New Deus Ex Won't Be "Dumbed Down" For Consoles

[Andy Chalk]

There is nothing here to suggest JUST YET that he's going to fuck it up, unless there is more info out there I've not yet come across in which case please enlighten me so I can stand corrected.

But see, there is something to suggest just that.

"It was kind of slow. There weren't enough exciting, memorable moments." - Jean-Francois Dugas

This is a huge red flag. The guy is saying that one of the most exciting, memorable games in existence didn't have enough exciting, memorable moments. How can that be taken as anything but problematic?

 

[Thirtysomething]

But see, there is something to suggest just that.

"It was kind of slow. There weren't enough exciting, memorable moments." - Jean-Francois Dugas

This is a huge red flag. The guy is saying that one of the most exciting, memorable games in existence didn't have enough exciting, memorable moments. How can that be taken as anything but problematic?

You can take that as problematic. Yet someone could equally say, if they were to play devil's advocate, that that is not the only interpretation of this comment. It is the extreme pessimist view, so let's interpret his comment positively, just as a thought experiment:

He might genuinely have an improved vision for DEx3 that will keep all of the aspects of the franchise people loved (branching storyline, multiple factional alignments, complex character stat and weapon skill development, optional alternative routes to complete missions in different ways or even avoid doing them all together), while adding in some of the innovations that have produced some of the excellent games we've seen come out in recent years. These could include (but are not limited to) good voice acting, better-paced narrative, seamless and huge crowded open worlds, sharp NPC AI whether working with or against you, some cool setpieces, and yes, great graphics and physics - and what is wrong with wanting to provide that on top of what is already great about the game?

Lets face it, the original was overall a good game, but did have some rather long dry spells, and like I said in a previous post I stopped playing about halfway through because nothing was keeping me interested. Clearly I am not the only one that thinks this. If he wants to tighten up the experience, which as you say already had exciting memorable moments, and, well, give it even more exciting memorable moments, then great.

Anyway, I'm just trying to provide a counterpoint since everyone seems alarmingly fast to jump on the worst interpretation of what is really a very vague and insubstantial comment. Yes he might get it all wrong, but then again he might not. It's too early to see the chickens yet and I don't see any point in being overly pessimistic OR optimistic when what little information we have right now can be interpreted either way.

 

[TsunamiWombat]

I also read an article detailing their plans for the game...

http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=198546

Eidos Montreal says it's more than aware of fan reaction to controversial second game, Invisible War, and promises mistakes, such as limiting ammo types to just one, won't be repeated.

This said, they are doing their utmost to please newcomers as well as existing fans. Perhaps controversially this time around combat won't be influenced by stats, but will rely purely on your personal marksmanship skills. Instead stats will influence "a vast array of fully upgradeable and customisable weapons", and you'll be able to tailor your arsenal to your play style with mag upgrades, scopes and other add-ons.

What's more, stealth will now rely on a cover system rather than shadows, and damage will be dealt with by a very Call of Duty-style auto-heal. There's probably going to be some debate over those two.

Augmentations have been bumped up and sound fantastic. 20 have been promised for the final game, ranging from 'bungee jump' tentacles that shoot from your back and anchor to a wall when you jump off a building, and the ability to punch through walls to grab enemies in neighbouring rooms.

Deus Ex 3 certainly sounds very, very promising - if a little controversial for die-hard PC fans. And just wait until you see the shots...

For more info and the first screenshots see the full ten-page preview in the 200th issue of PC Zone, out October 9 (and in subscribers' hands now). Happy 200th issue, by the way.

UPDATE: A slight clarification for those fearing that DX3 is straying from its roleplay roots - Eidos Montreal have confirmed, as is detailed in PC Zone issue 200, that you'll still garner experience points as you progress through the game. You'll then either choose to plug them into your self through your augmentations or your weaponry. Apologies for any confusion.

Tremble in fear, fans of the original.

Now I won't say Deus Ex was the Jesus Christ Superstar of games. It had some slow moments (especially the BEGINNING, -UGH-!), had some problems with it's RPG system, and the voice acting was silly. The story however was top notch- one of the first games in my memory to do conspiracy theories -well-. And it's greatest appeal was the cerebral, almost realistic approach to combat and situations- you had all sorts of options that were viable, and despite being a nanoaugmented super soldier you weren't a one man tank (unless you took the appropriate Augs anyway.)

 

[OuroborosChoked]

As long as nobody attempts to make System Shock 3: Shodan's Revenge or anything like that... I'm fine.

Ever since Invisible War, Deus Ex has been dead to me... DEAD TO ME.

And as soon as Looking Glass Studios closed, that pretty much ended Thief for me, too.

Just keep your grubby mitts off of System Shock...

 

[OuroborosChoked]

What's more, stealth will now rely on a cover system rather than shadows, and damage will be dealt with by a very Call of Duty-style auto-heal. There's probably going to be some debate over those two.

Oh, god... Halo health and a cover system? Blow that for a game of soldiers. What are they thinking?? It's not a freakin' action game. It's a first-person RPG tactical stealth shooter... NOT CALL OF DUTY.

 

[rougeknife]

I have a bad feeling about this.

Very bad.

 

[Thirtysomething]

Oh god no please no no NO, my absolute worst fears have now been confirmed.

Once Fallout 3 has been released, enjoyed by most, and then forgotten, this game will take its place, and the cycle of bitter irrational hatred for something no-one has ever seen or played will start all over again...

Honestly, after reading that article I was thinking "that doesn't sound bad at all if it's done right - games like Halo and COD4 are fun but yeah, they could use lots more depth" but I know this view won't be popular.

 

[Doug]

Meh, Deus Ex was great, Deus Ex 2 was...well, good as a standalone, but compared to 1, poor.

And call me Mr. Cynical, but I suspect Deus Ex 3 won't match 1.

The blend of choice (but not as much as everyone likes to think there was - although its one of the few games where, if you killed dude X before you were meant to, it could normally still recover), Philosphy/Ideology, and a wide scale of varying locations really marked it out (I'd seriously had trouble remembering where the mad-good plot began, and I consider that good story telling when its had me gripped that long)...

Ok, no-one can -really- judge yet, but the warning signs are there, methinks.

 

[TsunamiWombat]

IMO, the game -really- kicked off when you got to France,

Spoiler

after all that Unatco stuff was cleared up.

 

[Chartist]

Lets not be too quick to judge, if we forget the spot on the arse of gaming that IW was then a DX sequel= early xmas

 

[klakkat]

he said, adding that it was "kind of slow."

That he would say that causes me dread; not that it isn't true, but Deus Ex was rare among FPS titles in that it was willing to slow down and actually tell a story instead of obscuring the whole thing in gore. If he thinks that's a bad thing, then it's going to have a serious negative impact on game quality in my opinion.

 

[Royas]

I really wasn't expecting anything stellar for a DX3 experience. Those quotes don't change that. If anything, I am more convinced than ever that this next iteration of the game will be just like DX2, just with different screw ups.

The formula for the first Deus Ex netted the game some of the best reviews and some of the most loyal fans of any game (I still have it installed right now), going with a different formula just doesn't make a hell of a lot of sense.

 

[Elurindel]

Developers seem all too eager to remove the RPG aspects from sequels to popular FPSRPGs. What, they're too much thinking for the average console gamer? The skilled points made things interesting! You could develop a whole unique style for yoru character. And if COD4-style regeneration is in it, then it's barely even Deus Ex anymore. You're not a man until you can get through Lebedev's airfield with both arms broken and one leg working on Realistic.

 

[TOGSolid]

I think I speak for everyone when I say:
/FACEPALM

Glad to see they still just don't get it.

 

[hem dazon 90]

Oh god no please no no NO, my absolute worst fears have now been confirmed.

Once Fallout 3 has been released, enjoyed by most, and then forgotten, this game will take its place, and the cycle of bitter irrational hatred for something no-one has ever seen or played will start all over again...

Honestly, after reading that article I was thinking "that doesn't sound bad at all if it's done right - games like Halo and COD4 are fun but yeah, they could use lots more depth" but I know this view won't be popular.

i know its fallout three over again. its gonna come out and be godly and noone will aknowlage the critisisms before

 

[ChromeAlchemist]

Yeah, I'm not exactly jumping up and down in anticipation either, but I'm willing to give them the benefit of the doubt, at least whilst I still have the receipt. I wonder what storyline they intend to chrun out of the four possible endings of Invisible War (excuse my language).

he deserves no benefit of any doubt. What he deserves is a lobotomy.

Deus Ex was damn near perfection, and this bastard slagged it off and is going to be implementing a cover system and an auto regen feature in this game, because obviously the regeneration augmentation wasn't good enough.

This game isnt getting dumbed down for consoles, it's getting dumbed down for the masses.

They might as well call it Gears of Halo Ex 3 ffs.

 

[mokes310]

I really enjoyed the first one, and hopefully, this one will be just as good!

 

[mirror's edgy]

Everyone loves to hate cover based shooting. I didn't like invisible war because the AI was so crap that you could snipe anyone from ten feet away, then shotgun or smg anyone who came around the corner looking for you. And you could have all your biomods fully upgraded like halfway through the game. I did like that you weren't locked into stealth or computers or something, changing your approach on the fly seems interesting, but every approach was insultingly easy. I think if the AI can carve you up in ten seconds like DX 1, cover based shooting would work... as ONE approach. If stealth and such are gone... fuck you, Eidos

 

[Lokithrsourcerer]

deus ex 1 is like my fave game of all time how can they say its not exciting or memorable sneaking around in air ducts preying the soldiers would not notice coz u only had 1 cross bow bolt left was heart pounding and as for memorable my password for the college network was bloodshot back then

invisible war wasn't bad ( i only played the pc version though) but it was lacking

one of the ways that the first game excelled was in allowing you to customise your play style
so you could make the game your own. personally i only ever used a pistol and dart gun and ran around
head shotting everything plus the story was awesome i literally had to go away and comeback after a good think b4 i made my decision at the end of the game.

I hope the new one is good but it might suck i'm not gonna get my hopes up too much we'll just see i suppose,

 

[OTMD]

HMMM...
I don't know guys, that Sarif Industries adsite doesn't exactly quell my giddiness. Besides Invisible War didn't have Warren Spector on the roster; he distanced himself from that title after the first one. I think if he, the developer, was just driving on fumes(i.e. name recognition), he wouldn't emphasize cyber implants so much...