Genre-defining is often used in the video games industry. Unfortunately, this term has been bandied about far too often to carry much weight with the fickle players (and reviewers) of today.
After all, every other title hitting gamers` computer screens is classified as being revolutionary and groundbreaking in one way or the other.
Very few games can lay claim to being genre-defining. Titles like Dune, Doom and Command & Conquer were revolutionary and paved the way for others to follow. In fact, these games are treated with as much reverence today as when they were first released.
Another such game is Thief: The Dark Project. Originally released in 1998 through Eidos, this title single-handedly created the stealth genre on the PC. Players could control the master thief Garrett on a series of first-person missions revolving around stealing things and not being caught.
What made this game so different was its focus on using stealth to complete missions. This was also one of the first titles in which sound played an important role. The surface the player walked on could alert guards to his/her position and one could detect an enemy`s approach by listening carefully.
The title rapidly became a bestseller and spawned the sequel Thief II: The Metal Age in 2000. This was another hit among fans but by this stage the competition in the stealth market was fierce and it did not do as well as it could have done.
A new face
This year, fans are treated to the third incarnation of the series, Thief III: Deadly Shadows. Still featuring Garrett, developer Ion Storm (of Deus Ex fame) went all out to re-establish this franchise among the elite in the stealth market.
Boasting a new graphics engine and improved sound, Deadly Shadows rekindles the spirit of the original with the fresh air of better technology.
Ion Storm`s influence is evident early in the game. Instead of being stuck with a fixed series of missions to complete, Garrett can now also explore areas of the city and mug civilians to his heart`s content.
Of course, the city guard will attack on sight, but there are more than enough shadows to hide in and torches to douse for this not to become too much of a problem.
Pick an arrow
Most of the favourite weapons of the series make a return. Players can choose from the obligatory fire, water and noisemaker arrows to assist them on their nefarious missions. Unfortunately, the rope arrow falls away in favour of climbing gloves.
The nice thing about Deadly Shadows is the fact that players can use their blackjacks to knock out enemies for the duration of a mission. This means you could conceivably complete the game without killing anyone unnecessarily.
The better graphics engine creates a more real environment. The city is a dark, foreboding place and successfully brings across a feeling of claustrophobia. The hopelessness of the odds against Garrett also becomes apparent from the start of the game.
A night in
Deadly Shadows succeeds in re-awakening the franchise and will see true stealth fans lapping up every drop. This is a must-have for anyone looking for a more cerebral title.
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