Thief Gold

[spukrian]

But so far the game has been incredibly hard to play due to the shitty combat, controls, AI, and having to restart the whole level when I die.

Hmm... you don't have to restart the entire level when you die. You can save the game whenever you want.

The combat is shitty because, just like in Penumbra Overture, you're supposed to avoid it at all costs.

If you have trouble with the controls, you can always change them in the config. I also suggest that you play the tutorial and pay attention to what is said during it.

So my question for you guys is, do you have any tips on how to get past the frustrating-ness of it all? Does it get better? Is there anything I can do to make this game less frustrating?

I think you should try sneaking around a bit more. And if you find the game difficult, don't play on Hard or Expert. The game does have a steep learning curve.