Game review: ‘Deus Ex: Mankind Divided’ one of the best games of the year

‘Deus Ex: Mankind Divided’ one of the best games of the year

In novels and short stories, the subgenre of science fiction known as cyberpunk flourished in the late 1980s and early 1990s, following the lead of authors like William Gibson and Bruce Sterling. But its core concepts – evil corporations, urban dystopia, transhuman technology – have continued to flourish in 21st-century television, film and video games.

Case in point: “Deus Ex: Mankind Divided” ($59.99 / Rated M), the latest installment in the popular series of sci-fi action adventure games. The “Deus Ex” series has a sterling reputation for blending compelling story lines with engaging gameplay, and “Mankind Divided” doesn’t disappoint.

In fact, the game’s parallel tracks of narrative and gaming are established at the very beginning, when players are asked to choose between different game modes. On the “easy” setting, “Mankind Divided” ratchets down the first-person-shooter (FPS) combat elements and presents what is essentially an extended piece of interactive fiction. You still get to fight, and explore, and solve puzzles, but you don’t have to be a hardcore FPS gamer to survive.

I’ll be frank; I’m grateful for the option. My neural synapses aren’t what they used to be, and anyway – with a big-budget console game like this – I’m in it for the story, the design, and the interactive adventure.

As to story, “Mankind Divided” is classic cyberpunk: The year is 2029, a couple years after events chronicled in the last series game, “Human Revolution.” Cybernetic implants have progressed to the point where elective augmentation is commonplace around the world. Alas, mechanically augmented humans are reviled and feared due to a massacre known as the Aug Incident, in which cybernetic humans worldwide were hacked, went berserk, and killed millions.

Players assume the role of Adam Jensen, an augmented special-ops type who works for Interpol but also has secret allegiances to underground activist groups. As the story progresses, Adam must sleuth his way through conspiracies and betrayals in a world where wealthy cabals and monster corporations wield the geopolitical power of nation-states.

Gosh, I love this stuff. Like the previous game “Human Revolution,” released in 2011, “Mankind Divided” is intricately plotted, with a twisty story line populated by dozens of major characters. The story’s many locales are appropriately dangerous and exotic. Adam’s missions will take him from the hard streets of Detroit to high-tech fortresses in the Swiss Alps to ruined skyscrapers in Dubai.

As the double-crosses mount, the plot line gets a little too busy and can be difficult to follow. I recommend watching the included 12-minute primer video in the game’s Extras menu. For dedicated sci-fi readers, the dialogue and characterizations will feel thin and occasionally cliched. But relative to other action-adventure games, “Deus Ex” invests in classic narrative virtues. The story makes sense and plays fair within the rules of the initial premise.

In terms of gameplay, “Mankind Divided” leverages the strengths of several different approaches. The first-person perspective drops into third-person for cover-based combat sequences. Limited RPG elements are introduced by way of skill progression and an experience point system. The in-game hacking system – activated when you engage with digital locks and computer terminals – is a mini-puzzle game in its own right. You move the story forward by completing missions, each of which may require a combination of puzzle-solving, social interactions and combat.

Or not: All of the main and side missions in “Mankind Divided” are designed so that they can be completed using non-lethal tactics. At load-out, you’re sometimes given the option of swapping out live ammo for stun guns or tranquilizer darts. Other scenarios don’t provide such straightforward options, but if you slow down and pay attention, you can always find a way to sneak, talk or otherwise think your way around a fight.

In any case, you’ll have all manner of augmentations and superpowers to choose from. “Mankind Divided” is one of the year’s best games so far, and professionally calibrated to appeal to a wide range of players. That’s good business, and good gaming.

“Deus Ex: Mankind Divided” is now available on PlayStation 4, Xbox One and PC.

This story was originally published September 14, 2016 at 10:00 AM with the headline "Game review: ‘Deus Ex: Mankind Divided’ one of the best games of the year."