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The sequel that is not a sequel

1 Rating: 1, Useful: 8 / 24
Date: December 03, 2003
Author: Amazon User

Okay, If you played Deus Ex and are about to buy Deus Ex 2, hold on at least till you read this. This game completely scraps the RPG elements and great things it had going for it from the first. They dumbed the game down, changing the inventory, having unified ammo--Yes, that means that the pistol uses the same ammo as the flamethrower. Other than the storyline, there is no similarities from the original. Not only is the point system gone, locational damage gone, there is pathetic AI, blocky, tiny levels, cartoonish characters and various other bad graphical effects. This game fails in comparison from the first, so if you are looking for more of the good ole same style game play from Deus Ex, play through Deus Ex again. Or you could wait a week until this game end up in the bargin bin. A complete disapointment and failure in game design. Keep your hands off or play the free demo if you dont take my word.

As deep and immersive as the first - instant classic

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 10 / 13
Date: December 04, 2003
Author: Amazon User

Here's the thing: right now I'm wandering nighttime Seattle, having escaped the opening invasion of my shady spy academy/genetics lab by creepy hooded cultists. I don't know where I'll go next or what I'll do, but odds are it will be violent - I was never a man of peace in the original Deus Ex, and I am true to form this time. During the bravura opening sequence, one of the school's security guards told me to sneak out the back way while she dealt with the cultist in the next room; instead, I followed her out the door in crouch mode, let the cultist riddle her with bullets, then grabbed her gun, snuck around the darkened perimeter of the room, and capped the guy from behind. Of course, I didn't *have* to do that - I could have knocked the cultist out with my nightstick, or distracted him by throwing something at him, or I could have followed the guard's advice and avoided the situation entirely.

That decision lies at the heart of what made DEUS EX a game for the ages. And that heart is still beating in INVISIBLE WAR, which, like KNIGHTS OF THE OLD REPUBLIC, brings a deep PC-game sensibility to a new audience of console gamers.

DEUS EX is about creating immersive gameworlds that feel like the next best thing to reality; worlds where you make choices that have real consequences. Will you focus on stealth or go in like Rambo? Will you preserve life or end it? No matter what you choose, your actions will come back to reward and haunt you later in the game, as NPC characters remember where you have been and what you have done. Even your initial choice of character gender has repercussions on down the line.

The game feels right at home on Xbox, with solid, intuitive controls and an easily-navigable inventory system. Unlike other roleplaying games, or for that matter other first-person shooters, your inventory is limited to what a real person (or at least a real bionic agent) could plausibly carry.

But even though you can't lug around twelve suitcases' worth of weapons and medkits, you'll never be at a loss for tactical options, because you can almost always improvise your way through situations using the environment around you. Need to distract a guard? Send a beer bottle sailing into the alley behind him. Turret chewing you up? Upend a steel table and take cover!

The graphics so far are absolutely lovely; the fully dynamic lighting, in particular, has to be seen to be believed. Unfortunately, the human characters are animated rather stiffly - though better than in the original game - but watching the light play across the folds in their clothes as they move around is impressive. The environments aren't very big, and apparently none of them approach the huge outdoors levels of the original, but on the other hand the set design is finely-detailed and convincing - the lab, for instance, is built and laid-out like a lab, not like a secret labyrinth fortress of death.

The voice acting isn't up to KOTOR levels, but it's not bad, either. The lip-synching is also done admirably well. Your character has a lot more personality than JC Denton, though I admit that I found Denton's flat inflections kind of endearing.

The writing so far has been first-rate; the mysteries are piled on thick and more keep coming. This is clearly going in a different direction from the original, though: DX1 may have been all about conspiracies and secret societies, but the story was a pretty straightforward good versus evil setup, and you were never really in doubt as to which was which. In DX2, though, your choices are a lot more uncomfortable - right now, for instance, I'm being pulled to either support the big bad capitalist elite or the creepy hooded hippie cult. Neither option is particularly appealing, and of course neither group is exactly forthcoming with its real intentions. Which will I choose? Or will I play both sides against the middle? I don't know, but so far every path I've chosen has been fascinating and rewarding - and I have no doubt that the rest of the game will be as well.

Deus Ex Newbie is Blown Away

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 14 / 14
Date: December 05, 2003
Author: Amazon User

Let me start with a short introduction.

I never played Ion Storm's original Deus Ex. Or to be more accurate, I didn't play enough of it to be able to make a worthwhile comparison. I read some previews of the new game, Deus Ex: Invisible War, and became really intrigued: it didn't sound like anything I'd played before. I began to wonder if I should play the original first. About this time, word starting spreading about changes made to the game design - changes that many fans of the first were very displeased with. Once hearing this, I decided I'd forego playing the first and dive into IW cold - I wanted to play the game for its own merits without judging it against its predecessor (no matter how superior the original game was touted to be). Since my home computer can't handle the PC version of the game, I played the Xbox version by default. As a result of this process, this may seem like a naive review, as I can't comment on anything regarding the previous game, but on the other hand, I am judging it on its own, without comparison.

Intro over.

It's very difficult to say anything specific about IW regarding the plot, because so much of the plot is tied directly to the actions and decisions of the player. But I can say that the game starts off with a bang. Almost immediately you are wondering whom to trust, which path to take, what items to use. The rules of the IW universe are explained at the beginning, but only in brief terms: for the large part, the player is left to fend for him/herself (you can choose Alex D's sex). The game manual is quick to point out that there are no "right" or "wrong" choices in IW - events unfold, doors are opened and closed, and the story changes depending on what Alex D decides. Should you side with Group 1, knowing it will anger Group 2? How will your decision affect the future? It's very rare that any game allows this kind of freedom to players, and at time it's almost overwhelming (especially at the beginning). But the further you progress, the more sense things make, the stronger your character's identity becomes, and you begin to appreciate more and more what Ion Storm has accomplished.

Alex D. is an agent who is able to be fitted with biomodification canisters, five in all, one for a specific region of the body. These "biomods" give Alex superhuman abilities, ranging from enhanced speed or strength to limited invisibility, among others. Illegal black-market biomods are particularly interesting. The biomods allow the player to tailor Alex to be a stealthy type of agent, a virtual "Terminator", or something in between. Adding to this customization is a range of equipment (firearms, swords, grenades, etc) which can also be upgraded to suit a particular style of play. This system is brilliant because in the world of IW, nothing is straight-forward - there are many ways to pass obstacles. Alex D. can charge into a heavily guarded room with guns blazing, sneak through air shafts, or hack into a security system and cause automated turrets to fire upon "friendlies." And these are just a few of the many options. You never feel forced to take any single path in IW - an amazing feat, especially when you consider the depth of the story - and experimentation is often rewarded.

IW may seem shorter than most RPGs, but you must remember that this game is almost designed to be replayed. You can reach any one of several endings in almost countless ways.

Invisible War is a beautiful game. No, it doesn't run at a particularly high frame-rate, but the environments are so detailed and so interactive, it's a small price to pay - you'll cease to notice it unless you're really making an effort to look for it. The vaunted Havok physics engine can be pretty silly, but it makes the world that much more immersive and allows for a lot of creativity on the part of the player. The lighting is 100% real-time, and is probably the best to be seen to date. Player models are convincing - not perfect, perhaps, but they get the job done very well. All told, the IW engine performs very well. The fact that it can look as good as it does while allowing for so much in-game experimentation is quite an achievement.

Sound-wise, there's little to complain about. There's a lot of voice-acting in IW, and while not Pixar-caliber, it does a fine job of maintaining the immersion. Elevator music plays in elevators, conversations can be heard everywhere, and a nice, dark, ambient soundtrack adds to the mood. Weapons and manipulated items all fit in perfectly.

So there's a newbie's take. Playing IW was some of the most fun I've had in the interactive media, mostly due to the high level of freedom the player is presented with. Is it a perfect game? No - but honestly, what is? I wasn't quite sure what to expect going in, but I came away with the strong conclusion that Deus Ex: Invisible War is not only a masterfully crafted game. It's a personalized experience. It's not only one of the best game's I've played this year, it's one of the best I've ever played.

Now to track down the original. Can it possibly live up to Invisible War?? I can't wait to find out.

Loved KOTOR, love DX:IW!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 4 / 4
Date: December 05, 2003
Author: Amazon User

I'm a big fan of Star Wars:Knights of the Old Republic, so naturally I was eager to check out DX:IW. I can happily report that I am not disappointed! I've played it for about 4 hours now. There is more hands-on-action and not quite as much role-playing as KOTOR, but the freedom they give you in this game is awesome! The weapons and biomods are really well done and interesting. There are just so many ways to accomplish things, I can see replaying this game over and over. Great game!

Not good enough for some, but plenty good all the same

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 3 / 5
Date: December 06, 2003
Author: Amazon User

I must confess that I never played the original Deus Ex. I have played a lot of RPG's, on XBOX, Genesis, etc. and I am very happy with my purchase. At times it is frustrating. I often find myself cursing at the screen when it takes three point blank shoots to the face to kill someone. Then I discovered the sniper rifle, which calmed me down a bit. So, yes, there is no locational damage (except with the sniper rifle, apparently). As a strictly first person shooter, this game would be totally mediocre. But it's not a FPS. Its an odd hybrid of a FPS and an RPG. Most of the people complaining are complaining that it is not perfect as either. I'll freely admit that. What makes it a great game is that it has enough RPG elements, combined with a GREAT storyline and terrific atmospherics to be a very immersive game. If you want it to be just like Deus Ex 1, and don't care if it's good otherwie, it sounds like you won't like it. If you like Morrowind and KOTOR and are looking for the next great XBOX RPG, I think you will. As a side note, anyone who played Shadowrun for the Genesis will love this game.

An involving RPG

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 6 / 7
Date: December 09, 2003
Author: Amazon User

I've never played or even seen the original Deus Ex, but I do like Sci-Fi future-tech types of games and movies.

Deus Ex: Invisible War opens with a beautiful, short (considering the story), but well made cut scene and features a slick futuristic presentation and atmosphere throughout - even the menus look and sound like they're from the future. The world that Deus Ex creates is well done and very believable. The graphics, sound effects, and character interaction really set the mood of a possible future Earth. The story is original and complete in the sense that they've covered all aspects of a future society - economy, technology, spirituality, politics, security, class struggle, corruption, conflict, environmental destruction, and even entertainment. The history of how it got that way is pieced together as you progress through the game.

If atmosphere alone made a game, then we'd be talking about an all-time great game, but it doesn't, and it isn't.

The worst thing about Deus Ex is the combat - it's terrible - stiff, akward, and frustrating with clunky A.I. and bad collision detection. After having played games like Rainbow Six 3 and Halo, the combat in Deus Ex looks and feels ridiculous, like something from another era.

Deus Ex: Invisible War does allow you some freedom, but instead of a large open world or city like GTA, it's broken up into small free-roaming sections or buildings that load when you enter and exit them. There should be no doubt that this game is an RPG all the way, through and through. If the designers had been able to incorporate Rainbow Six type of combat in Deus Ex, this game would have been a monster. But as it is, Invisible War is more about exploring, talking to people, picking up stuff, managing your stuff (life energy & biomod energy, credits, weapons & weapon mods, med kits/food, multitools, and biomod abilities) and accomplishing those missions that YOU see fit to take on.

It's in this last aspect where Deus Ex deviates from other games - it actually reacts to what you do (in terms of plot and interaction). The characters in the game are aware of your actions and are constantly trying to get you to come over to their side and work for them - pulling you in different directions and forcing you to think about what you do and how you do it. This intellectual struggle contrasts with the step-by-step linear storyline of most games, and while I can appreciate this unique quality, and the other positives like graphics and setting, I don't feel that it's enough to be able to call this a great game. These positive aspects save the game from being really bad, instead of pushing it up into greatness.

I guess I would rather see a hard-hitting FPS with strong RPG gameplay (character interaction, player modification, and the evolving plot) than an interesting RPG with weak combat, which is what Deus Ex: Invisible War is. It's not a bad game, and it is what I expected (I read a bunch of reviews before buying); it's just that its potential is so great that with a few tweaks here and there, Invisible War could have been a ground breaking iconic type of XBOX game on the level of Halo and possibly bigger due to the engrossing atmosphere and complexity of the Sci-Fi future-Earth world. Instead it's merely an entertaining game with a cool setting and just enough "different" thrown in to make you keep playing it.

Immersive, Entrancing, Engrossing Cyberpunk Game

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 0 / 0
Date: December 10, 2003
Author: Amazon User

If you like open ended game play, futuristic settings, rpg's that challenge your emotions or sense of morality, drop what you are doing, set your OOTO message on your phone and email, and RUN to get this game. This is a fantastic game! Are the graphics good? Yup. Does it have the now almost prerequisite stealth action elements? Check. Phillip K. Dick sensibility? U huh! What makes this game fantastic? I'd be hard pressed to focus on any one thing, really. It all just comes together so beautifully. I like that the game gives you more than 1 proper way to due a task. For example, for me to take the "Transcender" to Upper Seattle, I had to decontaminate the area to the elevator. I could do this by finding a trapped worker and getting the access code to the robot bay from him, I could get to the emergency panel and run the decontamination program, etc. Some of the side missions are also fun. The proprietor of a coffee shop may ask you to ransack his opponent's coffee supply in order to drum up more business, or some aliens may ask you to collect some dna evidence of a mutant being kept in a nightclub basement, for the payoff of cheaper prices on their black market bio mods or weapons, etc. The game never feels like your typical fed ex missions that alot of rpg's fall into. The story is absolutely engrossing. You will be introduced to different factions:
the WTO (basically THE multinational corporation) that will give you access to prosperity in exchange for a loss of privacy, the Order, a zealous back to nature pseudo religious group, and the Tarsus corp, who created you and implanted bio mods in you but for what purpose ...

For fans of Blade Runner & Ghost in the Shell

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 0 / 0
Date: December 10, 2003
Author: Amazon User

About 18.5 hours of gameplay. Very dynamic. Begs to be played multiple times. Story changes based on who you kill/save/quests etc. Biomod system is a unique RPG system. Game is very cyberpunk and recalls Phillip K Dicks writings and the movies based off his books such as Blade Runner, Minority Report, Imposter, Paycheck. Also has lots of Ghost in the Shell type stuff. Frame-rate could be better. Check it out if you are a cyberpunk fan!!!!!

this game has really bad problems

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 1 / 8
Date: December 10, 2003
Author: Amazon User

I bought this game and found it to be a big let down. This game is a step backwards in technology. The Graphics arent even good for a PS2 game let alone Xbox. The character models are ok but the environments are really bad, maybe 2 steps above Nintendo 64. The combat is really sloppy, and the frame rate for the whole game is Sooooo choppy. The AI is one of the worst ever. The bad guys basically just stand there and let you shoot them. Halo and Knights of the old Republic are so far beyond anything this game attempts to be good at. Ion Storm had a while to develope this with some good games to model themselves after, but they just ended up dropping the ball.
If your curious about this game, you should rent it first.

First Person RPG

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 2 / 2
Date: December 11, 2003
Author: Amazon User

If you are reading these, trying to learn if the game is good and if you should buy it, then yes.

It gets the title "First Person Shooter" because there is a gun in front of the screen alot of the times. I don't understand why it did'nt get labeled an RPG. You can upgrade your guy, buy things, make choices that effect the out come, and more. You can join groups and take up job for more cash. Learn how to hack, sneek by bots and camras, and more. Once you learn, you can hack money of ATM machines.

Also you can interact alot. Buy sodas and candy bars. You can pick up stuff and throw it. Even dead bodies. It can be a weird kind of fun. So if you think you just carry around a gun the whole time, your wrong. It has ALOT more to do then that.

This game reminds me of a "Shadowrun, Fallout, Morrowind". It has the best of all of them. An RPG that take place in the future. I was wanting a game like this for a while. I HIGHLY recomend it.

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