LADYDRAGON.COM - THIEF 2: THE METAL AGE

Thief 2: The Metal Age developed by Looking Glass Studios and published by Eidos is the sequel of Thief: The Dark Project.

If you ahve played the first Thief you know what type of a game it is if not well this game is like a first person shooter but instead of shooting you sneak around. So they this game more like a "First Person Sneaker"actually.

In this game you need to use your finesse and your stealth in order to win. Killing is not the issue not being kill is. So you have 15 different mission that you need to go through in silence and without being discovered.

You will play the role of a thief called Garrett who is the same one as the first Thief. this time a new sheriff named Gorman Truart wants you dead and your need to find out why without getting kill in the process.

Secrecy is a must

Before you start you need to different options like your control and your mouse sensitivity. The most important setting that you need to adjust is the gamma in order to enjoy this game to the fullest. Since there is so many diferent monitor and video cards and that nobody likes the same view.

Make sure you adjust it accordingly to this game not to dark becasue you will not see where you are going and not too bright because you will not see the shadow of the light when you walk.Then you can adjust your sound. Again this is important because since your goal is to always sneak around people and guards without being notice and that you need to make sure you can hear their conversation or if they are coming from the right or the left of you.

Other setting like auto-search bodies, bow zoom, goal notification and auto-equip can be set as well.

When you start your first mission you have 3 levels of dificulty to select from; normal, hard and expert. It is recomend to choose normal for the first 3 missions if you are not familar with the game in order for you to get introduce to the basic of the game. Like you will learn that when you walk you need to be quiet and hide in the shadow so no one knows that you are there so you can sneak behind the guards without being heard or notice.

Look out for the guards

" Water Arrows Rock "

A Loadout screen will come out everytime you start a mission. You will see the tools that you have and the one that can be purchase. You have a specific amount of money for each mission that can not be carry over to the next so use it all. each items has a description and a price. After you are done choosing your tool you the loadout sreen also provide you with a briefing of your mission and the goal you need to accomplish.

While you play a Visibility Gem will be display so you can know at all time how visible you are to your ennemy. Also you will see the weapon you are using and the inventory that you can access.

To start with you carry a short bow, blackjack and a sword that you should use only at the last resort in case you are discovered.

Through out your mission you can interact with your world by picking up items like bodie and potion for diferent purpose. Bodies and debris is for not being discovered and potion and weapons is to help you out.

Among your weapons you can use is 9 type of arrows, 2 mines, a flash bomb, 6 potions, a map, a compass, a scouting orb and his mechanical eye. All are a mix of the old and the new weapons that you can purchase or pick up in the game.

Hide before the guards sees you

Although the have enhenced the Dark Engine for this game the character still could be better graphicaly. But the background desing and the textures are well done. Also the story line could have beend more develop to give it more depth.

But Looking Glass was able to keep the uniquness and and the special cachet of Thief by adding more tools and weapons and creating bigger missions. They improved the environmental weather effect like the rain, snow and the fog.

They have also included an editor where you can create yourself your own mission and an other disc with over a dozen of movies and demo of Eidos other games.

Theif 2: The metal Age is the most original game on the market right now where you really need to use your startegic finesse and your wit as a sneaker instead of a killer if you want to succeed.

Companies

Developer
Looking Glass

Publisher
Eidos

Category
1st Person Shooter

Notes

Originality: 97%
Gameplay: 95%
Interest: 96%
Graphic: 92%
Control: 90%
Sound: 94%

TOTAL: 94%

Requirements

Operation System
Windows 95-98

Processor
266 MHz Pentium

Memory
48 RAM

Hard Drive
250 MB