Difficulty:

Just Right

Time Spent:

20 to 40 Hours

The Bottom Line:

"Amazing"

Deus Ex: Human Revolution is a wonderful FPS/RPG experience that not only fans of the series should look into, but anyone who loves a story based on conspiracy theories, science, political maneuvering, and ethical dilemmas.

DE:HR takes place in an easily foreseeable future, which is one aspect that makes it so intriguing. (Mild spoilers ahead.) The protagonist is Adam Jenson, an ex-cop who currently works as head of security for Sarif Industries. While on duty one day, trained mercenaries infiltrate Sarif HQ and murder Adam's love interest and her team of scientists, who were on the verge of a scientific breakthrough. Adam is also nearly killed and is forced to take on augments of his own in order to live. It is up to him to figure out who did it and why they did it. The world is immersive and the story keeps you guessing. Two components that will keep you locked in your seat to keep playing.

The ethical issues that DE:HR deal with are ones present in today's world. All of the opinions expressed by different characters in the game are also similar to ethical stances taken by people in the real world. It is this reason that the story, while being a typical sci-fi adventure, is also very relatable.

Obviously, being a Deus Ex game, player choice is an important part of the gameplay and story. You can play the game the way you want to, whether that be hacking and sneaking through vents, cloaking and using stealth, or going in guns blazing. The excellent level design allows for every play style to be a valid option all throughout the game, with the exception of boss fights. The choices you make are not labeled as good or evil but are morally grey, which have unknown consequences later in the game, similar to The Witcher series.

The gameplay nothing groundbreaking but what you would expect from a tactical stealth shooter. The cover system is well made and not a half assed one like Crysis 2. The executions in the game are very fun to perform. Whether they are lethal or non-lethal, it is very enjoyable seeing the camera pop out to show Adam snap a guys arm and smash the side of his head, then have the camera zoom back into his head. Stealth is just like any other stealth game, it requires patience and timing. I personally believe stealth is the more challenging and rewarding way to play DE:HR. The augmentation system is great. Depending on what augments you choose, especially early on in the game, can really determine how you can complete a mission.

The graphics are good especially for the PC. I am very happy they treated the PC version of the game with advanced graphics options and a DX11 mode right at launch (Gives disgruntled look at Crytech.) However, the body and facial animations have much to be desired. The lip synching does not much at all usually and can be distracting at times.

I did experience some game crashes every once and a while, during gameplay and at loading screens. The loading times were long but halfway through the game they stopped being an issue. The boss fights were not very enjoyable except for the last one. I understand that it is hard to create a fun and balanced boss fight to accommodate for every play style that the game allows. I don't think the developers did a very good job with this.
The attention to detail is some of the best I've ever seen in a game. Reading through all the e-mails, exploring all that the levels have to offer. Almost every corner of the game has something interesting to read or item to pick up.

Deus Ex: Human Revolution is not a perfect game, but it still delivers so much. Gameplay that gives you the flexibility to complete missions in tons of different ways. A world that is dark, immersive and showered with detail. A story that will tug at your emotional and moral fibers. This game is not just for Deus Ex fans, it is for anyone who wants to try something different. So please, get lost in the world of Deus Ex: Human Revolution, you won't regret it.