American Theft 80s
- June 15, 2022
- Noble Muffins
- 10h median play time
Get on Steam"American Theft 80s" is a first-person puzzle-adventure game set in the 1980s. As a skilled thief, players must infiltrate various locations to steal valuable objects while avoiding detection. With a focus on stealth and problem-solving, players must use their wits to outsmart security systems and complete each heist. The game features a nostalgic 80s setting, with retro graphics and a synthwave soundtrack.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- Great retro setting with a fun 80s vibe that enhances the gameplay experience.
- Improved mechanics and complexity compared to Thief Simulator, making it more engaging.
- Offers a variety of tools and disguises that add depth to the thieving experience.
- Game feels unfinished and buggy, with issues like AI behavior and clunky controls.
- Limited content and repetitive gameplay, leading to a lack of long-term engagement.
- The story is underwhelming and lacks depth, making it hard to justify the price.
- story296 mentions
- 16 % positive mentions
- 79 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The story in "American Theft 80s" is generally viewed as simplistic and somewhat unfulfilling, serving primarily as a framework to guide gameplay rather than as a compelling narrative. Players appreciate the 80s aesthetic and the introduction of heist missions, but many express frustration with the restrictive progression system that locks essential tools behind story milestones, limiting exploration and side activities. While some find enjoyment in the missions and the overall gameplay experience, the story's execution and coherence leave much to be desired, with several bugs and design issues further detracting from the experience.
“The game's story mode is enjoyable - it provides a good pace with introducing tools and techniques for breaking into properties, and the heist missions are nicely designed.”
“I think it has the same charm as the first Thief Simulator while expanding on several aspects of the game, like now it is an open world game where you drive around to the different neighborhoods and it also has heist missions where you have to be somewhere specific with the right equipment at the right time and then complete a set of tasks at the location to complete the heist.”
“Just finished the game in story mode and sandbox mode - 2 different endings which was a nice surprise and a good twist at the end and I like the fact that the save is kept just before the end so you can go back and finish off anything you didn't do.”
“The story isn't terrible, but the 'bad' ending isn't bad because of what happens but because it doesn't make sense.”
“The story is absolutely awful, near nonexistent, but the gameplay makes up for it.”
“The story is bland; I had high hopes with how it started, but you (at least for me) don't know what the end goal of the main character, Jack, is until the last few heists/missions.”
- gameplay174 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 66 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "American Theft 80s" is generally described as fun and engaging, featuring a mix of stealth mechanics and burglary elements reminiscent of the "Thief Simulator" series. While some players appreciate the innovative mechanics and 80s aesthetic, others criticize the clunky controls, driving mechanics, and a lack of depth compared to its predecessors. Overall, the game offers a solid experience for fans of the genre, though it may feel like a rehash with limited improvements.
“The game was a really fun non-combat stealth game with fun and interesting mechanics.”
“The gameplay is very similar: sneak into buildings, study tenant routines, use special tools, and take what you can to sell to a crooked pawn dealer.”
“I have thoroughly enjoyed my time with this gem so far. It has a really cool 80s aesthetic along with some funny dialogue, and gameplay is rather fun. It has you going around houses and stealing various goods; it's free roam too, so you also have story missions to accompany pretty much any house or business you can steal from.”
“The stealth mechanics are innovative yet clunky; the same goes for most of the gameplay.”
“The game world is a nice setup, but it's not an ideal environment for the vehicles you use in the game, particularly when escaping the cops; and the driving mechanics are a bit laughable.”
“Besides a few gameplay tweaks and a new town, this is just a rehash of Thief Simulator, but worse in some ways.”
- graphics78 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 62 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with many users noting that while they are not cutting-edge and may feel dated (reminiscent of early 2000s visuals), they are adequate for the gameplay experience. Some players appreciate the 80s aesthetic and improvements over previous titles like Thief Simulator, while others criticize the graphics for being grainy and lacking detail. Overall, the consensus is that the graphics serve their purpose in supporting the fun and engaging gameplay rather than being a focal point.
“Graphics are superb.”
“Graphics are from an alien universe 2 billion years in the future with hyperrealisticness.”
“I like this game... way better than Thief Simulator in my opinion... the graphics and physics aren't outstanding but it does the job to have a lot of fun.”
“Graphics wise, it feels like it's coming from about 10 years ago, and controls wise it feels a bit janky - but it doesn't matter.”
“If you are expecting the fidelity of Call of Duty or the aesthetic quality of Sunset Overdrive, you are looking in the wrong place.”
“The graphics are very grainy and very, very dated.”
- stability34 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game is widely criticized for its numerous bugs and glitches, which significantly detract from the overall experience. While some players find the bugs add a layer of fun, many report severe issues that hinder gameplay, such as freezing, mission failures, and unresponsive controls. Overall, the stability of the game is considered poor, with calls for better optimization and updates.
“This game is also buggy and hasn't been updated in a while.”
“Game is way too buggy, just straight up unpleasant to play.”
“Every time I pick up the key and go to use it, I press the action button it tells me to use, it then freezes for a few seconds, then works again but after it, I cannot use the action button again, I can't pause it and I can't do very much of anything but turn around in the cell!”
- music30 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 53 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with some players appreciating the 80s vibe and overall soundtrack, while others feel it lacks authenticity and variety. Many users express a desire for more 80s tracks and the option to add personal music, as the current audio experience can be poor and less immersive during gameplay. Overall, while the music contributes to the nostalgic atmosphere, it falls short of fully capturing the essence of the 80s for some players.
“7 hours in and really enjoying the music, environment, controls, everything is done well.”
“The main storyline is fun, but makes you grind at least an hour at some parts to afford items you need to move forward (which can be a good thing if you like the game!) the 80s theme is what makes this game and they even have good detail making the peds and cars and music 80s themed.”
“They nailed the 80's feel and I love the music.”
“The music isn't the greatest and really doesn't represent the 80's.”
“Audio is poor too in pretty much every way, especially the music.”
“Driving in third person doesn't let me hear the music all that well.”
- optimization18 mentions
- 17 % positive mentions
- 61 % neutral mentions
- 22 % negative mentions
The game's optimization is a mixed bag, with some players praising its smooth performance while others report significant issues, including major FPS drops in specific scenarios and during area transitions. Many users highlight the need for further optimization due to bugs, glitches, and general performance inconsistencies, particularly with the Unreal Engine's common problems. Overall, while the game has potential, its current optimization leaves much to be desired.
“Highly optimized and smooth as butter.”
“Its a good game but has a few bugs and glitches and needs some optimization.”
“Just something to be enhanced further, it is performance while moving different area, or average rendering when moving my mouse to adjust the character's sight!”
“Do note it does have optimization issues which cause major fps drops in certain scenarios at low settings.”
“There are some nasty performance drops when switching areas, particularly around the 600 neighborhood.”
“The tech situation for this game is dicey as a whole, with standard unoptimized Unreal Engine issues, visual flickering, improperly placed/flagged surfaces, and quest markers that are inconsistently shown or outright wrong.”
- humor16 mentions
- 88 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is generally well-received, with players appreciating the funny voice acting, quirky character interactions, and amusing dialogue that contribute to its charm. Many reviewers highlight the retro aesthetic and comedic elements, even noting that some humor arises from unexpected situations, like mistaken identity. However, there are contrasting opinions, with some players finding the game lacking in humor and plagued by bugs, suggesting a mixed reception overall.
“This game is fun, the voice acting is funny, and I love the retro feel.”
“There's a character that acts like you were an agent, but I thought that was just some humor of mistaken identity.”
“It had charm and felt like a stopgap side story where they experimented with things in preparation for future games. The characters were a lot more fleshed out than other titles, and the extremes made me laugh.”
“Horrible game, it's not funny, there are a lot of bugs and the AI is terribly programmed.”
“Horrible game, it's not funny, there are a lot of bugs and the AI is terribly programmed.”
- grinding10 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 60 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be excessively time-consuming, often requiring a significant investment of time akin to having a "second life." While there are attempts to make the grinding experience less tedious and more engaging, many feel that the lack of meaningful rewards or features to unlock diminishes the overall enjoyment.
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“The game features a very short main quest, which would be totally okay, but in the meantime fails to offer you any exotic tools, cars, or features to unlock by just robbing houses and grinding that could enhance your experience on your way.”
“I admire they tried to put new systems in place to make things less tedious and more lively, but like most things aside from the robbing and story, it feels useless.”
- monetization6 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The monetization of the Thief Simulator franchise has drawn mixed reactions, with some players initially perceiving the latest installment as a potential cash grab and a departure from the original's charm. However, others have praised the developers for their responsiveness to feedback, suggesting that the game offers a refreshing alternative in an industry often criticized for exploitative pricing and pre-launch DLC practices. Overall, opinions vary, but there is a recognition of the developers' efforts to engage with their community.
“With the official Thief Simulator 2 game slated to release in the summer of 2023, a cynic could say this release suspiciously serves as a live test-bed for the 'Thief Sim' franchise, and at worst is: 1) a cash grab, and 2) experimentation on the loyal following for a more action-oriented style of gameplay, while neglecting some of the unique aspects that made the first Thief Simulator game actually great.”
“In an industry full of overpriced AAA cash grabs cut into DLC before launch, this is a little gem.”
“In an industry full of overpriced AAA cash grabs cut into DLC before launch, this is a little gem.”
- replayability4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
Overall, players express a lack of replayability in the game, citing that tenant routines and valuables remain static, leading to a sense of emptiness in the world. Despite ongoing updates from the developers, many feel that the main story's completion does not encourage further play.
“I'm not sure if it has any replay value; after all, tenant routines and valuables don't really change.”
“Nevertheless, after completing the main story, despite the devs continuing to update the game, I don't feel any 'replay value' because this game's world feels so empty.”
- atmosphere4 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is heavily influenced by an engaging 80s aesthetic, which resonates well with players. Many users express a preference for the original Thief Simulator, citing its superior atmosphere and unintentional humor, despite its lower level of detail.
“The 80s atmosphere is really captivating.”
“I prefer the original Thief Simulator; although it's less detailed, I think it has a much better atmosphere and is overall quite a funny game, even if it isn't supposed to be.”
- emotional2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players find the emotional aspect of the game enhanced by the realistic disguises and vehicles, which evoke a sense of sneakiness and immersion in the gameplay. This attention to detail contributes to a deeper emotional connection with the game's mechanics.
