When comparing Thief Gold vs Payday 2, the Slant community recommends Payday 2 for most people. In the question“What are the best Heist games on Steam?” Payday 2 is ranked 1st while Thief Gold is ranked 3rd. The most important reason people chose Payday 2 is:
This game is like the bank heist scene from Heat.
Specs
Ranked in these QuestionsQuestion Ranking
Pros
Pro Rich atmosphere
Thief is set in a fascinating world, rich with its own history and lore. An early conversation in the game features guards talking about betting on bear fights. The game's multiple factions each have their own unique histories and personality as well. A player can learn much about Thief's world just by exploring its streets and listening to the sounds of the city.
Pro Sound design enhance stealth gameplay
One of Thief's grandest achievements is its dedication to sound design as a means of stealth gameplay; other stealth games are often set in the third person perspective, allowing players to swing cameras around corners, cheating their way through a level. Thief instead emphasizes sound. Walk on a marble floor or metal grate, and you're likely to make some noise. Creep across a carpet, and you'll be quieter. This works for the guards as well, so you can listen for them pacing on the other side of a doorway, but watch out! If there's carpet on the other side, you might not hear them coming. Thief uses this mechanic in a wide variety of ways; you can use arrows that sprout beds of moss to avoid detection, for instance.
Pro Basically a "directors cut"
Updated to support full HD, Thief Gold is the classic game thief remastered to support modern hardware. It also features additional levels that were not in the original game.
Pro Exhilarating gameplay that makes you and your friends feel like you are part of a Michael Mann movie
This game is like the bank heist scene from Heat.
Pro Cooperation based gameplay makes sure no single player is more important than any other
Your crew needs to bring specific equipment and weapons in order to stay out of sight or improve everyones chances in a gunfight. You also need to pay attention to your crew's health and ammo. This creates a situation where each team member heavily relies on the rest in order to succeed.
Pro Tons of customization options lets every player individualize their look
You can customize your weapons, masks, and skills using the loot you earn from your heists. This lends itself well to the fact that the game is online multiplayer, being that most players enjoy that they can look different from other players.
Pro Random item placement keeps the games levels fresh
Important items are placed in different locations on each playthrough, adding a slight bit of randomness to how each game plays out. This way you never become too familiar with the layout of each level.
Pro Play as you like, since the missions can be finished in many wildly different ways
You can win levels through stealth, or through a massacre, meaning that you can use nonviolent methods as well as super violent methods, the choice is yours.
Pro New content is added regularly, making sure the game stays fresh and updated for everyone
New DLCs are released regularly, which give old players something new to do as well as keeps the game enticing in order to attract new players.
Cons
Con A really messed up dark story that just makes you not want to play the game at all
Con Default controls are not great
Before beginning the game, the user will most likely want to to change the default controls, which predate the normal WASD control scheme, using some strange bindings that may not make sense to modern users.
Con Pay-to-win scheme
As others have said, this game is built on DLC and MicroTransactions. If you decide to just buy the game and not fork out any more money you'll find yourself at a SERIOUS disadvantage over other players. In addition, a lot of in-game items require you to either own other games or subscribe to specific Steam groups.
Con Microtransations that boost important stats
With Crimefest 2015, the developer (Overkill) decided to add stat-boosting gun skins that can only be acquired using real money. This makes for a pay-to-win scenario where people who purchase these items have a distinct leg up over non-paying players.
Con New DLC can be a bit expensive
Getting the new DLC the day it arrives can set you back a fair bit. Your best bet is to wait for a sale.
Con Some DLC requires owning other games
Some of the cosmetic items are tied into other games available on Steam, which means you can’t access them unless you purchase the other games as well.
Con Limited to 4 players only
This game has not been built for huge LAN parties (unless you split your players to multiple heists).
Con Train wreck of bad decisions
Developers broke the game to make cash, released a 'feel-good' version to build anticipation for Payday 3. Toxic, game, developers, community. Stay away.