An absorbing game

Thief was a game that defined an offshoot genre from the First Person Shooter, and it was quickly dubbed a First Person Sneaker. The challenge of getting through a level without being seen and, in many cases, without killing anyone, offered a new and fresh challenge. Add to that the atmospheric graphics and 'sound scheme', and the myriad ways that each mission could be completed, it was a game you kept coming back to.

Thief II takes that concept and, while not changing it radically, tweaks it and adds a few extras. There is a new storyline, new adversaries, improved graphics, new powerups and so on. On the whole the graphical and sound engine feels 'cleaner'.

The designers of the levels have also learned from those mistakes in Thief that, while not ruining it, certainly detracted from the experience. The level designs of Thief II are even better, with a good mix of 'easy' 'medium' and 'hard' sections to navigate. The AI has also been improved and seems far more intelligent. There are also far more 'scenes' to watch as you stumble upon groups of people in conversation. Some help the mission, others are merely atmosphere. The whole helps to immerse you in the game and it's quite easy to jump in your seat as you're unexpectedly discovered; or to have your heart racing as you sneak slowly past a far too alert guard.

There is only one downside to the game, as far as I'm concerned, and that is that a few problems with the control method in Thief still exist in Thief II. Occasionally, trying to mantle (climb) up a wall is a matter of chance. Instead you end up jumping, and alerting nearby guards. It's also still possible to become 'stuck' on scenery. Since those were problems in the original I had hoped they'd have been fixed by now.

Despite that, I have no reservation in recommending this game, if you like gameplay that relies a great deal on patient sneaking.