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Review: Deus Ex: Human Revolution Director’s Cut

Not many games captured my attention like the 2011 hit Deus Ex: Human Revolution. It promised solid gameplay coupled with diverse and versatile means of resolving situations. What really surprised me about the title, however, was that it actually delivered on most of what it promised!

Now we’ve received the Director’s Cut, which offers much more than just a repackaging of the modern classic.  The core game has been reworked with improved visuals, boss battles and enemy AI, plus you get all the DLC, dual screen control interface and reworked combat. You also get some other extras like a complete game guide, audio commentaries and so on however these aren’t anything a brief internet search couldn’t provide so, whilst they’re nice to have, I don’t think they’re essential.

For those unfamiliar with Human Revolution you play as Adam Jenson, head of security at market leader in the provision of mechanical augmentation, Sarif Industries. Set in the near future, the story covers a time when robotic enhancement is becoming the norm, exacerbating the divide between rich and poor and raising many philosophical arguments about what it is to be human. A key component of the Deus Ex series is the way you play. The game provides mission objectives but no specific direction on how to you to decide how to achieve them. Areas are cleverly designed to accommodate many options with room for gunfights surrounded by locked doors, air conditioning ducts or alternate paths. Will you try to talk your way past a guard? Shoot him and the subsequent guys who respond? Maybe you’ll move a dumpster, jump a fence or find a forgotten air duct to sneak through. The mixture of choice and character customisation options makes for a refreshing change and really sets Deus Ex: Human Revolution apart from the rest.

For the most part the game’s story and mechanics remain unchanged so, if you’re interested in hearing about the core game, I’d recommend you read Ponk’s review. It’s still very relevant and will allow me to concentrate on improvements the Director’s Cut introduces.

Whilst the initial release of Deus Ex HR delivered most of what it promised there were a few flaws that kept it from perfection. Key among these were the boss battles, enemy AI behaviour and the graphical quality. Whilst the graphical quality has been tweaked for the Director’s Cut it still looks very dated and I doubt will impress anyone. What it lacks in quality it makes up for in style though and still portrays a complete and detailed world.  Enemy AI has also undergone an overhaul and, whilst they are still open to exploitation, are much smarter than they used to be. No longer can you simply pick up a vending machine and follow a guard safe in the knowledge that, if he can’t see you, you’re not there.

The biggest and most important change to the game is the restructured boss fights. In the original release these forced you to play like a shooter and, whilst you could usually find a strategy that worked, they were noticeably different and disruptive to the game’s flow. Each boss fight now comes with an enlarged battle area and options to tackle via stealth, hacking or combat. The down side of this is that some bosses are significantly easier to kill however the trade off is well worth it and significantly more enjoyable. With remastered boss fights the theme of choice that makes Deus Ex so great permeates through to all levels and provides a consistency previously lacking.

Aside from changes to game mechanics the Director’s Cut also offers significant interface changes. Utilising the Wii U’s GamePad, Xbox SmartGlass or the Playstation Vita, we’re now able to play the game with a second screen dedicated to interfaces and sub menus. Searching bodies, applying augmentations, reading ebooks, hacking… it’s all there now. This isn’t just a gimmick they shoe horned on and actually makes gameplay easier. For example, whilst hacking a computer using the touch screen you can look around on the main one to ensure guards aren’t approaching your position. The only time I felt the second screen was obtrusive was when using ranged weapons. Zooming in removes the target reticule from the main screen and displays it on the second instead forcing you to change perspective in order to complete shots.

Another feature worth noting is the addition of adding map or image notation. Basically this is just an option where you can “write” on the map using the touch interface and note down things of interest like guard routes or vent locations. It’s a nice feature I found more useful than I thought I would. For example; when walking through Zhao’s penthouse for the first time it’s completely empty. I took the time to map out a hidden path so that, when I had to escape, I wasn’t left with the arduous task of experimentation in a room full of guards.

It’s worth noting that I reviewed the Wii U version of this game. Having the touch screen built into the controller was a great advantage and I’m not sure how seamless it would have felt if I were using Smartglass or a Vita as a third input device. The Wii U version also supports clever Miiverse integration. Aside from the standard set of Miiverse features this version lets you post in-game logs with screenshots or maps, notations, text and audio commentary. You can also enable a feature called auto posting where, when you gain an achievement, a screenshot and status update are posted on Miiverse. This is completed in the background and a great, unobtrusive way of utilising Miiverse which I hope other developers will replicate.

The only negative I could find with Deus Ex HR Director’s Cut was that, graphically, it wasn’t as improved as I’d hoped. Cut scenes still look a dated and character motion is still a little robotic. It’s not enough to make anyone dislike the game but, if you’re expecting to be wowed by the visual enhancements, I wouldn’t hold your breath. I also noticed significant differences between the Wii U and other versions of the game such as missing textures and altering levels of colour saturation.

In summary I can’t praise this game enough. Whether you’re new to Human Revolution or just feel like replaying it the Director’s Cut is the version you should play! If you own multiple systems the Wii U is well worth considering as the gamepad make the dual screen implementation seamless. Personally I still prefer a keybaord and mouse to a controller so, for a combat playthrough, I’ll always favour the PC version but it’s worth noting nonetheless.

Deus Ex: Human Revolution remains a cleverly designed, stand out title that offers an experience truly unlike any other. The Director’s Cut not only manages to stay true to the original but packages in a bunch of extra content whilst fixing all the big problems. Further to this it adds dual screen support in a way that enhances gameplay and is more than just a gimmick. It’s a must buy for anyone who’s a fan of the series or good gaming in general.


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About the author

Dave Haldane

There are two things I love in life... video games and my family. I work full time as an IT manager to provide for my wife, three kids and a heavy gaming habit. I own almost every console since the Atari 7800 and am proud of my extensive collection of games.

I'm more of a single or coop player but I do dabble in multiplayer on the odd occasion. If you want to have a game or just chat feel free to add me, PM me or email me.