First released in 2011, Deus Ex: Human Revolution was quite the successful release. With Square Enix bringing out various bits of DLC since then, they decided to bring it out again in the form of a Director’s Cut version. Was it worth a re-release? Read on to find out.
Game: Deus Ex: Human Revolution – Director’s Cut
Developer: Eidos Montreal
Publisher: Square Enix
Reviewed on:
STORY
If you haven’t played the original, Deus Ex: Human Revolution places you in the shoes of Sarif Industries security chief Adam Jensen. It all kicks off when Jensen and his crew are attacked by a group of human purists. Why? Well, Sarif Industries believe in a world that allows humans to become stronger by using augmentations, vastly improving the body part where one is applied. However, the human purists are against the idea, set on destroying Sarif Industries and everything attached to it.
After the attack Adam finds his crew dead and himself left on the brink until Sarif Industries decide to bring him back to life with augmentations. Waking up, Adam sets out on a patch to find out who attacked him and destroy them for putting him through the pain he has had to endure. It’s a relatively good story and the Director’s Cut comes packed with all the DLC, making the tale feel like it’s more complete. Whilst the events that unfold are enjoyable enough, I couldn’t help but feel a little detached from it all. I don’t know if it’s entirely down to it, but more often than not the narration bored me. A story of this nature should have some gravitas, with you feeling each key moment, but sadly I didn’t get that at all.
GRAPHICS
The Director’s Cut has gone through a variety of visual improvements, but in all honesty the game hasn’t really aged well since its original release. It’s certainly not the worst game in terms of its visuals, with some nice environments, but on the whole everything just looks basic and very bland. It’s all a bit safe, and unlikely to turn any heads with the next-gen consoles on the horizon.
SOUND
It’s not any better when it comes to the sound, sadly. The game is mostly accompanied by suspense filling, slow music aiming to keep you on your feet until the credits roll. However, it all becomes boring very quickly as you realise it’s all essentially the same. The voice acting isn’t great either, with plenty of awkward and completely unnatural moments littered throughout. It almost sounds like the actors didn’t put any effort in, and is another reason why I felt detached from the game in general.
GAMEPLAY
Good news, things do pick up when it comes to the gameplay. I enjoyed what was on offer, finding there to be a nice mix of first and third person action. Being an augmented human, one of my favourite features was the hacking. Genuinely fun and a real help, it allowed me to disable items such as turrets and cameras, leaving me to progress without getting noticed. It’s not exactly easy though, as each hack takes into account your augmentation level and brings with it a different challenge.
Speaking of that, Deus Ex: Human Revolution’s leveling system is pretty good, and really helps you improve all aspects of Jensen. However, upgrades can only be made with the use of Praxis points which are in turn earned by getting XP. You can also buy Praxis points at LIMB clinics. Whether it’s an improved hacking ability, super jump or better weapon skills, there are all kind of upgrades available in the game. It really is a decent leveling up system, but there is one major flaw. The illusion of choice is given to you throughout the game, with plenty of leveling options thrown at you, but in reality (unless you want to tear your hair out) you can’t really complete the game unless you get certain augmentations. It’s a pretty big flaw, and one that was present in the original version too.
There are, of course, hordes of enemies for you to fight your way through, and to a certain point you can tackle them how you like. Tying very loosely into the leveling system, you’re given the choice of stealth or action, but during certain sections you’re tied down to taking one approach. It’s fine if you were already taking that approach, but if you weren’t then you’ll more than likely find yourself in a sticky situation forced to use cheap tactics. It’s a shame because both the stealth and action styles have their positives. Personally, I tackled 90% of the game using stealth, but certainly wasn’t afraid of popping a bullet through the head of a unnoticed guard when needed. Aiming and firing a weapon felt good, but could’ve been tightened up a little to offer a bit more control and freedom. Stealth is where the gameplay shines though, giving you real satisfaction when you plan everything and come out the other end successful. Whether it be that conversation with someone or the sneaking into vent, when it all comes together it’s a great feeling. It’s just a shame that it doesn’t the sentiment doesn’t extend itself for the duration of the game.
LONGEVITY
The Director’s Cut has gone through many improvements, especially when it comes to the AI. Even playing through on the easiest difficulty you’ll find somewhat of a challenge. The bosses were insanely difficult in the original release, so it’s great then that they’re now much more of a fair challenge. It took me about 12 hours to complete, but that’s only including some of the countless sub-missions that are available in the game. I’m not sure if I’d play it again, but if you do enjoy the story and gameplay on offer there’s plenty of reasons to go through game at least a couple of more times. Oh and there’s the DLC too!
VERDICT
Two years on, the Director’s Cut of Deus Ex: Human Revolution largely offers the same experience as before albeit with every DLC pack included from the start. The gameplay remains decent, but along with the visuals and sound it hasn’t aged particularly well. The improvements and additions barely justify a re-release. A decent enough experience, but one that isn’t worth re-visiting if you’ve been there before. If you haven’t then it’s worth checking out this 2011 release at a cut price, but just don’t expect the world.
