Metal Gear Solid has created a monster. Let's face it, if there was a game that motivated the birth of the deeper game experience that relied more on patience than an itchy trigger finger, it was Hideo Kojima's PlayStation opus. Metal Gear Solid relied on thinking just as much as action, and thus made some gamers appreciate the involvement they put into play, rather than just walking around with guns and limitless ammunition. Sure, there's still room for that, but the gaming scene needed evolvement. Years later, UbiSoft would step up to the challenge with the incredible Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell, as well as its incredibly pleasing sequel Pandora Tomorrow, packing one of the most impressive multiplayer experiences around.

But stealth doesn't always have to revolve around heroes. With Thief: Deadly Shadows, you take control of a thug who specializes in theft and sneakiness, trudging through old villages to simply get a particular item, knocking out those in his way, or even sneaking around them with the help of a few handy tools, like water arrows and an effective club. The game puts you right in the shoes of this foe, giving him purpose and sometimes reason to his actions, and unfolding a unique, appreciative story in the process.

This is one of the things that makes Thief: Deadly Shadows such a stellar product. It's well written, not a game that relies on a hokey story and then zero payoff. It's rewarding throughout, giving you props for your efforts and then moving forward in a logical sense. I would tell you more about it, but, really, to play it yourself is to appreciate it. I refuse to be the guy that sits next to you in a movie theatre saying, "You're gonna love what happens with this guy."

I will talk about the gameplay though. In the game, your sneakiness definitely is necessary, as you must hide in shadows, sneak off out of sight into side rooms and crevasses, and take out particular targets that could otherwise give away your location or ruin your mission. One mistake and you start all over again. You also use particular items to help you out, like a lock pick (which involves the controller and vibration, kinda like Splinter Cell) and a bow that can shoot different arrows, like a Noisemaker (to distract guards) and a Water Arrow (to douse torches). This means that those looking to run through Grand Theft Auto-style to get what they want will probably find disappointment here. But that's okay, the game was crafted to test your stealth skills, and it certainly does the job. Thief: Deadly Shadows has many levels to its credit, built around the elaborate, enjoyable story, and it takes plenty of time to complete.

The graphic presentation, however, is a mixed bag. On one hand, the detail can be amazing. You've got the lighting effects reflecting off of your character in real time, and level design that's absolutely sweet. Item interaction is pretty good, as you can see items light up in a faint blue light that come in handy with each particular task. However, the frame rate suffers from this, so the game moves a bit more choppily than it should. I guess Ion Storm wanted to go more for detail than speed, which I can understand. Still, the game could have used a little more smoothing over in the graphic department, especially in areas where some little things can be easily missed.

At least the sound is superb. The music fits the darkness of the game perfectly, right down to some of the subtleties that play between sequences. The sound effects are awesome, including the sound of footsteps, which come in handy for detecting forthcoming guards. And then you have the dialogue, which could have easily been cornball, but instead seems involving, with actors dedicated to their words.

Thief: Deadly Shadows is an involving game with a number of missions to complete, and it will take a lot of time to do so. However, once you do, that's pretty much all the game has to offer. You can replay a level to try to perfect it more, but the game lacks any sort of bonus unlockable missions or Xbox Live features. Also, there's zero multiplayer here, which means those seeking an experience similar to Pandora Tomorrow's will be out of luck here. That's kind of a bummer, as the opportunities of rogue thieves working against each other would have been an interesting situation.

Thief: Deadly Shadows is not without its rewards for the single player. Ion Storm put a lot of care into the game, and it certainly shows. Those with little patience or a yearning to just run through and grab an item in moments will want to stick to the Grand Theft Auto saga. However, those seeking an experience that immerses you, even if only for a short while, in a world of darkness where thievery seems to be the only way out, will be happily rewarded. Thief: Deadly Shadows will definitely do the trick for the stealth set out there.