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
- Spirited Thief offers a unique blend of tactical stealth and puzzle mechanics, allowing players to scout levels and manipulate guards before executing their heists.
- The game features well-designed levels that provide a satisfying challenge, rewarding careful planning and strategy while allowing for character upgrades and diverse abilities.
- With its engaging story, charming atmosphere, and polished gameplay, Spirited Thief is a delightful experience for fans of turn-based strategy and stealth games.
- The lack of procedural generation and a compelling story makes the game feel repetitive, as players are confined to a set series of maps without much variation.
- Some levels can become overly long and tedious, leading to frustration, especially as the complexity increases in later chapters.
- Quality of life issues, such as having to redo scouting work after failing a run, can detract from the overall enjoyment and flow of the game.
- story28 mentions
- 21 % positive mentions
- 68 % neutral mentions
- 11 % negative mentions
The game's story is primarily linear, consisting of a three-act campaign 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 features interesting dialogue and memorable moments, such as humorous interactions between guards. Overall, the story is more plot-driven than a typical roguelike, with players appreciating the aesthetics and music, but longing for a more dynamic storytelling experience.
“Story absorbed me rather quickly.”
“The aesthetics and music are good, the dialogue's interesting, and I'm already intrigued by the story.”
“Fun and polished TBS puzzler with a neat story (so far).”
“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.”
“Sadly and unlike the source of inspiration, there are no random maps here; there is a set story with a campaign consisting of 3 acts and the same series of maps per act, which you can retry anytime to get a perfect score.”
- gameplay21 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 43 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by a blend of tactical stealth and puzzle mechanics, offering a unique experience where players scout levels before executing heists. 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 provides a mix of fun and strategy, though it may not appeal to everyone.
“A great mix of tactical stealth, puzzle mechanics, and fun characters.”
“The game is very cute and the mechanics are interesting: we will be one or more thieves having to explore a level, steal everything possible, and extract.”
“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.”
- graphics4 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The graphics have received mixed feedback, with some users feeling that they are inferior compared to similar games, despite praising the overall aesthetics, music, and engaging dialogue. While the visual style may not impress everyone, the game's other elements seem to compensate for it.
“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.'”
- music4 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 significantly to the player's immersion and enjoyment. Reviewers also note that the combination of aesthetics and music creates an engaging experience that complements the intriguing story and dialogue.
“I enjoy this game: the music and the atmosphere are so beautiful!”
“The aesthetics and music are good, the dialogue's interesting, and I'm already intrigued by the story.”
- humor2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's humor is characterized by modest yet effective writing, with adult characters that exhibit relatability and charm, making them endearing to players.
“I applaud the game for its modest yet effective writing; the characters handle themselves like adults and have just enough relatability and humor to endear you to them.”