Thick as Thieves: Exploring the Strong Thief Vibes

Reviving a Classic: The Legacy of Thief and the Upcoming Title Thick as Thieves

When discussing the realm of stealth video games, the Thief franchise may not immediately come to mind for many gamers. This series has experienced a significant decline, especially following the release of its 2014 reboot, which fell flat in both critical reception and sales. Consequently, the franchise has been placed on an indefinite hiatus. However, the legacy of Thief is rich, as it played a pivotal role in shaping the stealth genre and inspired various renowned titles. The original game, Thief: The Dark Project, released in 1998, was among the first to incorporate light and sound mechanics into stealth gameplay, along with offering emergent gameplay systems. Its sequels, Thief 2: The Metal Age and Thief: Deadly Shadows, continued this innovative trend.

Looking Glass Studios, the creator of the initial two entries in the series, was a trailblazer in the video game industry throughout the 1990s. Their contributions, including iconic titles like System Shock, were groundbreaking yet, unfortunately, did not lead to commercial success. This lack of financial viability ultimately led to the studio’s closure in 2000. Nevertheless, the spirit of Looking Glass Studios lives on through contemporary projects inspired by their foundational works, such as the newly announced Thick as Thieves.

Thick as Thieves: A Modern Take on a Classic

Thick as Thieves Gameplay Screenshot - Throwing Grenade

Thick as Thieves Gameplay Screenshot - Running Away

Thick as Thieves Gameplay Screenshot - Stealth with Flashlight

Thick as Thieves Gameplay Screenshot - Jeweller

Thick as Thieves: A Stealth-centric Multiplayer Heist Game

Announced during the 2024 Game Awards, Thick as Thieves is an anticipated multiplayer PvPvE heist game developed by OtherSide Entertainment and published by Megabit Publishing. At first glance, one might assume that its multiplayer nature distinguishes it from the Thief franchise, but the game’s emphasis on stealth gameplay closely ties it to its inspirational roots. Players engage as thieves in a vibrant 20th-century metropolis, navigating their way through the criminal underbelly by pilfering from the affluent.

The game’s aesthetic bears striking similarities to that of the Thief series, featuring fantasy and steampunk elements reminiscent of early 1900s environments. Despite its multiplayer orientation, Thick as Thieves integrates various immersive sim features. As described by OtherSide Entertainment, the game promotes “dynamic storytelling,”allowing players to approach heists with creativity, employing stealth tactics to outsmart NPCs and rival players. This layered gameplay evokes the complexity and reactiveness that defined previous Thief titles.

A Team with Thief Credentials

It’s evident that Thick as Thieves proudly inherits its inspirations from the Thief series. Leading the development is renowned game designer Warren Spector, known for his work on groundbreaking immersive sims like System Shock, Deus Ex, and Thief: Deadly Shadows. Additionally, key developers from the original Thief games, such as Paul Neurath and Greg Lopiccolo, contribute their expertise to this project.

Given the significant involvement of these industry veterans, Thick as Thieves can be viewed as a spiritual successor to the beloved franchise. While it primarily focuses on multiplayer gameplay without an offline mode, it could represent the best opportunity for fans to experience a new title akin to Thief in the near future. Although there is no official release date yet, the game is currently in development for Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 5, and Windows PCs.

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