Have you ever wanted to be a secret agent? Deus Ex: Human Revolution gives you the
chance to play as Adam Jensen, an ex-swat member for the Detroit Police Department. After leaving the department for personal reasons, you have been hired as the lead security officer for a leading bio-tech company. One of the scientists has made a discovery and is about to reveal it to the world when the research lab is attacked. Adam is sent to save the day but finds much more then he bargained for. Broken and near death, Adam is saved with revolutionary technology. Now it’s up to you to find out why you were attacked and by whom.
1. Graphics (Outstanding)-Deus Ex has had a lot of polish and shine to it. City landscapes and environments divulge a dark and brooding future. Every part of exploring the bathrooms in a corporate headquarters,to the grungy streets of downtown Detroit conveyed a believable near future. Sleek and sexy future tech mixed with littered streets 
and tight architecture give the feeling of a city that lives and breaths all on its own. The only downsides are the character models and animations. Character textures are often rounded and muted giving NPCs a clunky look against the sharp and vivid details of the background. This leads to a noticeable different between regular interactions and cut scenes where characters are much more detailed. Character animations come off a bit awkward as they look around bobbing their heads like startled chickens waiting to get attacked by some random predator. But even this can not mar the experience completely.
2. Gameplay (Outstanding)-This game is what Alpha Protocol by Sega and Obsidian games should have been. Utilizing a cover system similar to Gears of War, you make the choice to go in with a bang or as silent as a tiger. Gunplay could be a little better as spray and pray methods are a good way to get you killed. Ammo is somewhat limited so it will eat bullets up fast. Enemies getting hit with bullets squirm from the damage and tend to become immune to it as they act out their animations. Accurate fire is pleasantly rewarded. Head shots with nearly any gun usually mean a quick end to the bad guy.
Using your new biotic enhancements couldn’t be more fun as you get the option to drop or
kill enemies with gory and randomized execution scenes. Of course they had to limit the use of your take-down attacks by using battery charges that symbolize how many times in a row you can perform. These can be enhanced further by the role-playing segment of the game by using customization points that can be found, purchased, or earned through leveling up. Always be mindful though, There isn’t a melee option once you run out of bullets and batteries. Think before rushing into a mob of enemies. You could silently take out a guard and drag his body to a corner so he won’t be noticed. The enemy A.I. is no joke here. Once the alert goes up, everyone comes to play from different angles. Some will come to face you straight up and other will flank you.
Other things like hacking are important enhancements to consider. You can bypass security and mini gun turrets or use them against your enemies. With another option of augmentation, I was able to lift up my hacked mini gun turret and have it blaze away at enemies while I walked around. Of course, it’s also like lock picking. Cooler items, money and alternate pathways can be found using it. Other augmentations will enhance your ability to take damage, shoot a gun accurately or even survive a long fall. The choices are up to you.
Now of course if guns and brute force aren’t your way of game-play, there is always the stealth option. A quick tongue and a quick mind will help bypass trouble. Vents can be used to circumvent and encounter with a gun toting lackey and stun guns can be used to follow the way of the non-lethal take down. If you can do it, you won’t have to kill anyone but bosses and get a special achievement for it when you complete the game. The main 
point of this is you have options. Many options are available to complete your objectives so that playing the game doesn’t seem to be a “been there, done that.” There is also enough challenge that veterans will find the game fun as well as keep newcomers interested through the entire experience.
3. Story (Great) – The story of Deus Ex Human Revolution is played out through quests. Main quests tell the main story and side quests give the chance to learn about the people, places, and things happening in whatever part of the world you are currently in. Several speech options present themselves as well as reactions during interactions with NPCs letting you experience several different outcomes. This will keep you planted in your seat and possibly reload an old save just to see what is on the other side over and over again.
4. Soundtrack (Great)-More so electronic noise and techno-ish bleeps and bloops then music. Still it would be interesting to hear the whole soundtrack by itself because it is not noticeable during game-play. Trying to stay alive and watching the story unfold keep things muted in the background. Voice acting is superb. Little hidden gems of dialog and tone make the performances as well done as those found in titles like Mass Effect. Bravo to the leading man voicing Adam Jensen, Elias Toufexis (Eureka).
5. Replay Value (Outstanding) – Play it once, you’ll play it twice. There are so many things to do and different ways to do them you will start a new game right after the credits finish rolling.
THE BOTTOM LINE:
Deus Ex Human Revolution is well worth your time and money. Anyone into Action/RPGs will fall in love with this game. Some small things stand out during game-play as odd or unrefined but that just leaves improvement for the next time.
Game Rating:(4.5)[Outstanding] Game type:(Action/RPG) Game System:(PS3, Xbox 360, PC) By:(Eidos, Square Enix)
Rating system: Rating Point Value: (Trash)=0 (Meh)= .25(Good)=.5(Great)=.75(Outstanding)=1.0
Game Score System: Overall Total Value: (Trash)=0-1.5(Meh)=1.75-2.25(Good)=2.5-3.25(Great)=3.5-4.25(Outstanding)=4.5+
Rating Suggestions:
(Trash): Don’t bother with any form of purchase. This product isn’t worth the effort to purchase it.
(Meh): Not at all impressive. This product isn’t something that should be recommended for most people to enjoy. Flawed or incomplete.
(Good): An average score this product does what it is intended to do and will be worth at least a rent if you are interested in it. This is a solid item that will be enjoyed.
(Great): This product is highly recommended. It is well worth the investment if you are interested in it. You will not be disappointed in a purchase of this item.
(Outstanding): You needed to own two of this product yesterday. Superior quality, going beyond what it was intended to do.
-Nate Biller
