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- Stoic
- Stoic
- Stoic
- Stoic
Killers and Thieves
Released On: May 23, 2017
Metascore
Available after 4 critic reviews
7.7
All Platforms
The story here is exactly what you would expect from one of the creators of The Banner Saga. It is clear enough and interesting enough to keep you reading and coming back for more. The art follows suit and is a beautifully drawn world with characters that manage to convey a lot of emotion on the screen. Cutscenes are few and far between, but are always enjoyable. This is not a great game by any stretch, but you can clearly see the framework for one and with a little less grinding and some more mechanics at play I could see this being a truly special sim. As it stands, it is just a good, fun 9-15 hours depending on how you play.
In Killers and Thieves, the night is dark and full of boring texts, crappy quests and copy/pasted content. Now that’s what I call true terrors.
User Score
Generally Favorable
Based on 7 User Ratings
7.7
71% Positive
5 Ratings
5 Ratings
14% Mixed
1 Rating
1 Rating
14% Negative
1 Rating
1 Rating
User Score
Generally Favorable
Based on 7 User Ratings
7.7
71% Positive
5 Ratings
5 Ratings
14% Mixed
1 Rating
1 Rating
14% Negative
1 Rating
1 Rating
This game is a very interesting idea of using a medieval setting with a thief group as a focus with a tactical map and 2D side-scrolling for the action.
Killers and Thieves uses a lot of text to unfold the story but many will most likely skip more easily this as the game is really focused on the gameplay. Not that the story is bad in any way.
You will have two main features, the "tactical map" and the "heist map".
The tactical map is a neat representation of a map on a table, showing the current district and using miniature-like icons to represent the guards and your thieves. From this map you plan your actions and gauge the danger level of areas based on the guard count. The game is turn based on this map, ending the day starts the next one.
The heist map is the meat of the action. After starting a heist on the tactical map, the game launches a procedurally generated map in which 1 to 4 thieves will be controlled.
The game then becomes a real time side-scroller in which you have to manage your thieves as you loot houses ranging from simple two story houses to over ten level high (depending on which district you are doing your heist). All the while trying to minimize you exposure to the city watch who will catch the thieves who can't protect themselves, or fight and maybe kill those who can.
Killers and Thieves offers some nice character customization in the way of training points earned at each level, allowing either to train in one of 3 stats, or choose a lesser or higher perk, which will be a total game changer. Things like climbing walls and jumping from building to building for example.
Overall, do not expect a great action game with dozens of hours you will sink into with loads and loads of content. This game is just a very nice game in a pretty non-existent niche (to my knowledge) and manages to bring on the table many interesting things and some very fun gameplay.
People who like challenge and when action really flows well would love the heists for example.
Also, I didn't mention it so far, but the art is very nice. The content shows the game is a labour of love from its one man army developer.
Report
PC
This is an archetype **** where developers thought that the inclusion of some mechanism and the exclusion of others is a neat idea, but ended up being a terrible idea.
For instance, you would expect a pause and plan mechanism to be present in a game that involves controlling up to 4 characters to carry out a successful heist; but the developers thinks that it is a good idea to leave out such a mechanism and use a real time mechanism instead, which makes this game insanely frustrating to control. Another example perhaps? The developers left out the option to allow players to bind their own quick-keys; in a real time game, split second using of some ability is essential but players are not allowed to do that because the non-bindable quick-keys are awkwardly placed: 'H' for Hiding and 'E' for Eve-dropping.
This is yet another great idea spoilt by poor implementation; when will developers learn to make good use of early-access to get opinions from players before releasing their brain child out into the allies of steam to be slaughtered?
Report
PC
Summary Become the leader of a medieval thieves' guild in Killers and Thieves from the co-creator of the Banner Saga series. Train a team, steal loot and master heists throughout a sprawling city to take your revenge.
Platforms:
- PC
Initial Release Date: May 23, 2017
Developer:
- Alex Thomas
Publisher: Stoic
Genres: