[X] My Assistant

[ShadowDragon8685]

Ghosting means not turning off lights (or in the case of electric ones, turning them back on) as well as closing doors and cupboards and trunks. It's supposed to be like you were never there... minus the loot that you stole.

That's fucking retarded.

Urrrrrrrgh. >_<

[X-Kalibur]

Ghosting generally took more patience than I had in the Thief games unless I was willing to save scum. Instead I found it a much better challenge to do something more akin to the challenge option in this of chapter saves only and no alerts.

[ShadowDragon8685]

After that asylum hell, I just went through the next level having reverted to type, and exterminated everybody. It was much more satisfying.

[X-Kalibur]

The asylum, sadly, wasn't nearly as good as the cathedral of Dark Project or the Cradle of Deadly Shadows.

[KarmaInferno]

Ghosting means not turning off lights (or in the case of electric ones, turning them back on) as well as closing doors and cupboards and trunks. It's supposed to be like you were never there... minus the loot that you stole.

I did most of Hitman Absolution ghosting except for bits where the game didn't allow it, not getting a single person noticing me and killing only my targets (even then only with environmental kills). Took ages but it was challenging.

Ghosting requires a very patient and deliberate mindset, often sitting in the dark for long periods just figuring out guard patrol patterns and lighted areas. It is not for everybody.

I agree about the Asylum not being as good as the "horror" levels of previous Thief games. Shalebridge Cradle was probably my favorite scary level out of any game I've played, including games that are entirely based on horror.


-k

[X-Kalibur]

I did most of Hitman Absolution ghosting except for bits where the game didn't allow it, not getting a single person noticing me and killing only my targets (even then only with environmental kills). Took ages but it was challenging.

Ghosting requires a very patient and deliberate mindset, often sitting in the dark for long periods just figuring out guard patrol patterns and lighted areas. It is not for everybody.

I agree about the Asylum not being as good as the "horror" levels of previous Thief games. Shalebridge Cradle was probably my favorite scary level out of any game I've played, including games that are entirely based on horror.


-k

It is arguably the perfect horror level. Although that said, when I first played The Dark Project and got to the cathedral where you steal the eye, at 2300 with the lights out and sound up, I nearly shit myself a couple of times.

[Wounded Ronin]

I did most of Hitman Absolution ghosting except for bits where the game didn't allow it, not getting a single person noticing me and killing only my targets (even then only with environmental kills). Took ages but it was challenging.

Ghosting requires a very patient and deliberate mindset, often sitting in the dark for long periods just figuring out guard patrol patterns and lighted areas. It is not for everybody.

I agree about the Asylum not being as good as the "horror" levels of previous Thief games. Shalebridge Cradle was probably my favorite scary level out of any game I've played, including games that are entirely based on horror.


-k

This post inspired me to install Thief 3 and play it through again. I'm enjoying it a lot although there's the aspect of comedy whereby people chase you with murderous intent and then relax in a few minutes and go back to patrolling, but that's pretty much universal in games.

I realized that I never played further than the Abysmal Gale level my first time through. I just finished that level last night and on the whole am really enjoying the atmosphere and feel of the game. Those zombies were terrific!

I remember back in the day lots of people expressed preference for Thief 2 over Thief 3, but having played both I have to say I'm really having a good time with Thief 3.

The most fun thing I remember about Thief 2 is how you could destroy the patrol robots once you deactivated them by beating them for a really long time with your blackjack.

[X-Kalibur]

This post inspired me to install Thief 3 and play it through again. I'm enjoying it a lot although there's the aspect of comedy whereby people chase you with murderous intent and then relax in a few minutes and go back to patrolling, but that's pretty much universal in games.

I realized that I never played further than the Abysmal Gale level my first time through. I just finished that level last night and on the whole am really enjoying the atmosphere and feel of the game. Those zombies were terrific!

I remember back in the day lots of people expressed preference for Thief 2 over Thief 3, but having played both I have to say I'm really having a good time with Thief 3.

The most fun thing I remember about Thief 2 is how you could destroy the patrol robots once you deactivated them by beating them for a really long time with your blackjack.

Maybe I'm just being a hipster, but I still prefer The Dark Project.

[Wounded Ronin]

I really get into the classic games more than I do the more contemporary ones. I think that having the graphics be a little rougher lets your imagination get a little more active.

Also, it seemed like it was easier to interact seamlessly with settings; maybe that's an Ion Storm trademark. As in, easier to mess with NPCs by manipulating objects, easier to create giant battles between the city guard and the hunters, and so on.

I feel like with today's games the graphics are better but it's harder to cause random mischief and chaos that kind of spirals out of control organically.

[Wounded Ronin]

I'm all set to play Shalebridge Cradle level now. After it has been talked up so much on this board my expectations are sky high.

[KarmaInferno]

I made the mistake of playing Shalebridge at 1 in the morning with most of the lights off.

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/frown.gif)

You'll want to read all the notes for the full effect.

That goes for most Thief games, I suppose.



-k

[Wounded Ronin]

Phew! Finished Shalebridge.

It is indeed a masterpiece and far scarier than other horror or survival horror games I have played; even those with inflated graphics and system requirements. The sense of exploration and wonder was akin to physically going through a well done haunted house for Halloween or exploring a creepy abandoned building. I also appreciated the surrealism and fantastical setting created.

In the end I felt that it went a little bit long and the last bit had the potential to become more frustrating than scary. However I appreciate that this was an artistic risk taken by the design team to also create the sense of being trapped in a location. On the whole they did a good job of evoking the feeling of being trapped in a bad dream.

On the whole I am surprised that this level is not more famous or hasn't been included in more hall of fame type articles.

Once again DSF has enriched my life by pointing out the true lost gems of classic gaming. In my older age I find myself increasingly getting bored quickly with modern games but these true classics I can keep coming back to.