Hah! As soon as I saw this pop up I thought, "Oooh, if she doesn't mention The Cradle..." It is probably the best example of single-level design that exists today. You're really loading me up with homework here; I have no doubt that someone could get ten pages worth of interesting analysis out of that one. Thief is also the only game I've found thus far that really gets the stealth aspects right all the way through; the Hitman series comes very close, but everything else seems to have at least one 'guns blazing' level. You really can creep through Thief, with one notable exception, and I wouldn't be surprised if that was simply because I wasn't skilled enough to do so. (Damn fire arrows! Damn holy water!) The other great thing about Thief is, once again, anybody can pick it up if they really want to. While there's definitely a learning curve, it all makes sense and builds upon itself; you might get outsmarted by the AI, but you're never going to find yourself shut out by not being able to keymash well enough.
In contrast, I've always been a little surprised the MGS games don't have a fandom to rival Gundam Wing (you are not wrong; Snake is more goddamn awesome than our simple, mortal minds can comprehend). Nude white-haired bishies! An anime nerd! Giant robots! The undead! Canon homosexuality! It's practically custom-designed to make fangirls' hearts to go pitter-pat, yet there's practically nothing out there. But I think I understand; I'm no super FPS master, but I've been playing Quake for nearly a decade, and there were a couple of points that nearly stopped me in my tracks because I simply couldn't do them. I can only imagine how difficult it's got to be for someone whose idea of twitchy gameplay is FFX-2 combos; but it's a shame to see such a wonderfully rich series get passed over like that.
TL;DR - sorry! What I meant to do is point you towards another game by the same folks that made Thief: System Shock 2. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/System_Shock_2) I understand your desire to play games in order--I'm the same way--but let me hasten to assure you that the first one is utter garbage and only related to this one in the vaguest sense. It's more of a straightforward shooter, but it consistently comes up in "scariest games of all time" lists, and with good reason. The sound design was unparalleled for its time (honestly, I can't think of anything to top it save perhaps Fatal Frame 2, or The Darkness), and features one of the most unusual plot conceits (from a sheer storytelling perspective) I've ever run across. Your character arrives on the scene long after the horrible catastrophe has taken place, and unravels the mystery by checking the logs the victims left behind as you make your way through. I know, doesn't sound too exciting, but... well, any more would be spoilers, and it really has to be seen to be believed. Preferably alone, in the dark, with a pair of good headphones on. :)
Reposted due to stupidity - sorry!
In contrast, I've always been a little surprised the MGS games don't have a fandom to rival Gundam Wing (you are not wrong; Snake is more goddamn awesome than our simple, mortal minds can comprehend). Nude white-haired bishies! An anime nerd! Giant robots! The undead! Canon homosexuality! It's practically custom-designed to make fangirls' hearts to go pitter-pat, yet there's practically nothing out there. But I think I understand; I'm no super FPS master, but I've been playing Quake for nearly a decade, and there were a couple of points that nearly stopped me in my tracks because I simply couldn't do them. I can only imagine how difficult it's got to be for someone whose idea of twitchy gameplay is FFX-2 combos; but it's a shame to see such a wonderfully rich series get passed over like that.
TL;DR - sorry! What I meant to do is point you towards another game by the same folks that made Thief: System Shock 2. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/System_Shock_2) I understand your desire to play games in order--I'm the same way--but let me hasten to assure you that the first one is utter garbage and only related to this one in the vaguest sense. It's more of a straightforward shooter, but it consistently comes up in "scariest games of all time" lists, and with good reason. The sound design was unparalleled for its time (honestly, I can't think of anything to top it save perhaps Fatal Frame 2, or The Darkness), and features one of the most unusual plot conceits (from a sheer storytelling perspective) I've ever run across. Your character arrives on the scene long after the horrible catastrophe has taken place, and unravels the mystery by checking the logs the victims left behind as you make your way through. I know, doesn't sound too exciting, but... well, any more would be spoilers, and it really has to be seen to be believed. Preferably alone, in the dark, with a pair of good headphones on. :)