Thief 4 announced

[Pinkeh]

i loved theif 3

[Mettool]

Originally Posted by Omniscient

I miss Looking Glass

Me too Thief 1,2 were great. Got me into the whole rogue mindset hehe.

[Criminal_Colt]

Originally Posted by UncleRes

Translation: the source engine is/has always been, shit.

In that case, what are the amazing alternatives you're comparing it too? That must also be why there are so many shit games built on the source engine...oh wait.

I doubt Thief would go near the source engine though, it wouldn't suit it at all.

[budzilla]

I only just noticed that they re-released Thief 2 and 3 together in the budget title section.

[SR71]

I really enjoyed Thief 3. It had awesome atmosphere and my favourite 'level' in any game i've played thus far: Shalebridge Cradle.

If they can do the same again, i'm looking forward to a Thief 4.

[PsychoSmiley]

I think the Unreal Engine 3 (or what ever version is currently being used) is a good candidate for the right engine. Has a good proven track record, scales well and has all the right bells as whistles. It also runs well across all three primary platforms. While the Source engine could be used, it still is basically a DX7 engine at heart. Thief honestly needs an engine that supports per-pixel lighting and dynamic shadows.

I think Thief 4 will work better than Thief 3 did in terms of technology. The whole loading area in Thief 3 was a turn off. Give these are newer generation consoles, I don't think were are going to run into that issue as much or at all.

[the-enigma]

To me the gameplay+story is way more important than what engine is used. Hell, even if it was built on the same engine as Thief1 ran on (whatever that was), but had new gameplay+story I'd be happy.

[praiseB]

Originally Posted by PsychoSmiley

I think the Unreal Engine 3 (or what ever version is currently being used) is a good candidate for the right engine. Has a good proven track record, scales well and has all the right bells as whistles. It also runs well across all three primary platforms. While the Source engine could be used, it still is basically a DX7 engine at heart. Thief honestly needs an engine that supports per-pixel lighting and dynamic shadows.

I think Thief 4 will work better than Thief 3 did in terms of technology. The whole loading area in Thief 3 was a turn off. Give these are newer generation consoles, I don't think were are going to run into that issue as much or at all.

Sitting right in the heart of the Source engine is the original Quake 1 engine, just to give some perspective on how old the tech is.

Granted it is unrecognisable from the Quake engine but still it is based on tech from 1996.

I agree the loading error bugged me, and I always considered a bit of a cheat to the game, if you were getting chased you could just find the load area and you would be free.

[Fortigurn]

Originally Posted by i_often

Holy crap. Great news. Thief 1 and 2 were epic for me back in the day. They were the reason why I tend to play stealthy in every FPS I play, namely Crysis recently. Never played/got into part 3 for some reason.

I was hooked by Thief 1, enjoyed Thief 2, thought Thief 3 was the best yet.

I remember taking 2 hrs minimum to complete every mission. I hate watching Youtube vids of this game where guys are completing missions in under 10 minutes.

Agreed, I used to savour every level. Took me hours.

Originally Posted by SR71

I really enjoyed Thief 3. It had awesome atmosphere and my favourite 'level' in any game i've played thus far: Shalebridge Cradle.

Absolutely, that level has gone down in gaming history.

IGN: “You see, for the most part, Deadly Shadows is not a “scary” game. It doesn’t take the supernatural detours of previous installments, but you will traverse some extremely creepy hallways and cellars before you’re done. Shalebridge Cradle in particular just has to be experienced to be believed”

Lasitus (a forum member of Gamespot): “Words cannot truly capture what you go through when you play that level.”

Four fat chicks: “Shalebridge Cradle—nothing compares to that two-hour ecstasy of terror from Deadly Shadows, a mission so relentlessly petrifying I’m surprised it hasn’t killed someone yet”

Escapist Magazine:”Shalebridge Cradle in Deadly Shadows was one of the few game levels I played last year with all of my lights on (and I was still scared out of my mind).“

MobyGames: “One of the levels in particular, Shalebridge Cradle, is also one of the spookiest I’ve had the pleasure of wandering through in a game”

Gamespot: “One remarkable mission, which takes place in a haunted orphanage-turned-asylum, is especially nerve-wracking due to its thick shadows and claustrophobic corridors. What makes the place so creepy is that it’s almost entirely devoid of any living beings. Almost.”

Shadowwolf218 at Eidos forums: ” Now I’m paranoid, the music taking full effect…and I start climbing the stairs in the lobby….soft knocks. *Took off the headphones and looked around my room, went back to the game*”

[PsychoSmiley]

I am proud and ashamed to say that the Shalebridge Cradle stopped me playing the game. I just couldn't handle it. Ascending that staircase at the start with the thumping was a killer.

[Mettool]

Originally Posted by Fortigurn

*snip*

I remember getting up to the door banging bit, went 'FSCK THAT' and since not played heh. And youtube just showed me how creepy I really thought it was

Very unique from anything I've ever seen.

[Fortigurn]

Originally Posted by PsychoSmiley

I am proud and ashamed to say that the Shalebridge Cradle stopped me playing the game. I just couldn't handle it. Ascending that staircase at the start with the thumping was a killer.

Oh yes, I just about bailed at that point.

Originally Posted by Mettool

I remember getting up to the door banging bit, went 'FSCK THAT' and since not played heh. And youtube just showed me how creepy I really thought it was

Very unique from anything I've ever seen.

It was just brilliant. The final scene of the level, in which you had to Spoiler below, highlight to read:
throw yourself through a five story window to apparently certain death
was utterly inspired. I've never played anything like it.

Some lovely cinema here for those who missed out on this classic moment of gaming history.

[slipkord]

In the wake of the recent Thief 4 announcement, here is an excellent article titled Retrospective - Thief: The Dark Project, the original ground-breaking game in the series.

But here's the thing: On the Normal setting you're charged with successfully breaking into the building and finding the sceptre. Hard raises the stakes in more predictable ways such as having to escape the manor once the prize is stolen, and asking you to loot 350 gold pieces worth of items while you're there. But it's the final requirement that's significant. "Don't kill any of the servants; they're harmless." Bring it up to Expert and now you're tasked with getting 700 gold, but also: "Don't kill anyone while you do the job. No servants, no guards, no pets... no one."

It's this that captures the spirit, the essence of this most extraordinary game. This is a game where turning the difficulty up reduces the number of enemies you have to kill. Certainly it also increases the number of guards (but slightly and smartly, never feeling unfair or unrealistic), and repositions them into more strategic patrol routes. But it doesn't make your weapons less effective, or raise enemy hit-points, or artificially hinder you in any 'gamey' way. It simply asks you to be a better, subtler, smarter thief.

This particular phrase from one Expert mission briefing says it all perfectly: "Violence is the mark of the amateur. Don't kill anyone."

[Domokun]

Shalebridge Cradle was the scariest gaming moment for me easily, and most of it was simply due to great ambient sounds. Looking forward to the next addition in the series.

[Clacker]

New Thief!!!! OMG!

Originally Posted by Domokun

Shalebridge Cradle was the scariest gaming moment for me easily, and most of it was simply due to great ambient sounds. Looking forward to the next addition in the series.

Best comment of the game was when Garrett picks up the jar of blood in the Cradle (which hasn't been occupied for years).


"Great....it's still warm..."