Deus Ex: Human Revolution

Deus Ex: Human Revolution is simply one of the best and most engaging games I have played in a long time. Graphically it looks sweet, very moody in that cyberpunk / bladerunner way; sound is utterly absorbing, really helps set the tone; gameplay is key and this is the area that will perhaps split opinion throughout the reviews you read - and for a good reason!

Unlike the last reviewer, I agree with Square Enix in that this game is NOT a shooter. At least it needn't be played like one. In fact, I would go as far to say that IF you do play it like a conventional FPS the game will suffer slightly.
This game is about choice - now, that does include the choice to play like a shooter, but if that is your intention you have to develop your character into a better FPS model (i.e. use your Praxis points - that gain you augmentations - to harden your character, boost his health stats, make him a tank - also develop his weapons). However, very early on the game gets you to think about the way you want to play - from the outset it basically says "are you going to aim to kill everyone or avoid everyone" its a bit more sophisticated than that, but that is what is at the core.
For me, I LOVE stealth games - so opted to develop my character and approach missions in a more stealthy way - which the game encourages in my opinion. So I have loved creeping through each destination, avoiding being seen and only taking down enemies I had to. Also, contrary to how some reviewers have interpreted the 'melee' move and described it as 'slow' and 'costly' etc. I would agree that as a melee move it would be rubbish - but thats because it is really designed to be a stealth take down move. Creep up behind your foe and take him down in one easy - virtually silent move, then hide the body etc and proceed.

Everything about this game to me screams approach enemies with caution - they are often too numerous to be taken on at once (until you've developed a tank character anyway). So explore, isolate and take down! Or avoid completely! Or just kill a few to aid your escape! Its entirely up to you and thats why I feel the game is so amazing.

You don't have to just play one style either - in the space of one mission I stealthed my way in to the top of a building for one objective, hacked my way into a lower floor of the same building to complete another objective - then returned to the street and talked my way through the front door to complete the final objective. No blood shed on this occasion but thoroughly enjoyable! (Without wanting to spoil anything, I did notice that I could have hacked a door to my final objective through the sewer system, but hadn't developed my hacking ability far enough yet). Eventually you will have to prioritise certain developments over others - you can't be an all singing, all dancing everything machine - again though, its down to choice. Develop your silver tongue or be invisible? These are tough choices to make! This, for me, demands replay!

The world of Deus Ex is a dark and deep, with lots to uncover through sleuthing and stealthing - and if you buy into this play style, take the time to let the game unfold, plan your approaches etc then you will find it VERY rewarding. If on the other hand, you're looking for an FPS fix to bridge the gap between now and Battlefield / Modern Warfare 3 - this game really isn't for you.

I am a collector of various PS3 game magazines and as such I came across various previews and then reviews of deus ex. I'm not usually a fan of first person shooters so initially I wasn't very interested but the part that caught my eye was the emphasis on choosing your own way to complete objectives. This is where the game really shines and sets it apart from other first person games.

Where the genius of this game lies is in the level of choice you have in how your character develops. You can upgrade your character to be a tank, specialising in straight on combat or you can upgrade him with things like hacking abilites, temporary invisibility, silent moving etc to enable a stealthier kind of gameplay. You can also mix and match so you are not restricted to one kind of approach. I have gone for a mixture, most of the time I prefer to sneak in and avoid the guards rather than trying to take them all on. Apart from this being very satisfying, it is also the more intelligent route as you are nearly always outnumbered and especially in the later stages by more heavily armed opponents. It is possible to complete entire "levels" without killing anyone or being being seen at all. You can even talk your way past certain people to meet your objectives which is great.

In terms of graphics, they aren't the best I've seen on the PS3 but they are good enough. The backgrounds and surroundings are very well done, it is the other characters that sometimes don't look to good. The cut scenes are very well done though and the inclusion of small cutscenes within the gameplay e.g. when performing a takedown or jumping from a high point are done very well.

Overall this game is great and I very glad I took the gamble. It is most definitely not your run of the mill shooter. I just can't believe this is less than £20 when it hasn't been out that long! Great for me as I got it cheap but for a game so good this puzzles me!

This game is simply brilliant. It challenges the player to think outside the box when venturing through the many environments. This is unlike any other game where its generally one way, usually run and gun. Together with making key actions change the way game goes it offers many many hours of playtime.

This is probably the best game I have personally played since the original Perfect Dark.