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Thief | Review thread
- Thread starter SJRB
- Start date
Reviews don't sound great, so I should presumably feel bad about preordering it and getting TF2 items. They -are- kind of neat though.
That said, maybe it's to my benefit if I go ahead and play this, since I also own two or three OTHER games in the Thief series, and I can then play those later. Maybe I'll be saving the best for last!
That said, maybe it's to my benefit if I go ahead and play this, since I also own two or three OTHER games in the Thief series, and I can then play those later. Maybe I'll be saving the best for last!
Turin Turambar
Member
I don't really remember that, the gaming magazines I followed around 1995-1997 had the same problem that the present reviews, and all scored games very high.
EatChildren
Currently polling second in Australia's federal election (first in the Gold Coast), this feral may one day be your Bogan King.
"Absolutioned" to me would imply a core component of the franchise's iconic design has been changed (or removed) in such a significant way that it disrupts the game as a whole. Absolution's new disguise system ripples throughout the entire game, changing the very foundation of level design and social stealth puzzling, for the worse. It's an unnecessary, illogical change that dismantles already serviceable game systems.
Thief is not "Absolutioned" because to me that would imply that the core stealth system has been disrupted in such a way that it's in no way "Thief". You still have to sneak in Thief. You'll still need to pay very close attention to your positioning among light and shadows, as well as the sound you produce based on speed and surface. It's still, at it's heart, a Thief game. But it's also a much simpler Thief, limited in scope of level design and challenge.
Case in point: I managed to clear around half the game without using a single water and rope arrow. The design isn't challenging enough to demand their use and economising of your equipment mid level.
Was it fun overall? Length? What can you do with gold? Just buy more arrows you don't need?
Not even worth considering? Fuck that scale
I've played many games below 50 on metacritic that were awesome
Digital-Hero
Member
I think I'll be avoiding this game until it's in the $9.99 bargain bin for PS4. I do want to play it, but not at $60.
Wut? God I still remember using a water arrow being a hard decision int he old games...
Chubzdoomer
Banned
What are some of them? (Not calling you out by the way, just genuinely curious since there may be some hidden gems I haven't yet played.)
I'm wondering how performance is on pc, what your specs are, and if there are several frame drops in the game.
mediocratee
Neo Member
I love Kotaku's first line
"It's hard to know quite where to begin with a shambling mediocrity such as this"
had me rolling
"It's hard to know quite where to begin with a shambling mediocrity such as this"
had me rolling
batman2million
Member
I was kind of hoping the score would be higher but at the same time I'm not surprised. Still will give this a run but it made it from my "OMFG GOTTA PLAYS ITS!" list to my "if I have time" list.
Isn't everything under 6 million copies sold?
I have the game paid for and preloaded on Steam right now, and it's somewhat disappointing to hear all this.
I'm still keeping my hopes up for it being an enjoyable game, though. Hopefully it will be a flawed gem, like an Alpha Protocol.
I doubt it will top Dishonored, though, but then, I never expected it to.
I'm still keeping my hopes up for it being an enjoyable game, though. Hopefully it will be a flawed gem, like an Alpha Protocol.
I doubt it will top Dishonored, though, but then, I never expected it to.
EatChildren
Currently polling second in Australia's federal election (first in the Gold Coast), this feral may one day be your Bogan King.
Yes, I've played all original three games. I feel it retained the atmosphere and world building as well as core stealth system. See review.
A cup of tea, an apple, and a slice of toast with peanut butter.
Yes, a clear homage to Shalebridge Cradle. I don't think it's as good, but has its moments.
Yes, though had some flat stretches and moments. Scored it 3/5. Took me ~15 hours with around 50% of "side quests" finished, Master Custom (focus off) difficulty), nowhere close to all loot discovered. But I play very slowly. Completionists will take longer.
NEOPARADIGM
Banned
I'd be interested to see that list.
Barry Burton
Member
Seems to be in-line with what I expected from it. I still want to get this game eventually for PS4, but I will wait until it has a substantial price drop.
Protip: the volume in your video is too low.
SJRB
Gold Member
Is it condensed to one chapter only? I saw a tidbit of it on a livestream yesterday and I didn't like it one bit.
EatChildren
Currently polling second in Australia's federal election (first in the Gold Coast), this feral may one day be your Bogan King.
Right, this is a problem with Thief. They're there, they're very useful because they do their job, but the encounters are so much smaller, the AI ill-equipped to hunt you over wide areas, areas themselves smaller, and Garrett so well equipped with basic abilities that they're not necessary. Where once upon a time a water arrow was a high value resources because you knew you'd have to use them but also didn't want to waste, that's far less of a problem here because you don't really need them. Using them makes the game easier again.
i5 2500K @ 4.3GHz
8GB DDR3
4GB 770GTX
1920x1080
Everything set absolute maximum
FXAA turned off
SSAA set to high (not sure it worked)
Pretty sure it not once dipped below 60fps and in many cases ran well over. In the grand scheme of things it's one of the best performing games I've played on my system in a long time.
Cheers. Seemed fine on my end :/. Audio editing is my weakness.
The location is. The themes extend beyond.
Ludicrous Speed
Banned
Lower than expected. From the videos I've seen it looked like fun. I'm going to pass on this one. Never been the biggest Thief fan.
How often were you far more concerned about the sounds you made in guards' vicinity rather than whether you were visible?
Seconded
#freederrick, if just for today.
Hmm, so 2/5 then?
Raven77
Member
With the development hell, the rush to make it as close to next-gen launch window as possible, and the technical issues...
Do you think its possible they could release a patch / update of some kind a few months down the line that addresses the AI issues, bugs, and maybe even fix some of the content like the confusingly annoying hub city and some of the other content gripes like having to open each drawer individually? It's been done before (Witcher 2) but not often...
Do you think its possible they could release a patch / update of some kind a few months down the line that addresses the AI issues, bugs, and maybe even fix some of the content like the confusingly annoying hub city and some of the other content gripes like having to open each drawer individually? It's been done before (Witcher 2) but not often...
It seems the reviews nearly universally pan the ending/story, so it will be interesting to see how he feels after finishing it.
Frayne Daddy
Banned
I expected these numbers. I still consider a 7 good. Not great, but certainly not terrible.
Well I think CD projekt is unique in this respect, plus the things you mentioned arent outright broken like many things in Witcher games can be. I have a feeling Eidos is done spending time and money on this game.
EatChildren
Currently polling second in Australia's federal election (first in the Gold Coast), this feral may one day be your Bogan King.
Reviews are based on whichever version the outlet requested, though I wouldn't be surprised if they were handing out next gen versions only. My review copy was PC. The game isn't the most technologically amazing out there, but the tech comes together with the art and it ends up looking really good to me. Load times are too frequent in the hub, and those coupled with smaller environments are to me indicative of a game that's still built for PS3/X360 compatibility.
I took these shots:
No worries.
There's been buzz that it was not going to be a 9's scorer.
I really, really dislike this kind of attitude.
SJRB
Gold Member
Reading a few of those this isn't for me other than a low price nosy later on to see for myself how they missed out on delivering what I was hoping for.
The lukewarm plot and "plague" sounds way to familiar and TBH I'm sorry to read the more complex world of the original Thief games has been supplanted in favour of a vague medieval slant.
Gameplay sounds okay but too limited - from the reviews sounds like the context based equipment/climbing, etc. is all too limiting.
Pity as I loved the Dues EX reboot - but Dues Ex was always going to be easier (as a series based on multiple choices involving stealth/combat whatever you want with plenty to appeal broadly) reboot than Thief (which was all about variety in being stealthy).
The lukewarm plot and "plague" sounds way to familiar and TBH I'm sorry to read the more complex world of the original Thief games has been supplanted in favour of a vague medieval slant.
Gameplay sounds okay but too limited - from the reviews sounds like the context based equipment/climbing, etc. is all too limiting.
Pity as I loved the Dues EX reboot - but Dues Ex was always going to be easier (as a series based on multiple choices involving stealth/combat whatever you want with plenty to appeal broadly) reboot than Thief (which was all about variety in being stealthy).
twisteddeeds
Member
I took these shots:
.
Love the shots
Confidence Man
Member
The scale is fine. I always hear complaints about reviewers not using the full scale, but the reality is that there just aren't that many games that make it all the way through to release that are truly awful enough to score that low. Something like Aliens: Colonial Marines is really kind of a rarity. Mostly they are at least functional and palatable enough to get average scores, even if they have to be delayed extensively just to reach that point.
Lactose_Intolerant
Member
depends how it sells
Will be a waste of resources most likely ( in the publisher's eyes)
I doubt they will fix the hub. Bugs and content gripes are probably your best bet.
See, because here's the thing. We've all been kicking up a huge fuss about things like Focus, waypoints and contextualized jumping, because these are things that go against the original games' principles and mechanics. And so the reviews do well to mention these 'hand holding monstrosities' but this is so bizarre because none of these elements are odd in the context of other AAA games. No one ever said that the Arkham games suffer from having the Bat-vision. Reviews never mention waypoint markers as a negative in games these days. Only because a fuss was kicked up this time around has Thief been thrown under the bus.
v0mitg0d
Member
(Reposting this from the main thread)
Reviewers! Question for you:
Old school fan here. I've decided to play the game at Master level with Waypoints disabled. I am, however, unsure how to handle the Focus system now that I've read it's an upgrade system allowing for improvements in Marksmanship and picking locks.
I'm having second thoughts. Did you play with Focus enabled? How difficult is the game without it? I'm worried the game was designed with the Focus system enabled, which kind of bums me out if true.
Thoughts and suggestions? Thanks!
Reviewers! Question for you:
Old school fan here. I've decided to play the game at Master level with Waypoints disabled. I am, however, unsure how to handle the Focus system now that I've read it's an upgrade system allowing for improvements in Marksmanship and picking locks.
I'm having second thoughts. Did you play with Focus enabled? How difficult is the game without it? I'm worried the game was designed with the Focus system enabled, which kind of bums me out if true.
Thoughts and suggestions? Thanks!
OminoMichelin
Member
TB's first look https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xJS1yCSKlhs
Bat-vision was heavily criticized and called overpowered and called detrimental to the game's aesthetics as the great art was hidden for long times.