Eidos Interactive has just unleashed a new video for the hotly anticipated game Deus Ex: Human Evolution. Unveiled at the German game show Gamescom, the video is the first to reveal gameplay footage of the third installment in the Deus Ex canon. We all have intense expectations for a new Deus Ex game, and this gameplay footage lends credence to our hopes and/or fears.
Released way back in 2000, Deus Ex is one of the finest examples of an FPS/RPG hybrid, and the game is considered by many to be one of the greatest games of all time. It had a rich and complex story, brilliant dialogue, and gameplay depth unlike anything ever seen before at the time. It rocked the worlds of shooters, action, and stealth games. Ten years later, Deus Ex is a game that still enjoys installation life on many gamer’s hard drives.
When its sequel, titled Invisible War, came out four years later, the rabid fanbase was met with terrible disappointment as the game was dumbed down to be a simultaneous release on consoles in addition to PC. The game was one of the earliest titles to feature a fully interactive rigid body dynamics system integrated for physics, and it was terribly buggy and clunky. Beyond technical problems, the game was marred by a weak and confusing story, forgettable characters, and the removal of the majority of RPG elements that gamers loved in the original title. Warren Spector had let gamers down worldwide.
It is because of that massive disappointment in Invisible War that so many gamers are waiting with reserved excitement for Deus Ex: Human Evolution. We want the series to return to its RPG hybrid roots, but that original setup did not translate well to the consoles. As Human Evolution is planned to be a multi-platform release at launch, we can assume that this means the game will remain in the vein of Invisible War—a more action-focused game without the depth that the original title enjoyed. Many gamers today are totally happy with fast paced gameplay and flashy action sequences, so perhaps the only ones with potential to be let down by Human Evolution are the old gamers hanging on to the past.
Depending on your perspective, the new video will either bring relief or rage. The video showcases some very intense firefights featuring a cover system and iron sights. Much of the video tends to be action-centric. This may be a cause for concern with anyone still trying to remove the bad taste from their mouths left by Invisible War.
Though the video doesn’t really showcase any particular RPG elements, it does display some of the special abilities and augmentations that have made the previous games stand out. Two such examples are a sort of x-ray vision and super strength. In the video, the player is able to see an enemy through a wall, and with his strength, smash through wall and break the sentry’s neck before he even senses what is happening.
I have a feeling that Deus Ex: Human Evolution will deliver the same sort of experience that is so prevalent today in the style of futuristic action shooter. That isn’t to suggest that the game is going to suck, though—quite the contrary. But if the game shapes up to be like that, then it will not be the sequel that long time fans deserve. That being said, the game looks very cool and stylish, and I will hold my thoughts until I’m playing the game.
Gamers will have to watch the video and come to their own conclusion on what to expect from Deus Ex: Human Evolution. Though it may be nigh impossible to match the brilliance of the original game, here’s to hoping that what we’re seeing in this video leads to a better experience than Invisible War was able to manage. The gameplay and presentation does look much more polished in Human Evolution, and Square Enix’s involvement gives hope for the storytelling aspect. Despite the positives, you can’t blame gamers for being nervous about this one, though.
Deus Ex: Human Evolution is planned for a February 28th release in 2011 on the PC, PS3 and Xbox 360.
Articles RSS