Thief Xbox One Review

Rumors of a Thief sequel came to being long before Eidos Montreal’s 2013 announcement, but who could have expected a Thief reboot? What could possibly need changing? Now, just about a year after the new Thief game was unveiled, we are reintroduced to the infamous Master Thief, Garrett, after his almost ten-year hiatus.

We haven’t seen a Thief game since 2004, but the series managed to retain a healthy following, namely those who consider themselves stealth fans. After all, how often do you see a major stealth game these days that doesn’t put action before sneakiness? Like so many other games that fall into this genre, Thief started out as a stealth series when it debuted in 1998, and managed to stay that way over the next three games. A major fear with the 2014 reboot is, not surprisingly, the possibility of seeing Thief take a more action-driven style in keeping up with modern trends.

To be proven wrong, however, has never felt this good. Neither a sequel nor a prequel, the new Thief is a fantastic reimagining of an acclaimed franchise that’s mired in nostalgia. This is every bit the stealth game as those before it were, and Garrett is very much still the antihero we all fell in love with years ago. Still, even the most avid fan can expect some major surprises along way.

Playing a Master Thief
Thief keeps to its stealth roots with impressive dedication, bringing us back to the “first-person sneaker” genre that few have done so well. The game is set entirely at night, just like its predecessors, and places heavy emphasis on light and shadows. None of this encroaches on the player’s freedom, however, and how you go about your thiefy business is your call. This is a point Thief makes as early on as the opening menu, where starting a new game brings up difficulty selection and the option to customize your preferred tier. 

Everything about the game is designed to accommodate player choices, and you are rarely confined to just one or two paths in any situation. Whatever your play style dictates, Garrett’s actions come with significant consequences. Aggressive tactics or plain carelessness may result in more guards appearing further along in the story. Conversely, a stealthy approach means the authorities aren’t as aware of Garrett’s one-man crime spree, meaning fewer precautions taken on their part. Regardless, Thief effectively rewards and justifies any approach, and the player never feels punished or even slighted for sticking to personal preferences.
Garrett returns to us much as he was, as a man with few allegiances and a dedication to his craft. He is no less the Garrett we knew, and the game is very much a return to the classic Thief titles despite the updated feel. With an open-world city at his disposal, the Master Thief is free to roam and steal to his heart’s content, armed with his thief’s tools, an impressive array of arrows, and that special eye. How he uses these is up to you, of course.

The primary item in Garrett’s arsenal is his bow, effective both as a combat and utility item. Numerous types of arrows allow the thief to accomplish a good variety of tasks, from traversing the urban landscape to headshotting his enemies. Beyond that, he has a few other convenient tools, like a blackjack and a limitless supply of lockpicks. Focus, a mystical resource similar to mana or energy in other games, allow Garrett to pull off more impressive feats, like slowing time while shooting or sensing traps and treasure. In the first moments of Thief, mysterious circumstances put our favorite thief out of commission, but also grant him unique abilities that make him supernaturally awesome at his work.

The game does a remarkable job of keeping Garrett balanced with the world around him, meaning you’ll never feel underpowered or over. You’ll start with the basic, most essential tools, while extras can be purchased as soon as you gain access to a shopkeeper. Rarely does Thief limit access to content based on progress, and without any sort of rigid leveling system, you’re pretty much free to play whichever way you please.  Upgrades can make sneaking easier or improve Garrett’s resilience. Everything from quiver capacity to weapon damage can be upgraded using gold, which isn’t exactly scarce for a Master Thief. As for Focus-based abilities, those require Focus points found throughout the game.
City of Shadows

Although not quite a sandbox experience, Thief utilizes an open environment that just begs to be explored. To prevent players from being totally overwhelmed by the sprawling urban setting, the city is separated into smaller, more manageable zones. Each area can be explored freely, housing a seemingly infinite number of doors to be picked, windows to be opened, and secret passages to be uncovered. These rooms and alleys hide plenty of valuable loot as well as collectibles, usually in the form of reading material that tell a fascinating story about the cursed city and its people. 

The greater part of Thief takes place within the city itself, but without any sense of restriction. With how many districts make up the entire steampunk metropolis, it feels incredibly vast, even with the loading screens in between. Every chapter in the campaign will also take Garrett to a completely different part of the city, and whether visiting a crematorium or uncovering underground ruins, the ambiance is absolutely perfect every time. A familiar eeriness lingers no matter where you are or who you’re hiding from, offering yet another link to the previous Thief games. The 2014 installment doesn’t stop there, though, and throws in some downright terrifying moments, including (but not limited to) some frightening jump scares.
The unexpected escalation from suspense to horror reminds us that Garrett isn’t untouchable, that he isn’t at the top of the Thief food chain. Well, he still is on most days, and you can easily take out any anxiety suffered on the guards and other poor saps around town, unseen. What makes the stealth in Thief so fun – and unique – are the strategic use of light and darkness, serving as significant aspects of gameplay. Shadows are a thief’s best friend, keeping Garrett safe even in enemy territory, and dodging fields of light in search of safety provides a welcome strategic challenge. Heck, the actual “puzzles” in the game aren’t nearly as demanding of your brain power.

Tests of Skill

Beyond aimless exploration and story quests, side quests and Challenge Modes provide additional distractions. NPCs in the city, including Garrett’s long-time friend and ally Basso, offer a number of optional activities that will test your thieving skills – and bring in some extra income. These can be completed at just about any point in the game, including after you’ve beaten the campaign. All objectives will include the word “steal” (or “retrieve," if we’re being generous) but test all your skills as a thief, whatever sort that might be.

The Challenge Modes are, as the name implies, a bit more challenging, complete with online leaderboards that will display exactly how well you stack up against the rest of the Thief community. Each mode has a different objective, but all are timed. One mode, for instance, lets you increase your time based on how many items you can steal, essentially becoming a game of stealing as much and as fast as you can. Another mode is set up like a game of “Hot and Cold,” where an on-screen indicator is your only means of locating loot. Just remember this is all ranked, so no pressure.
Final Thoughts

Thief is not without issues, understandably, and my biggest complaint lies with how the game ends. The final encounter and surprise antagonist proved painfully underwhelming, especially after all the buildup that preceded it. Sure, it wasn’t quite like seeing the ending of Assassin’s Creed II for the first time or anything, but I can’t say I was at all impressed. Does this affect how much I enjoyed Thief overall? Probably not, but a weak ending is still a fly in the ointment.

As far as technical problems go, the Xbox One version does currently suffer the occasional frame rate drop. More specifically, the FPS seems to take a slight dip for about a second or less when the player is loading into an open area containing fire or heavy lighting. It’s an incredibly minor issue, just from my perspective, but also noticeable enough to warrant a mention.

In spite of my annoyances with certain aspects of the game, Thief is a truly enjoyable experience. Well, enjoyable and somehow scary beyond all hell at the same time. Going in, I wasn’t entirely sure of what to expect, after having lost touch with the series for over a decade. What I ended up getting was this wholly amazing adventure with characters that felt almost like old friends, yet in a new and fascinating world. This Garrett is wonderful and different, as is the universe reimagined around him. Rest assured, there's enough here for both the dedicated fan and newcomer to appreciate.