Spirited Thief
- September 19, 2023
- Koi Snowman Games
- 5h median play time
In "Spirited Thief" , players assume the roles of Elaj, a down-on-his-luck thief with magical abilities, and Trin, his ghostly partner-in-crime. Together, they aim to prove themselves to the Thieves Guild by infiltrating heavily guarded vaults and crypts. Players can scout locations as Trin, a spirit, to discover hidden passages and treasures, and then use that information to plan and execute heists with Elaj.
Reviews
- The game features enjoyable gameplay with a unique mechanic of scouting levels as a ghost before executing the heist, allowing for strategic planning.
- It offers a good balance of challenge and fun, with a variety of abilities and a well-designed difficulty curve that encourages careful planning.
- The aesthetics, music, and writing are engaging, creating an immersive atmosphere that enhances the overall experience.
- The lack of procedural generation and a compelling story makes the gameplay feel repetitive and less engaging compared to similar titles like 'Invisible Inc.'
- Some levels can become overly long and tedious, leading to frustration, especially as the complexity increases in later stages.
- Quality of life issues, such as having to redo scouting work after a failed run, can detract from the enjoyment and flow of the game.
- story14 mentions
- 21 % positive mentions
- 57 % neutral mentions
- 21 % negative mentions
The game's story is primarily linear, featuring a set campaign divided into three acts with fixed maps, which some players find less engaging compared to procedurally generated content. While the narrative is described as simple and not particularly captivating, it includes interesting dialogue and a polished aesthetic that keeps players intrigued. Overall, the story is more plot-driven than roguelike, offering a mix of enjoyable exploration and mission phases.
“The aesthetics and music are good, the dialogue's interesting, and I'm already intrigued by the story.”
“The story is nice and simple... get in there to steal a particular item and get out.”
“But the story is honestly not that interesting, so the lack of procedural generation is missed here.”
“In terms of story-building, what I'll remember the most vividly about it is the endless stream of drunken guards (in front of bookshelves) who complain about how boring their job is, to their partner that's sleeping in the middle of a 4-way crossroads tile.”
“It is a bit more story driven and not a roguelike.”
- gameplay11 mentions
- 45 % positive mentions
- 27 % neutral mentions
- 27 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by a unique blend of tactical stealth and puzzle mechanics, where players scout levels as ghosts before engaging in looting with various abilities. While some find the minimalist approach limiting, others appreciate the engaging mechanics and fun character interactions, making it enjoyable for stealth enthusiasts. Overall, the game offers a fresh experience, particularly for those who enjoy strategic planning and execution.
“I really enjoyed the gameplay of first scouting the levels as a ghost and then actually clearing them in person with many different abilities.”
“A great mix of tactical stealth, puzzle mechanics, and fun characters.”
“The whole concept of scouting a level using different mechanics from when you go through and steal from it, then have to try and escape through the mess you left on the way in is amazing fun.”
“Although I'll say that while it does a handful of things differently in terms of gameplay, overall it is an inferior experience.”
“Cautious recommendation: only get it if you're a stealth freak, and even then, try it for 1 or 2 hours to see if you can tolerate the minimalist gameplay.”
“When danger increases, you spend even more time on the 'who goes where' mechanic.”
- graphics2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- -100 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
The graphics have received mixed feedback, with some users feeling they are subpar and reminiscent of lesser-quality designs. However, the overall aesthetics, music, and engaging dialogue have been positively noted, contributing to an intriguing story.
“The aesthetics and music are good, the dialogue is interesting, and I'm already intrigued by the story.”
“I feel like this developer thought, 'I want to do it too, but with uglier graphics.'”
“The graphics look outdated and lack the polish expected from a modern game.”
“The character models are poorly designed and the environments feel bland and uninspired.”
- music2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its beauty and ability to enhance the overall atmosphere, contributing positively to the aesthetic experience and engaging storytelling.
“I enjoy this game: the music and the atmosphere are so beautiful!”
“The aesthetics and music are good, the dialogue is interesting, and I'm already intrigued by the story.”
- humor1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's humor is characterized by modest yet effective writing, with relatable characters that handle situations like adults, making them endearing to players.
“I also applaud the game for having modest yet effective writing; the characters handle themselves like adults and have just enough relatability and humor to endear you to them.”