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Thief is a series of mainly first-person computer games where the player takes the role of Garrett, a thief in a steampunk world resembling a cross between the middle ages and the Victorian era, with some primitive technology thrown in. The series consists of Thief: The Dark Project (1998), Thief II: The Metal Age (2000) and Thief: Deadly Shadows (2004). An expanded version of Thief: The Dark Project, titled Thief Gold, was released in 1999 and features three extra maps, new enemies and several bug fixes.
The prime motivation behind Thief was to turn the first-person shooter idea on its head. Most first-person games are about killing enemy after enemy in Rambo-like fashion until the player either becomes bored or beats the game. The main tactic of Thief, however, is to avoid fights and instead sneak around the enemies. Indeed, killing an innocent will often cause the player to fail a mission; on higher difficulty levels, killing anyone, even an angry guard out for Garrett's blood, will result in mission failure. Clearly, Thief emphasizes brains over brawn. Thief is sometimes described as either a "first-person sneaker" or a "first-person looter" to emphasize this difference. Three-dimensional stealth games (Splinter Cell chief among them) are common these days, but Thief was the first.
Another innovation introduced by Thief is the careful use of sound effects as an integral part of gameplay. Sound queues not only tell the player of other characters in the vicinity, but also indicate how much noise Garrett makes when moving about an area. Too much noise can alert nearby guards, who will grow suspicious and come looking for intruders. There are a variety of tactics to avoid being heard, however, like walking gently, steering clear of noisy pavement, or using magical arrows to create a moss carpet that muffles the sound of footsteps.
Eidos Interactive published the Thief series, with Looking Glass Studios developing both Thief: The Dark Project and Thief II: The Metal Age. When Looking Glass Studios went out of business in 2001, many former employees moved to Ion Storm Austin and began developing the long-anticipated third part of the series, Thief: Deadly Shadows. The game was finally released in May 26, 2004 and is believed to be the last in the series. Although there have been comments suggesting a continuation, they have not yet been confirmed.
With the release of Spoiler warning: Plot or ending details follow.The Thief series follows the exploits of Garrett, a master thief living and working in a steampunk metropolis constantly being fought over by a corrupt aristocracy, an order of religious fanatics and a horde of vengeful woodland beings, all under the eye of a secret organization of Keepers.
Of particular interest is the success with which Thief creates a living, breathing steampunk world for the player. This, teamed with the attention given to sound design and the games' intricate, engrossing storylines, creates an immersive experience for the player
The games are set in what is always referred to as "The City", with occasional excursions into nearby areas like Markham's Isle.
The technology present in the game seems to be a cross between the Victorian Era and the middle ages. The city has the air of a 19th century metropolis, and electricity is somewhat prevelant, yet torches are still used in many homes and businesses. Firearms, as such, do not exist and the majority of arms are either swords or Bows and Arrows. Many guards wear armor such that was common in the middle ages, and quite a few structures are more like late mideveal fortresses and castles then Victorian houses.
There are three primary factions at work in the City. Below is a description of each.
The Keepers are an ancient sect of expert observers, dedicated to preserving order in the world. Garrett once belonged to the organization and still makes use of the skills learned as a Keeper for his own clandestine purposes. Even though Garrett refuses further involvement with the Keepers, they inevitably manipulate him into acting out their prophecies and obscure designs in all three games.
The Order of the Hammer is a group of technocratic religious fanatics, also known as the Hammerites. They aim to carry out the vision of the Builder, their architect god, and are the burning force of progress in the Thief world. They represent Order and Orthodox religion(which has many similarities the Mideveal Catholic Church). The Hammerites routinely carry large metal hammers(like sledge hammers) with them, which appear to be both a religious symbol and a very effective weapon againest those who trespass.
In Thief II, a group of Hammerite schismatics under the leadership of the charismatic (and insane) Karras, gives birth to the Mechanist sect. Even more fervent about technology than their Hammerite cousins, the Mechanists invent steam-powered robots to act as servants, and rumor has it those robots might be intended for more than just subservience... The plotline of Thief II: The Metal Age revolves entirely around this sect; they're barely mentioned, if at all, in the other games in the series.
Finally, the Pagans represent the forces of nature and retrogression in the Thief world. Needless to say, they despise the ordinary people of the City, and are completely inimical to Hammerites and Mechanists. Their demonic god, the Trickster, and the facts surrounding their resurgence are central to the plot of Thief: The Dark Project. Owing to a twist of fate, they side with Garrett against the Mechanists in Thief II.
The game uses the imaginary expletive "taffer" (meaning something like scoundrel or fool), a word sometimes heard among fans.
Here's a list of specific characters who either play a major part in one game, or have re-occuring roles throughout the series.
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