Deus Ex, 2000
Ion Storm
Windows, MacOS, PlayStation 2 & 3
Steam, GoG, Local Retailer (maybe)
Buy it here.
The main events of the game take place in the year of 2052, on our very own Earth, a world infested with corruption and bureaucracy, a small amount of people who confront this and a large amount of police to counter them. The whole place is a mess, as you witness during your travels around the globe.
The player is a special, nano-augmented agent with all sorts of physical enhancements created specifically to combat the terrorists who took advantage of the chaotic situation. However, as the game goes on it is learned that not everything is as clear...
The thing that makes Deus Ex stand out from other roleplaying games out there is the amount of freedom the player has when it comes to solving a problem presented. There aren't your average three choices - combat, diplomacy and stealth - these all branch off into many more. The level design is believable, yet in the same time it allows the player to do all sorts of stuff, like go through a ventilation shaft, use an elevator or unlock a special door - anything to avoid open confrontation with enemy.
This means that despite having a so-so character creation, you don't really have a specific 'best' character. And as the game progresses, you can choose your upgrades, some of which help with stealth, others with combat. Lots of replay value here!
The plot and the backstory is also a strong point of Deus Ex. Most of is fairly believable, and whilst science-fiction it's not completely outlandish. The atmosphere is brilliant and the soundtrack helps build it - first, thrown into the clean offices of a UN HQ, then into the slums of NY. You have to see to understand, of course.
As an RPG fan, you will probably be very upset with how little long-term options there are, and the lack of consequence for them. If you save a character, he will appear later in the game just to say 'Hi'... And none of that will be tied with the main plot. You can choose to tear apart the guards or bypass them; there are no punishments or rewards for either.
Now, like most roleplaying systems, Deus Ex suffers the Useless Skill Syndrome. There is a couple of skills and a few upgrades which are rarely used throughout the game, and another, more healthy choice is always present with absolutely no repercussions for choosing it instead. I'd recommend reading a brief guide on creating a Deus Ex character, just in case.
Unlike other roleplaying games, the combat is partially player-dependent, since all the combat and sneaking is done through first person.
Ion Storm
Windows, MacOS, PlayStation 2 & 3
Steam, GoG, Local Retailer (maybe)
Buy it here.
The main events of the game take place in the year of 2052, on our very own Earth, a world infested with corruption and bureaucracy, a small amount of people who confront this and a large amount of police to counter them. The whole place is a mess, as you witness during your travels around the globe.
The player is a special, nano-augmented agent with all sorts of physical enhancements created specifically to combat the terrorists who took advantage of the chaotic situation. However, as the game goes on it is learned that not everything is as clear...
The thing that makes Deus Ex stand out from other roleplaying games out there is the amount of freedom the player has when it comes to solving a problem presented. There aren't your average three choices - combat, diplomacy and stealth - these all branch off into many more. The level design is believable, yet in the same time it allows the player to do all sorts of stuff, like go through a ventilation shaft, use an elevator or unlock a special door - anything to avoid open confrontation with enemy.
This means that despite having a so-so character creation, you don't really have a specific 'best' character. And as the game progresses, you can choose your upgrades, some of which help with stealth, others with combat. Lots of replay value here!
The plot and the backstory is also a strong point of Deus Ex. Most of is fairly believable, and whilst science-fiction it's not completely outlandish. The atmosphere is brilliant and the soundtrack helps build it - first, thrown into the clean offices of a UN HQ, then into the slums of NY. You have to see to understand, of course.
As an RPG fan, you will probably be very upset with how little long-term options there are, and the lack of consequence for them. If you save a character, he will appear later in the game just to say 'Hi'... And none of that will be tied with the main plot. You can choose to tear apart the guards or bypass them; there are no punishments or rewards for either.
Now, like most roleplaying systems, Deus Ex suffers the Useless Skill Syndrome. There is a couple of skills and a few upgrades which are rarely used throughout the game, and another, more healthy choice is always present with absolutely no repercussions for choosing it instead. I'd recommend reading a brief guide on creating a Deus Ex character, just in case.
Unlike other roleplaying games, the combat is partially player-dependent, since all the combat and sneaking is done through first person.
eus Ex (1)
