DXHR suffers from two problems that plague bad RPGs:
1) Arbitrary Boss Fights
2) An ending that makes no realistic sense.
As for the first . . . You know what? I'm sure you've heard that complaint from every angle, and I have a 1000 word limit, so I won't go into it. Moving on!
Come the end of the game, the situation in the world is as follows. TYM is buying up every other augmentation company in order to control the release of augmentation products. The current diversity of companies means that the Illuminati can't exert control over those who choose to be augmented - they're essentially super-powered humans who can use their powers in whatever way they see fit. This makes them a threat to the established order.
At the end of the game, TYM and the Illuminati still exist. One of their agents, Bill Taggart is trapped with you.
Likewise, the heads of the companies bought out by TYM still exist, though Sarif is trapped with you.
Eliza is 'trapped' as well, unable to escape through the comm connection while it's in use - but as an AI, her 'main' self is still on the Picus mainframe.
And last but certainly not least, Hugh Darrow is trapped with you, after setting the communications array to transmit a signal causing hallucinations in any augmented person equipped with one of the TYM biochips, effectively making them become homicidal maniacs.
There are four possible endings. The first three sort of make sense:
You can broadcast Darrow's warning - but seriously, screw that guy.
You can have Eliza alter the broadcast to make up a story to support the Illuminati's point of view. But since they were acting like I should be shot, screw them, too.
Alternatively, you can have Darrow's broadcast altered to suit Sarif, which is by far the most rewarding of these three, personally.
But that's not the point. The point - and the reason I felt the need to explain the state of affairs by the end - is this. The fourth ending is that you destroy the structure you're in, killing everyone and (as the dialog tells you multiple times) leaves no one alive to 'spin' the story.
However, there's a flaw that anyone with a working brain should see with this ending. It actually leaves pretty much EVERYONE alive to do exactly that. The bulk of the Illuminati, TYM, other augmentation companies and their former idealistic owners, Lazarus the ranting radio retard, and Eliza herself are all going to survive while in point of fact, all you do is prevent any version of the truth from getting out. You leave nothing but a huge disaster for the most powerful parties to 'spin' exactly how they like with no informed opposition.
I know this. You probably realized this. There is literally no reason that Adam shouldn't realize this, but instead, when he's informed of this option, he blindly goes along with the idea that this option will 'allow people to make up their own minds'. The stupidest possible conclusion to events is foisted off on the audience as though it's actually a good idea in any way whatsoever. No wonder they called this game Deus Ex - through the dumbest possible solution, one that would never work at all in reality, Eliza assures us that this'll solve everything, and Adam buys it.
*sigh*
Alright, that aside, iron sights that toggle, instead of a simple 'right-click and hold' is a bit of a pain, but you have to use it because there is no targeting reticle. Some sort of 'statistics' screen would be good, too. Especially for those playing multiple saves. And though it's not something that was incorporated into the first Deus Ex game, there's no good reason not to add a New Game + to increase re playability in the game. Solid Snake has been getting bandannas for infinite ammo for 10 years now, there's no excuse not to.
Those minor complaints aside, though (and the two major ones above) there's not too terribly much to find fault with, here. The graphics are adequate, the levels are well- balanced and offer a variety of ways to get through. The AI is clever, which is a startling change of pace from many other games. They don't confirm sighting you too easily, but nor do they ignore the possibility that you're there. Pitting myself against it was one of the most interesting parts of the game.
In the end, I give it a 7 out of 10. Worth a play, and even a couple of replays, but after about a month you'll forget about it. Barring DLC of significantly higher quality.
1) Arbitrary Boss Fights
2) An ending that makes no realistic sense.
As for the first . . . You know what? I'm sure you've heard that complaint from every angle, and I have a 1000 word limit, so I won't go into it. Moving on!
Come the end of the game, the situation in the world is as follows. TYM is buying up every other augmentation company in order to control the release of augmentation products. The current diversity of companies means that the Illuminati can't exert control over those who choose to be augmented - they're essentially super-powered humans who can use their powers in whatever way they see fit. This makes them a threat to the established order.
At the end of the game, TYM and the Illuminati still exist. One of their agents, Bill Taggart is trapped with you.
Likewise, the heads of the companies bought out by TYM still exist, though Sarif is trapped with you.
Eliza is 'trapped' as well, unable to escape through the comm connection while it's in use - but as an AI, her 'main' self is still on the Picus mainframe.
And last but certainly not least, Hugh Darrow is trapped with you, after setting the communications array to transmit a signal causing hallucinations in any augmented person equipped with one of the TYM biochips, effectively making them become homicidal maniacs.
There are four possible endings. The first three sort of make sense:
You can broadcast Darrow's warning - but seriously, screw that guy.
You can have Eliza alter the broadcast to make up a story to support the Illuminati's point of view. But since they were acting like I should be shot, screw them, too.
Alternatively, you can have Darrow's broadcast altered to suit Sarif, which is by far the most rewarding of these three, personally.
But that's not the point. The point - and the reason I felt the need to explain the state of affairs by the end - is this. The fourth ending is that you destroy the structure you're in, killing everyone and (as the dialog tells you multiple times) leaves no one alive to 'spin' the story.
However, there's a flaw that anyone with a working brain should see with this ending. It actually leaves pretty much EVERYONE alive to do exactly that. The bulk of the Illuminati, TYM, other augmentation companies and their former idealistic owners, Lazarus the ranting radio retard, and Eliza herself are all going to survive while in point of fact, all you do is prevent any version of the truth from getting out. You leave nothing but a huge disaster for the most powerful parties to 'spin' exactly how they like with no informed opposition.
I know this. You probably realized this. There is literally no reason that Adam shouldn't realize this, but instead, when he's informed of this option, he blindly goes along with the idea that this option will 'allow people to make up their own minds'. The stupidest possible conclusion to events is foisted off on the audience as though it's actually a good idea in any way whatsoever. No wonder they called this game Deus Ex - through the dumbest possible solution, one that would never work at all in reality, Eliza assures us that this'll solve everything, and Adam buys it.
*sigh*
Alright, that aside, iron sights that toggle, instead of a simple 'right-click and hold' is a bit of a pain, but you have to use it because there is no targeting reticle. Some sort of 'statistics' screen would be good, too. Especially for those playing multiple saves. And though it's not something that was incorporated into the first Deus Ex game, there's no good reason not to add a New Game + to increase re playability in the game. Solid Snake has been getting bandannas for infinite ammo for 10 years now, there's no excuse not to.
Those minor complaints aside, though (and the two major ones above) there's not too terribly much to find fault with, here. The graphics are adequate, the levels are well- balanced and offer a variety of ways to get through. The AI is clever, which is a startling change of pace from many other games. They don't confirm sighting you too easily, but nor do they ignore the possibility that you're there. Pitting myself against it was one of the most interesting parts of the game.
In the end, I give it a 7 out of 10. Worth a play, and even a couple of replays, but after about a month you'll forget about it. Barring DLC of significantly higher quality.