Deus Ex Review

An unfortunate event that occurred in PC gaming is the decline of certain genres and franchises which deserved to be recognized but somehow became underrated and made a quiet exit. When I think of such franchises, Deus Ex comes to mind.

Websites all over the internet have only great things to say about this game. And yet, it hasn't become popular like other mainstream titles. This game has a target audience in mind, it's certainly not for the casual weekend gamer, nor is it for someone who is enjoys run and gun sort of gameplay.

With all this in mind, I set out to see what the game is all about.

Never having played a RPG game before this, I didn't know what to expect. I didn't think much about the game when I first started playing. I wasn't impressed with the visuals and I almost gave up playing. However I got a little curious about the RPG elements, so I decided to play a little longer.

The game was visually very unappealing and it's hard to ignore mediocre graphics. Graphics have evolved so much that we are not impressed with anything less than spectacular.The graphics in the game are just that – mediocre. They are not particularly ugly, but they are not very pretty either. The entire game takes place in night time; the atmosphere for most part is very gloomy. You either find yourself out in the open under street lights with plenty of dark shadowy regions or you are inside buildings with florescent lights. The monotony is broken a few times during the game when you enter inside some buildings which are truly breathtaking. Character models are decent, but nothing like they are now.

Having said that, the game isn't meant to be played for its graphics anyway, they serve the purpose, but nothing more. This is one of those games where the gameplay is so good that you will soon forget about the visuals. As I played the game, I got used to the dull settings, I found myself caught in the riveting gameplay.

You play as JC Denton, a human cyborg working for the UNACTO in the counter terrorism unit. The game is set in the future where the world is in turmoil. There is a deadly plague epidemic and the only cure for this disease is Ambrosia – a concoction synthesized from rare chemicals.

It does appear like a routine story where the world is chaos and in need of a savior but all is not as it seems. You will soon realize that the conspiracy runs a lot deeper and unwittingly you become the center of plot and the fate of the world actually rests on your actions. I cannot give away too much, but rest assured that the game has one of the best storylines ever. I especially like the way the story unfolded.

One of the interesting aspects of this game (like most RPG games) is that impact that your actions have on the way the game is played. In most FPS games, you play along a predetermined path and perform actions exactly the way they were meant to be performed in order to make progress. The path is very linear and there is hardly any room for freedom. In Deus Ex, there are a number of ways a certain task or level can be completed. Your earlier actions determine the way the game is played. Almost everything that you do will make a difference.

As you keep playing, you will accumulate skill points, which can be used to increase skill levels in a lot of areas, such as Pistols, Rifles, Melee attack, Medicine etc. You will play the game differently based on different upgrades. If you upgrade your Rifle skill, you can afford to attack more, if you increase your Melee skill level, then you will be able to use stealth to your advantage and be very quiet and deadly. Most of the times, you will need a combination of your skills to get through the game.

The game has to be played to grasp the significance of this concept. Having certain skills will make certain tasks easier but there will always be a compromise. So you are never a master at all the skills. There is always a balance and this determines how the game is the played.

However, you don't get skill points for using a certain skill; rather you accumulate skill points for discovering hidden areas, accomplishing goals etc, which can be used to upgrade skill to different levels. But that makes sense; the protagonist in the game isn't completely human, so skills aren't developed the traditional way. There are also several augmentations available throughout the game which will give you special abilities, like speed, vision etc. These can be upgraded throughout the game.

As a player, you have a greater role in the game than to just kill enemies and complete levels. You get to decide your own path in solving the tasks at hand. The skills that you have upgraded as well as the augmentations play a vital role in how the game progresses. Since a grouping of these factors is responsible for the gameplay, it's possible to play the game in very different ways using different styles.

NPCs play a very vital role throughout the game. Interaction with them is important and you get access codes, secondary quests, items and useful snippets of information. Although sometimes it's not mandatory, it usually helps in either understanding the game better or gathering some information that makes solving tasks a whole lot easier.

A lot of work has been put into the sound. Every location has distinct sounds, like techno music in a nightclub, eerie music when going through cemetery etc. The soundtrack is excellent and I enjoyed listening to it. It is very solid and adds to the atmosphere a great deal.

Playing Deus Ex is by far one of the most satisfying experiences in gaming. The game builds up gradually to a superb conclusion. It's a pity that we don't get to play games like these anymore. After having playing countless FPS games over the years, sometimes I long for a game that is very profound and thought provoking.

Once finished, you will carry along that feeling of having been on a remarkable journey and wonder why Deus Ex did not do well in spite of being so ground-breaking.

+ Excellent level design
+ Story
+ Music
+ Freedom to chose the type of gameplay
+ Multiple endings
+ Twist in the tale

- Visuals are not its strength

Verdict - Must play