The Sting!
A burglar plans heists in a freely roamable 3D city.
The Sting! (titled *Der Clou! 2* in German-speaking countries) is a strategy and adventure game from Neo Software, published by JoWooD Productions on 1 July 2001. It follows 1994's *The Clue!* (known as *Der Clou!* in German-speaking regions).
Players control Matt Tucker, a celebrated burglar recently released from prison in Fortune Hills. Starting as a petty criminal, he must rebuild his reputation by pulling off heists, either alone or with accomplices he meets around the city. Selling stolen goods lets him buy better equipment for tougher jobs, with the ultimate target being the Ministry of Light.
The game has two modes: planning and live. In his apartment, the player carefully arranges actions and movements. Switching to live mode reveals whether the plan succeeds or everyone gets caught. Locations feature patrolling guards, police, security systems, locked doors, and cabinets. Matt’s tools vary in usefulness and noise level.
*The Sting!* was among the first third-person 3D games to let players freely explore a city, using taxis for travel, and enter buildings to buy tools, meet accomplices, or scout locations before a burglary.
The title derives from the 1973 film *The Sting*, whose German title is *Der Clou*. When the game was called *Der Clou* in Austria, the English version became *The Sting*.
Critics gave mixed reviews, with a Metacritic score of 73% from nine critics. Reviewers praised its light-hearted tone and unique theme. IGN noted, "I haven't played a game like this in a long time... or ever really I guess," adding that cartoony 3D games are rare on PC and that *The Sting* delivers both colorful worlds and interesting gameplay. However, problems like graphics engine clipping, a slow pace, and poor pathfinding AI hurt its scores.
Quick Facts
- Title
- The Sting!
- Developer
- Neo Software
- Publisher
- JoWooD Productions
- Released
- PC / NA · 1 July 2001 · EU · 19 July 2001
- Genre
- Strategy, Adventure
- Modes
- Single-player
- Platforms
- PC
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The Sting! follows Matt Tucker, a famous burglar who has just come out of prison in the city of Fortune Hills. Reduced to a small-time crook, he must work his way back to his former glory by performing burglaries, alone or with accomplices met around the city, collecting loot and fame. Selling loot allows him to buy better tools for increasingly challenging missions, with the ultimate goal being the Ministry of Light. The gameplay consists of two modes: planning mode, where actions and movements are laid out from Matt's apartment, and live mode, where the player discovers if the plan succeeds or if everyone gets caught. Different locations include patrolling guards and police, security systems, locked doors and cabinets, and other obstacles. Matt's tools are useful in different situations and make different levels of noise. The name The Sting! derives from the fact that the 1973 film The Sting has the German title 'Der Clou', so when the game was called 'Der Clou' in Austria, the English translation became The Sting.
Reader's Guide
The Sting! received mixed reviews from critics, with a Metacritic score of 73% based on 9 reviews. Most reviewers praised the light-hearted tone and unique theme. IGN noted that cartoony 3D games were rare on PC at the time and that the game brought colorful and silly worlds to life while providing interesting gameplay. However, several problems held back the score: reviewers cited clipping problems of the graphics engine, the slow pace of the game, and problematic pathfinding AI as the most serious issues. The game's significance lies in its early implementation of free-roaming 3D city exploration in a third-person perspective, combined with a planning-and-execution heist mechanic that was uncommon for its era. Its legacy is that of a niche title remembered for its distinctive premise and cartoon style, despite technical shortcomings that prevented it from achieving broader acclaim.
Did You Know?
- The Sting! was one of the first third-person 3D games to allow free roaming of a city with a taxi transportation system.
- The game's name comes from the German title of the 1973 film The Sting, which is 'Der Clou'.
- The protagonist Matt Tucker is a famous burglar who starts as a small-time crook after leaving prison.
- The ultimate goal of the game is to burgle the Ministry of Light.
More in Adventure Games of the 2000s, Part 2 1-22
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