DE:HR is a well polished stealth game. But does it live up the marvelous Deus Ex?
DE:HR is a prequel to the game of same name, Deus Ex. The main character, Adam Jensen, works for Sarif as a security expert, but after an attack in his workplace, he almost dies - yet he has returned to life with augmentations. Augmentations is the way to a perfect life inthis not so distant future, but people are divided, as they either think that augmentations are the death to "humanity", not physically but morally, or it is the future and therefore will strengthen the human beings in term of physics and health.
After the traumatic event, he returns to his work but with many questions unanswered. He seek to find out why this attack found place and what purpose it had.
Gameplay
The game is a classical stealth game; you either can go head on and assault whatever comes by you, or you can sneak past your enemies undetected. The game enables you to use Adam's augmentations to find he best routes, by either seeing all enemies through walls, and other augmentations that makes him stronger in any way.
Through dialogues, you can choose what you want Adam to say, in some cases you will be able to detect how people react on certain answers, which might give you a better or worse outcome in the conversation. Either way, none of the choices are specifically good or evil, they are just different and are dependant on your personal opinion.
Throughout the game, you are able to explore inthe places that you're currently in. It isnt as free world as in some games, but you can choose if you want to do side quests or the main quests if you want to.
At certain points in the game, you will encounter bosses. One of them are either really easy or really really hard, depending on a choice you take earlier in the game. Either way, you can also defeat your enemies by using melee attacks, if it deems nessesary or the only way out, though it doesnt always work on the bosses...
Graphics
The game has wonderful graphics; if you had given the cover of the case a look, then you would see that it has a very golden-ish teint, which is also used throughout the entire game. There is little other colors, but it adds such a nice effect to the game when everything is mostly golden.
On top of that, the models are very detailed and have really nice textures, as far as I remember, there were barely any NPC's which were badly textured.
Pros
- Very enjoyable story. If you have played the previous Deus Ex games, then you cant avoid to get some of the references in the game. Also, keep watching after the credits... you might get goosebums!
- Keeps to the roots of the original games; conversations, excitement and the way Adam is "built" is just amazing.
- Many conspiracies; you're not entirely sure what is right and what is wrong, if there is a right or wrong? The game offers many theories and small hints, but everything is a little bit "hidden".
- Graphics are so beautiful. You can really feel a proper connection between the mordern style in the game and the lighting.
- Enjoyable soundtrack
Cons
- Animation tend to look a little stiff.
- Ending isnt satisfying; the game seem to end rather abruptly and the ending seems cheap and not as good as many of the scenes that happens throughout the game itself.
- The enemies tend to be a little bit stupid and do silly things, which can make it hard to stealth your way out.
All in all
The game is very enjoyable and very well made. Sure it doesnt live up to the original game, Deus Ex, in any way (how can any game?), but it is still a really good and well made prequel to a fantastic story.