When
your average shoot-em up action loving gamer hears the term RPG, he/she
immediately thinks, "boring". Images flash into their mind of knights
riding into the sunset to slay a dragon or some dreamy occasion such
as that. So when Deus Ex is classified as an RPG, is that what is to
be expected? Absolutely not!
Warren Spector and his team have a lot more going for
this role-playing game. FPS and action fans alike have something buried
into the world of Deus Ex for them. While it will contain the elements
of a classic RPG, namely problem solving, story progression, and character
improvement, that isn't to say you won't pick up the 'ole gun a few
times and get in a few action-packed firefights. There is something
for anyone in this game, there's no doubt about that.
Spector
is also including something that he quotes "shouldn't be revolutionary
in gaming but it sure seems to be". What he is talking about is giving
power to the players. In any game, especially in the single-player campaigns
of first person shooters, there are specific actions you must
take to achieve a goal and progress throughout the game. In Deus Ex,
things are not planned to be so. Warren explains:
"We want to say, 'Here's the problem. There are a bunch
of solutions. Find the one that seems most interesting to you or the
one that's most in character for your unique alter ego.' If you need
to get some information from a safe, we don't care if you blow the safe
up, use your lockpicking skill on it or talk to someone who can give
you the combination. We just care that you open the safe."
The choices you make, however, will have consequences
later in the game. Warren also commented on that:
"In the real world, there are consequences for being a
violent person and different consequences for being a pacifist."
Now
on to the story. Deus Ex is set sometime in the future, and the world
has erupted into chaos. Somewhat similar to the story of Rainbow
Six: Rogue Spear, terrorists are running the world, killing with
impunity, controlling nuclear and biological weapons. Nations' economies
are collapsing, and the Hitler-mindset of 'dominate the world' has been
brought forth. You are a technologically enhanced anti-terrorist agent,
and it is up to you to put an end to the conspiracies. You will travel
overseas in search of knowledge and allies. You are bound to be betrayed
by those who you thought you knew, and who you think are innocent is
guilty.
Among the weapons you'll be carrying while progressing
through that story are a pistol, a sniper rifle, a hand-mine, a crowbar,
a rocket launcher, and a flamethrower. (Doesn't sound like an RPG, does
it?) Unlike in FPS' where you are hit and your health simply goes down,
your character will react accordingly to how he is hit. Should his leg
get blown off, you will move a lot slower. If both get blown off, you
will crawl (and the view goes to floor level). You can get health, however.
There are medkits in Deus Ex which allow you to either repair a certain
injury or to just increase your health in general (handy during the
middle of firefights).
With
all of these dynamic new features, Deus Ex is sure to change everyone's
views on hybrid games. As forementioned, FPS and RPG fans are sure to
enjoy this one. I know I'm looking forward to it.
Note: None of these images are exclusive, nor directly
from ION Storm. We simply searched the internet for screenshots, and
picked these up, mainly from Deus
Ex Nation. If you want more information on the game, or more artwork,
head on over to their web site, or check out ION Storm's. All information
was written by Intrepid
