The Deus Ex Revolution - New Game Network

Eleven years ago Deus Ex made a big splash on the PC. The RPG / FPS hybrid is still touted as one of the best games ever made. Despite its critical success very few games have emulated the formula. Perhaps the closest imitation in recent times was Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines. Although a great game it was buggy at launch, demonstrating how difficult it is to recreate the formula. Deus Ex: Human Revolution, a prequel to the original, is due for release later this month. It was time to replay the original and rediscover what made it so great.

The original Deus Ex is set in 2052 when a virus called the Gray Death is decimating the human population. A drug called Ambrosia is used to temporarily cure the virus but not everybody has access to it. The game is rife with conspiracies, terrorism acts, secret organisations and Artificial Intelligences that monitor the globe. You play as JC Denton, the second nano-augmented agent created after his brother Paul. JC starts the game working for UNATCO, an anti-terrorist organisation, and sets out to track down stolen shipments of Ambrosia.

One of the linear levels in Deus Ex

Investigation is one of the most interesting aspects in Deus Ex. Information is gained through PDAs, computer terminals or just talking to characters. Saved civilians might give you codes or useful items. Alternative routes are found when fully exploring the detailed levels. Skill points, earned from exploring and completing objectives, are spent on weapon proficiency or hacking skills. Augmentation canisters provide a choice of upgrades that will dictate your play style. Stealth is most satisfying during the early parts of the game.

You can approach most situations by avoiding guards, moving in the shadows and disabling cameras. The stealth works because the AI is short sighted and quite lenient. If they see you around a corner they won’t immediately attack, letting you run and hide before they resume patrols. You can take down enemies with lethal or non-lethal force. The Stun prod can instantly incapacitate and tranquilizer darts take seconds to knock enemies out. Alternatively a single bullet to the head with a silenced sniper rifle will instantly kill.

Deus Ex is often easier when playing in stealth but it is far from the only option. Later in the game more powerful weapons, like the Dragon’s Tooth sword, assist in combat scenarios. Augmentations allow you to resist more damage or escape quickly when outnumbered. You can still play in stealth by sneaking through ventilation shafts or disabling bots after hacking into computers. There is almost always an alternative way to get through a section. Regardless of your play style the game is still very difficult.

Dragon’s Tooth sword – 6 : Majestic 12 – 0

One tough mission requires you to escape from a Majestic 12 facility after being captured. With limited weapons and security around every corner this section requires patience and frequent saving. This level in particular will highlight the variety of ways things can go wrong. Throughout the game there are no arrows that point to your objective, instead opting for clever audio triggers. Compressed level design and signs guide you to your objective. Characters even give you detailed maps of important areas. It’s very satisfying to find hidden areas or navigate around the obstacles in each level.

Deus Ex hasn’t aged one bit, in fact it was more fun to play through than ever before. The experience was enthralling and complex with many layers to combat, exploration and story. It is also a massive game, taking you across the globe from New York to Hong Kong and many places in between. It is surprising that the combat managed to stay enjoyable even after a decade of first person shooters. Stealth also worked well because of the careful balance with the AI. The game is so absorbing that little issues fade away.

Don’t worry about the man in black carrying the plasma rifle.

Deus Ex is a masterpiece, but it didn’t bring about a revolution in the games industry. Perhaps the prequel will have a better chance of instigating more FPS games driven by player choice. It will be interesting to see how Human Revolution balances stealth and combat without compromising either. From previews and videos it appears that combat is easier than the original but bonuses are rewarded for stealth play. More points, used for augmentations, are given for avoiding conflict or performing non-lethal takedowns. This may gently push players into a stealthy mindset but not punish others when mistakes happen.

Human Revolution is also changing elements and bringing new features to the franchise. Multitools and lockpicks are gone and Hacking is a now mini game against the clock. It uses a modern 3rd person cover system which may improve combat and stealth play. Dangerous mechanical arms replace the myriad of melee weapons from the first game. There is a social persuasion system that allows you to convince certain characters to do as you wish. Health is now regenerative and consumables are used to recharge discrete energy cells used for augmentations.

Rejoice PC gamers, grid inventory is back for the prequel

With all the options available in the original it’s hard not to get excited for another game in the franchise. Eidos Montreal has taken up a massive challenge, one that will be compared meticulously to the original despite key differences. Set in 2027 you play as Adam Jensen in the age of mechanical augmentations. Adam has been augmented after an accident and is working as security for Sarif Industries. He will travel across the globe from Detroit to Heng Sha trying to uncover the truth. The developers are putting a lot of focus on player choice and creating a deep narrative. If Human Revolution taps into the successful formula it could be an incredible game.