Thief: Deadly Shadows

Released

Release Date: May 25, 2004

Action, FPP, Fantasy, Steampunk, Stealth, Action Adventure, Immersive Sim, Singleplayer

The third installment in the bestselling first-person stealth series, Thief, developed by Ion Storm studio - team composed mostly of developers responsible for the first two parts of the series. The story of Thief: Deadly Shadows is independent from its predecessors, though once again we play the part of well-known thief named Garrett who was the main protagonist of the previous games as well.

8.1

Steam

9.5

Users

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Ratings

Images: 53 

Story
Gameplay
Technology

Another part of the cult Thief series, classified as a stealth action game or FPS – first person sneaker.

Story

As in the previous parts, the player becomes a medieval thief, Garrett, a true master of his trade, but the story told by the game isn't directly connected with what we saw in the first two iterations of Thief. This is due to the fact that the authors, Ion Storm (developers of e.g. Deus Ex and Deus Ex: Invisible War) and the publisher, Eidos Interactive, wanted Thief: Deadly Shadows for PC and XBX to draw in new players with no prior experience with the franchise, and at the same time meet the expectations of long-standing fans. The story takes place in a single, big medieval city, which, as was a common occurrence in history, is divided between the poor (living in the slums), and the rich (surrounded by castles, towering cathedrals, museums, mansions, etc.). It is ruled by three main factions: the Order of the Hammer, the Pagans, and the Keepers, with the hero of the game being in a long time alliance with the latter. The plot revolves around Garrett's efforts to thwart the upcoming, long-foretold Dark Age. To prevent the disaster from happening the protagonist has to infiltrate the most heavily-guarded places in the city and steal the oldest and most precious treasures and artifacts they hide. Unfortunately, in the course of his „work”, things suddenly get complicated. As if accidentally waking up the „ancient evil” wasn't enough (happens to the best of us), in light of this unfortunate event the Keepers guild, whom Garret actively helped in their attempt to prevent the coming of Dark Age, started considering him a traitor. Now, completely alone and with no friends and allies, he must save his city from imminent danger and find a way out of this intrigue.

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Gameplay

Once again, for the players controlling Garrett awaits an exciting adventure and what they like the most (the thing accountable for the success of the series), namely breaking into various castles, prisons, dungeons, museums and cathedrals, sneaking in darkness, stunning the guards and stealing a variety of treasures. The game is divided into a series of missions that can be completed in several ways. Our hero is an vastly experienced and well-trained thief; he can scale almost any wall, sneak silently and perfectly use a knife, a bow (with several types of arrows) and other thievish / silent killing gadgets.

Technology

A big novelty and change introduced in this installment is a mechanism called „body awareness”, through which the player can see the hands of his hero and thus have better control over what he is doing, whether it's opening locks or climbing (we see the subsequent protuberances – points of support – in e.g. a wall). Big advantages of Thief: Deadly Shadows for PC and XBX are also its graphics engine, supporting special lighting and shading systems (used also in Deus Ex: Invisible War), the physics provided by second generation of the Havok engine, and, performing a very important role, surround sound system, allowing the player to recognize direction from which the guard is approaching and the surface he walks on (i.e. carpet or stone). We should also not forget about the game's advanced artificial intelligence, controlling the NPCs: guards, other thieves, and assassins.

Platforms:

PC Windows May 25, 2004

Xbox June 11, 2004

Developer: Ion Storm

Publisher: Square Enix

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Game Series

6GAMES

Thief Game Series

A highly acclaimed series of first-person perspective (FPP) action games in which the player has the opportunity to take on the role of a thief. The series was created by the now-defunct Looking Glass studio, and its development is currently overseen by Eidos Montreal.

Thief Game Series

Features

Downloads

Top downloads for Thief: Deadly Shadows Video Game:

All Downloads

System Requirements

System Requirements for Thief: Deadly Shadows Video Game:

PC / Windows

Recommended System Requirements:
Pentium 4 2.0 GHz, 512MB RAM, graphic card 64MB (GeForce 3 or better), 3 GB HDD.

Ratings

Game Ratings for Thief: Deadly Shadows Video Game.

81%

STEAM Score

All Reviews: Very Positive (2,519)

STEAM

User Reviews Summary generated by AI

The main pros of the game

Atmosphere and Sound Design: The game is praised for its immersive atmosphere, with detailed sound design that enhances the stealth experience. The haunting locations, particularly the "Shalebridge Cradle" mission, are often highlighted as standout moments.
Story and Characterization: Garrett, the protagonist, is well-received for his charisma and the engaging narrative that weaves in elements of intrigue and moral ambiguity.
Visual Improvements: The transition to Unreal Engine 2 allowed for better graphics, lighting, and shadows, contributing to a richer visual experience compared to earlier titles.
Gameplay Mechanics: The game retains core stealth mechanics from previous installments, with the introduction of new tools and items (e.g., climbing gloves) that offer different ways to approach missions.
Exploration: The semi-open city environment provides opportunities for exploration and side quests, allowing players to engage with the world beyond the main missions.

The main cons of the game

Technical Issues: Numerous reviews mention bugs, glitches, and crashes that significantly detract from the gameplay experience. Many players report getting stuck during tutorials or missions, particularly with lockpicking mechanics.
Clunky Controls and Movement: The controls are described as unresponsive and awkward, with issues related to jumping, climbing, and navigating environments, leading to frustrating gameplay.
Level Design Limitations: While the game attempts to create a more open world, many players feel that the levels are smaller and more linear compared to earlier entries, with repeated loading zones breaking immersion.
AI and Gameplay Balance: The AI behavior is often criticized as inconsistent, and some players find the game easier than its predecessors, reducing the challenge and tension that characterized earlier titles.

The features or elements that are missing from the game according to users

Better Level Design: Players express a desire for more complex and expansive levels with greater verticality and hidden secrets, similar to those found in Thief 1 and Thief 2.
Improved Enemy Variety: A lack of diverse enemy types and AI behavior is noted, leading to repetitive strategies and encounters.
Enhanced Faction System: Some players feel that the faction mechanics are underdeveloped and do not add meaningful depth to the gameplay.
Multiplayer or Modding Support: Users mention the absence of multiplayer features or robust modding capabilities, which could have enhanced replayability and community engagement.

Summary

In summary, while Thief: Deadly Shadows has its strengths, particularly in atmosphere and storytelling, it suffers from numerous technical flaws and design choices that prevent it from reaching the heights of its predecessors. The game is often recommended with the caveat of needing the Sneaky Upgrade mod to improve performance and fix bugs.

Summary generated on: October 28, 2025

9.5

USERS Score

Average score from votes.

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