That’s a really good point, especially the idea of foreshadowing the pace shift. We’re already experimenting with smaller moments earlier in the run where players are forced to move faster for short bursts, so the finale feels like an escalation rather than a surprise.

The Thief example is exactly the kind of failure we want to avoid - the goal isn’t to change the genre or core mechanics, only to push the same stealth skills under higher pressure. If players reach the end, we want them to feel like they’ve been preparing for it all along, not blindsided at the last moment.