Deus Ex: Human Revolution – Game Analysis & Review
By Patrick Newman
Developer: Eidos Montreal, Nixxes Software (PC)
Publisher: Square Enix
Designer: Jean-François Dugas, David Anfossi
Writer: Mary DeMarle
Composer: Michael McCann
Engine: Modified Crystal Dynamics Crystal engine
Platforms: Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360
Release Date: August 23, 2011
Genre: Action role-playing
Mode: Single-player
Rating: ESRB: M
Instantly reminding the seasoned gamer of the numerous joys to be had in playing 2000’s Deus Ex so many years ago, Deus Ex: Human Revolution enters a market that has changed much since those tender days. Now that titles like Mass Effect and BioShock have taken the RPG/First-Person Shooter mash-up to astounding new heights, Human Revolution comes to the table with a lot to prove, and does so swimmingly in many respects.
The story, a prequel to the original Deus Ex, takes place in 2027 Detroit, painted as a dystopian future where people can augment their bodies with cyber-technology to fight aging and disease. A tech corporation named Sarif Industries is one of the leading proponents of these controversial augmentations, and when the company is sabotaged by an unknown faction, Security Chief Adam Jensen (who also suffered mortal injuries from the attack, and now wears augmentations) is tasked with finding the saboteurs.
The Blade Runner and William Gibson-inspired cyberpunk visuals are a wonder to behold, and as ever, the mental challenges and rewards required to complete a given mission are enormously satisfying and brimming with inventiveness. Using an array of strategies to deconstruct the game’s challenging puzzles is encouraged over resorting to simplistic action and raw spectacle (though there is certainly enough of that to go around), and ultimately that’s what makes Human Revolution stand out from its contemporaries.
The story suffers from spotty voice acting and some clichéd characters, but somehow the game’s themes of defining humanity in an era of pervasive artificiality come through and never fail to engage. The game has a linear narrative, light on surprises, but the sheer volume of choices when it comes to overcoming the game’s obstacle is incredible, to the point of making mission failure a fun opportunity to approach the game from an entirely different direction (Do I employ stealth, firepower, technology, or some complex combination of them all?).
The game’s action is of a highly complex, tactical nature, and makes for violent dashes of visceral excitement amidst the RPG elements, which posit the bio-tech augmentations as a central pursuit. Purchased with experience, the augmentations can make Jensen stronger, more stealthy, or better at hacking (the hacking mini-game in Human Revolution has to be among the best in-game diversions of its kind that I’ve seen).
Deus Ex: Human Revolution is not without its setbacks, but the impressive, challenging gameplay nearly always shines through. The boss fights aren’t layered with nearly the amount of complexity as other sections of the game, and the story can wane in its effectiveness due to some hitches in dialogue and the obviousness of certain plot twists, but they are scratches on what is otherwise an extremely polished piece. This cyberpunk, RPG shooter is a worthy follow-up to its beloved predecessor, deserving comparison with other titans in its genre, such as Metal Gear Solid.
Deus Ex: Human Revolution – Launch Trailer:
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Great review, I will be picking this up this weekend!