Things You’ll Wish You Knew About Thief VR: Legacy of Shadow (Before You Play It)
I love the Thief franchise. I’ve been playing the Thief games since the original game, Thief: The Dark Project, was released in 1998. Heck, I even played that Thief reboot/sequel from 2014 (and honestly didn’t mind it!). So, when I heard that Thief was coming back, I was beyond ecstatic. And this time around, Thief makes the leap to VR with Thief VR: Legacy of Shadow and a new protagonist.
To better prepare would-be thieves for Thief VR: Legacy of Shadow, I wanted to share some tidbits of information from the franchise and the new game. This will not contain any spoilers for the new game, but might have some minor franchise spoilers, just to help catch you up to speed. Of course, the Thief franchise has so much amazing content and lore, you’ll benefit by going back to the beginning and playing the now-classic titles. For now, learn everything you need to know about Thief so you can dive right into Thief VR: Legacy of Shadow.
Genre-Defining Franchise
The Thief franchise helped put the concept of stealth into first-person style games. From the original game, Thief: The Dark Project, and in every Thief game since, utilizing darkness to stay hidden in the shadows and avoiding making loud sounds have been keys to success. While nothing is prohibiting the Thief player from running around shooting arrows and swinging a sword, the end result usually results in a swift death. Stealth is critical. Approaching every moment with a mindset of “how do I get to where I want to go without being seen and heard?” is truly the only way to play Thief games. And Thief VR: Legacy of Shadow fully embraces these concepts.
Thief games all come with some sort of UI device that provides players with the knowledge whether they’re hidden in the shadows or not. In the original games, this was an on-screen gem that would shine bright if you were in light, and be dark if you were in shadow – and unable to be seen by the various enemies. In Thief VR: Legacy of Shadow, this has evolved to be a special gem on our new protagonist’s glove. Ultimately, you’ll want to stick to the shadows as much as possible, and the gem on your glove will be the key to ensuring you are protected by darkness.
Sound is another critical factor in Thief games. Every surface makes a different sound. Moving on carpet at a fast speed will likely go unnoticed by patrolling guards. But even just walking on metal grates will create the metallic clanging sound that’ll surely draw attention. This premise returns to Thief VR, but more sound-causing surfaces make an appearance, such as broken bottles of glass. Tread cautiously.
Tools of the Trade
Fortunately, there are plenty of tools available to would-be thieves. The blackjack is a club like tool that’ll knock unsuspecting guards out. Lockpicks will grant you access to doors and chests that are locked. And your trusty bow-and-arrow comes with a variety of different arrow-types that can aid your journey. Water arrows will douse torches, creating new shadows. Rope arrows will provide you access to new areas.
In previous Thief VR, choosing which arrow you use is conveniently handled while you’re holding your bow and pressing one of the controller buttons to swap arrow types. Lockpicking also received an upgrade and requires you to hold two lock picks in specific positions for a moment. While lockpicking might seem simple, it feels very satisfying during gameplay.
Garrett the Master Thief
The protagonist for the original three Thief games has been the master thief named Garrett, brilliantly voiced by Stephen Russell. In Thief VR: Legacy of Shadow, you’ll actually take on the role of a new thief, Magpie. However, in a unique plot twist, the iconic Garrett is along for the ride thanks to his mechanical eye. Hearing Stephen Russell reprise the role of Garrett has been an absolute treat and long overdue.
It is worth noting that the 4th Thief game, Thief (2014), takes places hundreds of years after the original trilogy and also after Thief VR: Legacy of Shadow. As such, the Garrett you play in this game is a different Garrett. It’s a sort of reboot and quasi-sequel. The game does have some minor references to the original trilogy, and is worth playing – but it was a bit jarring playing a different Garrett with a different voice.
AccessibilityÂ
Thief VR: Legacy of Shadow is a physical VR game. You’ll be reaching for looking around to scope out the area, reaching & collecting loot, drawing your bow & shooting arrows, manually lock-picking locks, and, most satisfyingly, knocking out guards with your blackjack. All these movements will be performed multiple times throughout each level. While you can accomplish these while sitting, you’ll find it is a lot easier if you’re standing. Of course, if you do sit, you’ll need seat with no arm rests, or they’ll get in the way. The game can be quite dark, but once you acquire Garrett, you’ll also have a special ability to find hints in the level to help you figure out next steps.
You’ll be crawling, walking, and running through levels – so there is a lot of motion, but turning can be adjusted between snap turning and smooth turning. There are some additional turning refinements – but if you’re prone to motion sickness, keep all this in mind. Thief VR does an outstanding job of immersing you into the role of a Thief, but the effort can be tiring. Breaks will definitely be needed. Fortunately, a generous auto-save system is in place.
New Gameplay Elements
Thief VR: Legacy of Shadow brings an assortment of new additions to the Thief franchise. These help give the franchise a welcome facelift, while still staying true to its roots. One of these additions are new perks that you’ll earn from accomplishing certain objectives in each level. These perks improve Magpie’s abilities to make life as a Thief a little less daunting. This can include making bodies easier to carry or starting a mission with a specific amount of water arrows. And since you get to pick and choose the perks as they become available, it makes Thief VR feel like your own personalized experience.
The game also encourages players to focus on a playstyle and rewards players for sticking with it. For example, completing levels without being detected or collecting all available loot. These aren’t easy tasks to accomplish. But they definitely add an extra element of replayability.
Thief VR: Legacy of Shadow is an excellent revival of the iconic Thief franchise. With the return of Stephen Russell as Garrett, fans of the original will feel at home. Thief VR respects the legacy of the Thief franchise, while still building on it with new abilities and perks. The levels might not be as vast as the first two Thief games, but the more focused approach feels appropriate for VR. And let’s be real, there are few things as satisfying as knocking out a guard with your blackjack. If you’re almost ready to dive into Thief VR: Legacy of Shadow, be sure to check out our review.