For those who like realistic play, the hardest mode setting is a good mix of realism and difficulty, you don't feel like you have to throw a fridge at the enemy to put them down but if they have armor and augmentation that explains taking a bullet it isn't a walk in the park either. The harder setting encourages realistic tactics when your one person against a group... aka, hide and pick them off one by one.
The graphics, models and the likes are what you expect of a new release. Sorry, having a shiny game doesn't give you points in my book as that is 'par for the course' these days. Besides, shiny isn't everything but in this case it is worn well. Some games go over the top when it comes to graphics, either by taking too much atmosphere that it looks cheesy or polishing the game so even the turds shine. Dues Ex has shine where it should be and down right dirty grit where it would be expected, so nicely done.
Story is solid but it was a prequel to another story based game. However, given how weak many games story lines are and how rehashed they are it is nice to see a game pull it off. Sure the futuristic conspiracy driven plot has been done to death but it still is nice seeing it done well.
I, personally, do not like the 'multiple avenue' root as it is just a catch phrase at this point. They did a good job of making the maps as sandbox as you can expect a liner based shooter but it isn't as grand as they sold it to be. You will find yourself taking the stealth approach, particularly on harder difficulty settings, as that is the only way to stop from running out of ammo or being overwhelmed by bad guys. Couple that with the 'battery system' designed to limit how fast you can go through the game 'instant killing' the enemy and you will slow your game pace to match the recharge rate and looking for ways around the map that allow you to pick people off one at a time in complete stealth.
My advise: Spend the first two points you get on getting that one cell that can be recharged to the point it allows you to knock out people every 15 seconds. You will need it!
The hacking mechanics are nicely done. True, they are still mini-games being forced on you through repetition but it isn't overly bad as say the bio-shock water puzzle. It at least makes it feel as if you are trying to crack through a system before the trace gets to you, creating atmosphere and even more if you have outside elements like a patrol about to stumble onto you. It fits what you are trying to do and is easy to master, which is good because you will do a lot of it if you want to get the story.
What else can I say about it.. Inventory system is decent but no where near the level of the original Xcom games. Don't expect different armor or and weapons will be limited to a handful but they do get some 'mods' that allow you to power them up as they go through the game. One of my bigger gripes actually, as it limits tactics when you have one pistol, one assault rifle and one sniper rifle to choose from. Would of really liked to see some sort of armor system, so you could have 'rock paper scissor' planning on how you will go about the fight. Only boss fights seem to need some forward planning as the assault rifle or tranquilizer gun will be your main weapon through most of the game, depending what achievements your going for.
Augmentations are well thought out and they where smart enough to make optional path-ways that require you to select certain types of augmentations. All bar a handful have some real use in the game and you will be umming and ahhing a little bit when it comes to making choices, particularly early in the game. That being said some require precise situations to be useful and others are down right useless all of the time... such as sprinting, cause the difference between being able to run five meters or fifteen meters is still completely useless.
On that note, make sure you get spring jump and no fall damage, those are two that make it possible to explore everywhere. For the same reason, think about getting electric and gas immunity. Even if you go the long way, because those guards are good little meat-bags of XP, you still will come back through the short cut ways for the XP that gives and the bonus items awarded for taking these paths... best of both worlds.
To understand how I score game realize the best games in the world will only get a 9 because no one is perfect. Hence a score of 7-8, which I give this game, is down right impressive.
A must have even.
Do have to complain about two 'bugs' however. The first is the inability to quick-kill someone without it triggering an alarm. It is ridiculous to think that someone being cut in half by a nano-tipped blade is going to make that much noise. Twice so when you can punch someone, making the same amount of impact and body fall nose, two meters away from a friend. As non-kills grand more XP, as they person can be revived, there was no need to further penalize someone taking the 'bastard' root and killing them.
This doubles for hacking computers as well. It is as if a large flashing light goes off above your head when you try and hack and anyone within 20 meters will know what you are doing... even on the other side of the wall! I can't imagine typing with robotic hands would create THAT much noise, but I've put it down to enemies 'computer senses tingling' so much that means I wipe everyone out of the room before bending the poor firewall over and having my way with the network.
Sure there are others but they are either minor or fixed already and I have yet to come across a game play breaking one.
PS: Love the in game references, memes and shout-outs to other games. These sort of things you expect to find IRL and they added more 'realism' to the world itself. It really felt like you where in some computer nerds 'lair' seeing a massive rig of computer systems plastered with post-it notes on reddit topics. I've worked the industry, we geeks really do love our memes.
)
