6 of 9 customers found the following review helpful:
 Good Game, Broken on PC, 2004-07-14
The Thief series has always been an interesting set of games that challenges you to think while you play, instead of simply blasting away (which can be fun too). Games like No One Lives Forever owe their gameplay formula to just how innovative and fun the first two games in this series are. Thief 3 is just as excellent a game as it's predecessors, provided you own an XBox...Much like Deus Ex (both by Ion Storm), this game arrives on the PC platform in a completely un-optimized state. The game runs slower then Far Cry on my computer, yet doesn't even look as good as Call of Duty. Maybe the new physics engine is to blame or the new lighting model, but I can't help but feel that my PC should get a better frame rate then it does (at least in comparison to it's performance in other FPS games). On my AthlonXP 2700+ with 1Gig of DDR2700 RAM and a GeForceFX 5600, I should be able to do better then 30 fps on 640x480 with details above low quality. Especially considering that I can run Far Cry at 800x600 with a mix of medium and low quality settings, and get a solid 50-60 frames. My suggestion, wait a year and then pick up both games (esp. if you can purchase them in some sort of combo pack). This time next year, when you have made that eventual computer upgrade to play Doom3 or Half-Life2, This game will actually run and you'll be able to enjoy it. As for now, I'd have to suggest passing on it.
1 of 1 customers found the following review helpful:
 worthy of the Thief name, 2004-07-11
Thief 3 successfully moves forward technologically while keeping true to the story and mood of the series. This is a next generation engine with dynamic lighting that requires a beefy video card. I recommend a GeForce FX or a Radeon 9800. I have Windows 2000 with a GeForce TI 4200 and it's playable at 800x600 with low details.The game has the same voice actors from the first two, which was a big plus for me. It has an OPTION to go 3rd person, but the default for the PC is 1st person which IMHO is much better for this game. Huge advances have been made in the game engine, including graphics, ragdoll physics, and a few AI improvements. The mood is dark and scary and the story is well done, with tons of exploring and gameplay time. There's no underwater exploring in this one, but frankly the game was so good I didn't even miss it. Lockpicking is also more challenging but with a little practice you'll get fast. If you are a fan of the first couple games, Thief 3 will seem stange for about the first 5 minutes and then you'll love it again. If you're new to Thief, this game isn't like regular 3D shooters. In this game YOU get to be that dangerous-looking guy in the shadows. The guards and other characters can see AND hear you, and the objective is to move without getting caught by those who would harm you. Sounds simple, but it takes practice and it's quite a rush! (Don't worry, you still have weapons, but the combat is a lot more realistic - you will get killed if you barge into a fully lighted room with 4 armed guards.) There's not only huge missions, there's a central city area with shops and secrets. You even have your own apartment! All in all this game is like living another life inside your computer and it's amazing!
14 of 16 customers found the following review helpful:
 What...No Buricks?, 2004-07-07
Noting that there are no less than 43 prior reviews at the time of this writing espousing an equal number of varied opinions, some brilliantly even eloquently written, and most covering the entire spectrum of the game, the writing of yet another review by yet another fan masquerading as a self-appointed critic becomes then either an egotistical self indulgent and mindless exercise in redundancy, or for the less cynical: a genuine attempt to address one's impressions not only to the game's intended audience and buying public, but to the developers and their business managers who are certainly watching, and possibly closely reading both general and specific reactions to their product in an attempt to assess the practicality and profitability of producing yet another future installment in this continually excellent gaming series.Yes, I, as others, bought and played all of Thief, Thief Gold, Thief II, and a few of the user designed missions and enjoyed them thoroughly. In fact, of the hundreds of titles I own and have played, the Thief series is among only 2 gaming concepts I have ever repeat played. (The other is the Monkey Island series, of which I am equally fond). So, after learning that a new developer had bought the rights to the game from the now defunct Looking Glass Studios (How they went under after the launch of several hugely successful games is beyond me) my interest was more than a little kindled, yet apprehensive for it is normal to view any such radical transition with a little trepidation. But being such a longtime fan how could I possibly resist? I have now completed my initial run of the game, at the "expert" level, and I offer my impressions now that I have given myself enough time to objectively reflect upon the experience. I can condense my review into a single line: If you are a Thief fan, then by all means you will not be disappointed. Alternately, if you are new to the franchise, then, if at all possible, hunting down cheap used copies of the original Thief, Thief Gold, and Thief II will only add to your enjoyment of this marvel of aesthetics and narrative within an imperfectly engineered vehicle. All what has been said before on both sides is true enough, whether it is the glorious dynamic lighting that is both spectacular and evocative at the cost of choppy frame rates at times, or the enemy AI that is totally unintelligent and imminently predictable, or the smaller mission areas requiring lengthy loading transitions, etc. These I will not bore you with, save to say that yes, if you want to experience the game as it was intended to be, then you will need top-end system board, graphics and sound card, plus maximum possible RAM, in the XP platform, period. And even with these, as in my case, the game crashed to the desktop no less than a dozen times, but in 25 years of dealing with computers I have yet to own a completely trouble free system or program. However, what sets this game apart from the mountain of gaming trash currently on the market, and the reason for this review, is the excellent narrative and plot driven action it offers that is true to the design and principles that made the originals such a resounding sucess. Writing is the key to any good story whether is be a book, show, film, or in this instance, game. A game is only as good as its plot, and here it is coherent, focused, and sensible. It advances your understanding of both what is happening at the moment, and the totality of the culture bound within the game world. Nothing is gratuitous for it seems that the developers purposely restrained themselves from straying into what could have very easily become over indulgent whimsy, ala Matrix. But pedants will always look for and dwell on the smallest of faults. Unfortunately in a society that caters to the cynical, this is misconstrued as a sign of intelligence or taste. In truth I too missed the animated mission briefings, and I hope that these will return in the future as well as more of the cut scenes and some of the other elements that apparently the new game engine could not incorporate such as my dear rope and vine arrows. I too also have mixed feelings about running about the inappropriately named "City" to different fences offloading my loot, but I would like to see this "town" again as part of a larger, real "city" that would incorporate the self same streets, alleys, and rooftops we all came to love in the original 2 installments of the series. But more to the point, I missed my beloved noxious belching Buricks who were such a brilliant original invention in the beginning of the series. Again, this game is most certainly worth your +,-$30 investment for it will yield many hours of gaming enjoyment, and at times sheer unadulterated bone chilling terror (Yes, the level named "Cradle" is probably the spookiest, most disturbing gaming experience I have ever had, and do not wish to repeat, and if your sensibilities are similar you will do your best to achieve your objectives and exit it as quickly as possible, and to blazes with any extra loot!) All in all I would rate it at close to 90% and kudos to Ion Storm for being faithful to the form as possible within the obvious technical limitations necessary to expand the platform to include XBox, and finally for such an outstanding job. Just please bring back the Buricks and it will be perfect!
3 of 5 customers found the following review helpful:
Good - But Ridiculous Graphics Requirements, 2004-07-06
I like good graphics - but this program relies too much on the hardware and less on the software logic. I have this program tuned down with a 3.2 GHz Intel HT with 1000MB of RAM and a 256MB AGP NVIDIA Graphics Card and it still runs rough. This game relies too much on the hardware and for the graphics its not worth it. I get better graphics out of other games that rely less on my machine and more on their programming. That said this is Theif so its always entertaining. I would have given in 4/5 if it wasnt for the stupid graphics requirements.
6 of 6 customers found the following review helpful:
100% Thief, 2004-07-05
There are so many things said in amazon.com customer reviews that I am sure I do not want to repeat here. What I'll attempt to say is that if you were a Thief 1 and Thief 2 games lovers, you will definitely enjoy Deadly Shadows. It is Thief in terms of atmosphere, story-settings, AI, replayablilties and enjoyment. If you have ever played Thief and Thief 2, get this game.I'd also like to shoot this warning off:
1. Supported OS is Windows XP. If you have Windows 98, it won't run. Don't even buy this game if you have Windows 98
2. You need a GeForce 4 Ti card. GeForce 4 MX will not run the game.
3. There are some problems reported with ATI cards and its drivers - you can still play the games - it's just that certain textures of the games will seem out of place. I hope you have the opportunity to enjoy this game.
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