In a recent communication, the developers of Thick as Thieves, OtherSide Entertainment, expressed their satisfaction with players’ engagement and enjoyment of the game. They acknowledged, however, that there remains significant potential for enhancement. Following the initial patch that introduced a Field of View (FOV) slider, an option to disable motion blur, and various other settings adjustments, a second update is slated for release in the middle of next week.
This upcoming update promises to include several welcome features, notably the ability to rebind keys—a crucial aspect for any stealth game aficionado. Players familiar with classics like Thief: The Dark Project understand the necessity of customizing controls to enhance gameplay. Yet, amidst these improvements, a notable absence remains: the option to adjust or eliminate the mission timers, which has sparked some concern among the community.
Gameplay Dynamics and Challenges
Thick as Thieves offers a classic vent-crawler experience, allowing players to engage in solo or cooperative missions that involve infiltrating buildings to secure valuable loot. Each mission typically comes with a time constraint of 30 to 45 minutes. However, the challenge escalates significantly once players complete any objective on their task list. Triggering even a minor goal, such as stealing one of three designated items or collecting a specific amount of loot, initiates an eight-minute countdown.
The pressure mounts as players race against the clock to locate the exit door, which appears only after the countdown begins. Failing to reach this exit before time runs out results in mission failure, forcing players to restart their efforts. This design choice can be particularly frustrating, especially when players have invested significant time and strategy into their missions, only to be thwarted by an inconvenient exit location. Compounding this issue is the absence of mid-mission saving, a remnant of the game’s origins as a multiplayer experience.
In response to player feedback, the developers have made the mission timer visible, a change that enhances transparency. Previously, the longer countdown remained hidden until it was nearly complete, adding to the tension. Now, players can view the timer whenever they access the map, providing a clearer understanding of their remaining time.
While this adjustment is a step in the right direction, it may not be sufficient to entice players back into the fold. Concerns linger that the eight-minute timer and the requirement to re-steal items from incomplete objectives are integral to the game’s design philosophy, rather than elements that could be modified for a more flexible experience.
