Practically perfect
THE last few years have seen the release of some extraordinary games.
And while the current situation is a right pain, at least the enforced time indoors is giving us a chance to rediscover those past triumphs.
For me, one of the best games of 2016 was Deus Ex: Mankind Divided.
The cyberpunk RPG was a follow up to 2011’s outstanding Deus Ex: Human Revolution, and had been five years in the waiting.
Having not touched the game since 2016, I decided to give it another go – to see if the warm, fuzzy, feelings of nostalgia I get when I think about it are warranted.
Deus Ex: Mankind Divided is set two years after the events of Human Revolution.
A recap video brings you up to speed with events – although, you might want to break out the popcorn as it weighs in around 12 minutes long.
Having sent every person with an augmented body part into a murderous rampage – the repercussions have been swift and merciless. Augmented people – or Augs – are now on the fringes of society, something controversially
referred to in game as a ‘mechanical apartheid’.
The story behind Mankind Divided, roots itself deeply in prejudice and discrimination – not something protaganist Adam Jensen ever really encounters.
Yes he’s hassled by police, threats are made and he’s called names – but when the script draws thinly veiled parallels to the actual issues facing real-life victims of bigotry, it all comes off flat.
The action predominantly takes place in Prague – dripping in golds and neons, the city is gorgeously rendered to give an incredibly rich environment to explore.
The thing I’d really forgotten is just how much choice players are given – almost too much.
A plethora of side quests pulls your focus away from the main storyline, some of which branch off into multi-part tasks themselves.
This vastness of choice, by necessity I suppose, also makes the controls more difficult than they need to be.
Remembering which combo triggers which weapon/action can be a nightmare – especially if you’re trying to think quickly on your feet, and have the dexterity of a hippo in oven gloves.
There’s a much stronger emphasis on stealth and negotiation as a way to complete your missions, which, as a fairly impatient person, wore thin quite quickly.
I’d forgotten about the cool bits of tech which you can collect to fuse into Jensen’s augmented body – the nanoblade launcher, which makes very short and easy work of whatever dares to cross your path, is still a personal favourite. Mankind Divided is everything a Deus Ex game should be. It’s a beautiful mishmash of gameplay styles, stunningly realised and damn near perfectly executed.
Yes, the plot has holes you could drive a bus through, and it leaves you oddly unfulfilled. But as an experience, it is unparalleled, and one which you should try at least once in your life.
Leaks and rumours, which must always be taken with a huge pinch of salt, suggest we could soon be hearing confirmation of a new Deus Ex games in the works.
I really hope they’re right. Bargain buy: £4.06 from 365games. co.uk