The absolute daddy of the surprisingly terrifying levels in otherwise non-terrifying games, however, has to Shalebridge Cradle, a level from Thief: Deadly Shadows. The third in Eidos's series of stealth-'em-ups which saw players taking on the role of Garrett, a master thief who travels a fantasy world nicking bits of treasure and the like, took a turn for the dark towards the end. If there's a way to cram more misery into one building's history, I can't think of it, is Garrett's assessment of Shalebridge, a now-abandoned building that was formerly both an orphanage and an insane asylum, and said to be haunted by the deceased population of both. It's hard to describe exactly what makes The Cradle so utterly terrifying. It's probably better to experience it for yourself. Going beyond the usual jump scares, or even the atmospheric horror that a lot of games manage, The Cradle will really grab you by the gut and twist it in ways that are far from comfortable. "Robbing The Cradle" has rightly been praised as one of the most terrifying gaming experiences of recent years. You're never in any real danger throughout the level, but try telling that to the irrational part of your brain which, with every part of the building's history you uncover, is screaming at you to GET OUT AS FAST AS YOU CAN.
