First-person games, maybe all games, need “a thing”. “A thing” is a technical term, referring to the unique mechanic that defines a game and make it seem exciting. It’s separate from theme, or character, or setting. It’s specifically something you’re going to get to do if you buy the game. ‘I can’t wait,’ you’d say, ‘to [fight that Big Daddy/ride those skyrails/explore that island/free run across those rooftops/toss physics objects into those faces/vault myself with a portal].’

Thief‘s problem is that it doesn’t appear to have a thing. Let’s go looking for one in these seven new screenshots.(more…)