On Friday I was invited to a press preview event for the upcoming Thief title. It’s been 10 years since the last one was released and it is just one of those titles that has stood the test of time with people still talking about the series in hushed tones… but I had no interest in it.
Yes it’s true. I’ve known the game was coming for ages and I’ve been in many meetings where the game has come up and I have honestly not had any interest in it. Not because I thought it looked or sounded bad but simply because the original series wasn’t anything I ever really got into.
So I headed to the media event with a bit of a sulk as I couldn’t send anyone else and it was going to fall to me to write about this title if it was any good… and holy cow is it good. From not even being on my radar to sitting right at the top in one quick evening.
Thief is a solely single player title where you take on the role of a master thief by the name of Garrett and then you are let loose in a beautifully gothic free roaming world. Your main weapons are your trusty kick-ass bow and a blackjack (not the weed; the thing you klap people with).
Your bow and arrow is a lot more than just a long range weapon though. You can equip you arrows with a number of different heads such as the water arrow to snuff out flames, the fire arrow to do exactly the opposite and the jagged-tipped arrow for headshots through helmets to name but just a few.
The game’s odd choice to show your empty hands in your field of view, when not using the bow, works wonders in creating that sense of vulnerability while immersing you into the game. You are a thief and not a fighter so you are going to want to be smart about how you approach things and going headlong at some guards is rarely going to work in your favour. But throwing a bottle to distract a guard and then taking him from behind is a sure-fire route to success.
But be careful where you go from there as if you walk over the broken glass it is going to make a noise and could bring more guards to investigate. But it’s not only glass that you need to worry about; when sneaking through houses you should try and stay off the hardwood flooring and rather walk on the carpet that will dampen your footsteps. The same goes for outside. You are going to be far more successful if you walk on the grass rather than the cobblestones.
Oh and make sure you steal pretty much everything you see including paintings, cutlery and wallets as you are a thief after all.
The game is being released next month so if you haven’t done so yet make sure you get your pre-order in now. And if you love us use these handy affiliate links to Kalahari to help us pay our bills.
And if my words weren’t convincing enough then take a look at this developer walkthrough and the awesome gallery included below..
Last Updated: January 27, 2014
Umar Break Dancing Cyborg
January 27, 2014 at 10:02
I’ve been hearing very mixed things about this game, a lot of it bad. Stating that long time Thief fans are going to be disappointed and that this games feels a lot like Dishonored minus the magic (Which isn’t that good)
Gavin Mannion
January 27, 2014 at 10:09
Yeah keep in mind this was a hands off event and I’m not a thief fan… so it could be totally different
Umar Break Dancing Cyborg
January 27, 2014 at 10:14
Indeed,m Just stating what I read from the previews, But this a good perspective especially from a non-thief fan
Zubayr Bhyat
January 27, 2014 at 10:13
Not really, it’s Thief – but not The Dark Project. People need to realise that the first game had its flaws too. This game draws inspiration from the original but looks to stand out on its own. Whether there’ll be that open map gameplay fans are used to, I don’t know.
Umar Break Dancing Cyborg
January 27, 2014 at 10:14
Well apperently that was the biggest complaint from the previews I read, there is no open map and everything feels much smaller
Zubayr Bhyat
January 27, 2014 at 10:15
Yes, that was noted there also. It felt like you were pushed on rails in the beginning. I still want to get my hands on the game and judge properly though.
Umar Break Dancing Cyborg
January 27, 2014 at 10:15
Yup, only way you will ever know. But I don’t think I’m gonna buy this at launch though
Zubayr Bhyat
January 27, 2014 at 10:16
Well there should be playthroughs coming this week, so we’ll know better then 😛
Umar Break Dancing Cyborg
January 27, 2014 at 10:17
As long as it’s not PewDiePie lol I say that but I like him
Zubayr Bhyat
January 27, 2014 at 10:18
Local I mean 😉
Acornbread
January 28, 2014 at 17:43
I like the fact that they’ve incorporated more combat into it. It may sound like anathema to hardcore fans but half the fun in getting caught is being able to take someone out properly before running away. 😛
Zubayr Bhyat
January 29, 2014 at 12:58
True. Masters of the original were able to fight with a blackjack though 😛
Alien Emperor Trevor
January 27, 2014 at 10:16
That doesn’t make me worried. Dishono(u)red was really good, so saying it feels like that makes me happy. People also had the same complaint about Hitman Absolution & that was really good too.
Umar Break Dancing Cyborg
January 27, 2014 at 10:18
Well they said it feels like dishonored but without any of the meat. But I never buy into previews fully though, so will have to wait and see.
TiMsTeR1033
January 27, 2014 at 10:32
Yet to play dishonoured, but played all the thief games, look they were fun and all, but this reminds me alot of them. Feels like same game still which is good and bad..
RinceThis2014
January 27, 2014 at 11:13
Yeah, when I first saw it I also thought Dishonoured. There is a U in that 😉 *RUNS
Admiral Chief in Vegas
January 27, 2014 at 10:11
Yup, I am getting this
UltimateNinjaPandaDudeGuy
January 27, 2014 at 10:11
I asked on the Watch Dogs article whether this one would be a better option and you sold me! Getting it!
Warren Ross
January 27, 2014 at 10:17
I haven’t read much about this, but I loved the original Thief. It was one of the very first FPS stealth games, and many of the concepts (like the gem that showed how “visible” you were) are still in use today. Lost the plot a bit with all the undead beasties etc. but this looks like it could be cool.
Alien Emperor Trevor
January 27, 2014 at 10:19
A SP-only game? That’s silly, how am I supposed to get my social on? This game will make me feel alone & lonely. All alone :/
Gavin Mannion
January 27, 2014 at 10:20
Dion’t worry you can share to Facebook and Twitter by opening those apps independently and typing things in… so it’s social
Alien Emperor Trevor
January 27, 2014 at 10:22
lol. What? Sure I can alt-tab, but that’s so much effort. 😉
Gavin Mannion
January 27, 2014 at 10:26
Man I hated that moment of gaming time when developers honestly thought I wanted my game to automatically tweet and post fgacebook messages
Admiral Chief in Vegas
January 27, 2014 at 10:21
Pffff, like that is any different from your other gaming days?
Alien Emperor Trevor
January 27, 2014 at 10:24
Aloooooonnnnnneeeeeeee. All aloooooonnnnnneeeeeeee.
Must admit I had fun with TF2 the other night. Even the 2nd match with the higher level equipment guys where I got my ass handed to me.
VampyricSquirrel Monk
January 27, 2014 at 10:25
pfffft you just enjoyed killing me over and over and over and over and over and over again
TiMsTeR1033
January 27, 2014 at 10:29
as Did I this weekend!
VampyricSquirrel Monk
January 27, 2014 at 10:30
I could at least kill you… I shot Trev with 4 rockets and he just ran away… probably laughing.
TiMsTeR1033
January 27, 2014 at 10:31
Damn! See thats why you need a Timmy on your team! Could be a great distraction while you can kill Trevor!
Her Highness the Hipster
January 27, 2014 at 10:45
i’m so sad i missed out – anyone up for some L4D2 this week? I’m down for some killing tonight 🙂
Admiral Chief in Vegas
January 27, 2014 at 10:46
I found a dedicated server for some 4v4 action!
Her Highness the Hipster
January 27, 2014 at 10:52
awesome – i am totally game! 4v4 was amazing
Admiral Chief in Vegas
January 27, 2014 at 11:01
Yeah 4v4 adds whole new level of awesome!
Alien Emperor Trevor
January 27, 2014 at 10:53
Man I was annoyed when I lost my connection, I was sure I was going to get further under that overpass.
VampyricSquirrel Monk
January 27, 2014 at 10:53
That was insane! lol
@disqus_3ihQj32EWp:disqus I’ll pop onto Steam tonight
Alien Emperor Trevor
January 27, 2014 at 10:35
lol I meant it when I said I was sorry. But yes, I was laughing too. 😉
VampyricSquirrel Monk
January 27, 2014 at 10:45
Yeah, I know you meant it… was just frustrating in a funny way. I knew I was dead as soon as I saw you.
Admiral Chief in Vegas
January 27, 2014 at 10:29
TF2 is a cool game, but yeah, we need better items it seems
VampyricSquirrel Monk
January 27, 2014 at 10:45
Yeah I totally need to put some hours into that game
R1ker
January 27, 2014 at 12:46
Until what time did you guys game? I joined early but it seemed that about 20h30 or so everyone kind of left and I went on playing dota. Forgot to come back and check on TF2 later.
Alien Emperor Trevor
January 27, 2014 at 13:09
Not sure, played for a bit after our control point game then switched to L4D2.
TiMsTeR1033
January 27, 2014 at 10:26
It looks like Thief with a fresh lick of paint.. that isn’t a bad thing. but how good will this be? Basically thief HD.
No Longer SIR Twakkus
January 27, 2014 at 10:31
Looks awesome!
fred
January 27, 2014 at 10:35
Don’t know , looks very dark , slightly boring. Sneaking around is only fun for limited time.
Gavin Mannion
January 27, 2014 at 10:43
They say you can make it more action based if that is your style.. but if you donl’t like stealth games then Thief is probably not for you
Willem Swanepoel
January 27, 2014 at 11:48
It is more stealthy than games like Splinter Cell.
Willem Swanepoel
January 27, 2014 at 11:45
Been a big fan of Thief 1 – 3
Loved the story, it was dark and very interesting.
I am still on the fence with this one, I am not sure if I should pre-order or not … sigh.
I am just scared they dumbed it down for the AMERICANS!
Not like I am out of games to play, so if I do not get it in Feb I still have loads of good stuff to play.
I am stuck on SWTOR now 😉 again … lol sigh
Zubayr Bhyat
January 27, 2014 at 13:56
Don’t think so. The gameplay looks intense enough.