspect of it.

Thanks for the information, pretty appreciated!
The atmosphere in a game means a lot to me and I'm not asking that every first person stealth videogame should be the new Dishonored (I mean, it would be awesome, but It's not something I expect every time!)
 
For a AAA game, an 8 is about average. The only way to see 6s and 7s as "decent" scores, is to completely ignore the relation of the scores to other similarly produced games.



I am sorry, but your quote makes no sense. An 8 for a AAA title is "average"? (even though I never have considered Thief a AAA game). An 8 would be a great score. And what other "similarly produced games" scored shouldn't matter at all. "Similar" games came out at different times, different systems, had different reviewers.


If you could find "similarly produced games" that had reviews written by the same writer as the Thief Review, then maybe we could talk.
 
I can vouch for that as well. They give you lot of tools and the ability to sorta quasi do what you want. Yet sometimes there just isn't enough reason to. I used water arrows once right towards the end of the game. That's it. The tool I used the most honestly was the wrench.

Yep, exactly. There's (from memory) three 'tools' I think you can buy that are very useful and important, but they're almost like if you had to buy lockpicks; you're an idiot if you don't buy them asap and they have unlimited use. Actual resources like your arrows are where the economy and design imbalances show up. In my review I show off the gas arrow. That was the first time I used it, and I recorded the footage after I'd already finished the game, just for the review.

I'd also like to add that when I say "3/5" I like to think I'm operating on the full review spectrum and legitimately mean "just above average". Those who've listened to my review will note that I say Thief is not a broken game, and the stealth systems are responsive and sufficient, and do not regress to dudebro combat Garrett. I think it will appeal to a lot of people who like the idea of stealth games but maybe aren't all that good at them, but also don't want a stealth game that becomes a combat sim. Thief is in all respects a stealth game, so instead of taking the easy combat way out for players having a little bit of trouble, it instead provides them with stealth related tools to make the job a bit easier. You're always sneaking, regardless of skill and difficulty, and that's a good thing.

Yep. Agree with this 100%. I think quite a few will try this down the road from after being scared off and walk away having enjoyed it.

Heartbreaking. I didn't know they'd gone this far in making some of the most vital tools useless. There really are no other words to describe it. Even with Deadly Shadows and its attempts to mainstream the series didn't go this far...

That's pretty much it for me, I've cancelled my pre-order. Will check it out when it hits the bargain bins.

Fuck...
 
You can turn on/off almost everything related to the hud. I advise turning off waypoint markers to make level exploration more interesting. Turning off guard status display also demands you pay more attention to their stance/audio.

I'm glad it gives the option to turn off the HUD.

Modern gaming is ridiculous. Levels have never been more simple or linear, objectives more clear, yet I have a massive arrow sitting directly in the middle of my screen.
Gotta account for the lowest common denominator.
 
A lot of the reviews from the big publications play like they're using Thief as a scapegoat to gain credibility. It seems like they all got the memo that this wasn't getting positive hype and just threw it under the bus. And that comes from someone expecting the worst, ready to hate the game. But honestly, the reviews just don't make it look any worse than your average AAA schlock. Uneven storyline? What story in a AAA game isn't uneven? Or downright awful?

I mean, this game in no way looks to compare to the original two, but no modern AAA game is really there at this point.

I'm willing to believe this.
 
Does this game take into account different surfaces and how loud they are to walk on like in the original games or splinter cell? Always thought that was a good mechanic that made stealthing a lot more interesting/risky.
 
Does this game take into account different surfaces and how loud they are to walk on like in the original games or splinter cell? Always thought that was a good mechanic that made stealthing a lot more interesting/risky.

Nope, and it seems like guards are borderline deaf, according to some reviews.
 
OT: was he permanently banned? what happened?

Too negative for his own good?

I like the guy and the fact that he was upfront about his hatred of where games have gone and what's happened to certain beloved IP, but at the same time, he was too damn negative. I get why he was so negative though and he would often be proven correct, but sometimes you just need say your piece, make your peace and move on...
 
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