TheOverclocker Issue 29 | Page 41

those who take the time to hunt them down. Perhaps the most surprising facet of the game is its attempt to please seemingly everyone with its plethora of difficulty options. You’re able to tweak practically everything, disabling things like loot glint and even elements of the HUD to perfectly tailor the experience to your liking. It’s like Eidos Montreal anticipated the inevitable whinging that was sure to arise from rabid fans complaining that the experience is too easy or has been watered down or something similarly damning. There’s even an Iron Man mode, which means that you only get one life for your entire play through – if you die, it’s game over. I’d imagine most Thief fans will want to turn off Focus mode, which when activated slows down time and highlights important objects throughout the game world. It does tend to make things easier and eliminates the need to pay careful attention to the environment to do things like avoid traps and uncover secrets, which I’m sure will irritate some players. There’s a lot I like about Thief. It’s a fantastic stealth game, and its mechanics are inherently satisfying. It’s lacking the heart and soul of its forebears though, which will no doubt mean that very many gamers will shun it for what it isn’t instead of appreciating it for what it is. It’s a shame really, because if you approach it as something entirely new rather than suffocating it under the weight of its past, you’ll find a very entertaining experience.  [ Dane Remendes ] Would you buy it? I would, but I’d recommend you go into Thief not expecting it to match the glory of its ancestors. The Score 8.5/10 Issue 29 | 2014 The OverClocker 41