Deus Ex: Invisible War

Rating:
Summary: I actually played the game and liked it
Review: For fans of System Shock 2 and similar games, this is probably one of the only games published in 2003 that you may really like. Apperently this game has gotten a lot of negative critique but that is probably a conspiracy :-) . If you are a lover of intellingent games (and is intelligent yourself) this is the game to get! To play this game I acquired an FX5900XT Nvidia Card, and along with my XP1700+ processer and 512 MB RAM, the game runs just fine. I installed the patch before playing the game, so I must admist I never got to see how the initial release played... with the patch it's a great game. Funnily enough the installer of the game removed the demo, so I never got to see how it was because I couldn't play it with my previous graphics card.

Rating:
Summary: Wage war as you choose?
Review: I just completed the game twice now. The second time I made it a point to kill everyone I could. You would think it would make a difference but it doesn't. Your actions will mean nothing for the first 90-95 percent of the game. The game is fun but it is not a challenge even on hard in my opinion. The game does have some major performance issues even on top end systems. I had to edit the games ini file to make it playable above 800x600 on a 3Gig P4, 1Gig ram, 9800pro machine. I also had to reboot my computer more times with this game than any other game. The levels are very small making load times annoying. Weapons can only have two mods installed. There is no character skill devolvement which allows you to use any weapon and tool exactly the same each and every time you play. The AI is retarded. They don't even notice the guy next to them is on fire and screaming. He might even walk into him and catch himself on fire too. The new physics are broken. You can not pick up a chair or certain box but if you bump into it it will go flying arcoss the room.

On and plus note, they did add some hidden unique weapons and some of the blackmarket biomods are fun to use. You can also change your biomods if you want to try something different during the game. Some might see that as a bad point since your character is never really unique. But in my experience the game doesn't change too much no matter how you choose to play or which biomods you choose. The game is quite short to boot, around ten hours even with the limited exploration you are allowed. This is an action game not even remotely close to an RPG in my book. I had some fun playing it but I'm not going to have any fond memories about it like the first one.

So is this game worth a possible 50 dollar headache?
It is a sad thing to say but I would recommend waiting a year for them to fix it before you buy it.

Rating:
Summary: It's really not that bad!
Review: I don't see what all the fuss is about. I really did enjoy this game, and I DID play the first Deus Ex.
Well, just to break away from every other review here, I'm going to try to NOT compare DX:IW to the first one.

First off, the game moves along very fast. And I don't mean framerate, but gameplay and story. Maybe even too fast sometimes. Oh well.
The story that's there is VERY good, better so then say...Unreal 2, but that's just me.
Some people will say that the game is too short, and I agree with them on that.
But really all of these reviews are nitpicks and personal preferences to say the least.
Like for example, having to pay $50 for this "Stinkbomb", but that's another reason I was able to enjoy it so much, was because I payed $20! (Thank you Amazon!)

But since it's very hard to go without comparisons to DX 1,
please allow me a very small one: The lack of Lockpicks in DX:IW.
This is a MAJOR gripe on every messageboard, magazine, and website that I could find.

"The lack of Lockpicks shows how sucky the game is." Someone said. Well acually I made that quote up, but bear with me here, folks.
I liked only having to worry about one kind of gadgety thing.
I genuinely did.

In closing, I have to say: If you own an Xbox, then please rent.
If you must have it on PC, then go around the Z-shops and find this used.
...

Rating:
Summary: Get over DX1!
Review: A lot of reviewers have compared DX:IW with DX1 and decided the former was a step background. I beg to differ.

Level Design ("the levels are too small"): It is true that DX1's levels were more expansive than DX:IW's, but they were not any freer. I never feel limited in DX:IW. Every area presents the same number of approaches and options, but with a whole lot less running across empty expanses. On the topic of level design, DX:IW's levels make so much more sense than DX1's. In DX:IW, apartments have bathrooms, bedrooms, kitchens, and small living areas; dance clubs have dance floors, VIP lofts, security check-ins and offices. DX1's level design was laughable (recall the Statue of Liberty), not just on an aesthetic level but with regards to gameplay as well. Levels that don't jive with logic don't play well.

Biomods ("the upgrade system is dumbed-down"): "Streamlined" may sound like a euphamism for "dumbed-down," but in DX:IW's case, it's true. It didn't make sense to have 2 unrelated upgrade systems in the first DX. DX:IW's upgrade system presents players the same kinds of critical choices DX1 presented and basically allows customization of the sort that was handled by DX1's point system (e.g. for the leg biomod, you must choose between moving faster and moving stealthier, and the right choice depends on your style of play). I was skeptical before playing but DX:IW's upgrade system works.

Ammo ("there's only one kind"): Again, streamlining. Juggling different kinds of ammunition in DX1 was simply one consideration too many. DX:IW deals with that issue and focuses the player's attention on more important tactical considerations. Yeah, its weird to use the same ammo in a shotgun as in a rocket launcher--but its also weird to be trundling about carrying both a shotgun and a rocket launcher (and probably a number of other pocketsize items too).

Length ("it's too short"): It's simply not. According to IGN.com, DX:IW takes roughly 20 hours to beat. In addition, DX:IW is the kind of game you'll want to replay to make different gameplay choices (choose different biomods, choose different ways to beat misions, choose different factions to ally with). As far as lasting appeal goes, DX:IW excels.

Admittedly, DX:IW has flaws: load times are frequent and lengthy, for example. But generally the game rocks. Every area presents unique problems with numerous solutions, just like DX1 but more streamlined. Levels are short and sweet but not too small. The varied gameplay and concise level design keep things interesting and fresh.

I suppose reactions to DX:IW are subjective and I don't doubt that those who gave this game a bad review truly disliked it. I'm an intellectual gamer who digs turn-based strategy games, tactical shooters, and stealth games but can't stand the monotony of turn-based RPGs and Dungeon Crawlers or the mindlessness of racing/sports games and Run-N-Gunners (like Unreal Tournament). If you have similar tastes, then I highly recommend DX:IW--even over DX1.

Rating:
Summary: Too much has changed
Review: This is in no way like the original. In some minor ways, that is good. But, mostly, it just takes away from the expectation of the 'follow-up' to an incredible game. The biggest downside for me ... I have an AMD athlon 2800 w/ a geforce fx 5800 128 DDR and 512 meg DDR ram, Sound Blaster audigy 2 card. All have updated drivers, and the required direct X 9 is installed. That being said, i have to pull the graphics setting down to 640x480 to play this. Anything above that creates an unplayable framerate. Why is that? I far exceed all system requirements, and i'm playing this on an alienware computer. They are 'designed' for power gaming. Someone made a grave mistake here. Unless there are some major patches right quick, i fear there may be no Deus Ex 3 in the future. I will try to continue this program and see if i begin to enjoy it. Right now i am only playing it because i'm out 50 bucks. That's a real shame. I would honestly recommend buying a copy of Deus Ex game of the year edition instead of this. Hope i've shed some light.

Rating:
Summary: Left me disappointed
Review: When you realise that a sequel to a great game is coming you cant help but feel a little excitement because you expect yet another masterpiece from the exact same developer of the orginal. Not with Deus Ex: Invisible War, the game is amazingly short and just doesn't have that magical detail from the original.

You cant help but feel robbed of a potentially great game considering that they made it primarily for the dumbass X box. I don't even know where PC Gamer got their 91% score from (but as with every review, PC Gamer only base their scores on the graphics). Don't get me wrong the game has incredible physics and a frighteningly real lighting system which for most of the time feels like the only interest throughout the game. The storyline just doesn't immerse you into the game like the original did. Also with a game this short, where is the storyline?, all i remember was a bunch of moaning people saying "Do this" and "Do that". I can't believe i'm talking about this franchise like this cause i loved the first game and know it virtually inside out cause it was so addictive.

By the looks of the game it appears the developer ION Storm had an enormous budget but it appears most of it was spent on graphics leaving the remaining 50 dollars to hire Stephen Kings cousin to write the story. I mean computer games dont have to look amazing, the whole point is that it is a game that you play and enjoy being addicted to, not something you stare at for hours and go "WOW, look at that amazing life like textured wall, wish i was there"......NAAA, not for me, bring back the virtual snooker graphics, now theres gameplay!!!!!

Another annoying aspect of this game is that it doesn't seem to understand what hardware you have, I used a 2.4Ghz P4 and one gig of ram and the game ran jerky in 800x600!!!

I hope this is only a glitch in the history of great game sequels cause it doesn't make you feel very confident about Half Life 2 and Doom 3. Lets just hope it was a screw up based on the X Box involvement and not a true attempt at making a good game cause with Deus Ex 3 in the works i fear for future of games as a whole. Why aren't we getting any more zelda's, goldeneyes or Gabriel Knight's anymore, Who cares about the week on week releases of boring PS2 games that get filtered round all formats... (...)

Rating:
Summary: Just Short of Perfection
Review: The rumors were true: Deus Ex was the greatest game ever to grace the video/computer game market. Any attempt to follow up with a sequel would be an uphill battle. In a way, Eidos succeeded. Invisible War is slick sci-fi action RPG. The graphics are a tremendous update from the original, and the levels and characters offer greater interaction. The weapons are even more customizable, allowing you to turn a pistol into a silent glass-shattering tranq gun, or refit your Uzi to spew explosive shrapnel and use half the ammo.

However, while some aspects of the gameplay have been enhanced, others have diminished. Most notable is the storyline. While Deus Ex put forth a clear struggle of establishment vs. freedom fighters vs. secret society, Invisible War basically has you choose sides between 4 power-hungry factions, with oddly similar ideologies. There is no "for the good of the people" or "preserve the world" faction - in the end, you will be helping to put a single person or group of people in charge of the world.

However, if you go into this game looking for just an enjoyable romp, and not something to top the original, you will be in for a treat. Recommended for action enthusiasts and RPG fans.

Rating:
Summary: Deus Ex: Invisible War
Review: When I first heard that they were coming out with a second Deus Ex, I was completely stoked. I was waiting for another beautifully designed and engaging game.

Unfortunatly, it was neither.
For the record, I operate a P4 2.80GHz with 1024megs of ram and a radeon 9800 pro.

The first thing I noticed that disappointed me was the fact that it was designed completely around nVidia GeForce Graphics cards. Another disappointing factor was the load times and there frequency. I have never seen a game crash so many times in between loading. You can tell by first glimpse that this was a game that was rushed out. And It has plenty of bugs. The patches I have downloaded have seemed to clean up some of the problems but there are still quite a few in my opinion. The thing that annoys me the most are the menus. They are not very user friendly and selecting the weapons and tools can be a bother at first. The larger downfall is the gameplay and the time it takes to get through it. Granted, if you do all the side quests, it can take you a couple of days at most. If you just do the main missions than you could be through in a couple of hours. There was a feeling to the first Deus Ex that this one lacks. This game is in no way as enticing as its predecessor.

Rating:
Summary: Shoddy Ted, Shoddy!!
Review: What a waste of time buying DX:IW was. I am ashamed to say I succumbed to the hype. The {darn] thing wouldnt work straight out of the box as there was a problem with the mouse pointer which would not move in the menus (which meant I couldnt install my biomods and escape the lab)

I bought the original game a few weeks previous ... and it was a great game. Shame about this one. I have NEVER had a game that just didnt work on the day I bought it but am getting a refund for this one.

I bought Unreal 2 the same day and it wipes the floor with DX:IW
Dont stand for lazy development because that is what this is.

Rating:
Summary: Flawed from the start
Review: Yes, I'm going to compare it to the original, because sequels are supposed to be BETTER. Invisible War dissappoints sorely. I read somewhere that this is just a port from the Xbox. That could explain why the levels are so ridiculously small. The graphics ARE better than the original - with nice skin shading,
but the requirement to switch levels every few minutes got tiring.
You are given primary and secondary goals. Often the primary goals (given by different organizations) conflict. I completed some secondary goals without realizing I had them.
There are four possible endings, but none of what you do in the game actually matters until you get to near the end of the game.
There are some inconsistencies in the game, too. I could swear I heard Alex wanting to buy a "Plasma Clip" at one point, which doesn't exist. Near the end, the "communications van" turns out to be what looks like a cinder block hut.
The biomod system is flawed. At the end of the game, I had 3 each regular and black-market canisters that I couldn't use.
The lack of a skill system (or points system of any kind) means that secondary goals are completely irrelevant to the game.
It took about 9 hours to complete, primarily because I did do most of the secondary goals, and the fact it took 50 seconds to switch between level maps. Come on people, can't you take some extra memory and cache a few of those maps? I had plenty of spare RAM if you wanted to use it...
Best avoided.