"Computer Gaming World"s Thomas L. McDonald wrote that "everything in "Thief II" is bigger, sharper, better, and more effective" than in its predecessor. He enjoyed its story and called its levels "vast and intricate", with "astonishingly complex and often beautiful" architecture; but he found the game's graphics to be somewhat lackluster. McDonald summarized "Thief II" as a unique "gamer's game". Jim Preston of "PC Gamer US" considered the game to be "more focused and polished than the original", and he praised the removal of "zombie battles". While he faulted its graphics, he summarized it as "one hell of a good game".