Thief 4 Storyboards Leak

[jez29]

Thief had a cash-in-sequel? I mean personally I have only played the third game but many say that they're all good.

That is the cash-in sequel.

To be fair, Thief 3 wasn't bad, I actually enjoyed it quite a bit, but it's very much like Deus Ex: Invisible War in that it's a decent game that suffers horribly when compared to the original. It was softened a bit, to accommodate both a less-die-hard audience and the technical limits of the Xbox, and the net result was good but not quite up to the standard of the first two games. It also had a silly title.

"Cash-in" is probably harsh, but it was definitely an attempt to modernize the game that didn't quite work out. I hope the new one does better.

Cash-in is definitely harsh, but I can certainly see what you're getting at, the first two games have a bit more freedom and the levels are much more expansive. But when it comes to tone I think Thief 3 got things spot on, through the story, art design, lighting and sound.

And the Shalebridge Cradle is right up there with the absolute best that Thief 1 & 2 can manage. It's still the most atmospheric one-off level that I've ever played in any game. Criticisms of Deadly Shadows definitely valid but 'Robbing the Cradle' is superb.

isn't Thief a FPS (first person stealth)? Does it work well?
I've never played a Thief game should I get Thief Gold, I'm a huge fan of stealth games but not so much of FPP (first person perspective)

I've found it fairly tricky to get it working on a modern PC (at least with the cutscenes working) but they are fantastic once you get the hang of things. Thief 3 is easier to grasp because the level design isn't quite so labyrinthine (and you can play in third person, shock horror), but there's a reason that the first two are more celebrated. First person works just fine, it makes things that bit more tense when you can't look around corners without breaking cover. It makes you listen to the stellar audio that bit harder so you can hear the guards coming.

 

[ajemas]

*Sometime in 2012*
Thief 4 is a very good game, but the decision to do away with many of the stealth sections in favor of bossfights was met with some hostility
I kid, I kid.
I'm actually looking forward to this! Eidos have shown that they are more than capable of revitalizing older series, so I'm sure that they will do a great job on this one as well. The storyboards also look quite interesting, even if they aren't revealing too much about the story, and I would certainly be happy if the art direction of the game reflected the art in the storyboard.

 

[Andy Chalk]

I've never played a Thief game should I get Thief Gold, I'm a huge fan of stealth games but not so much of FPP (first person perspective)

You're not a fan of stealth games if you haven't played Thief.

 

[TheAmazingHobo]

Cash-in is definitely harsh, but I can certainly see what you're getting at, the first two games have a bit more freedom and the levels are much more expansive. But when it comes to tone I think Thief 3 got things spot on, through the story, art design, lighting and sound.

And the Shalebridge Cradle is right up there with the absolute best that Thief 1 & 2 can manage. It's still the most atmospheric one-off level that I've ever played in any game. Criticisms of Deadly Shadows definitely valid but 'Robbing the Cradle' is superb.

I shall forever defend Thief 3, just because it had such a stunning set-piece.
I once read an article on the level, written by one of the designers, explaining why and how they did what they did. It made it sound like there was just a tiny wee bit of an obsession with this level during development. Which would also explain why some other sections are a bit lackluster.
But even overall I would consider it a really good game. I actually consider Thief 1 the weakest part of the series, not for any technical reasons, but just because there was some genuinly crap level-design.

 

[EHKOS]

>old favorite
>new devs
This is going to be bad. Or at least disappointing. This combo never works out.

 

[ActionDan]

I just wish that Eidos could make another Legacy of Kain game...that is an awesome series.

 

[jez29]

Cash-in is definitely harsh, but I can certainly see what you're getting at, the first two games have a bit more freedom and the levels are much more expansive. But when it comes to tone I think Thief 3 got things spot on, through the story, art design, lighting and sound.

And the Shalebridge Cradle is right up there with the absolute best that Thief 1 & 2 can manage. It's still the most atmospheric one-off level that I've ever played in any game. Criticisms of Deadly Shadows definitely valid but 'Robbing the Cradle' is superb.

I shall forever defend Thief 3, just because it had such a stunning set-piece.
I once read an article on the level, written by one of the designers, explaining why and how they did what they did. It made it sound like there was just a tiny wee bit of an obsession with this level during development. Which would also explain why some other sections are a bit lackluster.
But even overall I would consider it a really good game. I actually consider Thief 1 the weakest part of the series, not for any technical reasons, but just because there was some genuinly crap level-design.

I might have seen that article, PC Gamer if I remember. They might have been obsessed but it definitely paid off in this case! I played Thief 3 first so I've got a bit more time for it than others, but I don't necessarily admire 1 & 2 so much. Some of the levels are great, like the Mechanist HQ in 2, but the level design can get unnecessarily complicated, I agree. That ancestral tomb level early in Thief 1 is just insanely mazey, even without all the zombies its a nightmare to navigate.

 

[Desaari]

>old favorite
>new devs
This is going to be bad. Or at least disappointing. This combo never works out.

While past experience would lead me to agree with this, Deus Ex 3 actually worked out pretty good. Here's hoping they can pull it off again.

 

[ckam]

Please, no cover-based mechanics, please.

 

[Master Taffer]

>old favorite
>new devs
This is going to be bad. Or at least disappointing. This combo never works out.

While past experience would lead me to agree with this, Deus Ex 3 actually worked out pretty good. Here's hoping they can pull it off again.

And Fallout 3, for that matter...

 

[Erana]

Theres be Thiefsies sequels afoot? Me forgetsies! Te-he he!

Seriously, I completely forgot about Thi4f. I suppose not building a hype this early is understandable, but its been completely off my radar.

 

[Sonicron]

Well apparently hands will be playing a major role in the game, So it's probably set in the Digital age.

Have you no shame...?

OT: They really need to stop that number substitution nonsense.

Also, is this meant to be some kind of prequel as well? Maybe it's just a concept art thing, but I can't see Garret's mechanical eye anywhere.

 

[Programmed_For_Damage]

Is it just me or does it appear that the thief is not Garrett? There appears to be no mechanical eye on the person in question.

 

[Mekado]

That's interesting, i guess since they're done with DXHR (and well done imo) they shifted a lot of personnel to thief 4.

If they can pull both of these off i can see Squeenix "giving" them other dormant ip's to revitalize (i want a new startopia haha), Eidos Montreal has the talent of a major studio imo.

 

[Nurb]

If They make it too "actiony" or talk about multiplayer, I'm gonna be pissed.

 

[Axyun]

isn't Thief a FPS (first person stealth)? Does it work well?
I've never played a Thief game should I get Thief Gold, I'm a huge fan of stealth games but not so much of FPP (first person perspective)

Thief works very well as an FPS. If you are just getting started with the series, I suggest going with Thief 3. You can follow up with Thief 2 if you want more. Part 2 is generally considered the best of the 3. Thief 1 is good but also the hardest. And I know graphics don't make a game but Thief 1 is hard to look at in this day and age.

 

[cricket chirps]

why do i get the feeling they are doing the "Thi-4-f" just to mess with yahtzee? XD

 

[sgtshock]

I shall forever defend Thief 3, just because it had such a stunning set-piece.
I once read an article on the level, written by one of the designers, explaining why and how they did what they did. It made it sound like there was just a tiny wee bit of an obsession with this level during development. Which would also explain why some other sections are a bit lackluster.
But even overall I would consider it a really good game. I actually consider Thief 1 the weakest part of the series, not for any technical reasons, but just because there was some genuinly crap level-design.

Amen, Thief 3 was my first Thief game and it's still my favorite after Thief 2. Thief 3 may have lost some of the openness of the first games but I'd take it any day over those damn crypt levels in the first games. Also, I would argue that Amnesia: The Dark Descent was essentially someone taking the Cradle mission and turning it into a whole game.

Is it just me or does it appear that the thief is not Garrett? There appears to be no mechanical eye on the person in question.

I noticed this too. The painted fingernails and slight build of the character make me wonder if this is actually

Spoiler

the girl from the end of Thief 3.

 

[TheScientificIssole]

Eidos made Batman, right? Would that experience make this better?

 

[Andy Chalk]

That ancestral tomb level early in Thief 1 is just insanely mazey, even without all the zombies its a nightmare to navigate.

That's the Bonehoard - the level is called Down the Bonehoard, I believe - and it's actually one of my favourites. I'm the rare Thief fan who actually likes the zombies and dungeon stuff. Bonehoard and Lost City are my two faves from the original game.

To me, that's what Thief is all about. Huge, sprawling levels with multiple paths of attack. Thief 3 levels were way too small and too linear. Partly because of the technical limitations of the original Xbox, but also, I think, because some brainiac decided that "real" Thief levels wouldn't have mass market appeal. But the simplified Thief levels didn't do a damn bit of good either. Thief fans were put off and non-fans didn't care.

(Trivial note: The Horn of Quintus is my email alert sound and ringtone.)