(*No Spoilers Within*)
One thing that many other reviews for this game do is compare it side by side with the original. Which in my opinion is only one of two ways to evaluate a game. Here are my thoughts.
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In Comparison to Deus Ex:
1) Graphics - infinitely better. What can you expect out of an engine a few generations later? There is actual physics to the way things move, things look sharper, shadows are done well, etc. Its quite a bit slower to load and each map area is smaller but its the price you play for realistic looking people with facial expressions.
2) Gameplay - lousy. About half of the "cool" features of Deus Ex were taken out. Skills, one part I loved most, and the skills points -- gone. The conversation log and game notes -- gone. Details goals section, minimal. You can't lean around corners. All guns use the same ammo, reducing the need for tactical foresight, and size of an item in inventory is irrelavent, lockpick and multitools are the same. Most importantly, stealth has been removed from the game. Enemy vision arcs are wider, you can't hide in shadows, more aggro enemies in critical/objective areas , etc. I could go on for a long time. Basically, Deus Ex 2 tossed out nearly all of the cool RPG elements that made Deus Ex groundbreaking.
3) Storyline - lousy. Compared to Deus Ex, the story is shorter and has many more plot-gaps. More things just go unexplained and more cool things go unused. The dialogue is just not as interesting and the side-quests are mostly boring and unrelated. Character depth for the main character starts off quite well (I was impressed at the beginning). However, PC, NPC and supporting character development is almost none existant.
4) Summary - Deus Ex 2 not only fails to improve upon the first, but in fact is much *worse* then Deus Ex.
Without being compared to Deus Ex:
1) Graphics - Pretty Good. Physics, details, textures good. It isn't HalfLife 2, but still. Loading times are normally slow.
2) Gameplay - It is basically a FPS with a few cool RPG features like money and biomod choices. As a console FPS, it'd say the gameplay is pretty standard. You run, you strafe, you shoot. With that in mind, I'd say gameplay is pretty good. Smooth and clear.
3) Story - Its a bit short, but the futuristic universe is pretty cool. Game actually explains the futuristic developments and how they have affected the world. There are plot gaps but you get a good picture of what the world is like. The main character and all NPCs have depth.
4) Summary - its a FPS with lock picking and choices on how to augment (biomods) your character.
Summary
Deus Ex 2 is a decent game with decent graphics and *IS WORTH* playing. However, if you are expecting the same cool FPS-RPG setup that Deus Ex did so well, then you are going to be rather upset.
If you are the type "I hate shooters, but I liked Deus Ex because it was different" then DO NOT bother with Deus Ex 2.
Otherwise, its worth a try.
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