Deus Ex: Human Revolution Review

Deus Ex: Human Revolution Review
VERDICT:

The cover system in Deus Ex: Human Revolutions is good – it could’ve been better. We liked the overall graphics and presentation of the game (smoke billowing out of manholes, shadows, etc.), its mostly dark, gritty, with exceptional visual contrast – sets the stage very well to get in character. Just like the sights, the in-game sound is quite engrossing. There are a few niggles in the game, we won’t deny – dated facial animation, Adam Jensen’s voice, and slightly lengthy load times. But that doesn’t take away anything from Deus Ex: Human Revolution’s overall experience, which is quite simply an A+.

Deus Ex: Human Revolution is the third game in the Deus Ex series (originally launched back in 2000) but chronicles event that took place before the first game. In the year 2027, the subject of biomechanical human augmentations has caught everyone’s imagination, and society’s divided in two prime factions—purists and augmented. In this volatile climate, secretive corporations are conducting ground-breaking research to further human augmentations and tap into a multi-billion dollar market. You play as Adam Jensen, the protagonist, head of security at one such corporation, Sarif Industries. Trying to investigate a simple break-in, you uncover an extensive nexus of media, corporations and law enforcement agencies fighting for control of and shaping the future of human augmentation. The story definitely strikes a chord on multiple levels, sucking you into the not-so-distant future that’s tantalizingly believable. A world we all imagine can come true, it isn’t far-fetched sci-fi. Deus Ex: Human Revolution lays the foundation of an engrossing storyline quite successfully.

Then there’s the small matter of choice, giving players plenty of options to play the game the way they want. Combining elements of stealth, action and role-play, Deus Ex: Human Revolution manages to deliver a unique gaming experience. There is no single way to play this game, depending on the choices you make—whether it’s cornering a police officer to extract information or getting behind enemy lines—you will have multiple ways to reach an objective. You just need to explore, uncover, be supremely curious of everything in your surrounding and the game will reward you with ways that make you smile. A secured door can be hacked open, blown apart, or bypassed through a hidden vent; similarly an enemy can be shot down (killed), knocked down (unconscious) or circumvented by sneaking (left alone)—the plethora of choices at disposal really helps you lose yourself in the game, get totally immersed.

Human Revolutions combines elements of RPG very well with its primary action, stealth mood. It comes primarily in the form of augmentations and an active inventory—augment your arms to punch through walls and lift heavy items to uncover previously hidden access points, upgrade hacking skills to unlock heavily fortified doors, become invisible to hoodwink unfriendly eyes. You can tune bodily augmentations and inventory items to suit your gaming style. Speech is an important aspect of the game, like in Mass Effect—whether it’s Detroit or Heng Sha, you pick up clues and gauge the current mood of inhabitants in your location by conversing with them. Speech or social augments can save you a lot of time and trouble if, say, you can convince a bouncer or guard who’s blocking your path.

The cover system in Deus Ex: Human Revolutions is good—it could’ve been better. We liked the overall graphics and presentation of the game (smoke billowing out of manholes, shadows, etc.), its mostly dark, gritty, with exceptional visual contrast—sets the stage very well to get in character. Just like the sights, the in-game sound is quite engrossing. There are a few niggles in the game, we won’t deny—dated facial animation, Adam Jensen’s voice, and slightly lengthy load times. But that doesn’t take away anything from Deus Ex: Human Revolution’s overall experience, which is quite simply an A .

Details
Developer: Eidos Montreal
Publisher: Square Enix
Genre: Stealth, Action, RPG
Platforms: PC, Mac OS X, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360
ESRB Rating: M
Price: Rs. 999 (PC), Rs. 2499 (PlayStation 3, Xbox 360)

Ratings:
Graphics: 4
Sound: 4.5
Plot: 5
Gameplay: 4.5
Value for Money: 4.5
Overall: 4.5 out of 5

 

Jayesh Shinde

Jayesh Shinde

Executive Editor at Digit. Technology journalist since Jan 2008, with stints at Indiatimes.com and PCWorld.in. Enthusiastic dad, reluctant traveler, weekend gamer, LOTR nerd, pseudo bon vivant. View Full Profile

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