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WONDERFULLY ATMOSPHERIC AND ADDICTIVE!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 15 / 15
Date: May 08, 2000
Author: Amazon User

This game is wonderfully original, instead of the usual hack, slash and splatter type games so popular today Thief attempts to use a more stealthy (is that a word? ) approach to reaching your various goals, this game actually encourages you to AVOID possible confrontations and gets you to THINK about the best strategy to use in any given situation. Killing is DISCOURAGED (what a refreshing change! ), however circumstances my arise where it is your only option, (but always remember your a THIEF not a MURDERER! ). Instead of relying on the biggest baddest weapons, your given various tools and run of the mill weapons like a sword, blackjack (my absolute favourite! )and bow and arrows of varying types (only 3 can kill, the water arrows + holy water, kills the undead, broad arrows for anything living and some undead, and fire arrows anything bar ghosts).

Thief has many unique features, its use of sound which is brilliant, (its vital in the success of each mission), you get to hear your footsteps or the guards walking around on various surfaces and listen to them talking about things that may aid you in your missions, you can tread quitely through the streets or attempt to cross loud metal floors (keep some moss arrows handy!), any sounds you make could give your enemies warning of your intruderous prescence, this creates such an atmosphere of reality that you cant help but be absorbed into the game. I loved hearing the sound of swords clashing, and water arrows splashing its cool, I especially loved the dark shadows, where I could hide and sneak about under the guards noses, or to attack them with any weapon while concealed, the use of leaning is brilliant, want to peek around a corner, or get a better view of something, heck you can even use anything in your inventory while leaning! This game is everything and more, Its pretty close to being perfect, it has only some minor flaws, Graphically it isnt as great as some other games, the guard AI could use a boost, like how they react to a torch going out, that should be a warning signal louder than a siren (or maybe the wind just blew it out? ) the climbing action was awkward to use at times and the over use of the undead creatures was perhaps inappropriate and uneccessary, I prefer skulking about fat rich merchants homes or their place of business and robbing them blind!

What stood out most was Garret and the music, (that opening intro is fantastic! ) that is what drew me first to the game, there is so much more to describe to Thief virgins out there, I hope you get yourself a copy of this truely brilliant game, you wont regret making this a permanent addition to your gamers collection! .

A great alternative to typical 1st person games

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 14 / 14
Date: December 11, 2000
Author: Amazon User

I have never really been a fan of the super gory violent first person games. Perhaps its because I'm not that great at them. Anyway, I bought thief knowing it would be different from those games. How different, I had yet to find out. Perhaps the best example of these differences is that on the "expert" level of difficulty, one of the requirements is that you DON'T kill people. This makes the game much more difficult, but also rewarding. I really liked everything about thief except, perhaps, the graphics (which I still thought were okay). First, the concept of it is brilliant. While I understand that stealing is wrong, I have come to realize the exhilaration of it. It's not the fact that you found and stole something that is awesome; its the odds that you overcame to retrieve it. This is a very addictive game.

Plot/Story: I was impressed with the storyline. You are constantly being surprised by things that don't go the way they're supposed to, and you never knew what's going to happen next. There's really no way you would be able to predict the ending until you get to the last couple levels.

Gameplay: You are constantly being challenged by the environment and enemies. While the human enemies could be smarter at times, generally, they present enough challenge. I was very happy with the Normal/Hard/Expert level choices. Even before I had beat the game on normal, I found myself going back to earlier levels and playing them on Hard or Expert level. Also, you will learn to rely less on maps, and more on visual familiarity with the environment (and a compass, if you want). This is because the maps fit the technology level of the imaginary time period of the game: simple and basic. No fancy arrows tell you where you are. One thing that really frustrated me was how you have to reload the level every time you want to go back to a save point. This is especially common in this game since so many things can go wrong. I know other games have overcome this obstacle, and wish this one would have.

Graphics: While the graphics are functional, and sometimes entertaining, the complex environments deserve better. Thief is the kind of game where there is a lot of atmosphere; and I feel this could have been enhanced with better graphics. Perhaps the most dissapointing would be the cutscenes. The're essentially slideshows with a minimal amount of animation. Plus the resolution is bad. Maybe this was a low-budget project or something. I don't really care all that much. I just know that they could have done better and should do better in the future.

Sound: Unlike a lot of games, the sound is essential to surviving and succeeding in Thief. It helps to have nice speakers or nice headphones. I have used big headphones that cover the ears, and its an engrossing experience.

So, in conclusion, besides a few bickers of mine, I thought it was an exceptional game, and based on the price, should be bought by anyone with an interest in it.

THIS GAME IS THE BEST GAME I'VE EVER PLAYED!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 14 / 15
Date: November 12, 1999
Author: Amazon User

Okay, well, for starters, this game is the best game I've ever played. A few reasons for this, number one, the graphics are so real, that they even scared me..:) The music is very well put together with the missions, and it's just good music to have in this game. Garrett talks at certain parts of the game, you can listen to some guards' conversations. I think this game is VERY well put together. The music goes really well with the missions, and even scares me.. I'm serious, if you're sitting alone in the dark playing this game, guards will scare you, and you will sweat. :) well, I did..

You play a young thief named Garrett. He's very cool about the whole thief thing. I don't know if I'd be the same way.. I mean going into the catacombs with a roomfull of zombies and hardly any holy water. Not my thing...

Garrett talks at certain times during the game. During the first mission he does, and I think he does at every mission.. Sometimes it shocks you, cause don't really expect it, but if you listen to him, he might tell you something important.

You can also listen to some of the guards conversations.. Sometimes you have to, to know where they'll be or, where they're going. I just can't believe how real it is..

Speaking of reality, the thing I liked about the first mission, is the realness of it.. When you go through the game, there are some creatures that you know don't exist, and that kind of takes away from it.. What I thought was one of "Thief"'s best qualities was the realness of the whole thing. There's zombies, and cray-monsters, and little dinosaur looking things, and you know that they never existed. But the humans make it very realistic. Oh well..

There's just two problems.. They're not even problems really.. The first "problem" is the level of "guard" the guards put up. If they don't know you are there, you could probably kill them with one arrow, if you do it precisely.. If they are aware of your presence, it usually takes about 5 or 6 of the same arrows to kill the guard. A really good way to kill a guard when he knows you're there, is hide in a dark place.. but make sure that he doesn't see you go there, or you're finished.. That's the other "problem" it's amazing how smart these guards are sometimes. If a guard sees you, and you run away from him, and close doors behind you, and hide in a very concealed place, he'll still find you exactly and pin you against the wall.. I don't understand that personally, but i guess they have their guard up. :) Sorry... These "problems" don't really affect the game at all. They are just minor setbacks. I mean, nothing's perfect right?

This is a game of stealth. Garrett's NOT a fighter. Not by any means. If you try to fight a crowd of guards, go fit your coffin now. One really good thing about this game is that you can save whenever you want. I love that about this game. I hate looking for savepoints like you do in some other games. I want to be able to save it whenever I want, that's great.

Sometimes, you have to kill guards, while sometimes you just let them pass and walk by slowly. The moral of this game is making sure that the guards didn't even know you were there. Hence "THIEF" if they knew you were there, then you probably have a lesser chance of getting away. Anyway, I love this game more than any other game I've played in my entire lifetime. I give it the hightest number of stars I can possibly give it.

Have a great time with this game :) I know I have. Enjoy

A new era begins!!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 5 / 5
Date: August 19, 2001
Author: Amazon User

Well, after playing thief, I reply this game, for people who ask "What is the best game you have ever played?". Thief is a classic, and it is not a game for faint hearted "Half-life /counter-strike" people. The game is not designed for people who run around madly with a blazing gun, dying every 10 seconds.. You have to wait, you have to look, you have to be witty and quiet while playing the game... You can turn off torches by firing a water arrow, and you can sneak through the darkness you created.. Walking on metal ground attracts guards, while walking on a carpet is the ultimate way of sneaking.. After playing this game , I am no longer afraid of darkness; as darkness will be your only ally..

"Zombies, Keepers, and Hammerites -- Oh My!"

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 4 / 4
Date: July 22, 2003
Author: Amazon User

When gamers talk about a game which redefines a genre of games, "Thief" is the type of game they mean. It's not just playing the same sort of game in a new way, it's taking the core concept of a genre, and going in a completely different direction. It makes a new game out of a familiar concept. In one elegant stroke, "Thief" takes the concept of the first-person shooter and completely flips it around, greatly expanding the potential of what an FPS game can be.

Imagine, if you will, a first-person shooter in which it is not necessary to kill everything and everyone who crosses your path. There are a few like that. "Thief" takes it a step further, though. "Killing is messy," says your character at one point. While playing the game in Expert mode, a stated goal of many of the missions is specifically NOT to kill anyone. Rather than heavy weaponry and the adrenaline rush of charging an infinite horde of beasties, the goal in "Thief" is subterfuge, subtlety, and patience. Most especially patience.

The game is also quite replayable, by choosing different playing styles for yourself. Some players choose to play by not killing or knocking anyone out at all, except when a mission requires it, which is rarely. Though I myself have not yet played through the game this way, I can see the challenge and fun it would present.

That's not to say you can't fight in it. It wouldn't be a first-person shooter if that were the case. But no, your character (Garrett) is a thief, equipped with a sword for close work, and a bow for pretty much everything else. Since Garrett's hand-to-hand skills with the sword aren't the greatest, using ranged attacks with the bow is generally preferable, and more in keeping with the theme of the game. You can shoot someone, or something, with an arrow from the shadows (and get away with it) far more easily than you can try to hack at them with a sword. And don't forget to hide the bodies when you're done, as leaving them lying around will make it much more likely you get caught by anyone you've overlooked. You're also equipped with a blackjack for rendering guards unconscious, which comes in quite handy when the need for silence is paramount.

Sound, unlike most FPS games, is one of the key elements of gameplay in "Thief." Sound can give your enemies away, just as it can give you away to their ears. Sound can be used to distract and confuse your enemies as well. Different surfaces yield different sounds, and changing your walking speed can dramatically effect the sounds you make. Walking on wood yields a hollow thump, while walking on grass makes a gentle crunching noise. Walking on stone gives off a harsh clacking, but walking on carpet is nearly silent. Walking on metal produces a resounding clang which can be heard for quite a ways. The sounds you make become your enemies as much as the sounds your enemies make become your friends. Sound is an important tool in this game, unlike any other.

Of course, the visual aspect is important too, and it's just as key to gameplay. As a thief, often evading confrontation rather than inviting it, your best bet is generally to stay in the shadows as much as possible letting guards and others pass while you remain unseen, waiting. A light meter at the bottom of the screen helps you know when you are visible to others and when you are not, but the excellent lighting effects of the game provide plenty of clues as to which areas are safe and which are brightly lit. When you need darkness in a lit area, sometimes the only way to get it is to put some torches out for yourself. The graphics of "Thief" are very good overall, but the lighting effects are what really stand out in terms of excellence, especially due to the fact that light is as critical a tool and sound. Bear in mind that the dark places in "Thief" can hide an enemy just as effectively as it can hide you... and sometimes, they do.

With its close attention to detail, and its careful use of light and sound to enhance the experience, "Thief" is one of the most effectively immersive games I have ever played. I am reminded of the first time I played "Doom" or "Quake" and I saw the first glimmerings of what the FPS genre could do. "Thief" takes that concept and extends it much further, forcibly making the player pay closer attention, and thus get involved in the world of the game much more deeply than other games have ever required. "Thief" tasks the player to examine every shadow, jump at every little sound, and take chances on the best way through tight situations. Couple this involvement with a top quality storyline, worthy in itself of a big-screen treatment, and you've got a fantastic game -- which is exactly what "Thief" is: fantastic.

"Thief" made me re-learn everything I ever thought I knew about playing a first-person shooter. My instinct to shoot first and deal with the consequences later fell quickly by the wayside, as that is the surest road to ruin in "Thief." This game taught me to rely much more on stealth than brute strength, cunning more than a heavy arsenal, and it made quite a difference. In fact, it made all the difference, and it made "Thief" a truly exceptional gaming experience.

Slip into the shadows. Walk carefully. Look. Listen. Observe everything. Choose your targets carefully, and only attack when absolutely necessary. Be crafty as the fox. Be silent as the breeze. Be invisible. Be a Thief.

Intelligence, patience and cunning creativity well rewarded

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 3 / 3
Date: May 30, 2001
Author: Amazon User

Garrett, trained from youth to be both unseen and unheard, breaks free from the stiflingly monastic world of the Keepers and turns his fine talents to the art of stealing from the (corrupt) rich and giving to himself. Earning a reputation for being the best at his trade, he lands a potentially lucrative job to purloin a rather mysterious object -- only to be caught in a Dark Ages imbroglio of an intrigue involving his former Keepers and a powerful but fanatical religious group called the Hammerites, and ultimately forced to confront that puckish god, The Trickster himself.

There are people who have played Thief: The Dark Project based simply on a passing glance at its high marks, only to throw it aside not even halfway through with a dismissive 'How boring! Is that all?' or 'It's too hard! The guards keep killing me.'

Those people have failed to understand the beauty of this game: You do not require of Thief, Thief requires of you! This is, after all, a thinking person's game. I'll not lie to you, this game is tricky. Your mission objectives are crystal clear, your methods of fulfilling them are not. And this is where your thieving skills are tested. As you know by now, darkness is your ally, and sound, your foe. Your enemies will hear you, and even if they think they saw something scurrying in the shadows they will come to investigate. Garrett knows this all too well. That's why the environmental interactivity combined with an excellent physics engine becomes in a sense part of your arsenal. You can pick up virtually anything within sight to toss across the hall for a diversion, or to hide an unconcsious body. At one point I needed to traverse a room patrolled by a Hammerite guard. All was dark, except for a badly flickering light on the verge of burning out forever -- it never did. After searching in vain for half an hour for an alternate route, I realized that I could simply shoot an arrow behind the guard to distract him (blackjacking him was impossible from his position, and an arrow to his tender temple was out of the question, as other guards nearby may hear the scream). I shot the arrow, the guard looked the other way, and I safely and quietly snuck past. Thus my thinking was rewarded.

Graphically, Thief is not necessarily on par with Quake3 or Half-Life, but it doesn't care about that. In fact Thief makes up for it by providing dollops of immersion, amazing sound (which is half the gameplay -- you literally play with your ears), a rich and involving back story, and believable characters. You can play all the gory, bloody, loud, mindless first person shooters you want, but all of them combined cannot even equal an ounce of the stylishness and elegance of Thief: The Dark Project. Here's looking forward to experiencing Thief 2!

NOT for the attention-deficit!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 3 / 3
Date: November 04, 2001
Author: Amazon User

Okay, if you're one of those kids I see hanging around in the software store fidgeting and constantly moving around anxiously picking up one box and tossing it aside to pick up another....Or if you LOVE your console system and don't understand the benefits of gameplay depths the PC offers....Or if you can't stand Microsoft Flight Simulator because you can't shoot anything....Then this game is not for you.
I've been reading a lot of negative reviews here, apparently from 12-year olds who don't understand the meaning of 'subtlety'. No, you don't go around shooting things constantly. You must sneak quietly and stay in the shadows. And when a passerby suddenly discovers you, you will feel a surge of adrenaline unlike that which can be found in a typical twitch shooter.
Completing a mission here takes hours and brings a great feeling of accomplishment. Also, there is a wonderful focus on exploration. Be patient...
As Don Henley said, "Learn To Be Still".

A game for connoisseurs!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 3 / 4
Date: July 29, 2000
Author: Amazon User

Quake and Unreal and Half-Life are all excellent games, but most of the time in these games you are expected to be bold and crazy. You hold a shotgun, and run and dash, shoot everything that moves. But in THIEF, If you act like you've always done in Quake or others, then, the game will be over (i.e. you die) in a very short time. In THIEF you must walk slowly, stop and wait, think the next step, retreat, sneak, hide, listen, assassain,....This is really a great game! This is totally for connoisseur, for those who had been tired of run and shoot blindly, for those like tactics for those who can wait and are sly enough. In THIEF It takes much more time to complete a level than other 1-person action games, but it deserves. Never had a game make "wait" a fun and exciting thing, and now THIEF succeed.

Wonderfully Suspensful and Challenging

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 3 / 4
Date: July 29, 2000
Author: Amazon User

Probably the nicest twist about how Thief strays from other first person shooters is that instead of dashing headlong at an enemy with a bazooka in hand, the biggest step is to AVOID combat as much as possible, because usually odds are very slim that you'll actually make it out of combat alive. In thief, you skulk in the shadows, clubbing out guards, pickpocketing, and overall stealing! As if it werent addicting, simply traversing the corridors makes my heart race, for even though one guard is a challenge, if things get tight, he'll call all his comrades! AI is a tiny bit undercompleted (you can baffle a guard simply by hopping up onto a table), though, but what they lack in intelligence they compensate 100% in perception. The mere sound of footsteps sets them frosty. For those of you wishing to find a game that didnt involve such ease in drastic killing, this is simply worth every penny. A complete must-bye!

Tense Thrillier

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 4 / 8
Date: August 20, 2000
Author: Amazon User

The game is so unbelivably enjoyable.It is so dark that after every mission one would almost get out of a heart attack.I have never been a big fan of Rpg games.I got the demo version of thief from a Pc mag and decided to try it out.I didnt waste any time and ordered it.It's grand superb.

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