Summary
Stealing stuff is fun
The Good
Pretty much everything is pretty darn good here. First off, the graphics have the right mood (dark) and complexity to suspend disbelief, the sound, music and voice acting are all top notch. The controls are simple to use and master while being, oddly, complex at the same time. The stealth dynamics (light sources, shadows and having to pay attention to sound to succeed) are excellent, as are the intelligence of the guards and monsters you will face (or sneak by). The diversity of the places you loot is excellent, ranging from a manor, a prison, a cathreadral, a fortress comprised of mages, a ruined city, an opera house, a temple and a crypt. The story is well thought out and masterfully scripted, and in game conversations between guards are amusing and at times useful too.
The Bad
Can't pop popcorn. Also, it can not cook pizza or pour beer, which is a dreadful oversight most developers overlook. ;)
The Bottom Line
Thief is a game where you go around, steal things from people or places, use some of the artifacts you stole from the last mission to purchase equipment for the next area and then steal some more stuff, all the while avoiding guards, monsters, undead and/or lethal traps by sneaking around and hiding in the shadows or attacking your foe (the former option (sneaking) being the safest by a wide margin). All the while you unravel an excellent storyline. Of course, there's much fun to be had, too. Defininely one of the best first person games to ever be released and certianly the best (and most innovative) since Doom. A must buy, IMHO.
