Thievery Review

Thievery

This excellent, if now aged, multiplayer mod for the original Unreal Tournament builds upon the stunning PC series, Thief (from the now sadly deceased Looking Glass Studios). Thievery allows you to play as either the Thieves, where the experience is very like the original games(sneaking around in the dark, nicking stuff) or as the Guards. Playing as the Guards is a very different, but equally enjoyable, experience - where the Thieves use stealth to break into the levels, the Guards team have to do their best to defend the levels valuables - using traps and far heavier weaponry than the Thieves have available to them. The ingenious part of the mod is the stealth system - based around the visibility gem, the core of the Thief series. Thieves can see each other glowing red anywhere on the level - but what Guards see is linked to the light levels. Pitch black shadows make Thieves invisible, in full light, they are fully visible. Between these two, the level of shadow affects whether the Guards see a only vague outline, or a fuzzy but clearly visible Thief.

Level design is generally good - and very in keeping with the themes in the original games. Abandoned mines, ancient temples, secret cultists sites, strange experiments - each level oozes character, and the chance to play as the Guards as well as the Thieves gives you a chance to really live in the world of Thief. Each level has its own backstory and its own reason for existing. Some elements really are genuinely scary and disturbing (the asylum...) - others comic (look out for the discarded can of Dr Pepper in the shadows at the Thieves exit point on one level).

The range of gadgets and weaponry is also excellent, and most should be familiar to fans of the original Thief games. The modders have managed to shoehorn rope arrows, water arrows, etc. - and the familiar Thief equipment into the game, but have also given the Guards some fun toys - tag bolts which stick in fleeing theives, lighting them up like a Christmas tree, and the essential flares - the only way of rooting Thieves out of dark corners. Again, atmosphere is everything - while handling a flare, you're weapons are stowed away. It is a tense experience creeping forward, illuminated only by the green flare, while behind you your buddy covers you with his crossbow - and both of you pray the Thieves don't have any flashbombs.

The community for this mod is understandably small - especially compared to major games such as CS. However, it is also the friendliest, most welcoming community I have yet met. Other players will happily welcome you into games, give you tips and advice on how to play (whether you are on their team or not) and generally help you have a good experience - even if your not very good (e.g. me!). Occasionally someone might throw a hissy fit when you do something really stupid, like moving away from an objective as a Guard, but generally people are happy to forgive your errors and simply encourage you to do better next time.

To conclude - Thievery is not the best looking game ever, but level design is generally excellent and the gameplay and atmosphere is pure Thief. This game is not for everyone by any means - the learning curve is steep, especially with a core of very skilled players already out there. However, it is a refreshingly different online gaming experience - while the singleplayer versions of the levels are excellent additions to the extra levels already out there for Thief 1 and Thief 2.

I really hope more people download and play this mod - it has certainly been my favourite online gaming experience so far. Have fun - and watch out for the Spiders!

Check out Thievery at: http://www.thieveryut.com/

(Seriously about those Spiders - 10 o'clock at night on Th-Mensch...)