Does Deus Ex hold up?

[Catchy Slogan]

The first level (Liberty Island) is the worst part of the game, thanks to it basically being a linear set of mission parameters that you have to meet (a popular way to open a game, but one that doesn't stand well to the test of time).

However, the rest of the game is absolutely a joy to play, even today, and holds up despite its horrendous graphics.

Speaking of horrendous graphics, here is a new mod that has recently come out for it. [http://www.moddb.com/mods/deus-ex-new-vision/news/new-vision-version-10-released] Enjoy.

Holy shit I love you, I've been waiting for them to do the graphics over haul for years. Nice to see that they finally finished it.

I do what I can for the cause.

 

[Kahunaburger]

were all mainly that it was original for it's time.

You mean that Deus Ex isn't original by modern standards? Please point me in the direction of all the awesome open-ended exploration-based shooter/RPG hybrids that you're apparently playing.

The Mass Effect series comes to mind, perhaps you've heard of it.

Duex Ex is different from today's games yes, when I say "for it's time" I'm referring to all of the things that it was the first to do.

Oh yeah, there was that one time in Mass Effect where I infiltrated a building, turned it's security system against my enemies, sent the survivors to sleep with a gas grenade, and killed the cyborg in charge of the facility by luring him into a trap I had set in the hallway leading into the control room. Oh, wait, you can't do anything like that in Mass Effect. Never mind, then.

 

[aegix drakan_v1legacy]

DO NOT JUDGE THE GAME BASED ON THE FIRST MISSION. The first mission is TERRIBLE and does not represent the game well at all.

The second mission is much better, and once you hit hell's kitchen (about the 3rd mission), it really opens up.

Trust me, it gets good.

As to how well it has aged...The gameplay and story still hold up well, but there are some annoying inventory problems. Trust me when I say that you will get sick of chucking out all the combat knives you auto-loot from enemies when you search them for ammo.

But yes, a few quirks aside, the game is STILL well worth playing.

Also, mad props for liking Shadow of the Collosus. FREAKIN good game.

 

[Savber]

were all mainly that it was original for it's time.

You mean that Deus Ex isn't original by modern standards? Please point me in the direction of all the awesome open-ended exploration-based shooter/RPG hybrids that you're apparently playing.

The Mass Effect series comes to mind, perhaps you've heard of it.

Duex Ex is different from today's games yes, when I say "for it's time" I'm referring to all of the things that it was the first to do.

I loled.

Mass Effect is great and all but "open-ended, exploration-based" is pushing it.

Deus Ex - Talk your way out, Stealth your way out, Lockpick your way out, Fight your way out, or do everything.

Mass Effect - Fight your way out with the occasional dialogue that allows you to do some interesting optional things.


So no, try again.

I would mention The Witcher 2 but since we're talking about "shooters" I guess that won't work.

 

[Nulmas]

I say give it a go.

Sadly, the only two games I know that can be compared to Deus Ex are Vampire the Masquerade: Bloodlines and, to a lesser extent, Alpha Protocol. Vampire was buggy as hell at release and Alpha Protocol is a bit broken.

 

[thelastmccabe]

I played this for the first time a few months ago, and I thought it was amazing, so I definitely think it holds up. The first level was by far the weakest part of the game, and it gets better after that. Sure, it has some flaws, but so does every game ever made. It does so much right in terms of gameplay, story, music, etc. that I'm willing to overlook the few things that are a little screwy.

 

[Warachia]

were all mainly that it was original for it's time.

You mean that Deus Ex isn't original by modern standards? Please point me in the direction of all the awesome open-ended exploration-based shooter/RPG hybrids that you're apparently playing.

The Mass Effect series comes to mind, perhaps you've heard of it.

Duex Ex is different from today's games yes, when I say "for it's time" I'm referring to all of the things that it was the first to do.

Oh yeah, there was that one time in Mass Effect where I infiltrated a building, turned it's security system against my enemies, sent the survivors to sleep with a gas grenade, and killed the cyborg in charge of the facility by luring him into a trap I had set in the hallway leading into the control room. Oh, wait, you can't do anything like that in Mass Effect. Never mind, then.

Because you clearly listed that in your requirements earili- oh no wait you didn't. I appreciate you statement though because it shows how subjective games could get, I could say the same thing about gears of war, I tagged a person with a grenade who ran back and blew up all his friends except for a lone guy who I carved up.
Or how about the fallout series? There are a near endless amounts of ways to go through the games and variety of ways to solve their scenarios.

 

[Warachia]

were all mainly that it was original for it's time.

You mean that Deus Ex isn't original by modern standards? Please point me in the direction of all the awesome open-ended exploration-based shooter/RPG hybrids that you're apparently playing.

The Mass Effect series comes to mind, perhaps you've heard of it.

Duex Ex is different from today's games yes, when I say "for it's time" I'm referring to all of the things that it was the first to do.

I loled.

Mass Effect is great and all but "open-ended, exploration-based" is pushing it.

Deus Ex - Talk your way out, Stealth your way out, Lockpick your way out, Fight your way out, or do everything.

Mass Effect - Fight your way out with the occasional dialogue that allows you to do some interesting optional things.


So no, try again.

I would mention The Witcher 2 but since we're talking about "shooters" I guess that won't work.

How about the fallout games? I already mentioned them in a different post.

 

[Deacon Cole]

Interestingly, I also had tried Deus Ex for the first time a few months back and I likewise didn't like it. For one, I don't think it aged well graphically. my main issue was I wasn't really sure if those guys were good guys or bad guys until they started shooting me. So much for the stealth approach. Not that it mattered as I found the graphics so murky that I couldn't tell what anything was anyway, much less if I was doing anything.

Those who'd managed to sit through this, most likely back when the game first came out and probably looked good by comparison, tend to talk up the ability to level up your characters skills much like an RPG. Unfortunately, I really detest that sort of thing, so that's actually a point against it for me.

But, yeah, I picked it up on a Steam sale to see what all the fuss was about and I still just don't see it. Would have been nice if I could have enjoyed the game. But I simply did not.

 

[InsaneMaggot]

I recently started to play it. As a kid, i never got over the first mission, and i didn't like it. Today i adore it, and i'm not even far into the game. I think i cleared maybe 3 missions.
Dunno what you guys got against the first mission, i enjoyed myself. i threw a box of tnt against 2 NSF-soldiers. They were ashes, and i didn't have any legs after that stunt for that savegame. it was fun to perma-toggle crouch with no-jump trying to get around and climbing the statue. but i didn't want to give me a disadvantage so i quickloaded

And i too walked into the lady's restroom. My boss scolded me. i feel like a pubescent boy again

 

[mirror's edgy]

were all mainly that it was original for it's time.

You mean that Deus Ex isn't original by modern standards? Please point me in the direction of all the awesome open-ended exploration-based shooter/RPG hybrids that you're apparently playing.

The Mass Effect series comes to mind, perhaps you've heard of it.

Duex Ex is different from today's games yes, when I say "for it's time" I'm referring to all of the things that it was the first to do.

And might I add "sub- par gameplay" and "claiming I did one thing when I did another." I would argue that the gameplay is not sub- par if you gave any indication of what you think was wrong with the mechanics. I would like to hear your problems with the plot, characters, or anything else you feel was wrong?

I never had a problem with the characters, they were decent, here's an example of one of my problems, I enter through a window, people start attacking a guy who gave me information, so I shoot everyone attacking him, and leave through the window to find out later he died because it doesn't matter if you shoot the attackers or not, it only matters if you leave through the window or front door.
In the first mission I got the bloodthirsty reputation after I had already killed everybody (by sneaking around and getting headshots with the LETHAL tranquilizer darts) because I couldn't figure out where to go and eventually ran through the front door, to name a few problems. I could write pages on the problems in the game (by far the biggest one that got me was when your organization shows up in complete control of an area regardless of how many people you leave alive) but that really isn't necessary, get somebody new to play the game, and they'll have the same problems I did.

Funnily, I also found the game way too easy, I picked the hardest difficulty and still breezed through the game, as I would just get headshots on everybody (even though most enemies took to bullets to the head to kill).

Duex ex is different from today's games yes, when I say "for it's time" I'm referring to all of the things that it was the first to do.

It should be noted, I didn't quit immediately on the game, I got halfway through it before saying "This just isn't fun."

Counterpoints.

Deus Ex is difficult for the right reasons. I am not sure how you managed to have difficulty finding the multiple entrances to a building while killing every person on the highest difficulty setting, but that isn't the point. The level design of DX encourages exploration and careful confrontations with enemies. They can be avoided or taken on with just the right equipment, and I can see why someone would not enjoy the game if all they tried was shooting people in the head. The game is quite well suited to multiple playstyles, you just have to find what you enjoy doing to meet the objectives.

As for your problems with certain small plot developments, here are a few responses:

-It seems possible that shooting EVERYONE with any weapon changes how UNATCO reacts to you. I do not remember the effects of the darts, but if you went in through the front door and got into a firefight, I can see how that would result in a bad reaction. You should give the level another go, this time by avoiding the enemies and using more of the tools you have available if it went badly before. I've been there, and I can attest that it isn't too hard if you explore your options carefully.

-UNATCO overtakes Battery Park early in the game after you stop the terrorist bomb threat regardless of who you kill because the bomb was all that was holding them back. Whatever approach you took, the bomb threat was gone, the hostages were safe (or dead) and UNATCO soldiers stormed the place to take care of the remaining terrorists.

I apologize for being so militant about it, but Deus Ex is and was a fantastic example of good RPG design. Please do not insinuate that it is riddled with problems because you didn't personally enjoy it.

 

[Kahunaburger]

Or how about the fallout series? There are a near endless amounts of ways to go through the games and variety of ways to solve their scenarios.

The early fallout games, at least. The later fallout games not quite as much. They could be as open-ended as Deus Ex given the right level design, though - their engine would probably support that type of gameplay. Bioshock comes pretty close, but the lack of any sort of meaningful character interaction beyond violence holds it back a lot. Witcher 2 maybe, but it sort of has a bit of the Bioshock problem where your options (in Witcher 2's case, out-of-dialogue options) are mainly combat options, and you can't sneak/talk your way past fights you're not scripted to sneak/talk your way past.

 

[ParkourMcGhee]

linear set of mission parameters

What are you talking about? You could stealth or shoot, and a bunch of other stuff. (go through the front door, back foor, climb up the side... )

You could even throw a gas grenade at the unatco door to gain early access!

I've replayed the game, as well as invisible war, and they still both stand up for me

 

[Warachia]

were all mainly that it was original for it's time.

You mean that Deus Ex isn't original by modern standards? Please point me in the direction of all the awesome open-ended exploration-based shooter/RPG hybrids that you're apparently playing.

The Mass Effect series comes to mind, perhaps you've heard of it.

Duex Ex is different from today's games yes, when I say "for it's time" I'm referring to all of the things that it was the first to do.

And might I add "sub- par gameplay" and "claiming I did one thing when I did another." I would argue that the gameplay is not sub- par if you gave any indication of what you think was wrong with the mechanics. I would like to hear your problems with the plot, characters, or anything else you feel was wrong?

I never had a problem with the characters, they were decent, here's an example of one of my problems, I enter through a window, people start attacking a guy who gave me information, so I shoot everyone attacking him, and leave through the window to find out later he died because it doesn't matter if you shoot the attackers or not, it only matters if you leave through the window or front door.
In the first mission I got the bloodthirsty reputation after I had already killed everybody (by sneaking around and getting headshots with the LETHAL tranquilizer darts) because I couldn't figure out where to go and eventually ran through the front door, to name a few problems. I could write pages on the problems in the game (by far the biggest one that got me was when your organization shows up in complete control of an area regardless of how many people you leave alive) but that really isn't necessary, get somebody new to play the game, and they'll have the same problems I did.

Funnily, I also found the game way too easy, I picked the hardest difficulty and still breezed through the game, as I would just get headshots on everybody (even though most enemies took to bullets to the head to kill).

Duex ex is different from today's games yes, when I say "for it's time" I'm referring to all of the things that it was the first to do.

It should be noted, I didn't quit immediately on the game, I got halfway through it before saying "This just isn't fun."

Counterpoints.

Deus Ex is difficult for the right reasons. I am not sure how you managed to have difficulty finding the multiple entrances to a building while killing every person on the highest difficulty setting, but that isn't the point. The level design of DX encourages exploration and careful confrontations with enemies. They can be avoided or taken on with just the right equipment, and I can see why someone would not enjoy the game if all they tried was shooting people in the head. The game is quite well suited to multiple playstyles, you just have to find what you enjoy doing to meet the objectives.

As for your problems with certain small plot developments, here are a few responses:

-It seems possible that shooting EVERYONE with any weapon changes how UNATCO reacts to you. I do not remember the effects of the darts, but if you went in through the front door and got into a firefight, I can see how that would result in a bad reaction. You should give the level another go, this time by avoiding the enemies and using more of the tools you have available if it went badly before. I've been there, and I can attest that it isn't too hard if you explore your options carefully.

-UNATCO overtakes Battery Park early in the game after you stop the terrorist bomb threat regardless of who you kill because the bomb was all that was holding them back. Whatever approach you took, the bomb threat was gone, the hostages were safe (or dead) and UNATCO soldiers stormed the place to take care of the remaining terrorists.

I apologize for being so militant about it, but Deus Ex is and was a fantastic example of good RPG design. Please do not insinuate that it is riddled with problems because you didn't personally enjoy it.

the UNATCO overtaking of places doesn't just happen in battery park, to the point where it gets ridiculous, a person is on a plane in the middle of a heavily guarded base, but UNATCO shows up in complete control the instant you talk to the guy on the aircraft.

The fact that I ran in the front door gave me the reputation, it doesn't matter (and this applies to several places) who you kill, just where you enter and exit. The reason I was stuck at the same time that I found it easy was because I was unable to find the small staircase that leads to the top of the tower, because the same wallpaper and lighting were used and made it nearly impossible for me to see my first time playing that there was a doorway there. I had actually snuck around the whole level, finding that by moving boxes and climbing crates allowed really early access to where you were supposed to go and killing very little, before getting lost and very bored. I swear there was one mission where they claimed innocents died when they didn't simply because I shot the (armed) people guarding them, and then the game assumed they killed them.

How about the part where the game is depressing to play because it seems to take place only during the night causing many locations to feel very similar which isn't helped when you have to run through the same locations.

I'm not debating the different play styles or the main level design, just that it really doesn't hold up by today's standards, and isn't as good as people make it out to be.

 

[Kahunaburger]

I'm not debating the different play styles or the main level design, just that it really doesn't hold up by today's standards, and isn't as good as people make it out to be.

So minor bugs + quibbles and the game taking place at night = doesn't hold up. What?

 

[dyre]

linear set of mission parameters

What are you talking about? You could stealth or shoot, and a bunch of other stuff. (go through the front door, back foor, climb up the side... )

You could even throw a gas grenade at the unatco door to gain early access!

I've replayed the game, as well as invisible war, and they still both stand up for me

well yeah, that sort of choice is present everywhere in Deus Ex. But in the latter missions, there's SO much more choice than in the first mission, in terms of where you want the plot to go and who you want to support.

so comparatively speaking, it's quite linear

 

[octafish]

If by "holding up" you mean "easily better than 99% of modern games" then yes.

Yes, quite.

Anyway the game mechanics aren't very umm, accurate for the first level either. I always find it more forgiving than the rest of the game. I'm pretty sure it is there to show you the different approaches you can take and to set you up for the path that will give you the most fun. Beyond the first level you do need to specialize. Like Hitman, Deus Ex is at its heart a puzzle game. It just so happens that there are multiple solutions to its puzzles. Deus Ex requires a thoughtful approach to get the most fun out of it.

 

[LookingGlass]

I just finished somewhere around my 8th replay of the game last night, with the New Vision texture pack (an old release, they actually just released a new version) and a Direct3D 10 renderer. The graphics boost was nice. The game itself was still amazing. I just can't see anything else that's like it and half as good.

As for Invisible War, well it's a decent game but not a great Deus Ex game. The damn thing is impossible to run for a ton of people though, including myself now. Black screen of death when you attempt to start a new game.

 

[ParkourMcGhee]

so comparatively speaking, it's quite linear

Oh right. I thought you meant compared to the rest of the gaming industry today ;P.

Man, I have to get in to game making and set it straight once and for all ;P

 

[CleverNickname]

Deus Ex is by no means bad, but I honestly don't understand why it has this godlike reputation among gamers.
The stealth has no margin for error, resulting in problematic firefights or lots of quickloading.
Firefights are a pain in the ass if you put your meager amount of skillpoints into utilities more than the gun skills; and honestly, gun skills themselves always make for a terrible shooter - behind-the-scenes-stats just shouldn't determine whether I hit anything or not.
So, by wasting half the incredibly rare skillpoints on more-or-less mandatory skills, the RPG aspect falls completely flat as well.
If you say the character building comes less through the skills and more through the augmentations, I can only laugh weakly. The augs are a great idea, completely borked by the tiniest energy-pool since the invention of the lightbulb. Wielding all these truly awesome enhancements would be a great asset to overcome all the other glaring gameplay flaws, but not if one of them lasts a grand total of 20 seconds - god forbid you want to combine them. If you counter that by "knowing when to use them" I'm gonna slap you in the face, as I'm not playing this more than once, and that one time was, surprisingly, my first time - commonly known as the time you don't know what the fuck is going on.

Admittedly, a hybrid of a shoddy maybe-stealth-shooter and a mediocre half-RPG does make for an interesting game once you reach Hong Kong and break into that office building for the first time, but before that it's brutal work and afterwards it just goes on and on - Paris offers nothing new. For a game that offers "freedom" to approach things in different ways, I seem to pick all the wrong ones.
I do not know who this game was made for, as I can't imagine why shooter fans, stealth fans or RPG fans would like it. I like stealth games, I even like mandatory stealth sections in non-stealth games, but I did not like Deus Ex. I love shooters, played them my whole life and boycott the modern ones because they ruined the genre, but I did not like Deus Ex. I never liked RPGs much, but have found a few that did it right, which were great fun, but Deus Ex wasn't one of them. If it is none of those things, what is it? And if nobody knows what kind of game it even is, why is it The Holy frikkin Grail of All That is Great in Gaming?

Cuz if you told me of an amazing shooter-where-you-don't-shoot-much with amazing powers and a glowing sword in the 4th level, I'd think you meant Jedi Outcast.