The Thief series will forever stand as triumphant examples of the best in sound, level, and story design, creating the most immersive series of games to date!
Where the games failed graphically, they more than made up in sound. To this day the sound quality and effects in Thief stand as examples of how well it can be done. Of course that was necessary for the gameplay to work so well; in a stealth game like Thief was, every minute pindrop has to be taken into consideration. The sounds of a guard as he mutters in boredom to himself, the dripping of water from a leaky faucet, the sound of your own feet as you slowly creep across a tile floor, sticking to the shadows to avoid being seen. It's done so well and to such a degree that more than once I've settled myself in the shadows of a dark corner and stood there listening for the sounds in the distance, trying to gauge the distance of patrols far away or to determine if there's anything I've missed. A GAME where I'm doing nothing more than standing there listening, not to music, but to the environmental audio. It's incredible, no other game has ever had that effect!
And then there's the level design. Let's recap a few of the cool levels shall we?
-Jumping from rooftop to rooftop through the city in order to break in through a service hatch to a massive tower-like building where a party is currently being held with all the wealthiest lords and ladies of the town, ripe for the looting!
-Following a trail of blood through a recently 'purged' haunted forest, the bodies of pagans scattered among the brambles and, as you do deeper and deeper, the forest itself taking on a menacing tone as strange sounds emanate from the darkness and creatures the likes of which you've never seen shamble through the moonlit paths.
-Making your way through a long abandoned part of the city where a strict quarantine had been set and giant stone walls keep it segregated from the rest of the 'populated' city. All in order to break into a long abandoned Cathedral in the heart of this district.
-Constantines manor, the home of an eccentric billionaire where typical architecture means nothing. Rooms set entierly upside-down, hallways that lead to nowhere, secret passages, gardens that extend into the house itself making some hallways like exploring a dank cave. Genius.
And as if the sound and level design alone weren't brilliant enough, the writing, plot and voice-acting throughout the series is also spectacular. 'The City' brought to life through these writings and interactions in such a way that few games dare even dream of accomplishing. With a series of religions and icons all their own (The Pagans, the Hammerites, the Keepers, the Thieves guilds and Mechanists guilds.), each imbued with their own personality and style.
The Pagans - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QlrecVVSRXk
The Hammerites - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CxsgNX9eErU
And of course Garrett, whom Yathzee is completely correct about. He's the perfect sort of loner misanthrope that not only appeals to the player in a way no gun-hoe action hero or some whiny anti-hero ever could in this setting. He's in the perfect position to experience both sides of every conflict throughout the series while his sarcastic cynical narrative serves to lighten at times and further enhance the mood the game strives to create.
If it seems like I'm just gushing all over the game without pointing out any flaws... well, I AM! There just isn't any game out there even remotely like the Thief series, and no few gameplay flaws is going to diminish the awesome experience that is Thief!
If you've never played the games, your loss. You really are missing out on one of the all time greatest game series ever made. Thief 2 stands to this day as my second favorite game.
Oh, and did I mention the cutscenes are awesome?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-AAzkPkiImo
Sweet zombie Jezebel that freaked me out the first time I saw it!
