GAME REVIEW: ‘Deus Ex: Human Revolution – Director’s Cut’ is augmented to perfection

The dawn of the new millennium saw the release of “Deus Ex”, a first-person sci-fi RPG steeped in surprisingly believable future technology and paranoia-inducing conspiracies. 

 

This title would quickly become one of the finest PC games, praised by critics and fans alike for its intelligent writing and commitment to player choice. After its 2003 sequel failed to live up to the original, fans pinned their hopes on Square Enix and developer Eidos Montreal’s foray into the venerable franchise.

 

Fortunately, the massive hype surrounding 2011’s “Deus Ex: Human Revolution” was matched by an equally outstanding game. With its beautifully-realized cyberpunk world; stealth gameplay that rivaled top-shelf espionage titles; enough conspiracy theories to shake a tin foil hat at; and, best of all, its return to the “play how you want” formula that made the first game so good, “Human Revolution” was a success. 

 

Despite its brilliance, “Human Revolution” was far from perfect, bogged down by unfairly difficult boss battles that were skewed towards specific play styles, the occasional bland texture, and sometimes wonky enemy A.I.
 

These are the problems “Deus Ex: Human Revolution – Director’s Cut” – originally a Wii U exclusive but now available on multiple platforms – aims to address. 

 

Does this new version work? Do the changes warrant another visit to “Human Revolution’s” stunning, cybernetically-enhanced world? 

 

A glimpse into many possible futures

 

“Deus Ex” offers a window into a not-too-distant future (2027, to be precise), where man has found a way to control his evolution through the use of mechanical and electronic augmentations implanted in his body. 

 

Some of these modify natural abilities, making one stronger or faster; others bequeath gifts unnatural to our species, such as the ability to integrate with computers or survive an otherwise fatal fall by slowing down one’s descent. 

 

As Adam Jensen, you are security chief of Sarif Industries, an extremely high tech Detroit-based company specializing in the design and manufacture of augmentations. When you are mortally wounded in a terrorist attack, you are forced to undergo a series of radical surgeries to save your life. 

 

One awesome transformation sequence later, you emerge as a heavily-augmented cyborg, complete with cool shades that retract into your face and prosthetic robot arms that hide a pair of deadly blades.

 

As soon as you return to work, you are drawn into a bleak world sundered by strife and all but ruled by double-dealing mega-corporations. The search for those responsible for the attack is only the beginning.

 

The story is delivered with poignancy, thanks to “Human Revolution’s” excellent world-building. Emails, e-books and news broadcasts flesh out every sordid detail and provide a believable, solid backdrop for your adventure. 

 

This is a world on the brink of a technological revolution and apocalyptic disaster; saving it will exact a steep price. “Human Revolution” is rich with philosophical underpinnings and ethical considerations, adding another layer to an already tight package.

 

Unsurpassed RPG freedom

 

Every msision area from Detroit to Singapore serves as a hub that connects to sub-areas, which include sprawling corporate offices, top secret laboratories, a red light district, enemy lairs, and more. The level design is superb, always offering multiple approaches to a problem or routes to a destination.

 

This is the core of the “Deus Ex’s” design philosophy: the freedom to experience the game however you want. You can invest in heavy weapons and premium armor, slaughtering anyone in your way. Or you can be a pacifist and arm yourself with a tranquilizer, sneaking through ventilation shafts, secret passageways, and empty rooftops. 

 

How about using your enemies’ strengths against them? Then hack those security cameras, turrets, and robots and make them do the dirty work for you. There is always another way. It’s your choice.

 

Direct combat is challenging. Thankfully, as a first and third-person shooter, “Human Revolution” utilizes an effective cover system that seamlessly integrates into the game’s stealth mechanics. Sneaking around corners, rolling from cover to cover, and shooting from behind obstacles all feel fluid and natural; there is never a break in the flow between different play styles. 

 

This is important because these styles blend into one another often. For example, failing to hack a device could set off an alarm, forcing you to either hide or engage in battle.

 

To help get you through the game’s many hurdles are fully-customizable weapons. Some guns can be silenced for those quiet takedowns, while others can be upgraded for increased firepower, range, or additional effects.

 

The most wonderful toys you can play with, however, are the augmentations. These work to enhance your particular play style. For instance, if you’re going the ninja route, you can spend “praxis points” on cybernetics that will give you X-ray vision, or the ability to turn invisible or sprint without making any noise. One augment lets you punch through walls. Another allows you to read an individual’s physical cues, cluing you in on whether they’re lying or keeping secrets from you. 

 

There are many to choose from, but you cannot maximize them all; you will have to plan your upgrades for the best results.

 

Changes for the best

 

The biggest complaint about the original “Human Revolution” was the boss fights; for a game that was heavy on player choice and that encouraged experimentation with various play styles, these duels to the death punished you for not playing like Rambo. 

 

“HR – Director’s Cut” has altered the boss areas; they now include air ducts, hackable electronics, and other features that make these fights winnable with any play style. You don’t even have to fire your gun anymore to come out victorious.

 

“Director’s Cut” offers only a partial facelift of the graphics. Which isn’t so big a deal, given that “Human Revolution” already looked great. Everything in the game world has a golden or orange tint to it; on paper, this may sound like a recipe for unprecedented gaudiness, but in reality the effect is gorgeous. As for the design of the mechs and other technology, they are not so bizarre to look alien or cheesy, yet are inventive enough to be pleasing to the eye.

 

It’s a shame the human models couldn’t look more realistic. Some animations remain a tad weird, with arms and heads occasionally twitching almost unnaturally. But this is a small gripe.

 

The A.I. has also received some subtle improvements. Enemies will be alarmed by noises you make and any bodies you may have neglected to hide. They will work together to look for you, and if they find you, they will work together to kill you.

 

“Director’s Cut” also offers audio commentary and a built-in game guide. The former offers developer insights into key moments in the game, while the latter serves as a walkthrough for anyone eager to discover all the game’s secrets. Both can be turned on and off at the press of a button.

 

As the “ultimate edition of the game”, this version brings back everything you loved about “Human Revolution”, and then some.

There's spectacular storytelling and world-building, fantastic combat and stealth mechanics, the dedication to player choice, and plenty of magnificent augmentations and weapons to play with make it a great game; the addition of enhancements like second-screen content, vastly improved boss battles and developer commentary make it an incredible one.

 

Ready that cloaking device and set your augmentations to maximum: it’s time for a revolution. – KDM, GMA News