imperialreign on 21/2/2007 at 02:35

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Well, after having Thief: Deadly Shadows laying around for over a year and a half while I saved up the money to buy a NEW computer that would run it . . . after spending the last two weeks playing through TDS, I just wanted to share my final thoughts on the 3rd installment of our most beloved series.

WARNING: For those that haven't played Thief: Deadly Shadows, there may be potential spoilers ahead!

I'll try to look at the game as to when it was released, as compared to now. So, as a long time fan of Thief, since the days that The Dark Project preceeded Thief: Gold; I'm fairly happy with TDS. But, at times I thought it wasn't up to par. To me . . . I honestly think the missions were too short, or at least it seemed that way, even playing on "old-school' expert, and not killing ANYTHING. I really like how how there was more of a focus on actual 'thief' style gameplay as compared even to TMA, but the AI was lacking at times. It seemed that they would give up the search to quick, and it was too easy to lose them while fleeing, as compared to the original games where sometimes you'd have to run damn near across the map to lose those guards; or they always noticed you on 'slight-alert' when bumping into you, whereas in the old installments you would sometimes have to chill out for 5min waiting for a guard to get off you so you could make a run for it. Also, I loved how the AI was a ton more responsive to doused torches or other guards missing, as compared to their responsiveness in the first installments. But, I still feel the missions were a bit too easy at times. I liked being able to move about the city, but I thought at times that it lead to the missions being too easy. After the first coupla of missions, I completely stopped looting in the city, or acquiring elemental arrows while moving about, and only used the loot from the previous mission to fund my supplies for the next mission. I liked that in the first games, especially on expert, because whatever you could afford in between missions was it; it left you being careful with your supplies - making sure you lined up that water arrow perfect to that torch, layed out that mine in the best spot, etc - you saved what you didn't HAVE to use, cause you might need it in the next mission, y'know? Sometimes, having the various opponents milling around the city turned into an ongoing headache (i.e. [SPOILER]Hammers, and Thugs, and Enforcers, oh my! Plus, add in the City Watch . . .[/SPOILER]) I like how the story progressed, though; even more so that the story was written in such a way that players on the X-Box aren't required to have played the first two to understand all that's going on, but for those that have we were more in-the-know. As for graphically, TDS was great; there were some oddities here and there, but I think that was more the game engine. The cut scenes, though . . . so-so. I didn't like that 3D model style cut scenes at all, it just wasn't Thief, IMO; but the cut scenes that had the Thief art style kept the spirit alive (i.e. [SPOILER]Garrett's trial at the Keeper Compound[/SPOILER] cut scene). It's not 100% the original style, but it's close enough that it worked, and it was similar to the original style. I really got a kick out of some of the new 'quirks' with your equipment ([SPOILER]choking enemies with moss arrows, ha! not being blinded by your own flashbombs[/SPOILER]), but, some stuff was kind of . . . took some of the fun away ([SPOILER]climbing gloves . . . not as much fun as crate stacking[/SPOILER]). But . . . overall, I liked it - just a little short! So, now to head back in and challenge myself some more, before I start downloading FM's ;) !!! Just wanted to share my thoughts!