Decline Thiaf Pre-Release Thread

[TalesfromtheCrypt]

You guys do realize that early industrialization (in Europe at least) had a very negative effect on quality of life, right? Only in the long run did it end up benefiting the lower classes. Not that I expect the writing in the game to be any good.

I thought about elaborating on that in my original post but then I was too lazy. Yes - working and living conditions for average workers were horrible in the early phases of the industrial revolution and their situation bettered only gradually (although the improvements came much faster than is often believed). However, there's a reason why even today, millions of Chinese are moving to the cities to slave away in inhuman sweat shops producing iphonez for hipsters in the West - it's still better than rotting in some backwards village and living from one bowl of rice a day.

Look I'm not saying industrialization was awesome for the people experiencing it (although in the long term, it was probably one of the greatest forces for good in human history).
A good writer could probably use that theme in a very interesting way, either in reference to the ambiguous beginnings of industrial revolution or - as Cowboy Moment suggested - as an allegoric take on modern times, when for the first time history technological progress could indeed destroy more jobs than it creates.

However, I'm not seeing the slightest hints of that in the trailer, just ham-fisted pseudo leftists bullshit made up by corporate hipsters in order to sound "deep" and intelligent.

 

[Jasede]

"It can not be contained" - reminds me of Deus Ex.

Too bad it also reminds me of Dishonored. But did anyone expect anything else? Not truly.

 

[TalesfromtheCrypt]

If only. Dishonored looks like a masterpiece and true spiritual successor to Thief in comparison with this uninspired Assassin's Creed knock-off.

 

[Jasede]

Och, that's a wee bit harsh.
You know, at least Thief 3 had Russel and Robbing The Cradle and Eric Brosius...

 

[TalesfromtheCrypt]

Oh how I wish we could have something like Thief 3 today.

 

[Jasede]

Crazy, isn't it? It seemed like the ultimate popamole decline at the time but now we'd gladly replay it because it's still miles better. At least it had the right mood.

 

[Jasede]

Well, yes; that mission makes the game worth buying. I often recommend people to buy the game and start from the Cradle; it's all they need. It's the perfect horror level. Or it was; it didn't age as well as I thought it would, but it's still /stellar/.

That sound the generator makes starting up is beautiful.

 

[TalesfromtheCrypt]

It's not only the cradle though. I really have a soft spot for that game and always considered it a legitimate part of the Thief series. You can clearly see that the guys making it had the best intentions. X-box memory constraints and the advent of popamole during that time took their toll, but it's a decent Thief game with superb atmosphere.

 

[Jasede]

Tell me about it; back when I built my... third or fourth PC - the last one I used Windows 98SE on - the first game I installed to test everything was Thief 3. Would you imagine, it didn't run on W98SE! You had to hexedit the .exe to get it to work, and all just because of some problem with the icon. Still, it ran and I had a lot of fun. It really has a good atmosphere and it's really true to the mood of Thief.

Also it looks very, very pretty.

 

[retardation]

Lighting system in Thief 3 is still unsurpassed by most games. Cradle is excellent, but the Museum mission was the best in my opinion and incredibly pretty.

 

[skacky]

Yeah, if there's one mission I really fondly remember in TDS, it's the museum rather than the Cradle. And I really prefer Return to the Cathedral as far as scare factor goes.

 

[Jasede]

Was the museum the manor by the seaside? It's been a long time. I remember liking a mission about a mansion by the seaside.

 

[skacky]

Nah the museum is the very last real mission. It's full of guards and valuables to snag, as well as some electrical security devices.

 

[Jasede]

Oh, I don't think I remember. Maybe it's time for a replay. I have late shift this week so I can stay up late...!

 

[Unkillable Cat]

The Overlook Manse is the mansion by the seaside.

 

[Zewp]

The manor by the seaside belonged to an old lady, if I remember correctly. I haven't played DS in years, so my memory is very fuzzy.

 

[DalekFlay]

You guys do realize that early industrialization (in Europe at least) had a very negative effect on quality of life, right? Only in the long run did it end up benefiting the lower classes. Not that I expect the writing in the game to be any good.

Don't engage the uber-right who prowl the forum. No good comes of it.

 

[TalesfromtheCrypt]

Seeing the industrial revolution as something positive is considered "uber-rightwing" these days? I think you might a bit confused.

 

[Unkillable Cat]

The manor by the seaside belonged to an old lady, if I remember correctly. I haven't played DS in years, so my memory is very fuzzy.

I remember that there was a cat prowling the mansion. It made a most satisfying sound when I pinned it to the floor with a broadhead arrow.

 

[skacky]

You monster.

 

[AstroZombie]

I remember that there was a cat prowling the mansion. It made a most satisfying sound when I pinned it to the floor with a broadhead arrow.

 

[DalekFlay]

Seeing the industrial revolution as something positive is considered "uber-rightwing" these days? I think you might a bit confused.

Seeing the mass exploitation of workers, more like.

 

[Esquilax]

The best part is it sells itself as deep, dramatic and awesome. Garret's "lost innocence" moment where he says "stealing never affected me... until I got stolen from!!1" is so facepalm-worthy I have to imagine even the developers were laughing their asses off but said "leave it in, it's great!" in a sarcastic manner. It's such a gigantic cliche it's impossible to take seriously and I can already predict the exact story beats of the game based entirely on the trailer.

Yeah, this is just so melodramatic and full of shit. The beauty of the writing in Thief is the incredible sense of mystery that you get: it's really minimalist and you're only given a few details about the setting, plot, characters, etc. but you can infer a shitload just from that.The idea of Garrett having "lost his innocence" is just fucking ridiculous considering that he was a malnourished street kid who had to grow up quick before he ended up meeting the Hammers.

The great thing about Garrett is that he is a street-smart guy, and a jaded cynic at heart, but you never get to feel like you really know the guy. You might get hints of a sentimental side struggling to come out occasional, sort of like a film-noir hero, but it's pretty well hidden underneath that hardened, survivalist exterior. I remember really enjoying the cutscene before Soulforge, where Garrett shows some uncharacteristic emotion after finding out that she's gone to attack the Cathedral. I love how their relationship and what he really thought of her was left totally unresolved like that.

 

[AlexOfSpades]

So... i'm from the Thiaf forums. Hello!

Good to see that there is a forum out there that isnt plagued by bad PR like the other forum. Yay i can criticize the game without being afraid of getting b& !

 

[Ninjerk]

So... i'm from the Thiaf forums. Hello!

Good to see that there is a forum out there that isnt plagued by bad PR like the other forum. Yay i can criticize the game without being afraid of getting b& !

Alex, your name looks familiar. Are you a bro from the DX:HR wars?