Everyone who plays games has a franchise or two that, no matter how hard they try or how
many people tell them they're crazy, they just can't get into.
And I'll be honest.
For me, this is one of those franchises.
Deus Ex is pretty much universally adored—by critics, by gamers.
And it's widely considered that this one's a masterpiece.
I guess I'm missing something.
Maybe I don't have the right augmentation.
So I don't know.
I'm probably wrong about this one.
I mean, people love this game.
It was awarded plenty of Game of the Year nods in 2011, and now that this director's
cut has been released, people are falling in love with Human Revolution all over again.
And I get it, to a degree.
It's big, it's dramatic, it's...big.
Actually, maybe that's it.
It's always these big, plot-heavy, open-ended games.
If you're into those kind of games, you're probably going to love Human Revolution.
In fact, you probably already love it, and you're pounding your keyboard in rage.
Well, calm down, alright?
I mean, I said I'm probably wrong.
So Human Revolution is a first-person shooter meets RPG meets dystopian future.
Humans have found a way to augment their own bodies with technology, essentially enhancing
human abilities through biomechanics.
As you'd expect, this is being done by a massive corporation, which is doing it for the military,
and there are human purists who use terrorism to fight this technology.
You play as a man who had to be augmented to save his life.
And the only thing more robotic than his body is his personality.
There's a couple things about Human Revolution that made me think, "Wait, this is what people
are freaking out over?"
The story was the big one.
It just comes across as cliched.
And since the characters are so dry and lifeless, that makes it even harder to care.
It's that old story of man and machine, what defines us, technology vs. morality...been
there, done that.
And with much better voice acting.
I've actually heard people say that, "No, no.
Jensen—that's the main character—Jensen is unexpressive because he represents the
player.
And it's about your choices for him."
And that's fine.
It doesn't make sense, but it's fine.
If I choose for him to emote and he doesn't...I mean, that seems more like an excuse for a
boring character than anything else.
But that's fine.
Because the choice part?
I'll give you that.
This game is definitely about choice, and that's what makes it cool.
So the one thing I really like about Human Revolution is that...your choices change the
entire experience.
And it's not just about branching dialogue.
Being nice or mean.
It's not just the story.
It's the gameplay.
You can become a stealthy assassin, and upgrade yourself along those lines.
You can take the more direct approach, and play it like a traditional shooter.
And of course, there's plenty of augmentation to cater to that choice, as well.
There's a certain freedom to that that's really empowering.
The game doesn't define itself as much as it lets the player define it.
And that's a pretty awesome thing.
Of course, the gameplay itself—when those definitions turn into action—that's where
the game loses some steam for me.
The enemy AI is pretty rough, even in this director's cut.
And as much as I like how the gameplay adapts to the player...there's a bit of that "jack
of all trades, master of none" thing going on here.
There are shooters that shoot better and stealth games that...stealth better.
I mean, look, this is a fine game, but...I never saw the greatness.
It's not BioShock.
BioShock has much cooler drugs.
Fortunately, if you do see the greatness and you're already a fan, you'll be pleased to
know that...there's actually a little bit of thought behind the Wii U version.
You have the obvious map display, which is immensely helpful in any game that has it.
But there's some other uses, too.
You actually use the GamePad for your upgrading and managing your inventory.
And of course, for hacking.
Which feels awesome on the touch screen.
Look, I'm not trying to throw this thing under the bus.
There are obvious appeals to Human Revolution.
Whether or not you like them, though...that's a subjective thing.
I'm just telling you that...I don't see this game as the masterpiece others do.
Those are games that—even if you don't like the genre—you'll like those.
They sort of transcend their genre.
Human Revolution never did that for me.
It just struck me as a solid shooter in a really drab world with a story I've heard
before.
Oh, and a protagonist who makes Keanu Reeves seem dynamic.
The director's cut of Human Revolution is supposedly an improved version of a masterpiece.
Personally, I didn't see it that way.
Then again...I'm probably wrong.