The year is 2052. As the billing states: Civilisation is near collapse, the world economy is in chaos,
deadly viruses ravage the earth and terrorism runs rampant. Yes, we're fifty-two years into the future
and New Labour still isn't working (!)
After going through a lengthy training programme which introduces you to the weaponry and stealth
tactics, you begin the mission-based game proper. First up, while the X-Men do battle atop the Statue
of Liberty, you must attempt to rescue a colleague from the terrorists inside. We're told that this game
contains character interaction and problem solving, but all I can see is an incredibly watered-down
version of a true classic Eidos game I've been playing for the last few months, Thief 2.
In that one we were treated to smooth animation, classy locations, clever AI from the enemies and
atmosphere so intense it was the first game to scare the hell out of me since 1997's original Resident
Evil. I was led to believe Deus Ex would eclipse that nirvana and provide me with an audio-visual
experience that would stop me from ever washing my eyes again. I was led well and truly up the
garden path.
The main technical difference is that you are bio-mechanoid-type individual with special abilities such
as implementing night vision and regenerating lost strength from "medbots" dotted around the place.
So, not much difference then. You could have been a human wearing a pair of goggles and finding
power-ups all over the place (which you can anyway).
The graphics move in a jerky fashion, the sound is fairly dull - nothing we've not heard before and the
only distinction comes from the sound of your character who has a voice like that of Don La Fontaine -
he who does all those gravel-voiced film adverts. As for playability, the game was completely lacking
in atmosphere and for no reason at all I had a dodgy left leg causing me to walk fine but constantly
settle down at an angle every time I stopped. I'm damned if I can explain that one,
particularly because it was there even when I started a new game!
Deus Ex is a perfect example of how to take existing elements from another game, ruin it to a degree
and then re-release it under a new moniker.
GRAPHICS SOUND EFFECTS AND MUSIC PLAYABILITY ENJOYMENT
As of April 2009, Blu-rays and DVDs reviewed by the editor are watched on a Panasonic TH-37PX80B
37" Plasma TV with a Sony BDP-1500 Blu-ray player and played through a Yamaha DSP-AX820 amplifier.
PC games reviewed by the editor are on:
Since Jan 2011: Intel Quad Core Dell XPS 8100, i7 CPU 860 @ 2.80Ghz, 8Gb RAM, nVidia GeForce GTS 240, Windows 7
Since Nov 2005: Intel Pentium D 830 3.0Ghz, 1Gb RAM, 128Mb nVidia GeForce 6700XL, Windows XP
Since Aug 2003: Intel Pentium 4 2.66Ghz, 512Mb RAM, 128Mb GeForce4 MX440 graphics, Windows XP
Since May 2003: Intel Pentium 4 2.6Ghz, 512Mb RAM, 128Mb ATI Radeon 9600TX graphics, Windows XP
Since Jun 2002: Intel Pentium III 600Mhz, 384Mb RAM, Windows 98 SE, 64Mb ATI Radeon 8500LE
Since May 2000: Intel Pentium III 600Mhz, 384Mb RAM, Windows 98 SE, Voodoo 3 3000 AGP
