Deus Ex: Mankind Divided Review

Deus Ex has always been a series with choice at the heart of it. Mankind Divided is no different in that goal and provides a great and at times a masterful approach to that formula. It doesn't just give the illusion of choice, but rather showers you with options that constantly make you feel rewarded. With all these choices you feel empowered. That's the goal of Deus Ex: Mankind Divided, and for the most part it succeeds.

A Nation Divided

Deus Ex: Mankind Divided starts two years after the events of 2011's Deus Ex: Human Revolution. The developers added an optional 12 minute video at the start of the game detailing the events of that game to help refresh the player. I wish more games would do this as I felt it helped me feel more engaged in the story and it helped set up Mankind Divided's plot. The main protagonist continues to be Adam Jensen. For a gritty, crime ridden, sci-fi game he is pretty relatable and acts as a conduit for the player to experience the world's issues first hand. Deus Ex is cyberpunk done right. It focuses on interesting moral, ethical, and political problems in realistic ways. The ideas of people augmenting their body to become more enhanced has surprising implications and effects on the those who choose not to become cybernetic hybrids. The way in which social and political issues are displayed through TV's, radios, books, and people talking on the streets perfectly illustrate the issues at hand and give a realistic tone and quality rarely seen in video games.

The world building in Deus Ex is quite effective and believable. It adds so many little details that the environments feel real and full of life. People walk the streets, while police enforce brutality on the augmented citizens. I on occasion stopped just to take in all their was to see. To express just how detailed this world is I was walking towards a metro station to advance to a mission, but I paused to watch as a couple who seemed like tourists asked to have another person take a picture with their phone and continued to do so for about a minute. This event was completely unscripted and had nothing to do with my mission or the story, but it was such an intricate detail I couldn't help but be amazed.

Although the atmosphere and world of Mankind Divided are quite impressive, the story fares a little worse. It is not that the story is bad at all. In fact I was intrigued by it often and found it to be compelling to a point, but compared to the ambitious plot of Human Revolution the story feels as though it has less to prove making it feel underwhelming compared to the rest of the experience. That doesn't affect the side missions thankfully. The side missions are significantly more engaging than the main story. That is not a knock on the main story, but rather an expression of just how in-depth and lengthy these can be. They feel more complete and compelling than those found in Human Revolution. Although there might be less here than in that game, the ones found here are much more interesting and provide a worthwhile time investment.

A Cyborg Among Sheep

The minute to minute gameplay in Deus Ex shines through more than ever with Mankind Divided. As I mentioned at the start choice is truly the most complex and diverse it's ever been in the series. Gone are the days of mandatory stealth and skulking around corners. You are free to handle situations however you want. I spent most of the game engaging in dialogue and fighting enemies non-lethally rather than engaging in firefights. Deus Ex is quite impressive in the fact that you could play the entire game without killing a single enemy. Few games ever offer that choice and even fewer offer the chance to play a game so dynamically. Whether you want to go into a mission without being seen, or decide you'd prefer to make every enemy pay for their crimes the choice is yours. The various augmentations you have access to while playing the game is impressive as well.

Your augmented body feels as capable as a gun for taking enemies down. The ability to go invisible, shoot technologic blades out of your arms, or jump from a ledge only to have the ground shake beneath you are just a few of the upgrades you can unlock. They are free to use near the beginning to give you a taste of their power and then are taken away allowing you to decide what to unlock as time goes on. I really cannot say much negative about the gameplay. Combat and exploring the dense areas feel as tight as ever. Exploration usually reveals new routes towards your mission goal or a room full of ammo, codes for hacking into computers, and credit to spend on equipment. No matter how you want to play you can.

There really isn't much negative to say about the gameplay. Moving Adam Jensen around feels good and it plays much more loose than past Deus Ex games. The main complaint I have with the gameplay is the way you melee enemies. A minor complaint, but one I feel should be addressed. I understand that Adam Jensen is a cyborg, but if I am behind cover and a guard comes up behind me it should not deplete my augmented energy meter. The energy meter returns from Human Revolution standing as a battery for what augmentations you can use, and although it doesn't often get in the way it is decidedly strange to punch an enemy only to watch the bar drain. It doesn't make sense and requires the player to have some suspension of disbelief. For a game as realistic as Deus Ex I find it a strange inclusion. I understand the meter is to control the player and make things more strategic, but I feel there may have been a few too many restrictions for what the meter controls. Outside of that complaint everything else seems to be fairly straightforward and natural. Fighting feels fluid and less clunky. The game is really a joy to play.

Verdict:

Overall I can't help but feel impressed with Deus Ex: Mankind Divided. As a sequel it builds greatly upon its predecessor in terms of gameplay, level design, world building, and dialogue. In all that though the main story and some confusing gameplay decisions bog it down a bit. Thankfully that doesn't stop it from a being a great and exciting game to play. The experience and side stories are enough to make it a strong recommendation from me. If you have any interest in exploring a densely packed sci-fi game with intriguing themes about humanity and ethicality then Deus Ex: Mankind Divided is must play title.

8/10

Written by Kelton Rice.

Deus Ex: Mankind Divided: Preview

Cyberpunk Renaissance

When Deus Ex: Human Revolution came out in 2011, it gathered a whole new fan base for the Deus Ex series which was previously thought dead. It reignited the series and brought the gritty cyberpunk setting to new audiences who had never had the opportunity to try its unique style of choice based gameplay. It will be exactly five years since Human Revolution released when Deus Ex: Mankind Divided comes out on August 23rd and it seems it will be one of the most deep and complex first-person shooter RPG experiences in recent memory.

A World On The Brink Of Collapse

The world in Deus Ex is deep and full of political, technological, and moral issues. It's rooted in science fiction and focuses on a debate of what it means to be human. Robotic augmentation is at the heart of these issues. While some characters in the game find it enhances and evolves them there are others who find it goes against what it means to be a human being. With these kinds of issues at hand it can make for complex and morally ambiguous choices to make in the game. The game at its heart is about choice. The choices you make affect the world, characters, and consequences in unique and interesting ways. You play once again as Adam Jensen, the now experienced covert operative with robotic augmentation. With all of this political uproar at hand Adam must traverse his world carefully since he is augmented. There is a conspiracy underneath all of the commotion adding a sense of danger and haste to the issues at hand. All of these intense situations add a real sense of depth and intriguing storytelling to the game. It seems as though it will be a strong story with many interesting options and decisions to make.

Covert Operations

With all of the corruption and disagreement in Deus Ex's complex society, it makes sense there would be a myriad of foes seeking to take you down and stop your progress. Mankind Divided's weapon system seems to be following closely to that of Human Revolution's. There are many weapons to pick up and utilize. One of the coolest aspects of the combat in Deus Ex is how you can play it stealthy or if you are in a pinch go straight to action. Before missions you are asked how you want to handle them. Depending on your answers you will end up with weapons catering to your play style. It is really customizable and offers a lot of depth to how you engage your enemies. Throughout the missions there are different paths for you to go through to reach your objectives. This adds a real sense of exploration and freedom to your approach. On top of the various weapons you have access to there is also a complex augmentation system. Since Adam Jensen is augmented he has powers that enhance his natural abilities. Augmentations offer different powers like invisibility, special attacks, and increased strength. These are all upgradeable and can be expanded upon in a skill tree. There is a ton of customization to experiment with adding another layer of depth to the combat. On top of combat and interacting with characters there is also a hacking system allowing you to hack into computers, security systems, and rooms. This feature will be vital for getting around and discovering the secrets of your enemies. 

Uncovering The Truth

Deus Ex: Mankind Divided has so much going for it. There is a lot of hard work being put into it and it certainly shows. The game is striking a unique and fantastic approach that is rarely seen in games nowadays. With a ton of options in gameplay, a deep and intriguing world, and a compelling narrative, it gives it the potential to be one of the most memorable games of the year. With only one week left there isn't much longer to wait for this sci-fi driven, cinematic blockbuster.

Written by Kelton Rice

Deus Ex: Mankind Divided will be available on Monday August 22nd at 11:01pm during our early release sale. Free Papa John's pizza will also be available. Preorder your copy today for only $5!

No Man's Sky: Review

No Man’s Sky was promised to be a lot of things when it was announced back in 2013. Some saw it as a remarkably ambitious project that could be a game-changer. Others saw it as a game with a ton of empty space and little content to sustain itself. After spending countless hours with the game and seeing a lot that it has to offer I can safely say it was undoubtedly worth the wait.

Exploring the Universe

No Man's Sky starts off with a showcase of every planet in its vast universe. Each is displayed as a star and each is clustered together to form a galaxy. As it pans over the colorful universe for nearly 5 minutes you begin to get a sense of just how big the game really is. It's the kind of scope you've only read about in sci-fi novels and heard explained in movies, but instead of reading words on a page or listening to an explanation from a character, it springs to life itself on the screen to show you just how gigantic space really is.

After the impressive display of the universe a fade to white occurs and before you know it you find yourself standing on one of the many massive planets. You realize your ship is broken from a crash and you must fix it in order to leave. This is where the game does an excellent job of teaching you how to survive in its world. With the goal of fixing your ship you get a sense of how mining, crafting, and exploring work. You must walk around the planet’s surface to get a feel for your surroundings. As you do this you start to notice that each plant, rock, and substance on the planet is made up of an element that you need to fix your ship. You mine these elements and take them back to your ship for repair. Once you have the elements you’ll learn how to form them into cohesive parts. It’s a complex system with a lot of intricacy and depth.

When you leave the atmosphere and see the enormity of space for the first time it is truly breathtaking. For me, this will be one of the most memorable moments in gaming. Taking in the vastness of space and knowing that you can travel to any part of it is a harrowing feeling, one that is not easily forgotten. It is rare that games have these types of awe-inspiring moments, but No Man’s Sky has many like that. At this point you are free to do whatever you like. The beauty of that promise is that it allows the game to adapt to a various amount of play styles. For example, I decided I wanted to become familiar with the different elements to be a trader and make money, so I landed on a planet and started mining away. I sought to know how each element complimented one another and see what I could craft with them. I then decided to check out an outpost where I could trade the material for currency.  Its activities provide adaptability.

Space Pioneer

 Although you can play how you want, mining and crafting is at the heart of No Man’s Sky. This is how you will make money, upgrade items and equipment, and overall survive on the extreme conditions of various planets. Personally, I do not like mining or crafting in most games. I think it takes way too much time and by the time you’re finished you still don’t have what you need to build what you want. Luckily that isn’t the case in No Man’s Sky. Because crafting is so vital to how the game operates it makes it quick and easy while keeping it fun and engaging.  I will go out seeking to find specific material just to pick up multiple elements I didn’t need just to see what I could do with them. It’s a blast learning all the different recipes and combinations that elements have. The further I explore the more I find, and the more I find the more possibilities that open up. Mining is a large part of the game, and it is hands down the most fun I’ve ever had doing it.

The game isn’t just all mining though. There are various outposts on and off the planets you can visit where you’ll meet aliens who run them. This gives the world a sense of history and lore. Each alien you meet has a unique encounter with you. While they don’t speak English you are encouraged to try and decipher what they are telling you. Depending on how you react you could gain favor with their race, or end up being disliked and become less favorable in their eyes. It is really quite dynamic. In order to speak their language you must find monoliths scattered throughout the landscape of each planet. This helps flesh out the universe of No Man’s Sky in a distinct way and gives its world a feeling of life out among the stars.

Although there is a narrative in the game it’s sparse and isn’t forced. The main goal is to get to the center of the universe, but it keeps that more as a backdrop allowing for your creativity and exploration to take first place. It does do a neat job of moving you through certain points. It is only there if you want it, but it is presented in an intriguing enough way that it makes the journey worth the effort.

There is still so much to touch on. There is space and ground combat which offers many different outcomes and intense firefights, blueprints and recipes to seek out that teach you how to construct certain items and gear. There is also a visor that allows you to scan each being or fauna on the planet that will allow you to name plants and animals. You can also name planets and solar systems. Because the game is near endless there is a constant stream of things to participate in and learn. If I started playing the game a year from now I would still be learning new things and finding new secrets to try. It is just that enormous.

The game does so much right and makes all of its activities super fun and engaging while mixing an unparalleled sense of adventure. There are only a handful of issues that sometimes bog the experience down. There is the occasional bug or glitch. Nothing major, but it is noticeable when it happens. Most games this size have a ton, but No Man’s Sky was polished considerably before launch, which is astounding for a game of this size. There is also a bit of a lack of variety in some of the animals, plants, and planets. While each is procedurally generated and different from each other, the same assets are used giving a similar look to some things. Not a huge issue, but an issue worth mentioning. The only other issues I can think of is the possibility of the game getting a bit repetitive and there is not quite as much combat as I was expecting. While the dogfights in space are grand and intense, the on planet combat leaves a bit to be desired. Shooting feels tight and responsive although simple, but there aren’t enemies roaming the planets to fight aside from the sentinels and the occasional angry animal. Most of the time you only engage in combat if you shoot first. I personally didn’t find any of the issues detracted too much from the game, but they do make the game a bit slow and repetitive when they do occur.

 Verdict:

No Man’s Sky is the kind of game sci-fi fans have only dreamt about. A game where one could not only explore space endlessly, but where one can exist in a universe that is as big, if not bigger than our own. It draws inspiration from many big games like Minecraft, Mass Effect, and Destiny, but uses that inspiration for a sci-fi experience that feels more epic and personal in scope. It is similar to some, but unlike all games. It is an incredible experience and one that offers an infinite amount of content. As soon as I put the controller down I instantly want to start playing again. It is that great! It will be hard for me to pick up another game in this lifetime knowing that No Man’s Sky is sitting on my shelf waiting to be explored. That is one of the highest marks of praise I could ever give a game, and No Man’s Sky takes that claim proudly.

9/10

Written by Kelton Rice