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Review: Two "Deus Ex" games vie for your attention. Which one will it be?

26.8.2016

Translation: machine translated

In the fourth instalment of the dystopian sci-fi action adventure, it's back to hacking, sneaking and shooting. In the process, you make eager use of your cybernetically souped-up body. If the PC and console version is too expensive for you, there is a cheaper and in some cases almost better alternative.

Deus huh? What's it about?

Augmented people are strictly controlled and watched with suspicion by normal people.

The first instalment, released in 2000, was set in a dark cyberpunk future with political intrigue, conspiracy theories and surveillance states. "Mankind Divided" is set in the year 2029, two years after "Human Revolution". A large proportion of humanity possesses bodies pimped by nanotechnology. After an incident in the last instalment, the so-called Augs have involuntarily gone mad for a short time and are no longer seen as the saviours of humanity as a result. Instead, a kind of new apartheid has emerged. In the equally powerfully souped-up body of special agent Adam Jensen, you fight against augmented cyber-terrorists and anything else that gets in your way in the Prague of the future.

Does the game look good?

The various locations are elaborately designed.

"Deus Ex Mankind Divided" looks really sharp. The crisp graphics shine with a palette of impressive effects and present a vivid Prague, packed with detail. Unfortunately, with a few exceptions, sightseeing is limited exclusively to the Czech capital. This is somewhat disappointing after the jet-setting of the last instalments, but the city is big enough and the locations surprisingly varied that boredom rarely sets in.

The bold graphics unfortunately come at a price - at least on the PC. To play "Mankind Divided" in full detail, you need a pretty hell of a machine. I'm admittedly playing on a relatively high resolution of 3440x1440 pixels. My two GTX 980s had their problems. Weak-willed as I am, I immediately upgraded to a GTX 1080 and the game runs very smoothly. I only switched off MSAA and Contact Hardening Shadows.

And what do you do all day long?

Jensen can dish it out well

Since Jensen is a very diligent boy scout, he not only completes missions for his employer Interpol, but also optionally for various other needy contemporaries. It should be noted that the side quests are usually even more exciting than the main quest. As the game is not overly long even with side quests (approx. 30 hours), it is worth not skipping any of them.

The hacking mini-game is pretty entertaining.

In typical Deus Ex fashion, missions can be solved in different ways. Although "Mankind Divided" does not come close to the freedom of the first part, you are still very flexible. As always, you can fight your way through the levels with weapons if you wish - but that doesn't necessarily make it any easier. More exciting are the alternative solutions, which often only emerge when you play with your eyes open and listen carefully to the conversations.

In addition to shooting and sneaking, hacking is a central element of the game. There is also an entertaining mini-game. If you like tampering with other people's computers, you should definitely read the emails. Not only will you find useful information, you will often come across extremely entertaining conversations.

What can this robot guy do?

In addition to the normal ones, there are experimental augmentations that require more energy but are also stronger.

"Deus Ex" wouldn't be "Deus Ex" if you didn't have a range of fun augmentations at your disposal. They are unlocked with new experience points. In addition to better hacking skills, there are numerous augmentations that unlock very individual play styles. Brute players choose the Titanium armour, which allows you to act like a tank. On the other hand, you can also complete the game without killing a single person. To do this, you rely on electric helpers such as PEPS. Jensen uses this to shoot a wave of energy out of his arm, which knocks out enemies. The Icarus Dash, with which you can teleport, so to speak, is also practical. Or you can simply make yourself invisible and run past your opponents unnoticed.

Weapons can be equipped with numerous upgrades or different types of ammunition.

Those who prefer to use a gun will be delighted with the new upgrade system that can be used to upgrade weapons. The material required for this can also be used to craft health packs, ammunition or energy cells.

Let's be honest: isn't all that glitters gold?

Unfortunately not, and no expense has been spared with golden colour - in the truest sense of the word. It feels like the whole world consists exclusively of black and gold. However, this didn't bother me personally.

I found the start tougher. The first mission is moderately exciting and even after that it took me a while to really get into the game.

There are also many minor inconsistencies such as the annoying black screen. Whenever Jenson starts a dialogue or carries out a sneak attack, the camera switches to the third person and takes you out of the game.

The game also takes itself a little too seriously, but then doesn't go far enough in its depiction of discrimination against the Augs. More could have been achieved there.

Most of the time, nobody bothers if you insert money chips and search through drawers.

What also always bothers me in games like this are NPCs who you can clean out their entire cabin, search their computer for naked pictures and block the toilet without them even batting an eyelid.
The ventilation shafts scattered everywhere are also practical but completely implausible. Apart from as secret transport routes for the brownies, their positioning makes zero sense.

The last criticism I would like to make concerns Jenson. The cyber agent, who wears sunglasses even at night and could poke out eyes with his pointy goatee, is about as exciting as a glass of water. At least his voice acting is first-class, at least in English - as is that of the rest of the protagonists, with a few exceptions.

Conclusion: Varied sci-fi thriller in a believable world

"Deus Ex: Mankind Divided" encourages different play styles, delivers an interesting and richly detailed world and offers enough depth for role-playing fans. After the slow start, the game entertained me enormously and the exciting side quests are particularly enjoyable. If you like science fiction games packed with technical bells and whistles, you'll have a good time with this game.

"Deus Ex: Mankind Divided" was provided to us by Koch Media. The PC version was tested. The game is also available for PS4 and Xbox One.

Even more cyberpunk with "Deus Ex GO"

An almost even better and significantly cheaper "Deus Ex" experience is available with "Deus Ex GO" for Android and iOS. It is the third game in the GO series after "Hitman" and "Lara Croft". The gameplay has been continuously developed, but is still based on the same principle. The levels are small dioramas in which Jensen has to try to get to the other end unscathed.

The levels become increasingly tricky. Conveniently, a solution aid is implemented.

The playing field is somewhat reminiscent of a mill and you move Jensen along the lines in the same style. Whenever Jensen makes a move, it is also the opponents' turn. However, they behave very differently. Armoured guards storm towards you step by step and hit Jensen on the head if he doesn't dodge first. Turrets spit lead if you stand in their way. The principle of visual contact always applies. If Jensen sneaks up on a guard from the side, he can render them harmless. There are also terminals that can be used to adjust the energy supply. This allows you to take control of turrets or unlock previously blocked paths. You can also make yourself invisible for a short time. It takes a lot of brainpower and tactics to master the increasingly difficult levels. Best of all, you can use the app to unlock skill points for "Mankind Divided".

"Deus Ex GO" costs CHF 5 and is available for Android and iOS.