Help me decide if I should buy Thief Deadly Shadows on Steam

[Dirty Hipsters]

Being a fan of the Thief games I've been thinking of buying Deadly Shadows for some time (even though I know it's supposed to be the weakest game in the series). The game is $5 on steam today, and I was just about to hit the 'add to cart' button when I noticed that at the bottom of the page under system requirements it states "Thief: Deadly Shadows does not support play on laptop computers."

Um...what? What the hell does that mean? What exactly is the major difference between a laptop and a desktop that would prevent this game from being played on a laptop? It's not like my laptop is using integrated graphics or anything like that, and it's well above all the other requirements necessary to run this game (I mean hell, I run Metro 2033 on it on high settings).

I mean, the game came out in 2004, so I can understand the thinking that laptops wouldn't be able to play the game, but these days is this warning still applicable? I'm not going to buy a game I can't play after all.

 

[Get Jiggy]

I bought it about 30 seconds before I read this.
Shit.

 

[MisterM2402]

http://forums.steampowered.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1333768
It seems it's just a precaution more than anything. Older laptops apparently couldn't handle it because of a lack of some kind of pixel shader.

As for whether to buy the game or not: $5 is $5. I thought the game was fantastic (probably one of my favourite games ever), but then it *was* the first one I played in the series so that judgement is a tad biased. Diehard fans of the previous 2 were mostly *disappointed* with it not living up to their expectations, rather than it being a flat-out terrible game. I'd say go for it

 

[RipRoaringWaterfowl]

Your better off with Thief 2: The Metal Age. Just ask old man Yahtzee; he'll tell you the stuff you need to know in his Thief: The Dark Project review.

 

[Dirty Hipsters]

Your better off with Thief 2: The Metal Age. Just ask old man Yahtzee; he'll tell you the stuff you need to know in his Thief: The Dark Project review.

I already have all the other thief games (sadly I can't get thief 1 to play on my new computer though).

 

[AstylahAthrys]

My laptop, which is 2 years old, handles it fine. Don't worry. Get it!

 

[RipRoaringWaterfowl]

Your better off with Thief 2: The Metal Age. Just ask old man Yahtzee; he'll tell you the stuff you need to know in his Thief: The Dark Project review.

I already have all the other thief games (sadly I can't get thief 1 to play on my new computer though).

Alrighty. Now, remember that the Thief games you have feature sprawling levels that encourage exploration and good stealth. Now realize Deadly Shadows gets rid of these in favour of having the best graphics you could get in 2004, which probably explains the laptop problem. So, it would work on modern laptops most likely, but it's kinda bad.

 

[Smooth Operator]

Just checked google and there is a good number of demos available for this game, so check that out to make sure.

For $5 it is absolutely worth it, and the warning is for older systems if they don't have the full range of hardware features the games simply can't run.

 

[SnakeoilSage]

Your better off with Thief 2: The Metal Age. Just ask old man Yahtzee; he'll tell you the stuff you need to know in his Thief: The Dark Project review.

He hated it because it took away his sandbox feeling. If that's all you want just play a thief in Skyrim and you'll get the same feeling. There are even zombies.

I enjoyed Thief: Deadly Shadows. It had an interesting plot in an interesting setting, with some very cool levels that you couldn't pull off with a sandbox. Shalebridge Cradle is still one of my top 5 scariest places in video games.

 

[Richardplex]

Your better off with Thief 2: The Metal Age. Just ask old man Yahtzee; he'll tell you the stuff you need to know in his Thief: The Dark Project review.

He hated it because it took away his sandbox feeling. If that's all you want just play a thief in Skyrim and you'll get the same feeling. There are even zombies.

I enjoyed Thief: Deadly Shadows. It had an interesting plot in an interesting setting, with some very cool levels that you couldn't pull off with a sandbox. Shalebridge Cradle is still one of my top 5 scariest places in video games.

Except stealth in skyrim, like all elder scroll games, is laughably bad. Because having sneak levelling up just doesn't work. Though to be fair it is a lot better in Skyrim than it is in previous games.

 

[RipRoaringWaterfowl]

Your better off with Thief 2: The Metal Age. Just ask old man Yahtzee; he'll tell you the stuff you need to know in his Thief: The Dark Project review.

He hated it because it took away his sandbox feeling. If that's all you want just play a thief in Skyrim and you'll get the same feeling. There are even zombies.

I enjoyed Thief: Deadly Shadows. It had an interesting plot in an interesting setting, with some very cool levels that you couldn't pull off with a sandbox. Shalebridge Cradle is still one of my top 5 scariest places in video games.

Sure, but the OP played the first two and is probably expecting what he got in the first two. Deadly Shadows had it's moments, but it's not really what the other two games were.

 

[Darks63]

The big issue with that game(unless they tweaked it)is that it will lock up constantly on dula or quad core systems unless you go under tasts ans shut them off for the game.

 

[Wayneguard]

You can play it on most laptops man don't worry about it. The problem was that laptops didn't support advanced shaders when TDS came out. It'll run on any modern computer just fine though. You should definitely get it but be aware that the PC port is pretty shit unmodded. It's hard to explain but there is just a wonky feeling with the movement that makes it unbearable to play in first person (the intended mode). Among other things fixed/added, The Minimalist Mod fixes this issue. My two cents are that if you're going to buy it, do not play it unless you install the minimalist mod.

 

[SnakeoilSage]

Sure, but the OP played the first two and is probably expecting what he got in the first two. Deadly Shadows had it's moments, but it's not really what the other two games were.

No, but I still think by its own merits it's an enjoyable game and if you've got $5 to spare it's a decent investment.

 

[SnakeoilSage]

Except stealth in skyrim, like all elder scroll games, is laughably bad. Because having sneak levelling up just doesn't work. Though to be fair it is a lot better in Skyrim than it is in previous games.

It's a bit odd; you gotta do more actions while using stealth to level it up faster. Sneak attacks, cast magic, move and stalk guys, that kind of thing. Harder to level up than say Blacksmithing, which is completely over-powered and broken, in my opinion. But we're getting off topic.

 

[Richardplex]

Except stealth in skyrim, like all elder scroll games, is laughably bad. Because having sneak levelling up just doesn't work. Though to be fair it is a lot better in Skyrim than it is in previous games.

It's a bit odd; you gotta do more actions while using stealth to level it up faster. Sneak attacks, cast magic, move and stalk guys, that kind of thing. Harder to level up than say Blacksmithing, which is completely over-powered and broken, in my opinion. But we're getting off topic.

It levels up too fast; I wanted it to stay at like, 50 sneak, for silent roll, but it keeps levelling up. You get a *really* small window where stealth is good, but then sneak levels up such that I can dance in front of enemies without being noticed. I actually cringe whenever sneak levels up. Even worse if you take the silent footsteps perk, I don't know why any stealth character would pick that out of choice. That was what I meant by stealth levelling up not working, apologies for being vague.

And it's not off-topic until you talk about celebrating eating Grilled-Cheese Sandwiches.

 

[Fat Hippo]

I had lots of fun with it. Do what others have recommended to make sure it will run, and then get it. I mean, 5 bucks, pfft, you won't hate it so much it isn't worth that much.

 

[SnakeoilSage]

I think everything you said is complete meecrob! Comparing the stealth "element" of Elder Scrolls to Thief is sad. SAD.

And to OP, seriously, if you liked the first two games, DO NOT BUY IT. Thief III is a load of horsemeecrob, and it still remains one of the main cautionary examples of what bad things consolization can do to an exceptional, original concept (alongside Deus Ex 2).

YAAAY LOAAADING ZONNNNNNNEES AND TIPS

Well the thirteen year olds who take their opinions from what they watch on the internet have spoken.

Having played through the Thief: Deadly Shadows and Skyrim I'd be pressed to say there's a huge difference between their stealth styles. Thief is obviously far better with more options because it's a dedicated stealth game, but a lot of its core aspects - keep to the shadows, patrols on set routes, fencing stolen goods, etc. - are virtually identical in execution, particularly in the Thieves Guilds quests. They were so similar I swear I heard a guard call me a "taffer" during a heist for a bee statue.

And when you really get into it, the Skyrim Thieves Guild quests have a lot of inspiration taken from the Thief games. Secret societies, steamwork robots, zombies, angry gods, betrayal, curses... we can make a checklist if you want.

Thief: Deadly Shadows takes away some of the free-roaming aspects of previous games to focus on a linear plot, but there's still plenty of exploration, thieving, and stealth-strategy involved. I for one recommend it and I think it's well worth $5.

 

[The Madman]

Go for it, it's not as good as the first two games but it wasn't shamefully bad either, not really bad at all actually just... disappointing compared to the original games.

It has three main problems:

-Small cramped levels
-Stiff character control
-Too many loading screens

Still it's also got some highlights as well:

-Despite the small levels, the actual level design is often fantastic with a few levels bordering on brilliant (Shalebridge Cradle)

-Story and setting remain untouched and as awesome as the previous two games, hammerites pagans and all.

-Visually and sound-wise it's pretty damned impressive even today, the lighting engine was extremely advanced for its time and Eric Brosius who did sound for the previous two games was back for this one as well so you can expect the same amazing audio design.

So go for it I say, at around five dollars it's an absolute steal. Wasn't a perfect game by any means nor as good as the original two games, but it wasn't the Invisible Wars everyone was terrified it would be either.