This game is an ultimate flex and showcase of what Unreal 1 engine is capable of: RPG mechanics, inventory, dialogs, hacking, body region based damage, Half Life 1 physics based puzzles like floating crates, really detailed models (the fact that JC glasses are not textures but another model on top of his face, and you can see his eyes underneath). Hong Kong/Paris that ten times more alive and full of content than any city in Morrowind. Huge levels without loading new regions every minute like console games (or Deus Ex 2) do nowdays. The fact that you can see crane on horizon in New York Docks and later climb it without any loading screens on a way to it is mindboggling. If you keep analising the game and look at decompiled scripts there is even more minor cryptic mechanics like the ability to disarm enemy by damaging his arm, use pepper spray to bypass laser beams etc.
Though, you can only bypass laser beams by using gas weapons during your Liberty Island mission and Metro shootout. Everywhere else it triggers the security measures, if I remember correctly
@@littlehorn0063Probably an unused mechanic that wasn't cut completely. I mean, how do you even figure out how to use pepper spray on lasers? No wonder even they forgot about it xd
1994 to 2004 is correct. It's rare for anyone not born in the 80s to recognize this... how fast things moved was insane. I remember in that short 10 years I bought 5 graphic cards just because things changed drastically making tech obsolete. These days I haven't bought a new graphic card in 8 years and played Cyberpunk 2077 on medium just fine... speaks volumes to how things have slowed down.
I am a late 30s something and distinctly remember buying this game and marvelling at how amazingly bad it ran on my tnt2 video card, 300mhz celeron and 512mb of ram. So instead of playing the game properly, I knocked out and stunned as many people as possible and politely placed them into the ocean. I am ok. Honestly. I'm glad alot of people enjoy it and it helped push the genre ahead so I could eventually play dishonored 1 and 2, prey, etc etc which are my G.O.A.Ts. Thanks again for this video. Again as usual, wonderfully written, edited and produced. Onwards and upwards.
I haven't watched the video yet, but I want to say that,regardless, I love that people talk about these games, specially Deus Ex. These games as a whole are amazing and (imo) the ImSim is one of the best genres in gaming. Deus Ex goes above and beyond. Thanks a lot!
Best review i've seen of this game, i can imagine the time invested in making this video was a lot but it paid off. Keep doing your thing, it's amazing.
I love that you have a deep appreciation for the hong kong levels... there's just something about that fairly open yet clastraphbic environment that is just amazing, really immersive... Paris is the most fun to break into places though
Dude Deus Ex is a game so ahead of its time which is unfortunate because immersive sims seemed to just died off ever since the start of the 7th and 8th generations of gaming. It really gets me thinking what the team could have done in today's technology and resources with the ideas and creativity they had over 20 years ago. This probably is a sentiment that can be shared for most games made in the early 2000s nowadays.
Agreed on your last point. It's like as time has gone on and technology has evolved, creativity has gone backwards. Most games back then felt and still feel fairly unique, barring direct sequels. Even games from the same genres were all doing very distinctive things. I think this level of creativity does still exist, but it is much more rare and almost never found in AAA studios. I sometimes wonder if a smaller but more interwoven team is necessary for these true masterpiece type games. These huge AAA titles made by hundreds of people kinda feel samey and boring. As an aside, this is why I am personally excited for Stalker 2. A sequel in a truly creative world whose older games are now dated in their engines and looks.
1:28:47 You should definitely check out the HR and MD. Those are excellent games in their own right and took the series into some interesting directions. One of the best skill trees I have ever encountered.
I am gonna be honest with you, I have played deus ex several times but each time I just stopped at hells kitchen(after Hong Kong) and I do not know why, but this summer I decided to go back and this time actually completed it(in all honesty the level design is pretty good except the ocean labs and sector 4 in area 51), this game has aged pretty well(except some mechanics like not being able to pick up a body without looting it first), the AI might be dumb but they are consistently dumb which makes them predictable and kinda fun to fight, this game is amazing but it can easily turn people away because it is not a full on shooter like half life or a smooth stealth experience (because your stealthy weapons are unreliable), to truly be able to appreciate the game you must appreciate the whole package not piece by piece, all of the games parts may be 7/10 individually but the way they are mixed together to create such a cohesive game makes the game itself a 9/10 and maybe more than that, this is the reason I had a lot of fun this time around.
Don't forget to talk to every NPC multiple times especially after triggering specific events on the map. They have paragraphs of new dialogue. Some of it very long and designed to world build.
Been keeping my eye on you lad, and you defo got promise. Maybe find a more distinct editing voice (Max0r for.. style over substance, FoulEnergy for a great example, Civvie for more understated but tonally specific)
See also Warlockracy, which you remind me of with a cross of Civvie in terms of editing. Restrained a bit, but with just enough polish and bits added. I feel the narrative style of Warlockracy where you focus on the in-game story primarily and detail mechanics and your thoughts as you go could work really well with your style and writing ability. Warlockracy's Deus Ex vid is a perfect example to crib from but I can see it for sure working as it doesn't fall into the issue of being a "definitive video" as much as your experience while staying in the trenches story and gameplay-wise. While I think it was reasonable to have the info dump upfront for a trad review style, I can see more from your writing.
I didn't know who you were until an hour and a half ago but man I really liked this retrospective and I'm looking forward to seeing what else you got. Good stuff. Do you intend to make videos like this on more recent immersive sims like Cruelty Squad?
the 20mm grenades are great as explosive lockpicks, early game you can corner enemies and kill them quick with headshots; late game with high skill it's your main combat weapon. if you skimp on other skills and go for Rifles it's incredible value per inventory space
The magic of the decade you mention is because gaming had gotten big enough they had money to do whatever they want. Deus Ex was made because John Romero, flush with Doom cash, went up to Warren Spector and pretty much gave him carte blanche to make whatever game he wanted. That game was Deus Ex... ...yet gaming hadn't got so big and fat and juicy and established that business-suited parasites hadn't started sinking their fangs into it like the leeches they are. There weren't people who had no idea about gaming but still with the authority to demand creative changes hanging around.
22:15 Seqquence break? this is Deus Ex baby, theres no such thing :D I mean unless you try to kill someone before they are consisdered killable, then game says no
Computer impossible PS2 I beat it. They got rid of the health bar and they just give you a basic red bar. You don’t worry about losing all your legs and combat makes a game way easier PS2.
This game is an ultimate flex and showcase of what Unreal 1 engine is capable of: RPG mechanics, inventory, dialogs, hacking, body region based damage, Half Life 1 physics based puzzles like floating crates, really detailed models (the fact that JC glasses are not textures but another model on top of his face, and you can see his eyes underneath). Hong Kong/Paris that ten times more alive and full of content than any city in Morrowind. Huge levels without loading new regions every minute like console games (or Deus Ex 2) do nowdays. The fact that you can see crane on horizon in New York Docks and later climb it without any loading screens on a way to it is mindboggling.
If you keep analising the game and look at decompiled scripts there is even more minor cryptic mechanics like the ability to disarm enemy by damaging his arm, use pepper spray to bypass laser beams etc.
Though, you can only bypass laser beams by using gas weapons during your Liberty Island mission and Metro shootout. Everywhere else it triggers the security measures, if I remember correctly
@@littlehorn0063Probably an unused mechanic that wasn't cut completely. I mean, how do you even figure out how to use pepper spray on lasers? No wonder even they forgot about it xd
My vision is augmented
youtubers with >1k subs producing banger video essays as always
aw hell yeah new hour plus deus ex retrospective just dropped
1994 to 2004 is correct. It's rare for anyone not born in the 80s to recognize this... how fast things moved was insane. I remember in that short 10 years I bought 5 graphic cards just because things changed drastically making tech obsolete. These days I haven't bought a new graphic card in 8 years and played Cyberpunk 2077 on medium just fine... speaks volumes to how things have slowed down.
"All of that sht is true, at least in DeusEX"
Yeeeaaahhh, in DeusEX, haha, right. I wish.
I am a late 30s something and distinctly remember buying this game and marvelling at how amazingly bad it ran on my tnt2 video card, 300mhz celeron and 512mb of ram.
So instead of playing the game properly, I knocked out and stunned as many people as possible and politely placed them into the ocean. I am ok. Honestly.
I'm glad alot of people enjoy it and it helped push the genre ahead so I could eventually play dishonored 1 and 2, prey, etc etc which are my G.O.A.Ts.
Thanks again for this video. Again as usual, wonderfully written, edited and produced.
Onwards and upwards.
Did you ever play Postal 2? That game was great and still is
@Timbo360 nah man, I did however play postal 1 and I think it put me on a list somewhere
I haven't watched the video yet, but I want to say that,regardless, I love that people talk about these games, specially Deus Ex.
These games as a whole are amazing and (imo) the ImSim is one of the best genres in gaming. Deus Ex goes above and beyond.
Thanks a lot!
Even as a non-gamer I enjoy your videos ❤😊
Best review i've seen of this game, i can imagine the time invested in making this video was a lot but it paid off. Keep doing your thing, it's amazing.
I love that you have a deep appreciation for the hong kong levels... there's just something about that fairly open yet clastraphbic environment that is just amazing, really immersive... Paris is the most fun to break into places though
Well skel brother loved the video an can't wait to see what you cover next, I'll be here patiently waiting
Nice vid, good luck getting to 1,000 subs
I am the 1000th
great video, glad to see new content of this genre
My people now span generations! I also have the feeling lots of people will watch you with great interest.
What a interesting idea for a video format, mixing a review with a playthrough.
Dude Deus Ex is a game so ahead of its time which is unfortunate because immersive sims seemed to just died off ever since the start of the 7th and 8th generations of gaming. It really gets me thinking what the team could have done in today's technology and resources with the ideas and creativity they had over 20 years ago. This probably is a sentiment that can be shared for most games made in the early 2000s nowadays.
Nah, this game came out at the right time. If it came out today it'd turn out like Mankind Divided or Prey.
Agreed on your last point. It's like as time has gone on and technology has evolved, creativity has gone backwards. Most games back then felt and still feel fairly unique, barring direct sequels. Even games from the same genres were all doing very distinctive things. I think this level of creativity does still exist, but it is much more rare and almost never found in AAA studios. I sometimes wonder if a smaller but more interwoven team is necessary for these true masterpiece type games. These huge AAA titles made by hundreds of people kinda feel samey and boring. As an aside, this is why I am personally excited for Stalker 2. A sequel in a truly creative world whose older games are now dated in their engines and looks.
1:28:47 You should definitely check out the HR and MD. Those are excellent games in their own right and took the series into some interesting directions. One of the best skill trees I have ever encountered.
I fucking love when a Deus Ex retrospective comes out!
I am gonna be honest with you, I have played deus ex several times but each time I just stopped at hells kitchen(after Hong Kong) and I do not know why, but this summer I decided to go back and this time actually completed it(in all honesty the level design is pretty good except the ocean labs and sector 4 in area 51), this game has aged pretty well(except some mechanics like not being able to pick up a body without looting it first), the AI might be dumb but they are consistently dumb which makes them predictable and kinda fun to fight, this game is amazing but it can easily turn people away because it is not a full on shooter like half life or a smooth stealth experience (because your stealthy weapons are unreliable), to truly be able to appreciate the game you must appreciate the whole package not piece by piece, all of the games parts may be 7/10 individually but the way they are mixed together to create such a cohesive game makes the game itself a 9/10 and maybe more than that, this is the reason I had a lot of fun this time around.
You meant "except", not "accept".
@@danielhathaway8817I wasn't going to say anything but they kept making the same mistake
1:58
That's interesting. I never knew the staff of Deus Ex had *developmental* problems. Makes the game even more impressive!
Don't forget to talk to every NPC multiple times especially after triggering specific events on the map. They have paragraphs of new dialogue. Some of it very long and designed to world build.
Been keeping my eye on you lad, and you defo got promise. Maybe find a more distinct editing voice (Max0r for.. style over substance, FoulEnergy for a great example, Civvie for more understated but tonally specific)
See also Warlockracy, which you remind me of with a cross of Civvie in terms of editing. Restrained a bit, but with just enough polish and bits added. I feel the narrative style of Warlockracy where you focus on the in-game story primarily and detail mechanics and your thoughts as you go could work really well with your style and writing ability. Warlockracy's Deus Ex vid is a perfect example to crib from but I can see it for sure working as it doesn't fall into the issue of being a "definitive video" as much as your experience while staying in the trenches story and gameplay-wise.
While I think it was reasonable to have the info dump upfront for a trad review style, I can see more from your writing.
Warlockracy is the best
you have good taste in vidya, ashes, de, mp. Good narration too.
Excellent video
Good stuff. Keep it up. Subbed.
Fucking finally someone releases a new video essay on my favorite game . About Goddamn time.
I cannot wait to watch this
the thumbnail is fuckin diabolical lmao
Welp, I know what I'm listening to before bed tonight!
I didn't know who you were until an hour and a half ago but man I really liked this retrospective and I'm looking forward to seeing what else you got. Good stuff. Do you intend to make videos like this on more recent immersive sims like Cruelty Squad?
the 20mm grenades are great as explosive lockpicks, early game you can corner enemies and kill them quick with headshots; late game with high skill it's your main combat weapon. if you skimp on other skills and go for Rifles it's incredible value per inventory space
The magic of the decade you mention is because gaming had gotten big enough they had money to do whatever they want. Deus Ex was made because John Romero, flush with Doom cash, went up to Warren Spector and pretty much gave him carte blanche to make whatever game he wanted. That game was Deus Ex...
...yet gaming hadn't got so big and fat and juicy and established that business-suited parasites hadn't started sinking their fangs into it like the leeches they are. There weren't people who had no idea about gaming but still with the authority to demand creative changes hanging around.
1:03:00 The white phosphorus rockets are excellent against Agent Nevara.
be careful skel, do not go down the dark side
1:29:35 sure but watch time is more important after a point you're sure to pass :)
14:49 BASED™ pretty sure GMDX does change it to Magazine Upgrade
does this game take place within one night? the moon is always the same phase
banga
The maintenance bots only heal 75% of your bioelectric energy, not 100%
22:15 Seqquence break? this is Deus Ex baby, theres no such thing :D
I mean unless you try to kill someone before they are consisdered killable, then game says no
I pirated this on first day of release (lol) but my p2 266 w/ voodoo 3 really chugged, unfortunately
welp it's that time again.. i'm installing deus ex
'94 - '04
Yup
Kiehn Keys
Deus Ex is not a game. It is a warning of future events. Only smart people can see this warning.
Computer impossible PS2 I beat it. They got rid of the health bar and they just give you a basic red bar. You don’t worry about losing all your legs and combat makes a game way easier PS2.
Deus ex deleted my save file im mad
Conspiracy ? you mean prediction
Fr
Ok time to get a job.
okay, where?
I'm off to chow down on some member' berries 🫐!!