Human Revolution is the third game in the Deus Ex franchise, and is the prequel to the 2000 original.  Not knowing much about the franchise other than the promise that it would allow gamers to choice their own path, be it guns blazing or sneaking around unseen, Human Revolution sounded like it would be an enjoyable FPS with a difference.

The main difference are the RPG elements, which will see you not only gathering points to boost your stats, but also food, drinks, guns and ammo.  And rather than being one big shoot em up, Human Revolution throws in a bit of walking around and talking to people as well.

The way you play the game, the stats you choose to boost, will effect how the game plays out.

You’ll even have to think about what words you use in conversations – play your cards wrong and you might not get what you’re after.

For all the choices the game gives you – the ability to sneak past guards – or throw a concussion grenade if the only way is through them – the choice to complete the entire game with a clean conscience – in other words, without killing anyone – is stolen from you through cut scenes and end of level bosses that destroy any notion of free will when they force you into situations, or make you kill for once in the game.

I of course never had any problem with killing – it always seemed easier (and more fun) to shoot your way through a building than sneak through the air ducts.  But when a game that gives you so much freedom of choice then forces actions upon you, it’s a little jarring.

Not that this takes away from the game at hand that much, it’s just a reminder that, yes you are playing a game.

Visually the game draws you into a world where human augmentation is the new science and the new evil, it’s a futuristic feel with a hit of cyberpunk that carries the narrative well.  It’s the narrative, the desire to get to the bottom of a conspiracy that you’ve been thrown into that drive the game, allowing you to sink hours of you life into it with ease.

Whilst it’s certainly not the FPS I had been (foolishly) expecting, it’s immersive story-line, open world play with FPS mechanics, have all combined to deliver a well thought out experience that demands your attention, and quite possibly multiple play throughs.

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Human Revolution is the third game in the Deus Ex franchise, and is the prequel to the 2000 original.  Not knowing much about the franchise other than the promise that it would allow gamers to choice their own path, be it guns blazing or sneaking around unseen, Human Revolution sounded like it would be an enjoyable FPS with a difference.

The main difference are the RPG elements, which will see you not only gathering points to boost your stats, but also food, drinks, guns and ammo.  And rather than being one big shoot em up, Human Revolution throws in a bit of walking around and talking to people as well.

The way you play the game, the stats you choose to boost, will effect how the game plays out.

You’ll even have to think about what words you use in conversations – play your cards wrong and you might not get what you’re after.

For all the choices the game gives you – the ability to sneak past guards – or throw a concussion grenade if the only way is through them – the choice to complete the entire game with a clean conscience – in other words, without killing anyone – is stolen from you through cut scenes and end of level bosses that destroy any notion of free will when they force you into situations, or make you kill for once in the game.

I of course never had any problem with killing – it always seemed easier (and more fun) to shoot your way through a building than sneak through the air ducts.  But when a game that gives you so much freedom of choice then forces actions upon you, it’s a little jarring.

Not that this takes away from the game at hand that much, it’s just a reminder that, yes you are playing a game.

Visually the game draws you into a world where human augmentation is the new science and the new evil, it’s a futuristic feel with a hit of cyberpunk that carries the narrative well.  It’s the narrative, the desire to get to the bottom of a conspiracy that you’ve been thrown into that drive the game, allowing you to sink hours of you life into it with ease.

Whilst it’s certainly not the FPS I had been (foolishly) expecting, it’s immersive story-line, open world play with FPS mechanics, have all combined to deliver a well thought out experience that demands your attention, and quite possibly multiple play throughs.