Thief: The Dark Project
Hmmm, a game that empahasizes stealth over all out assualt, sneaking over killing, and hiding over confrontation. How can this game be any good? Well, trust me it is. T:TDP is the latest gem from Looking Glass Studios, the creative minds behind System Shock and Flight Unlimited, and the *GASP* upcoming System Shock 2. In this game you play Garret, a cunning thief in a bizzare medival world, one in which castles and steam engines co-exist. Its almost a Jules Verne world. Its weird, but it really works. As a thief, you set aboot to steal crap, sell it, and not get yo sweet ass busted and sent to jail dig?
GRAPHICS
Grr. I'm a bit dissapointed here. I've had some problems running this game in Open GL mode, since I don't have a Voddoo 2 board. When the graphics worked they were great, but it kept cutting out so I switched to software only. Now, the main highlight of this title is not graphics, so shoo all you graphics whores. The main grahical highlight is the lighting system. This sounds dopey but it is vital. Light is accuartely represtented in the game, and you MUST pay attention to stay in the shadows. Need darkness? Turn off the lights with water. Its important, trust me. Enemies and weapons are all nicely modelled and animated even in software mode, but they attacks needed way more animations. They looked clunky, and I am rendered bitter by that.
SOUND
Okay, if you don't have one, go out and buy a 3d sound card for this game. It's truly immersive. As you travel around, you will rely on your ears far more than your eyes. You can tell wether or not you are on grass, stone, wood, metal, water, etc just by your footsteps. And based on sound, you can hear guards approach and converse, just like real guards would. This also works against you. Guards can hear YOU, and will sound alarms, and call for help, which will summon more guards to kick yer butt. So, you most use the aforementioned shadows and your hearing to avoid detection. Caution is your best friend here.
CONTROL
Standard fare for an FPS. Use the keyboard mouse combo, and you will have no problem. Although, a sperate key should have been used for jumping and blocking.
GAMEPLAY
I do not recomend this title to those among us who have high blood pressure, as this game will send it through the roof. Talk about tense. In the first level, you have to sneak past a dozen guards, in shadows, jump into a well, navigate through a castle, and sneak back out without dying. It really is a good challenging game, making you use brains, not brawn. Your character is a thief, not T2, so you aren't invincible. A few hits and its game over. Luckile you have a few weapons on your side, including your sword, and arrown supply. The physics engine hear is superb. Fire arrows do set things on fire, and then burn gloriously. Its amazing to see and to play. My only gripe is the lack of a multiplayer component. Now that would have been cool. Think "Spy vs. Spy". So if you are sick of mindless "kill-kill-kill" FPS, pick up Thief, and you won't regret it.
SUMMARY
Graphics: 8/10
Sound: 11/10 No, I'm not kidding.
Control: 9/10
Gameplay: 9/10
Overall: 9/10 Now to kill all of the guards and not get caught....
|
