Deus Ex Review: A Tale of Intrigue and Conspiracy (PC)
Deus Ex has to be one of my favorite games of all time. It was released in 2000 and is set in 2052, in a dystopian world where there is social inequality, violence, totalitarianism, and even plague. The main character is J.C. Denton, who is an agent of UNATCO (United Nations Anti-Terrorist Coalition) and is tasked with combatting the terrorists that plague various parts of the world, most prominently the NSF (National Secessionist Forces). One important thing to note is that Denton is augmented with nano-technology implants, which increase his physical and mental attributes. The storyline follows Denton trying to dismantle the NSF, but in doing so finds out that there is a larger conspiracy at play, and the NSF are only minor players on this chessboard, and the real enemies are located elsewhere.
The game has a great story because they incorporate the mythology of certain murky groups and events in real life, such as the Illuminati and Majestic 12, the existence of aliens at Area 51, etc., and transforms it all into a science fiction narrative (interestingly enough, a lot of the so-called "conspiracy theories" in the game have found their way to reality, such as billionaires controlling a corrupt government and manufactured viruses with their vaccine counterparts... though the vaccines in the game actually work). What is particularly fascinating to me, is how nanotechnology is introduced, and, having been to real nanotech labs in Chicago myself, the way the technology is exiting the realms of science fiction and entering the very real realm of science. These things have happened before, such as with Star Wars and Star Trek (communicators = cell phones). As far as the game goes, the structure of the story, and how it introduces each subject to the protagonist, and his role in advancing said story, makes this game stand apart from others, especially considering its age. There are also subtle choices that one can make, which can alter the progression of the story in significant ways.
Dramatic buildup occurs throughout the game, and finishing each quest and uncovering new information really felt like the climax, putting together these puzzle pieces in an effort to solve a grand conspiracy/mystery. The “a-ha” moment where we find that UNATCO, FEMA, and other parts of the government are heavily involved in weaponizing the plague, and they are in fact the bad guys, and “terrorist” groups such as the NSF and Silhouette are actually good guys, is really the dramatic part of the story. As far as suspension of disbelief, there are quite a number of advanced technologies and government conspiracies that we must take for granted in the game, although perhaps we don’t deal with those things in quite the same way in the real world. Or rather, even if there were conspiracies, we would never know about them unless we were in a position of power to uncover them.
The endings are quite interesting as well – notice how I used the plural there. There are three main endings to the game, each leading you down a different path with different character interactions and objectives. The first option is to shut down all technology, sending the world into the dark ages. The next option is to merge with a sentient AI to become a demigod of sorts. Lastly, you can kill the leader of Majestic 12, Bob Page, who was responsible for setting the whole deadly plague plan in motion. Each ending to the game has its own merits and is really more dependent on what you believe is the best option.
The game’s mechanics are fantastic as well, with health centered around specific body parts (much like how the new Fallout games by Bethesda are), semi-realistic proficiency scaling (untrained, trained, advanced, etc., factoring into how well the player uses their weapons and abilities), stealth vs. loud gameplay, among others. For example, using stealth in an area might be easier than a full-scale assault, and makes the player adapt accordingly. Another example would be what characters can learn about the game and the players and organizations in it if they are competent at hacking. Players who aren’t will miss out on certain elements of the story. Essentially, having different skills allows for a completely different playstyle and overall experience.
In conclusion, Deus Ex is a unique and challenging game that offers a lot in terms of story, graphics (at the time), game mechanics, and replayability. This game is still relevant today, and people still enjoy playing it, which just shows that it was good enough to stand the test of time. I hope we can return to epic storytelling and overall solid gameplay like this in the future.
The game has a great story because they incorporate the mythology of certain murky groups and events in real life, such as the Illuminati and Majestic 12, the existence of aliens at Area 51, etc., and transforms it all into a science fiction narrative (interestingly enough, a lot of the so-called "conspiracy theories" in the game have found their way to reality, such as billionaires controlling a corrupt government and manufactured viruses with their vaccine counterparts... though the vaccines in the game actually work). What is particularly fascinating to me, is how nanotechnology is introduced, and, having been to real nanotech labs in Chicago myself, the way the technology is exiting the realms of science fiction and entering the very real realm of science. These things have happened before, such as with Star Wars and Star Trek (communicators = cell phones). As far as the game goes, the structure of the story, and how it introduces each subject to the protagonist, and his role in advancing said story, makes this game stand apart from others, especially considering its age. There are also subtle choices that one can make, which can alter the progression of the story in significant ways.
Dramatic buildup occurs throughout the game, and finishing each quest and uncovering new information really felt like the climax, putting together these puzzle pieces in an effort to solve a grand conspiracy/mystery. The “a-ha” moment where we find that UNATCO, FEMA, and other parts of the government are heavily involved in weaponizing the plague, and they are in fact the bad guys, and “terrorist” groups such as the NSF and Silhouette are actually good guys, is really the dramatic part of the story. As far as suspension of disbelief, there are quite a number of advanced technologies and government conspiracies that we must take for granted in the game, although perhaps we don’t deal with those things in quite the same way in the real world. Or rather, even if there were conspiracies, we would never know about them unless we were in a position of power to uncover them.
The endings are quite interesting as well – notice how I used the plural there. There are three main endings to the game, each leading you down a different path with different character interactions and objectives. The first option is to shut down all technology, sending the world into the dark ages. The next option is to merge with a sentient AI to become a demigod of sorts. Lastly, you can kill the leader of Majestic 12, Bob Page, who was responsible for setting the whole deadly plague plan in motion. Each ending to the game has its own merits and is really more dependent on what you believe is the best option.
The game’s mechanics are fantastic as well, with health centered around specific body parts (much like how the new Fallout games by Bethesda are), semi-realistic proficiency scaling (untrained, trained, advanced, etc., factoring into how well the player uses their weapons and abilities), stealth vs. loud gameplay, among others. For example, using stealth in an area might be easier than a full-scale assault, and makes the player adapt accordingly. Another example would be what characters can learn about the game and the players and organizations in it if they are competent at hacking. Players who aren’t will miss out on certain elements of the story. Essentially, having different skills allows for a completely different playstyle and overall experience.
In conclusion, Deus Ex is a unique and challenging game that offers a lot in terms of story, graphics (at the time), game mechanics, and replayability. This game is still relevant today, and people still enjoy playing it, which just shows that it was good enough to stand the test of time. I hope we can return to epic storytelling and overall solid gameplay like this in the future.
Verdict: 10/10
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