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!