Deus Ex

Pre-Owned/Used: Very Good Condition copies available

Product Information

• First-person role-playing game, with third-person view for conversations
• Address each challenge based on player's preference for playing style
• Heavily modified Unreal engine
• Real-world locations
• Advanced enemy and nonplayer-character artificial intelligence

Product Description

Real role-playing from a 3-D, first-person perspective. The game includes action, character interaction and problem solving, as well as realistic, recognisable locations. Many of the locations are built from actual blueprints of real places set in a near-future scenario. The game itself is a game filled with people rather than monsters, which creates empathy with the game characters and enhances the realism of the game world.

Rich character development systems: skills, augmentations, weapon and item selections and multiple solutions to problems ensure that no two players will end the game with similar characters whilst multiple solutions to problems and character development choices ensure a varied game experience. Talk, fight or use skills to get past obstacles as the game adapts itself to your style of play. The storyline is built on "real" conspiracy theories, current events and expected advancements in technology. If it's in the game, someone, somewhere believes it.

Review

Developers Ion Storm owed us something pretty special to counter the utter disappointment of Daikatana but futuristic shoot, spy and stalk-'em-up Deus Ex was almost more than we could have asked for. Almost.

Latin for that which appears out of nowhere to resolve a conflict (apparently), Deus Ex is set in a nearby future where a deadly virus ravages the world's populace, terrorists are bent on exposing corrupt governments and conspiratorial elites are ready to wade in and wreak havoc. You play a techno-enhanced agent tasked with getting to the bottom of it all without cashing in your chips.

Immediately noticeable is the attention to detail; there's no end of objects and characters to interact with--too much, were it not for the consequences that arise from almost every interaction. Such random actions as killing a guard or "accidentally" walking into the ladies' toilets can significantly affect mission outcomes. The best game will result from stealthy inch-by-inch exploration and trust us, you'll be glad you did.

Considering that Deus Ex has gameplay in bucketloads, it could look like Commander Keen and get away with it. Thankfully though, the Unreal engine does a more than passable job of rendering some beautiful locations and although models may look a little blocky compared to games using more sophisticated engines, the minor flaws melt away as the game gets going.

By no means a perfect title, Deus Ex, as its name implies, has come from nowhere and lifted the FPS role-playing adventure out of its hybrid quagmire of genres. With a richly detailed story and great visuals, it boasts a seamless, technically accomplished and truly engrossing game world for those wanting to flex so much more than just their trigger fingers. --Tae Mawson --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.