State of Play, with many news and announcements, but the most surprising had to be the return of Thief. Many gamers nowadays probably don't even know what Thief is, but those who the classic PC trilogy know it's the greatest stealth series ever made. I never, ever expected this series to come back after the disastrous 2014 reboot, but it happened.
Thief VR: Legacy of Shadow brings Thief into VR, along with a returning old favorite. Sure, it's a VR-only title, but this has to be the most shocking game reveal since Shenmue 3 back in 2015. If you happen to own a PSVR2, Meta Quest 2, 3, or a PC gaming VR headset, Thief VR: Legacy of Shadow looks to be an incredible return to one of the greatest stealth series of all time.
The Greatest Stealth Series Of All Time Comes Back
A Ridiculously Unexpected Return
Thief started out with the original Thief: The Dark Project. Released in 1998, it was superior to the first Metal Gear Solid in many ways. Thief 2: The Metal Age came out in 2000, and it's one of the best PC games of all time, right up there with the original Deus Ex and System Shock 2. Thief: Deadly Shadows capped off the trilogy in 2004, and these original Thief titles are a nearly perfect set of games. Unfortunately, Thief 2014 seemingly killed the series.
It's like a trailer for James Cameron's Titanic 2. It would never happen, but somehow it did.
Developed by Eidos-Montreal, who made some of the best Cyberpunk games in Deus Ex: Human Revolution and Mankind Divided, Thief 2014 just lacked what made Thief great in the first place. The master-crafted level design wasn't there, the new Garrett voice was far inferior to the original actor Stephen Russell, and most importantly, the sound design wasn't good. The reason why Thief is such a timeless trilogy is the sound design. It's vital to the experience in of gauging where enemies are.
The reboot failed both critically and commercially, and I never thought the series would return. It seemed like Deus Ex would be the Eidos franchise most likely to continue, but that's not the case, as Thief is back. My reaction to the announcement was sheer disbelief. It's like a trailer for James Cameron's Titanic 2. It would never happen, but somehow it did.
Thief VR: Legacy Of Shadow Is An Ungodly VR Exclusive Game
Appears To Be A Must-Play For VR And Thief Fans
The trailer itself for Thief VR: Legacy of Shadow was very good, showcasing how this classic stealth series would work in a full 3D virtual reality space. The art design is a bit too similar to Thief 2014, but playing in VR looks exceptionally cool. The cherry on top, though, had to be the ending of the trailer where Stephen Russell's Garrett returns. I'd recognize that voice anywhere, and this alone makes the game worth checking out for diehard Thief fans.
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I myself won't be checking this game out as I recently purchased a PSVR1 to play the first Astro Bot game. It also doesn't help that I can't even buy a PSVR2 directly from the PlayStation store, as PlayStation is missing the best Xbox store feature of being able to buy controllers, consoles, and accessories straight from the online marketplace.
I don't plan on getting a PSVR2 anytime soon. However, Thief VR: Legacy of Shadow looks to be one of the most worthwhile games on it. I can see many hardcore Thief fans saving up for a way to play this title through the many options available, whether PSVR2, Meta Quest 2, 3, or PC.
Source: PlayStation/YouTube
