I struggle to give this game a positive review, and only recommend it if you're already a fan of the first two games, wish to experience the story's conclusion, AND have a very, very high tolerance for bullsh*t. The game's movement and interaction mechanics are hands down some of the worst I have ever encountered in a major release, to the point that they could reasonably be described as broken.

While I realize that that last sentence reads like an invitation for Thief purists to hand out some Jesters, I also realize that this game's saving grace is that it's the third game in a beloved series. If it were any other game, a game that lacked this game's pedigree, its mechanical flaws wouldn't be so easily and graciously overlooked. They are well and truly infuriating, and it does not matter how long you play, they will always find a way to ruin your day. The light gem is a suggestion at best, interacting with the world is an exercise in pixel hunting, and Garrett moves like a mushy turd through molasses.

The ONE thing they got right were the ladders. Somehow the devs managed the impossible and NAILED attaching and detaching from ladders - a weak point in every other game created before or since - despite the general lack of competence on display through the simple acts of walking and opening doors. There are some horror elements to the game, but the only times I felt terrified were the times I had to make a jump. The first two games were like "I can make that", with "that" being a tiny ledge 20 feet across a gaping chasm and 30 feet down. Here, it's like "a toddler could make thaaa . . . ah f**k not again." Save early, save often.

Play it for the story and atmosphere, play it only if you're a fan of the first two games, and maybe play it with a couple bars of Klonopin nearby.