10 Pioneering Video Games That Were Way Ahead Of Their Time
2. Thief: The Dark Project
Thief: The Dark Project was the first stealth game to utilise light/shadow as a central gameplay mechanic, forcing the player to acclimatise to each new situation and plan their movements carefully, as well as considerately.
In the game, players
assume the role of Garrett – an orphan turned master thief, tasked with
attaining a mystical gem capable of untold devastation. Alone, and utterly outmatched,
Garrett must journey to the realm of The Trickster, and somehow prevent the
complete annihilation of civilisation.
Released in 1998, the tremendous influence of the game is often understated. In reality, The Dark Project – the first instalment in a series which would endure over a decade – was nothing short of groundbreaking, spawning three sequels, and influencing everything from Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell to Hitman: Codename 47.
Finally, players could experience genuine stealth gameplay, and while the sequel somewhat surpassed the original, The Dark Project came first, and was released a whole two years prior to its successor, meaning it was incredibly ahead of its time.