For all you sorry people who missed out on the original Deus Ex, here is your chance to play something which, lets face it, isn't quite as good. Deus Ex: Invisible War takes place 20 years after the events of the first game, and once again plunges you into a world of nanotechnology, bio-modifications and intrigue.
And this time the world is so beautiful – the textures and sounds are amazingly well designed, and the physics engine allows realistic interaction with almost any object in the game.
But a game isn't just about the look and sound, and DE:IW just doesn't quite have the soul of its older brother. For a start, the story just isn't as good. Players of the original game will no doubt enjoy meeting old characters again, but if you have played Deus Ex you will be able to guess the plot well in advance. People who missed out on the original however will not suffer this foresight, and will get the same "Oh crap! Everyone's after me!" feel delivered by the first game.
Additionally, as IW has been designed for PC and Xbox with no major content difference, PC players will notice certain "consolifications" have taken place. The most obvious of these is level size. Gameplay areas in Deus Ex are huge, but a comparable size in IW will frequently be interrupted by load screens. Also the skills system has been removed, to reduce the processing power needed. This is all well and good, but to retain some of the RPG aspect I was expecting them to be replaced by more biomods. In fact there are now only five customisable biomod slots (compared to nine in the original), with a choice of three mods per slot. This has sadly reduced the role-playing aspect of the game with respect to self advancement.
Ironically, choice is the area that this game excels in. You get to choose your style of play – from sneaking in the shadows to blasting everything you meet. Limited storage space means you have to choose what equipment to carry, also affecting your style of play. A universal ammo type also reduces the "kill-'em-all" factor – running out of ammo now means you can't use ANY weapon until you find more.
But the greatest choices come in the main quest. For every area you visit there are tasks to perform, given by the main factions in the game. You can choose which path to take, depending on what you feel is morally right, or which faction offers the greatest reward.
In conclusion I would say congratulations to Ion Storm, for creating another great game, and once again breaking new ground in the industry. It's just a pity that Invisible War doesn't quite manage to live up to the incredibly high standards set by the original.
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