The Maw of Chaos, though in a slightly less hostile fashion, makes its return to Thief. After all the orderly environments of stone and iron, this natural, chaotic domain is very refreshing. An impeccable atmosphere pervades the mission: mystery is combined with sorrow. This blends into the story. Even though the Pagans were your enemy in the last game, you're being made to pity them now. You feel sad for the people who lived here, mercilessly slaughtered by the cold, detached, and fanatic Mechanists. You even begin to appreciate and respect the dark unknown that once threatened you, and that is a very impressive accomplishment of the developers.

The gameplay falls a bit short. The mission is very linear, and it's a good thing that it doesn't take too long to beat it (and that it doesn't return). In the treetop section, I even felt reminded of "Escape!": Tight, linear corridors with almost nowhere to hide, making being spotted almost a given. Little equipment to deal with things like torches. Yes, that wasn't fun. It only lasts a short while, luckily. The rest of the gameplay is fine, but nothing groundbreaking or challenging. The hooks of this mission are the varied landscapes, strong atmosphere, and powerful emotions you feel while playing.