Deus Ex : a gaming revolution

I picked up Deus Ex: Human Revolution for my Xbox 360, not because of any previous experiences playing a Deus Ex title, which I have never done before, but for my general love for all things Cyberpunk. It was a broad step, because Sixty bucks for a game is a huge investment, and making that decision because of a genre love would be almost crazy.

The game takes place in 2027, and follows the life and adventures of Adam Jensen, and ex cop and current corporate security man. Cybernetic technology is in it's infancy, and Jensen's ex girl friend (or wife?) is a genius who has discovered the secret to helping people avoid the rejection that is common with most “Augments” and is preparing to give a speech to the US government. While preparing to head out, events happen, and the game skips ahead 6 months, were Jensen has been augmented and is returning to the job as Head of Serif's industries security team. From there on, the game follows a twisting and turning series of events with lots of revelations and conspiracies.

Part of what makes the game is the fact that as you level, your character gains access to augments in his cyber tech, and you get to choose just what those are. You can be a computer hacker, a stealth cyber ninja, or a damage taking heavy hitter. You get to choose. And unlike most games that offer these types of options, Deus Ex delivers by giving you multiple ways through most of game, allowing you to utilize which ever style of game play you set up for. Add to it the ability to modify weapons and their capabilities, and the diversity is pretty far reaching.

The game controls are strong for a cover based system of combat. When you snap the button, you cling to the nearest cover. Most cover based games I have played are third person, so it was a nice surprise to find a first person system that could deliver. The only real complaint to the cover system is sometimes the enemies move right up next to you, and without dropping out of cover, you are a sitting target, unable to hit the target while it pumps you full of lead. Weapons also have a bizaare field of effect, with shotguns being all but worthless without a direct shot.

These small things aside, the game is a solid package all around. Great graphics, a compelling story and well rounded characters. The story weaved is an amazing tale that kept me guessing all the way up until the end, and was thoroughly enjoyable. I had such a great time, I actually started a new game the very next day after beating it. Do yourself a favor, and pick this game up.

Nerd Credentials : Lifetime Pass