Well I'm almost done with the new Thief. I found myself quite surprised that it takes place in the same universe as the previous games, and even makes reference indirectly to several events and characters from the original trilogy.

Once you put together the pieces of the timeline scattered about, you learn that the old series occurred 300-400 years before the previous game (during the Bresling era). Hammerites and Keepers are outlawed. Their structures have fallen into ruin. The game even plays a lot with the fact that the city is built layer up on layer far into the roots of history.

You even get to discover old Garret's Mechanical Eye as one of the game's major loot.

There is no explanation as to why the new Garrett shares the same name as the legendary master "Sneak Thief". But at least they acknowledge that old Garret existed at one point.

Basso seems to be played as being a 'surname', and thus old Basso is one of his ancestors.

You learn about what happened to Edwina Moira after Deadly Shadows, some 350 years before.

Overall they really did a good job of showing what The City would look like if pass 400 years of from the original series, after it has had a Victorian age style industrial age and cultural change from its older 'renaissance style' roots..

As far a game, it has more than a few similarities for good and bad to Thief: Deadly Shadows. In some ways as far as gameplay I think its better than Thief:Deadly Shadows. The story if you manage to find all the documents to fill in the gaps is still not as good, but imo not bad either, and has a lot of intriguing bits as well. Especially where it hints at the city's ancient history and nods to the old games stories.

It would make a fine addition to GOG, although I doubt that Gog will get ahold of it any time soon.

Also its too bad that there likely won't be a level editor for the game, as there are some features that could make for some new compelling fan missions. I rather like the new active body with arms and legs and stuff appearing on screen, and doing more than simply holding a sword or bow.

If you have access to smart phone check out the bonus app too for some rather fun historical references, including to the Trickster and Builder.

Note: While I think its a great game, and possibly better in some ways than Thief: Deadly Shadows. Neither Deadly Shadows or the new Thief are anywhere as good as the first too games! Levels were much larger, and more open ended in most cases in those games. Plus you could swim, use rope arrows anywhere, etc.

I would love to see something with the graphics of the new Thief (taking some of the better features from it), but with interactivity and large level design of the original two thieves..

That sounds like the Zelda-esque-timeline interpretation from http://www.ttlg.com/forums/showthread.php?t=143431 Reactions were divided, mainly because the developers are on record saying it isn't a sequel.

Well, its not 'really a sequel'. Since for the most part its set in a completely different era, you are playing a different character, and events of the old games while hinted at in passing (barely), have no baring on the present. About the main reference is "Sneak Thief" old Garret was blamed for an age of darkness, that caused many problems for the Barons for several generations. Until Northcrests had time to bring their atheistic science and progress to the city.

Star Trek Next Generation was not really a sequel to 'Star Trek' for example (besides sharing a few similarities, and one or two returning characters in special episodes).

This isn't like Hobbit to LOTR where the Hobbit actually is the basis for the sequel.

But ya, Zelda came to mind, as to there being basically two Garrets, two Bassos, and a few other characters who appear to be descendents, reincarnated versions of their past selves. Or maybe Dread Pirate Roberts kinda alias?

Still it was kinda cool to see a return to the Keeper Compound and Library after 400 years crumbling into ruin. It was cool to see a return to the Haunted Cathedral, and its new use. I liked the idea of "Hidden City' of a dozen or so layers of Cities one on top of each other (the bottom layer even seems to be a nod to the Lost City to a small degree).

I liked how they reimagined Overlook Island and what it had become in 400 years, giving it further backstory.

It's a shame that the story itself is a bit week, and the ending is well... anti-climactic.

I also liked how they acknowledged Baron Bresling from Thief: Deadly Shadows. Gave history to the Barons in general. Check out the Companion App for even more connections between the past and present city.

Too bad there is no level editor to extend the game though, as there are some cool ideas, that fans could do a lot with, and improve upon IMO.

Also it would be nice if they released more DLC, that utilizes the central city hub.... To explore more sections of the city, including parts that the NPCs only mention, or you read on documents, or other sources. Shalebridge, Eastport, Wayside, Greystone, etc.

BTW, the eye looks almost exactly like like this down to exact same lines and such.

http://img4.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20080530194233/thief/images/7/7a/T2_CS05_05.jpg

I was surprised to find that I didn't mind the lack of a jump button. I thought I'd hate that the most but you could climb on pretty much everything in the same way as you would with jumping and mantling after all. However, the extremely limited use of gadgets like rope arrows (those are now used in very specific rarely seen spots rather than any wooden surface) as well as the level, encounter and AI design reduce the fun factor. I didn't like the resources aspects and the open city that I guess they evolved from Deadly Shadows, I'd rather have preset missions with the story told inbetween or by eavesdroping and reading. The attempt at light role playing during gameplay seems misguided.

Additionally, I wanted to try the game with some of the classic settings that are supposed to make it feel more like old school Thief, but they haven't handled those options very well. For example, even if you choose to play with the focus mode (slow motion and batman's detective vision all in one) disabled you still have references to that in game, with the poppy flowers that replenish it and how he story seems to revolve around Garrett's new superhuman powers to an extent (this could be wrong as I didn't go too far, but the first time you use focus mode Garrett wonders what happened to himself hinting that it's a central plot point, while there's also a character whose primary purpose seems to be to upgrade the focus abilities in exchange for cash donations). Similarly, choosing to play without bow crosshair means you have to guess where the crosshair would be (in the center of the screen) as the in game bow and hands models don't have any aiming indications. By the way, the arrows seem to travel in a straight line, without a drop. Another stand out conflict is with how you can choose to play with a slower than default movement speed. The new swooping ability remains intact and negates that as it's extremely fast and even though it's limited by your stamina you can use it much and often. There are many such minor and major annoyances that make the game feel rather unfocused.

Anyway, in short, I don't get the praise from some folks, about how it's true to the series unlike other recent reboots and in particular Hitman: Absolution and maybe Deus Ex: Human Revolution. To me, Thief feels about as watered down as the former, with similarly conflicting design decisions particularly evident in the settings added to attract old school Thief fans. I mean, it even has an almost exact transfer of the instinct mode downfalls. Still, it's relatively entertaining and one of the few modern stealth games so I'd say it's a decent buy during some discounts.

The open city was actually one of my favorite parts, and I wish their had been more areas to explore unfortunately. It was done better than it was done in Deadly Shadows imo.

Garrett's eye is tied into the plot... It's explained in the last three levels, or so. Avoiding spoilers.

I loved the old Thief games, and I am enjoying the latest one too. I've read a lot of bile about Thief 2014, but seriously I can't understand the level of some of the outrage, except to class it as the usual internet over-reaction butt-hurt.

Overall, my favourite aspects are the city itself and the little side missions. I think the city does feel alive. There are some issues, like the guards talking over each other with the same lines over and over and over, and the overheard conversations from within the houses that have little variation, but I would hope a patch can help there.

It has good humour in places, so the grim and depressing City doesn't become too overbearing.
I only really have this observation:

Who goes around re-bolting the big iron covers after you leave an area in the City? They obviously have a different contract to the guys who are supposed to pull down the rope arrows, because those stick around!

I won't say more and I need to keep off the forums until I finish so I don't spoil it for myself.

As far as I am concerned, it's easily the weakest game in the series. Especially the laughably bad story drags it down.

Also, I prefer to see this as a parallel universe/ alternate future kind of thing. The end of Deadly Shadows doesn't gel at all with Garrett ending his days in an asylum and the classic factions just disappearing like that. (also: "Master Sneak Thief"? Really?)