GOG's recent release of Thief: The Dark Project and its expansion, Thief Gold, provides a surprisingly polished experience for fans looking to revisit the seminal stealth game. This version, curated by GOG and incorporating essential fan modifications, serves as a strong interim option while awaiting the full remaster from Nightdive Studios later this winter.
The GOG package thoughtfully bundles crucial fan-made improvements, such as the NewDark patch, which enables the game to run at modern widescreen resolutions without issue. This integration bypasses the need for players to manually seek out and install these patches, streamlining the process of getting the game running smoothly on contemporary systems.
A standout feature of GOG's enhanced Thief is its well-implemented controller support. The inclusion of Peter Wright's Gamepad Mod transforms the experience, making it comfortable to play with an Xbox One controller. The game seamlessly integrates radial menus for equipment selection, which artfully slow down gameplay to allow for tactical choices.
Beyond controller support, the bundling of the NewDark patch ensures native support for modern resolutions, addressing a common barrier for playing older titles. This, combined with GOG's other adjustments, creates an experience that lets the game's age recede, allowing its core mechanics and atmosphere to shine through without the usual hassle of configuration.
While a full-fledged remaster from Nightdive Studios is still anticipated, GOG's version of Thief offers a remarkable degree of polish and accessibility. It effectively brings the classic stealth gameplay to modern platforms with minimal friction, making it an excellent choice for both returning fans and newcomers alike.