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Developer: Ion Storm Inc.
Publisher: Eidos Interactive
Version: 1.1
Platform(s): Microsoft Windows, Xbox, Mobile phone
Release Date: May 25, 2004/ June 11, 2004
Publisher: Eidos Interactive
Version: 1.1
Platform(s): Microsoft Windows, Xbox, Mobile phone
Release Date: May 25, 2004/ June 11, 2004
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Ever since Looking Glass's last Thief installment things haven't gone very well for the small Massachusetts based development house. Despite the success of both The Dark Project and The Metal Age the company soon found itself shutting down and taking with it, the hope of a much anticipated second sequel to the Thief series. Fortunately though, developer Ion Storm picked up the license rights to this cornerstone of the stealth genre and began working feverishly on giving Garrett another chance to prowl the streets and so, Thief: Deadly Shadows was born.
As in previous outings, Deadly Shadows sees you once again slipping into the jaded hide of Garrett, a master thief who lives his life in the shadows. In the city where Garrett calls home, crime and corruption are the norm, the wealthy prey on the poor, and magic and machinery manage an uneasy coexistence. Thrown into the mix of this colourful city life are the Keepers, a secretive organization that pulls the strings of society, attempting to keep the fabric of the town from unraveling and coincidentally were responsible for training Garrett in his stealthy arts as a youth. However, peace and quiet have not been the staple in the city for a very long time and Deadly Shadows is not about to change that formula.
The Keepers, much like the Star Trek Federation, have a prime directive which stipulates that they must not directly interfere with the city and its activities. A fair and just rule that is quite befitting their character; however the rule says nothing about using others to change things as they see fit. Thus, when the Keepers look into their books of glyph prophesies and sees an alarming omen which foretells a Dark Age speeding toward the city, with Garrett's name at the center of it all, they immediately employ the help of the master thief. The cunning Keepers realize that Garret is probably the only one that can solve the riddles of the upcoming era but also keeping him close makes it easier to observe the fate of the man that the omens speak so mysteriously about.
http://i716.photobucket.com/albums/ww161/Skarin_2009/Thief_3_map-1.jpgThief: Deadly Shadows sports the same core ideals as it's predecessors and therefore retains much of the characteristics that made the series such a legend in the gaming world. However, there have been a few changes. Deadly Shadows breaks away from the linear mission structure of previous outings making it possible for Garrett to wander through his hometown between engagements. Garrett can explore a borough comprised of five primary sections, and has opportunities to "liberate" loot from houses and businesses, fence ill-gotten gain, buy weapons and items, and complete tasks that require his special touch for some extra coin. Still though Deadly Shadows is a stealth title, therefore Garret can't boldly wander the city without causing a stir and while he has never been caught, the authorities have their suspicions about Garrett, so when he's out, he has to stick to the shadows and keep an eye open for the City Watch, who will attack him on sight. In certain sections of the town, Garrett's picture is displayed in crime posters, so he must also keep from being seen by civilians, who will run immediately to alert the guards.
If all goes well and Garrett is allowed to make his way to the heart of the city's problems, some familiar faces will make appearances and play core roles in the game. Aside from the Keepers, Garrett runs into the Hammerites, a machine worshiping group who believe that the future lies in mechanization, and the Pagans, a magic wielding, earth worshiping sect that believe plants are the only viable deity. Both the Hammerites and the Pagans can be a help or hindrance to Garrett's progress, depending on what he does for or against them. Deadly Shadows includes a faction standing with each of these polar opposites, and things that you do affect their hostility level toward you. Completing special tasks raises your faction standing and attacking or stealing from members of these cults makes them more aggressive when they see you. Making your way through the city's sections can be easier or harder depending on whose good side you're on.http://i716.photobucket.com/albums/ww161/Skarin_2009/528587_20040504_screen001-1.jpg
Returning to the game also is Garret's offensive, defensive and sensing equipment. The first to see improvement is the light gem, a medieval photometer which tells players how visible Garret is in his current surrounding. As in the past two games, when the gem glows with intensity it indicates that Garret is visible to the naked eye, when the gem goes completely black then Garret is good as invisible. The light gem also glows as you make noise, such as when running. Even if you're completely enshrouded in darkness, guards will be able to pick out your position by sound if you're not careful. Additionally, to make navigation easier and to keep the action fluid, a working compass now surrounds the light gem, pointing the way as you move without having to toggle a separate directional finder.
Garrett's selection of weaponry has also seen some changes; our master thief now carries his stock of arms from mission to mission instead of starting with a fresh batch at the beginning of each level. And to make his way through the sea of those who would do him harm, Garrett has amassed a collection of weapons made up of old favorites and a few new toys. The perennial favorite, the blackjack, features prominently, though the sword has been replaced with a dagger that can be used not only in a fight but also like a lethal version of the blackjack when sneaking up on a foe. Climbing gloves have supplanted rope arrows, and vials of oil have been added that can either be used to cause a slippery trap or set on fire as a makeshift blockade. Other familiar armaments include Broadhead, Moss, Gas, Fire and Noisemaker arrows along with explosive mines, flash bombs and gas bombs. Garrett also has his constant companion, his mechanical eye that provides a closer look at things by zooming in on them.http://i716.photobucket.com/albums/ww161/Skarin_2009/thief-the-dark-project-1.jpg
Deadly Shadows was a highly anticipated game back in 2004 and during its time it was hard not to let the games shortcomings get amplified in your mind, however minor, especially if you've followed a series from its inception. Now though, in retrospect the pitfalls of Deadly Shadows takes on it's own charm because, when added up, they don't eclipse an otherwise excellent release. Still, for the sake of the review I must point out some issues that are worth mentioning.
The biggest problem with gameplay is that while mission levels and the city itself are large, they're broken down into small sections that require the use of portals to pass between the chunks. Entering a portal triggers a loading sequence that, while lasting no more than 15 seconds, adds up as you pass back and forth to get from one mission zone or task to the next. This loading screen dance unnecessarily breaks up the action and pulls you out of the moment. After following this procedure multiple times to sell off loot or to get a Fire arrow, you'll want to scream. Later in the game, you'll find that it's not even worth the trouble to buy certain supplies because you'll have to cross town in order to do it.
Other smaller problems exist, like a cap on the amount of equipment you can carry without a limitation on what you can pick up, effectively vaporizing perfectly good inventory items if you already have the capacity in your possession. Additionally, you still have to be directly behind someone to blackjack or stab them, and you can't knock out people who are sitting down. I'd have thought by now that Garrett would be able to thwap somebody from a slight angle or from above, as skilled as he is in his craft. Likewise, if an enemy notices you, their immunity to arrows flying toward their head somehow increases. If they're relaxed, one shot will drop them, but if they're on alert, it can take up to four volleys to the brain pan to permanently silence them. This type of arbitrary hit detection defies logic.
http://i716.photobucket.com/albums/ww161/Skarin_2009/thief3sneakt-1.jpgAdditionally, there are issues with the equipment; notably because the rope arrows are gone. That in and of itself is kind of lame, but their replacement, the wall climbing gloves, only allow you to scale certain surfaces, and you can't navigate corners. Also, the gloves are underused in the level design to the point of almost being unnecessary. I can recall only two or three places where climbing gloves were absolutely required; playing the part of Spiderman leaves a lot of room for cool level design that simply wasn't exploited.
All things considered though and despite the potentially rocky move from one developer to another, Deadly Shadows is a stellar Thief offering and an asset to the series. Its open-ended nature immerses players and helps with the cohesiveness of the storyline. The story itself is compelling, and the ending is satisfying, drawing a conclusion to the events that have taken place but leaving a hook for another potential episode in the series. Also, the finale doesn't come too soon. In a time when sub-10 hour titles are more and more commonplace, Deadly Shadows provides an experience that clocks in at least double that, and more if you do every side objective while trying not to kill anyone.
http://i716.photobucket.com/albums/ww161/Skarin_2009/thief_citywatch_super-1.jpgThe much-maligned addition of a third-person perspective comes off very well and actually is a positive force in the game. I played in first-person mode for several levels, but found that switching to the third-person view helped me navigate my environment more effectively and allowed me to spy around corners without exposing myself. If you still don't like the option, you can stick with the default first-person mode, but you'll miss some of the experience if you disregard the third-person vantage point, especially the cool animation when Garrett shivs somebody with his dagger.
The game also sees an improvement in Garret's combat capabilities and while he is still no Altair, he can at least now tackle multiple enemies without too much trouble (provided that you have a couple of health potions in your inventory). Graphics wise, the game make massive improvements over the last two titles. While it is built on the Deus Ex 2 engine, the game has done away with the terribly blocky and flat environments of the past. Garrett looks quite good in both third- and first-person perspectives, with plenty of detail on his body and weapons. Dynamic shadows are especially impressive as you pass light sources and watch your shadow grow, shrink and move in relationship to the illumination; an indication that the series has come a long way from 1998.
http://i716.photobucket.com/albums/ww161/Skarin_2009/800px-ShalebridgeCradle-1.jpgPersonally though, Thief: Deadly Shadows will forever be imprinted in my mind more than the original game and it's sequel and it will go down in my books as the best Thief game yet. The reason behind this is for one particular mission, a mission that is rumored to be one of the scariest levels in video game history and I can safely say that that claim is no exaggeration. Even thinking about it sends a chill down my spine. Shalebridge Cradle or mission: Robbing the Cradle, with it's abandoned orphanage history is so haunting, so terrifying and so tense, it leaves you in a state of sphincter-tightening fear throughout the mission. It combines the classic Hitchcock type horror setting with electrifying atmosphere and ambiance to leave you trembling at edge of your seat. This level alone is executed with such fineness and ingenuity that it easily buries the flaws of the game and is monumental enough to recommend to any that have never played the Thief games before.
Deadly Shadows is a prime example of stealth action at its best. You're given a myriad of tools and then get to decide how to use them to do a job. You can also forgo all of the technical trickery and only use your skills as a sneak to avoid being caught, and still meet your goals - it's up to you. The level design is tight, and is along the standards of the original two releases. In every mission, and even when wandering through the city, there will be moments when you'll find yourself holding your breath while you wait for the perfect moment to spring from the shadows. The original Thief all but founded the stealth action genre, and Deadly Shadows lives up to its namesake.
Bottom Line: Thief: Deadly Shadows lives up mightily to the legendary Thief franchise. While it doesn't set any brave new standards, it maintains all the things that made Thief great in the first place. Even though some of Ion's design decisions, like the removal of the rope arrow and the inclusion of the third-person camera, will disappoint purists, it would be difficult for anyone to deny what a splendid experience this release is. Deadly Shadows is truly stealth action at its current zenith.
Recommendation: A buy, pure and simple!.
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Part I- Thief: The Dark Project [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.136341#3069030]
Part II- Thief II: The Metal Age [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/326.136846]
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