I always enjoyed skacky's take on Thief and how it transpired in his famous missions.

The premise is simple: come back to the roots! No fancy-shmancy cutscenes, no heavy plot or alternate equipment, just good old thievery. Take your rope arrows, lockpicks and go out on the streets with vague outline of your mission. Shadow Politics definitely fits the bill: they tell you where and what to rob, but once you take control of Garrett, you'll realize there's plenty to do before you even locate your target (the embassy).

So you scour the streets, keep your eyes open, and look for opportunities. It's always good to detour a bit - Shadow Politics rewards explorers. Especially if you're creative and look carefully for wooden beams or arches! Yes, all skacky's fanmissions have that oldschool fascination with rope arrows, and I think it's for the best really. The City's architecture is huge and overbearing, but our hero is one of a kind - he climbs where no one dares, and we're happy to witness it.

There are places where you'll stand in awe - halls of the embassy look just fantastic, even though they retain original '98 flavor. To me, a lifelong fan of Thieves' Guild OM, the sewer exploration also struck a chord. Another place I found spot-on in terms of atmosphere was the Pagan book room; very nuanced, but distinct. If anyone asked me if TDP/TG levels can look as good as T2 era FMs, the answer is a resounding YES.

I believe the mission works best if you're interested in stripped-down, no-nonsense Thief experience. It feels very much like the original game, but never puts the plot ahead of action. You're supposed to open locks, grab your loot and explore! For that reason, Shadow Politics (and its successor, Between These Dark Walls) is a great place to start your adventure with Skacky's missions. Definitely worth those 2 hours, never feels like a chore.

And once you're done, try Endless Rain.