Thief Trailer Asks, "Did You Miss Me?"

[Ferisar]

Looks neat. I haven't played the originals, and don't really plan to (YEAH YEAH, I KNOW, < THE REASON FOR EVERYTHING WRONG IN THE WORLD), because I'm really bad at playing things I didn't play when they were relevant.

I'll keep an eye out until actual gameplay though, seeing as this is a promo piece more than anything else.

 

[Shamanic Rhythm]

In fairness, how exactly do you make a trailer showing 6 minutes of cowering quietly in a corner while the guards walk by until you can predict their patterns well enough to dodge between them all?

Good point. This wouldn't be the first pre-rendered trailer to not depict the actual gameplay in any kind of fidelity, anyway.

 

[Andy Chalk]

And is his voice really that important?

This is a question that's been asked a lot by non-fans since it was revealed that Stephen Russell wouldn't be returning, and the simple answer is yes - and not just because "they changed it, now it sucks."

Observe:


Nearly every cutscene in the game is like that - hand-drawn art with narration by Garrett. And when Garrett was on-screen, he was never very clearly defined; everything about him was static and shadowy, and even the images on the box covers are imprecise and don't match very well between T1 and T2. (His face isn't even shown on the T3 box.) Garrett's single most important characteristic - his only defining characteristic, really - is his voice. Change that, and you've changed everything.

 

[Kargathia]

Looks like an advert for a low-budget TV series.

I have never seen a good live-action teaser for a game. Not. Ever.

Metro: Last Light begs to disagree there. Even though it's the exception to the rule.

 

[The Madman]

Possibly the thing that frustrates me about this even more than the new voice actor is how boring they've managed to make the City look.

For those that haven't played the original Thief games they take place in 'the City', a massive steampunk/magical city rife with crime and rival factions. The fanatical Hammerites for example who quote the book of their cruel merciless god as they build massive, imposing cathedral and crush any who would sin again them without mercy. Or the sinister Pagans, a shadowy loose organization that lives on the edges of society, worshipping ancient and powerful old ways from far before the city ever came into being. Thief was filled with these interesting groups each of which had their own distinct style right down to the way they spoke. Everything the Hammerites said sounded like they were quoting scripture, rigid and unflinching, while the Pagans had a strange lilting way of speaking that brings to mind snakes and unbalanced minds.

Even the common folk had their own ways of talking with the City boasting its own original slang and art style. Meanwhile even ignoring the people that inhabited it the City itself had this weird blend of magic meets steampunk that I've never really done anywhere else, all shrouded in this classically gothic style with vividly coloured shadows and huge, towering structures proving a sharp contrast to the run-down medieval fare you'd see in the poorer districts.

The whole thing was amazing. I could live without Garrett, I expected to even. His story was concluded in Thief 3. But change the setting and you've gutted what made Thief so amazing to begin with. And by all reports gut it they have!

Gah, such a waste! This genuinely could have been amazing if done right!

 

[vallorn]

So here we are.
With the Hitman and apparently now the Thief franchise loosing their ways, the only hope I've left for good future stealth game franchise is Dishonored. It was surely not perfect, but the stealth mechanics and gameplay were solid and the world was fantastic. Story could was too predictable and the powers were unbalanced. Still, this game was fun and what more could you ask for?

The Metro series has some good if buggy stealth especially Last Light.

I... I kinda liked this but then I'm still depressed from Multiplayer Legacy Of Kain so... my expectations may be lower than those of Thief fans... HOWEVER this is made by the same guys as Human Revolution and the stealth in that game while assuredly not perfect could be good when adapted for Thief or something.

 

[JemJar]

And is his voice really that important?

This is a question that's been asked a lot by non-fans since it was revealed that Stephen Russell wouldn't be returning, and the simple answer is yes - and not just because "they changed it, now it sucks."

Observe:

-snip-

OH GOD THE HORROR! I still remember the cathedral. I still remember the frustration and terror of the ridiculously alert skeleton guard. I still remember sprinting around the corridors, hacking those beams off the doorway and leaping across the broken balcony above the main hallway. And I remember looking back to see the skeleton warrior swinging his sword at thin air on the other side of that gap.

I haven't played Thief for something like 8 years. And that section is burnt into my memory like nothing else.

Losing the voice is a shame, hell even Michael Bay had the sense to keep Peter Cullen as Optimus Prime (though leaving Frank Welker out in the cold was a dick move), but to me it's less that particular voice and more the style. I'm prepared to accept an actiony trailer, we live in an era where cerebral triple-A games aren't viable (if they were even then, lest we forget, Looking Glass studios went under having provided some of the most critically acclaimed but not commercially successful games of the time) but to me the problem is the script and voice direction. The bottom line is : New Garrett sounds like a bit of a dick.

 

[wetfart]

Oh well maybe Garret with one T will be just as good as Garrett with two T's. Maybe Garrett finally did make a big score and just retired leaving Garret in his place. Like the Princess Bride and Dread Pirate Roberts.

You know, if they did something like that I'd be okay with it. Though I'd be happier if it was the girl from the end of Thief: Deadly Shadows.

 

[IrenIvy]

Had anybody noticed that in trailer this dude's right eye isn't mechanic? So this dude can't be Garrett, he just some cosplayer of The Master Thief, and not a very good one.

captcha: cup cake
I agree, he totally is

 

[ScrabbitRabbit]

Metro: Last Light begs to disagree there. Even though it's the exception to the rule.

... OK, so that was pretty good.

OT: I had a thought the other day, actually. Isn't this the same studio that made Human Revolution? I think most of us can agree they did a pretty good job even if it did mess with the Deus Ex formula a little. It, too, had action-y cutscenes (albeit, rare ones) and frequent swaps to a third person camera for climbing and taking cover and all that jazz. I feel confident that we'll get a good, open-ended stealth game even if it won't be the successor to the original trilogy that we were hoping for.

Actually, scratch that, it'll probably be a successor to Deadly Shadows rather than the first two games. I'm OK with that. Deadly Shadows may not have been quite as good as the first two, but it was still a great game and it had some of the cleverest use of dynamic shadows I've ever seen.

This was still a shitty teaser, though.

 

[MorganL4]

Sigh the thief trails don't get what thief is about. The thrill was never about losing the guards, it was about getting your targets and no one ever knowing you were there.

This. In the original thief, it was all about not being seen at all. I hope they have something like the "ghost" bonus achievement from Deus Ex: Human Revolution. That would be nice for us old-time fans to aim for.

Yeah, if Thief doesn't deliver on this aspect, I recommend you check out Mark of the Ninja.... It is the whole point to that game.

Had anybody noticed that in trailer this dude's right eye isn't mechanic? So this dude can't be Garrett, he just some cosplayer of The Master Thief, and not a very good one.

captcha: cup cake
I agree, he totally is

Maybe it's a prequel.... you know, before he loses his eye, and people's voices do change over time... So he could be the same guy just younger.

 

[Ferisar]

..a folding compound bow in a medieval setting? What are his other weapons, rocket launchers, phasers and assault rifles?
This seems like a desperate attempt to emulate Dishonered.

As for the voice, I have no particular attachment to the original, but the new one holds no interest for me.

NOW TO BE FAIR

It's not like the bow is using rocket fuel. It's still conceivable under suspension of disbelief.

And is his voice really that important?

This is a question that's been asked a lot by non-fans since it was revealed that Stephen Russell wouldn't be returning, and the simple answer is yes - and not just because "they changed it, now it sucks."

Observe:


Nearly every cutscene in the game is like that - hand-drawn art with narration by Garrett. And when Garrett was on-screen, he was never very clearly defined; everything about him was static and shadowy, and even the images on the box covers are imprecise and don't match very well between T1 and T2. (His face isn't even shown on the T3 box.) Garrett's single most important characteristic - his only defining characteristic, really - is his voice. Change that, and you've changed everything.

I... actually only like a bit of that voice. I like that he seems distant and dismissive, but the actual quality of the voice acting isn't exactly anything I could call WAYMAZING.

Just my opinion though.

 

[Ferisar]

NOW TO BE FAIR

It's not like the bow is using rocket fuel. It's still conceivable under suspension of disbelief.

It's ridiculous and the single purpose of it in the trailer is to make a "cool character" when there's already a rabid fanbase that enjoys the character for what he is, not for gadgetry.

It doesn't fit the setting and it doesn't fit the character. I'm sure people in general won't mind, but I do.
The biggest reason for my dislike of this one thing, is that it shows how the creators know nothing about the audience, or simply don't give a shit.

I honestly think you're reaching here, but it's not a franchise I had any investment in so I suppose there's no comparison to be made. Just looks like a neat bow to me.

Ohhhh welllll.

 

[wulfgar_red]

where is Garrett. i miss him.
and i miss thief. not this

 

[Gunjester]

If you want to do a Thief trailer, why not do one from a guard's perspective, where he describes the rampant crimes in the city and rumours of the main character, only to discover at the end that the mark he was guarding is gone. Then you can pan up and out of the building and show Garrett perched on rooftop with said mark in his hand, and make it that you don't even notice that Garrett was ever there unless you're looking for him in the background of the earlier scenes...that would stoke up interest...

 

[fluxy100]

Good Lord you people are jaded and angry. You guys try to find anything and everything you can complain about.

Oh no the voice is different "We want our old Garret back!!!" You mean the Garret who's now at least 10 years older? The one who might not even sound like Garret anymore? That one? Okay sure, I'm certain he'll still sound the same.

Oh no the Trailer showed action!!! This isn't Thief game play!!! We want trailers of a man standing in shadows for 5 minutes before making a single move and then returns to the shadows repeated over and over, then it's true thief game play. I'm sure that will garner interest in the new game

 

[Ayay]

This thing did not show any part of the game , but come on do anyone think it will be anything else then the new Deus ex game with a bow and sword ? And silly minigames to unlock doors and boxes. All ending in a big kill party at the end , oh and dont forget the annoying bosses.Might even be fun for about 10 hours and then we will forget we played it 2 weeks after that.

 

[Seracen]

I think most people are afraid it'll go the way of Assassin's Creed, whereas Thief was at it's best when NOBODY knew you were ever there. In all honesty, AC should have been that way too, but didn't allow enough opportunity for it.

Hence why so many people's answer to the question is "no." It's hard to say we missed someone when they seem to be someone else.

I for one, am interested in the game, I just don't know if it'll be the game I want it to be. Recently, the only game that has had this level of ghosting has been Hitman.

Also, Jimquisition stated it well. A lot of people are just uncertain of the "AAA" moniker, considering what it means nowadays.

 

[Elithraradril]

I find it kinda funny that nobody has mentioned the thing that irks me most about the trailer.

"What's yours is mine".

This aint thief. This is 50 cent.

Nobody has mentioned it, because it's probably attempt to tie this trailer with Deadly Shadows where:
"What is locked can be opened, what is hidden can be found, what is yours can be mine" was used in trailer.


1) The bow is actually pretty good idea. Being all sneaky & stealthy with full size bow was actually quite ridiculous to begin with (and in Thief 2 there was also a long sword - haha, that was a good one). In Deadly Shadows they've realized that sword was not a weapon for a professional thief, now they are trying to do something about a bow. Good thinking if you ask me.

2) Fighting & action in trailer means totally nothing. TDS trailer was full of fighting and in Thief 2 trailer Garret took the guard down as far as I recall .