Deus Ex: Human Revolution - Director's Cut Reviews

Category: News Archive

Hits: 2630

Written by WorstUsernameEver on October 28th, 2013

Tweet

But it all comes back to that gold and that black. The color combination rivals teal and orange for its known visual appeal, but the color palette's impact goes beyond its attractiveness. In China, the term "black gold" refers to political corruption and corporate greed, key narrative elements in Human Revolution. The colors recall the brightness of modern machinery and the darkness of Detroit's alleyways, and evoke the works of Botticelli and Da Vinci, who ushered in a renaissance, just as David Sarif hopes to lead the world into a new era of enlightenment. There is so much meaning in this single detail. Human Revolution's mechanical particulars don't always withstand deep examination, but its symbolic details are beyond reproach.

There isn't quite enough here to justify a purchase if you've already finished an earlier version of the game, but this is the definitive version of the game if you're new to Human Revolution and happen to own a Wii U. The few flaws of an already-great title have been largely massaged out, the DLC is included, and the game pad adds another way to look at the world through the eyes of a man who isn't quite human, isn't quite a machine, and is trying to figure out what that means.

I envy players who are just now picking this one up.

Human Revolution itself is still the fun, multi-layered adventure it always was. The noir-flavored story of cybernetic evolution is still as finely-crafted, and the gameplay as well-tuned as ever. Choice is often touted by modern games as a defining feature, but few games execute it as well as Deus Ex: Human Revolution. "Choice," in this context, isn't about being good or evil, it's about knowing your objective, and choosing how to complete it.

The changes and additions in Director's Cut probably aren't enough to entice those who've already played the original, but it's the ideal version for first-timers.

Even with its original flaws Human Revolution was always an excellent game, and one that not only successfully resurrected a classic franchise but also effortlessly superseded it in terms of storytelling and accessibility. That its most serious failing has now been completely removed only enhances the game's reputation as one of the most variously talented action games of this generation.

But by and large, you'll be having too much fun playing this Director's Cut to even notice. Two years ago, Deus Ex: Human Revolution was a brilliant if slightly flawed experience, a game that dared to tell a unique story and dared to try something different.

And now, it's even better.

Outside of some disappointment in the overall performance, and the ridiculous nature of the pricing on the Wii U compared to other platforms, I found this to be a pretty substantial re-release for a really great game. Again, whether you played through the original before and enjoyed it, or missed it entirely, this is well worth a look. I'd love to see more (Director's Cut) titles in this vein, offering up more than just packed in DLC as an incentive to double dip.

Deus Ex: Human Revolution Director's Cut may be overlooked by those who have already played it, but it is a robust experience worthy of a playthrough by its own right. The innovations offered via the Wii U pad enhance the game in ways that we all hoped the console would when we first heard about it, and it shows the potential of this under-rated platform. The improvements to the boss fights and inclusion of the DLC alone have made this game worth my while, and anyone who didn't play this game before now has the single best reason to do so.

It's safe to say that if you don't have a high-end PC, Deus Ex: Human Revolution - Director's Cut on Wii U is the definitive version of the game. Sure you can get second-screen content on the other systems, but you would need either a PS Vita or a smartphone on PS3 or Xbox 360 respectively to enjoy it, and even then it's not as convenient as using the Gamepad and having every single necessary button and feature right on the fly. This is both a worthy upgrade and worthy introduction if you've never played a game in the series before. The game may be augmented, but they're augments made for the betterment of mankind.

• Prev
• Next