It needs to be emphasized that Deus Ex: Human Revolution is not an arcade shooter and there are no melee weapons to wield. Headshots do offer a little XP bonus as well, but players will earn more XP for silent non-lethal, melee takedowns and taking advantage of non-obvious paths. XP bonuses are handed out for finding secret passages to avoid and bypass tough situations as well as taking out enemies using up close and personal, context-sensitive melee attacks that award additional XP versus simply gunning down opponents. Traversing the game's locales is done only on foot and it can be very tedious at times going back and forth between areas or locating a weapons dealer since the in-game maps do not show everything, so be vigilant in searching for shortcuts. It really comes down to the more subtle choices on the fly that define the game experience and make it rewarding, balancing a combination of force, stealth and hacking, each awarding differing amounts of experience points (XP). Players are offered a large variety of skills and abilities to add and each serve a specific function, and often provide the only safe solution in tricky in-game situations. Each event, revelation and plot twist increases the scope of the title and its storyline exponentially and players will never lose that feeling of discovery and intrigue as they progress through the game's main story.ĭeus Ex: Human Revolution is about player choice on several different levels, showcased by its RPG elements in side-quests, social interaction as well as the upgrading of weapons and augmentations. Reed and required him to receive augmentations. With the game's aesthetic focusing on a rather specific color palette, smaller, important items such as pocket secretaries would otherwise be missed - hidden on a bookshelf or in a pile of garbage.įrom then on, it's time to travel the world and explore the five different 'hubs' the game offers (Including Detroit, Hengsha and Montreal) as Jensen sets out on his way to unravel the mystery of the attack that killed Dr. In-game objects of note, whether they be accessible doors and vents, readable ebooks or obtainable items, are highlighted in-game with a slight glow, a gameplay feature some fans of the original were weary of being another example of an established franchise getting 'dumbed down' but they can rest assured that it is very helpful, even needed at times. In contrast to the clean HUD players start the game with (when human), the explanation of the video game side of the experience through the story works to keep players immersed in the role. Rechargeable health and a HUD that displays a mini-map as well as ammunition counts, etc., are explained in game through the Jensen's augmentations - in this case, the nifty shades we see him wear.

It is through these mechanical augmentations that Eidos decided to explain gameplay elements players are accustomed to from first person shooters. All of these moments, as well as the game's cutscenes, are all rendered with the in-game engine and look wonderful. It's a first-person shooter at heart like its predecessors, but Human Revolution includes moments when using cover and performing close-combat takedowns where the view pulls out into a third-person perspective, offering a more cinematic experience to the melee combat and a user-friendly perspective for the cover system. Like the original and its sequel, Deus Ex: Invisible War, Human Revolution is a shooter-RPG hybrid. Does Human Revolution, in title and theme, live up to the high standard set by the original Deus Ex? Read on to find out.ĭeus Ex: Human Revolution is a visionary title developed by Eidos Montreal and is the prequel to the incredibly well-received Deus Ex from 2000.

In the stylish dystopian future depicted in Deus Ex: Human Revolution, it is these questions that give rise to some of society's most prominent geopolitical issues, where worldwide conspiracies, newfound prejudices and terrorism have reached a fever pitch and players are thrown right into the thick of it.

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