Deus Ex Human Revolution

 

 

Create your own review

Deus Ex: Human Revolution is a prequel to the series that started with the release of the first game back in 2000. Hard to believe that we're already at the 10 year mark, but the advancement of technology waits for no one. That's the overall theme of Human Revolution, but its flawed game play is ironically the best example of that very theme.

For those who don't know, Deus Ex is a hybrid mix of 1st-Person Shooter, RPG, and tactical stealth game mechanics. In this rendition you play as Adam Jensen, a security operative for a multi-billion dollar human augmentation conglomerate who is nearly killed during an attack by a team of cybernetically enhanced mercenaries. Jensen is brought back from the brink of death a changed man, now a living cyborg capable of incredible feats. As the game progresses, experience points known as 'Praxis points' will allow you to unlock new abilities that allow you to see through walls, cloak yourself in therm-optic camouflage, hack computer terminals, and more. Deciding what to upgrade is a direct reflection of each gamer's individual playing style, mixing into the core of the game play itself which allows you to tackle any scenario a multitude of different ways. If straight up violence is your forté, you can go in with guns blazing. A more cautious player may opt for the subtle approach, taking detours through rooftops and ventilation shafts to stay hidden from discovery and strike silently. This dual-combination of character augmentation and play style remains largely unchanged from the original Deus Ex. Unfortunately, Human Revolution's traditional-style game play has allowed some outdated (and unforgivable) defects and errors to tag along for the ride.

The core game style of Human Revolution includes a few obvious goofs which should have been identified and removed before this game even shipped. Enemy A.I. will introduce flanking maneuvers in an attempt to keep you on your toes during combat, but sometimes all it takes is to hide behind an open door for your enemies to lose you. This, I might add, can happen AFTER an enemy group already knows your precise location. The few that do manage to make it around the door can be shot and killed (or knocked out, if that's your preference) leaving any remaining enemies scrambling to figure out what just happened. In an era when gaming A.I. has progressed substantially, it shouldn't be hard for an NPC to put two-and-two together. Environments don't always fare better, either. I can't count how many "secured" areas or apartments that I was able to bust into using a blatantly obvious ventilation shaft leading straight inside. I'm not sure who in their right mind puts man-sized vent shafts in their homes without any locking mechanisms whatsoever. The same goes for a few venues in the game as well. While in China, I took a visit to a local dance club/bar and hacked my way into the restricted back rooms. The jig was soon up, and a mountain of security operatives came storming after me. After killing them all, I proceeded to take out the few remaining personnel in the actual club itself. Patrons cowered in fear as I flexed my cybernetic muscle, and I left wondering if I'd be allowed back in. But sure enough, that's precisely what happened. My next visit was met with a smile, a pile of dead bodies still there in the back room, and absolutely no hint of previous club carnage. Sure, it's just a game, but there should be some sort of penalty when this happens. I played through the game as merciful and good-natured as I could, but when I did actually throw down, I never got the impression that my nefarious actions really mattered. That's difficult to swallow for a game that relies heavily on moral and ethical choices that change the shape of the story as you progress.

Nitpicking aside though, Human Revolution is a lot of fun after you decide to brush off the glaringly obvious design flaws. It starts off slow and difficult, forcing you to rely on your wits and caution at first, but it really opens up once you start moving forward into the storyline. Jensen is a cool, calculated soldier who can weave seamlessly through a room full of enemies using an effective (albeit rigid) cover system. It's always fun to knock out an opponent and drag his unconscious body into a corner so that his compatriot doesn't discover what's happened. There's a good collection of fun weapons with lots of style, punch, and a definite sense of varying weight, which is nice. They can all be modded using weapon kits that extend ammo capacity, add silencers and laser sights, etc. But the real core of the game lies in Adam's body augmentations. As you begin to unlock the various technology trees, you can mix and match them to suit your playing style. It was quite fun to turn on therm-optic camouflage and sneak past a room full of enemies into the next room to hack a computer which could then turn an automated gun turret against them. Similarly, punching through a weak wall and grabbing the enemy standing behind it is a very cool thing to see for the first time. The producers of the game excelled in presentation here. It's not a perfect combat system, however. Jensen must keep an eye on his battery cell life, which is responsible for powering many of his augments. Sneaking up behind an enemy for a knockout costs you an entire energy cell. You can unlock more energy cells using Praxis points, but only the last remaining cell will recharge itself after it has been totally depleted. I found it rather dumb that a simple physical chokehold or heavy punch could deplete an energy cell, especially considering that there are no melee weapons in this particular game. One has to wonder how Jensen would fare in a fist fight if battery power was juicing every punch.

Graphically, Human Revolution shines on the PC, which is no surprise. Higher framerates, texture detail and DX11 capabilities haven't gone unnoticed. The rich, copper-tinted art style is eye catching and dramatic, giving a sense of "future" to the game that was previously dominated by blues in past Deus Ex titles. For all its beauty however, there are a few spotty parts. Cityscapes sometimes look largely like fuzzy, low-resolution JPEGs. Far off buildings don't contrast very well with the skyline, giving them the appearance of cheap cardboard cutouts, and there are a few recycled environments here and there. Character models could have been done better, especially with what we've already seen in games like Uncharted 2 and Mass Effect 2. Even Jensen's aerial transportation vehicle feels like a 3D model pasted against a background and animated without any effects that lend it a hint of realism. These issues, ironically, were all present in the original Deus Ex, and should have been fixed for a new entry coming off the assembly line 10 years after the fact.

Sound is immersive and wonderful. Music takes its cue from previous Deus Ex games to keep up the feel of linearity and integration, and sound effects are very dazzling. In the middle of a firefight, the adrenaline flows easily thanks to solid sound direction and imaginative effects. And finally, the controls are great. Easy keyboard remapping means no fooling around when you're playing. Menus could have been done better though. Moving inventory objects around can actually be quite frustrating sometimes, and the quick inventory bar at the bottom of the screen can get easily cluttered and remapped without your consent. It's an easy pill to swallow, however. I didn't mind.

The real meat of the Deus Ex games is in the story, filled with every conspiracy theory you can think of all rolled into one. Deus Ex has never shyed away from pulling up the skirts of today's headlines to reveal the perceived truth. Human Revolution tackles the notion of powerful cybernetic augmentations and how they have divided the world's population cleanly down the middle between those in favor, and those vehemently opposed. The game also explores the corrosion of government states and the subsequent rise of mega-corporations acting as the new voice of leadership and human progression, while forcing the ugly reality of class division, subjugation of the populace, and the moral and ethical decay of society in an era of dangerous scientific breakthroughs and mass terrorism. It's always a fascinating story to wade through, and while most of the game's themes must be taken with a grain of salt (or two), there is no denying the fundamental layers of truth that are staring us in the face even today as our economy teeters on the brink of disaster while the rich get richer, more powerful, and more unstoppable. Food for thought.

Human Revolution hasn't progressed much from the first Deus Ex, and that's a shame. However, there are enough new elements in the game to satisfy die-hards and give newcomers a fantastic ride into the dark days of humanity's future as a species. The hype is warranted, and it's a game that should be played straight through from beginning to end at LEAST once. There's plenty of reason to go back and play it again, including 4 different endings and the excuse to play through the game taking different routes, paths or decisions, and seeking out every secret.

PRESENTATION: 7/10
GRAPHICS: 8/10
SOUND: 10/10
CONTROLS: 8/10
FUNFACTOR: 9/10

OVERALL: 85%

PROS: Engaging storyline, multiple ways to play, fun augmentation enhancements, excellent replay value
CONS: Obvious, inexcusable game play flaws, inconsistent graphical quality, deficient enemy A.I.

Excellent game that really captures the essence of Deus Ex, while doing away with most of the things that were annoying before. Multitools and lockpicks have been replaced by a hacking system that's more fun and more dynamic than simply using inventory items. Combat is better that before, with a really good cover system, numerous upgradable weapons much smarter enemies. As to the story, it is perfect for the paranoid and fans of conspiracy theories.

Fans of Deus Ex, rejoice! You won't be dissapointed by this franchise reboot.

Bon jeu, facile à jouer, intéressant: il ne lui manque plus qu'un meilleur graphisme pour avoir ½ étoile de plus.

Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review

› See all 4 customer reviews on Amazon.ca

 

5.0 out of 5 stars A most Awsome Continue
When i first saw the art for this game several months ago I was skeptical, but after playing it and getting that satisfaction that comes from working your way by stealth and guile... Read more

Published 7 months ago by S. Bate

Search Customer Reviews
Only search this product's reviews

› See all 4 customer reviews on Amazon.ca

Search Listmania!