Greg Recommends Deus Ex : Human Revolution Director's Cut

Price : $21.99

Website : http://store.steampowered.com/app/238010/

I tend to avoid action and shooter games, but Deus Ex won me over, first from the overwhelmingly positive reviews it got and then half way through the first act when I realized I couldn't wait to come home and play some more. It doesn't have the best 'shooter' mechanics, but it is one of the very few action games out there that does stealth and a conspiracy story very well. I'm a sucker for good story line, good art, and thought provoking material and in my books Deus Ex scores very high in all three categories.

Here's a summary. It's the year 2027 and there have been several significant leaps in technology, specifically in bridging the gap between humankind and machines. You play as Adam Jensen, a newly hired security manager for Sarif Industries, a private technologies corporation that specializes in biotechnology. Things go bad rather quickly and spectacularly; and you find yourself trying to A: figure out how all of the company security has been compromised, B: stop para-military terrorists from murdering the breached research wing, and C cut through said para-military terrorists to get to your love interest. Long story short it doesn't work out well and Adam clings onto life by the skin of his teeth after a boss fight that... let's just say the odds were not stacked in his favor. It's maybe a cliche beginning, but it's executed well and serves as a solid foundation and motivation for the story that follows.

Sarif industries decides to rebuild Adam using their cutting edge prosthetic military grade technology and lets just say Adam goes from ex-swat of questionable ability to Angel of Death corporate attack dog. He's called into service early when the same para-military terrorist group breaks into a factory and takes hostages. Adam is tasked with defusing the situation while hopefully finding leads as to who these people are, what they want, and where they kidnapped the scientists to. He finds leads alright, but the people behind the attacks are well connected and cover their tracks very well by working through other powerful entities which in turn hire independent and corporate agents to do their bidding. It's big and it goes deep. This is a conspiracy story and it is a good one. Someone is working in the shadows to block your way and the deeper you go down the rabbit trail the darker the secrets and the larger and more unsettling your list of possible conspirators will become.

All that being said you have incredible freedom for how you deal with the enemies that oppose you. You technically don't have to kill anyone in the whole game, except for a some specific boss fights where you must fight to the death. Otherwise enemies can be knocked out, sneaked past, or in some deliciously dramatic encounters, diplomicized and / or intimidated into assisting you. The game does stealth well, often providing you with multiple paths to your destinations and rewarding experience for skillfully avoiding conflict and a large bonus if you complete a level without being seen by anyone.

Complimentary to the conspiracy setting and the ability to choose from violent and nonviolent approaches is the leveling mechanic. You earn experience by completing objectives and either dispatching or sneaking past enemies and when you have enough you are able to unlock one of several different augmentations that Sarif Industries hard wired into you (they just haven't fully synced as your body is technically still adapting to them). These augmentations range from increased strength / stamina to hacking ability to filtered lungs to heat vision to increased speed / jump height to 'chameleon mode' that makes you invisible for a short time. Pick which augmentations compliment your play style. If you're the run and gun shoot all the things type then pick the strength and vision upgrades. If you're the sneaky sneaky steal all the corporate secrets type then grab hacking and pheromone augs to learn all the secrets. The game rewards both sides of the spectrum with maybe a tad extra for players who take the time to follow up on side stories and enjoy hacking corporate emails.

Going back to the story for a minute. It's not just a conspiracy story, it's a story that also touches on some pretty heavy issues. What is the value of human life? Just how much power should corporations and governments exert over individuals? At what point is the cost of power and scientific advancement too high? These may sound abstract on their own but there were points in the game where I was authentically unnerved and upset by the secrets I uncovered and it was because it brought a very raw and real application to these philosophical questions. The game lets you take action on some of these issues and you can become an angel of light or a total cyberpunk jerk but there were a few times that I found the choice difficult to make and even wandered if I had made the right choice in the end. The game also does a good job of making you actually care about the characters you encounter. They have lives, hopes, dreams, fears, motivations, family, and may or may not depend on your actions to see them through to the end. These things are the hallmark of excellent story telling and with the drive for revenge, the action, and the twisting plot points I was hooked right to the end.

The art style in Deus Ex is very intentional, lots of gold on black and light accented by darkness. I don't remember the name of this style but I believe other review sites have identified its origins as Reconnaissance Italy. I think it really helps set the mood and atmosphere for the game while looking awesome! The art style compliments the story and the underlying themes within the game and acts as a subtle stylization on realism which means that the graphics will always look good even though they will become dated.

I didn't get too many theological vibes from this game. I found the light and darkness in the art style reminded me a bit of how light and darkness are opposed in the Gospel of John, but the story and overall direction seemed to be more existential than theist even though there were numerous references to the Bible and Christianity. Adam, a biblical name with special meaning that the game taps into. Seraf, a powerful angel. Artistic depictions of angels and demons spread throughout. The game borrows themes from Christianity but seems content to leave any concept of God (especially a Christian understanding of God) out of it. Different characters try to play god or uplift humanity to become gods, even Adam Jensen gets to play god if he so chooses and other characters will regard him as an angel of death or an angel of light depending on his actions. There is lots of 'working in the dark to serve the light' which is most definitely not Christian but makes for a great thriller story nonetheless. The game seems to borrow overtones from religion and theology which makes it interesting but not enough to be religious or theological and, refreshingly, doesn't try to bash religion like other games.

What Deus Ex does well it does really well, but it is not a perfect game. The art style is great but graphics feel truncated if you take a close look at some of the textures and details, probably so that it could run on the XBox 360. Some characters look great, others, especially the NPCs that aren't characters you can talk to have that glazed over look when they walk around and repetitive 'same voice actor' feel to them. Anyone who played the original Deus Ex will immediately notice that the areas and maps are a lot smaller than the original, which makes sense when you consider the exponential bloat that modern day graphics technology puts upon the size requirements of any game. A lot of people really didn't like the boss fights because they didn't allow for the same sort of 'multiple alternative routes' game play that the rest of the game does well but the 'Director's Cut Edition' addresses this to some extent. FPS players will probably be underwhelmed by the actual 'shooting things' aspect of the game as the weapon selection isn't spectacular and the shooting mechanics aren't on the same level as a modern day Call of Duty title. It's more of a role playing game that allows you to shoot things rather than a shooter that allows you to role play. Then there is the ending... I won't spoil it, but lets just say I appreciated the journey more than the destination. The destination was worth the journey, make no mistake, and I understand why they ended it the way that they did, but I just expected more given the gravity of everything that brought us to that point and what was at stake now that all the cards were on the table.

As already stated, what Deus Ex Human Revolution does well it does really well. If you enjoy games that do stealth well and if you enjoy a good story then I highly recommend Deus Ex: Human Revolution. In my mind it stands head and shoulders above other 2011 titles.

Greg Recommends Team Fortress 2

Price: Free!

Website: http://www.teamfortress.com/

Team Fortress 2 is STEAM's Free to Play FPS (first person shooter). The game has been out since 2007 and as of the writing of this post it has undergone over 500 updates. The gameplay is tried, tested, and finely tuned with 9 diverse classes, a brilliant and unobtrusive focus on teamwork, and innovative strategic options. The graphics are stylized to never get old. The STEAM community has thoroughly gone to town making mods and maps and the developers have constantly been adding and tweaking things according to player feedback. With hundreds of hours logged on this gem I highly recommend it as my FPS of choice. It never gets old, and I always have fun.

There are lots of FPS games out there these days. What sets this one apart from the pack is their stylized (cartoony) approach mixed with excellent shooter mechanics that reward skill and teamwork. They also have the greatest free to play model on the internet where all classes are available free and all weapons / items are unlocked by simply playing the game or trading with other players (more on this later).

Some fun stylized graphics. Looked great in 2007, still looks great in 2015.

Team Fortress Stylized Graphics

The graphic style of TF2 gives it an enormous advantage over realistic shooters on several fronts. First of all the colors are bright and both the characters and levels are vibrant and beautiful instead of the drab collage of brown and grey that realistic shooters tend to turn into. Second the cartoony characters make them distinctive and actual characters instead of just a player class. Third it allows for gameplay that is not restricted by realism which leads to lots of fun, strategic options, and some downright hilarious moments. (characters running around on fire, being blown to literal bits, awesome facial expressions, rag-doll mechanics) Third the stylization of TF2 requires very little update once it has been set; it looked great in 2007, it still looks great in 2015, and it will continue to look great no matter what the jump in video card technology. Finally the graphical requirements are fairly low which means most non-gaming computers can run it on modest settings without a problem.

A Blu Soldier just blew a Red Pyro to bits with his rocket launcher at close range... Imagine what the two red players are thinking as they witness this from their perspective...

Team Fortress Gameplay

The gameplay mechanics are as solid as you will find anywhere and specifically focus on diverse class play / counter play, teamwork, and skill based tactics. There are 9 classes to choose from, each of which offers a completely different experience to play as and to play against. Like the graphics each class is itself highly stylized and given specific personality through official TF2 videos and in-game reactions to varying situations. Check them out below.

Heavy

The heavy weapons guy is a large slow moving Russian merc with a giant mini-gun that rapid fire sprays bullets at an alarming rate. He is able to mow down every other class that gets too close and send them scurrying for cover even at a moderate distance. He is particularly well paired with the Medic who can constantly heal the bullet spitting behemoth and uber-charge him to invisibility to wreck well fortified defenses. Heavy is particularly useful against classes that need to get in close to deal damage (Pyros in particular). Heavy's large size and slower movement speed make him a favorite target for snipers and spies.

Scout

The Scout is a quick little bruiser from the streets of Boston. His speed, double jump ability, and shotgun make him an 'in your face' opponent that can deal tons of damage by making some good skill shots. Knowing the map is essential for good scout play as making the wrong move will see you quickly dead. Scout's agility allow him to get into places where other classes cannot and allows him to dodge, jump, and weave around enemies while shooting them to pieces.

Demoman

The DemoMan is a demolitions expert from Scotland. His grenade launcher is ideal for taking out enemy turrets at a distance and bouncing explosives into enemy hiding places. He requires skill at judging distances and the physics of how your launcher will lob explosives. The Demoman also has sticky grenade launcher which is ideal for setting deadly traps. Alternatively once you unlock a few medieval style melee weapons the Demoman can be played as a front-line melee fighter who gains speed and health from enemy kills.

Soldier

The Soldier is a not too bright shooting star who can launch himself into the air by shooting rockets at his feet. His rocket launcher does area of effect damage and will blow enemies to bloody bits on direct hits. The soldier keeps a shotgun in reserve as well as a trusty shovel which I have put away in favor if a sword that will restore all HP upon killing an enemy with the trade off being that I cannot but the sword away again unless an enemy has been killed by it. Being able to utilize Soldier's rocket jump and as well as being able to lead targets with your rockets are essential gameplay skills.

Engineer

The Engineer is a well educated country loving Texan with a penchant for building really big guns to shoot things for him. His main weapon is a shotgun but his ability to construct and upgrade turrets makes him ideal for fortifying an area of the map. A well placed turret will stop a team rush in its tracks and shoot those annoying scouts clean out of the air. The Engineer can also construct and upgrade dispensers which provide health and ammo to your team as well as teleporters which can greatly strengthen a position when the entrance is placed at the respawn point. Watch out for Demomen who attempt to bounce explosives into your nest as well as spies which will attempt to destroy your constructions with electrical sabotage devices.

Spy

The Spy is a skill based melee (double?) agent from France / England. He is able go invisible, take on the appearance of an enemy team member, and instantly kill any character with a lethal backstab as well as finish off wounded characters from a distance with his pistol. The spy also has the ability to place sappers on engineer constructs rendering them inoperable and dealing damage over time unless removed. Playing the spy means playing mind games with the enemy; appearing where they least expect it, being able to 'act' like the character you are impersonating, and eliminating key targets without being seen. If you notice that one of your team members is acting suspicious then fire a few rounds into him to make sure he's not an enemy spy...

Sniper

The sniper is an assassin from Australia who specializes in eliminating high value targets at a distance. The sniper rifle is one of the few weapons that gets bonuses for head shots and a fully charged headshot will instantly kill any character except the heavy at full health. The sniper keeps a sub machine gun and a huge knife as backup weapons with the option of a refillable jar of 'jarate' which covers enemies in bright yellow stink fumes offering mini-crits to anyone who hits them and revealing invisible spies. Quick reflexes are essential for playing sniper because headshots kill characters (and enemy snipers will also be aiming for your head).

Medic

The medic is a brilliant German medical prodigy who is quite possibly insane. His ability to heal allies with friendly radiation streams is complimented by his ability to make them invincible once his medi-gun is fully powered up. While not really a damage dealing class a good medic will frequently top the score boards as kills from the player being healed are also attributed to the player doing the healing. The medic carries a rapid fire syringe gun that, once properly understood, can do lots of damage at moderate / close range and act as effective spy repellent.

Pyro

The origins of the Pyro are a mystery as are much of his / her mannerisms. The Pyro lives in a flame retardant hazard suit and carries a flamethrower, shotgun, and a fireman's ax. Pyro's mask muffles everything said and a lot of the unlockable cosmetic items seem to indicate that the Pyro is insane (plunger hat, a rake as a melee weapon, etc) The Pyro is a close range damage fiend inflicting a substantial damage over time burning effect on characters who were not killed by direct damage and managed to escape. Knowing the map will allow you to set up ambushes for enemy characters and take them down quickly. Pyro also has a back blast function on the flamethrower that will deflect incoming projectiles (like rockets) back to sender as well as send enemy players into the air (and possibly down a cliff).

Emphasis on Team Work

Team Fortress 2 was created around the idea of team work. Each of the 9 classes compliments each other, each bringing a series of strengths and gameplay options that are designed to work together within a group. TF2's game options are all team oriented from straight forward team deathmatches and capture the flag to the more complicated base capture maps. In Some maps one team has to push a bomb cart into the other team's base and in others both teams are racing each other with explosives. In the still recent Man vs Machine update players also have the option to play verses waves of mechanical AI opponents who will try to destroy your base. Whatever the map or gamemode you will be working together with your team in some fast paced and explosively hectic matches. There is no 'free for all'.

The maps were also crafted with team work in mind. Bases are defensible but often have several entrances for cunning enemies to flank engaged defenders. Every map features a variety of battleground conditions ranging from large open areas to confining tunnels or chasms and varying amounts of cover. Every map has multiple paths to reach your goal and makes elevation a factor as well with multiple paths at different elevation levels. The result is that no one class is best suited for every situation but each relies upon the others.

This emphasis on teamwork is an absolute joy to play when you have a good team but also a total drag if you have a dysfunctional team. Thankfully TF2 servers will detect gross imbalances and scramble the teams to balance things out a bit better.

Free to Play

Team Fortress 2 is Free to Play in the best sense of the phrase. All of the classes, all of the unlockable weapons / items, and even all of the cosmetic items (hats) are free. You can access absolutely everything in Team Fortress 2 without ever having to pay anything at all. As you play you will 'find' random items at the end of a match. You are also able to 'craft' every item in the game by either combining specific items together or melting down extras into 'scrap metal' and using it to build something new. This takes time however and so you also have the option to purchase items in game via micro-transactions if you so desire. Where TF2 makes the most money however are in selling ridiculous hats for your characters which are cosmetic use only.

Summary

If you enjoy first person shooter action or if you are in the mood for something new then you would be stupid not to give Team Fortress 2 a try. It's free, it's fun, it has been finely tuned and balanced for the last eight years, it will run on most any computer, and it's a riot to play with your friends. Seriously, go and install Team Fortress 2 right now.