Most of the time video game loading screens keep it pretty chill. They show some art, maybe share a helpful tip or two. Sometimes they’re just a black screen and a spinning wheel. But sometimes… sometimes, video game loading screens go crazy in the best possible way.
Minor spoilers for Thief follow.
I didn’t think much of Thief, but some of its loading screens are outstanding. As the game’s story progresses, things begin to deteriorate in The City, which is the name of the city where the game takes place. The strife is rarely really seen in the game itself, but the story events all hint at a town gone to riot and ruin.
After each chapter, you’ll be greeted by a new loading screen as you head out into The City. Each new screen depicts a scene a bit more dire than the last one. And then, around halfway through the game, you’re greeted with this bad boy:
What in the… what?
We’ve got this maniac Ku Klux Klan-lookin’ dude whipping open his trenchcoat like the world’s wildest flasher, pulling on the strings on a… like… is that a bomb? Or some sort of fireworks display? Is this guy a steampunk Data, and is a boxing glove about to pop out of his belt?
I have no idea what is going on in this loading screen. After the game finishes loading, it puts you out in The City and everything’s pretty much the same as it ever was. There are allegedly riots going on but there aren’t really any crowds in the streets, and you certainly never really run into that dude, or any dudes wearing robes like that. The game never explains what the hell the device over his crotch is, either. And so we are left to wonder.
But, hey, I’m not complaining. If you give me a choice between regular, boring loading screens and this kind of madness, I’ll take the madness every time.
Comments
11 responses to “The Most Ridiculous Loading Screen I’ve Seen In A While”
Let’s get this party started!!!!!
I guess in The City, when its time to party, people always party hard
Got this yesterday, a fair few glitches.
It is a very stealthy version of Skyrim and a lot more restricted. Not sure if I am a fan but then again still early on in the game.
Obligatory Spec Ops: The Line post.
the flag thing?
I’ve always thought a great loading screen after a death would be for the screen to start rewinding super fast back to your last save point.
I liked the way Darksiders II did loading screens. They showed a “the story so far” thing where it recapped the most recent major story events accompanied by some pictures. Was pretty cool.
same as deus ex: human revolution. me likey
and Alan Wake.
really helpful little mechanic if you’ve not played for a while.
Edit : actually, in AW, it was a full ‘previously on…’ video, which made it even more rad.
Splatterhouse by far has my favorite loading screens and probably always will!
Loading screen on Ridge Racer Type 4 was the best, a playable Galaga Challenging stage I think it was.