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Platform Filters:   All Platforms  Xbox   GameCube   PlayStation 2   PC   Game Boy Advance   Site Sections:   Updates  News   Games   Publishers   Developers   Reviews   Previews   Release Dates   Editorials   Glossary   Contact Us		Review:       28th July 2002: Deus Ex: The Conspiracy  With over 35 'Game of the Year' awards including a BAFTA for 'Best PC Game of 2000', can Deus Ex replicate the same magic it had on the PC for the PS2? Posted by Wasabi - PlayStation 2 - UK and Europe When Deus Ex was first released on the PC, I was quite overwhelmed by the sheer scale and complexity of this RPG/FPS hybrid. It's typical for publishers these days to port successful PC games to consoles and vice versa but I was skeptical with this one... So what if it got a sack full of awards, a stocking full of candy and bank bags full of unmarked dollars. Deus Ex is one of the finest games made on the PC; legends shouldn't be tampered with. I mean what if the conversion didn't capture the essence that is Deus EX? The answer would be easy; Eidos would have disgruntled folks such as myself armed with pitchforks marching to their offices. Fortunately though, Deus Ex gets the thumbs up. The premise of the story has remained the same. With its intricate depth, it draws the player well into the game from the word go. Rather than spill the beans, here is a simplified version that stops this review from becoming the size of an encyclopedia. The player takes on the role of J.C. Denton, a government agent working for UNATCO (United Nation Anti-Terrorist Coalition). He is sent to investigate suspected terrorists groups and their involvement in a plague knows as the Grey Death. Very soon he is thrown into a web of deceit as he realizes that nothing is quite as it seems and that he really can trust no one. Like a pick 'n' mix machine, you get to decide right from the start how you want your character to develop. The player will be given a choice on a number of attributes to increase. This can range from hacking, lock picking, sniper rifle, heavy weapons and much more. Depending on the attribute you have chosen to increase, it will greatly affects how your character feels and plays. It honestly feels great as you hone, shape and customize your J.C. Denton to your style. The first time I played through the game I fancied myself as the suave and sophisticated stealth agent, the second time I decided to go in guns blazing and let my actions do the talking. Here you can see the variations and styles that you can adapt to, this clever feature really breathes new life into FPS games. My only gripe about the customization of character was that there should have been some kind of multiplayer option allowing friends to export characters with the skills they upgraded for some serious Death matches. Hopefully they get this feature in for Deus Ex 2. With Ion Storm's slogan of 'Design is Law' one would have thought that it applied to level layouts. Those who have never played Deus Ex on the PC, please ignore my next rant. Many of the levels are cut down and simplified as if the power of the PS 2's memory was struggling in some respects to fit in the original level plans, it also doesn't help with all the loading times from one area to the next and as soon as you back track the loading screen pops up again as if to taunt you, I found myself in these situations far too often as I scramble about aimlessly desperate to get to my next goal. The texture quality and building detail could have been better; one would have come to expect far greater things from the PS 2 and from a game of this caliber. However in their defense, I did notice some graphical and animation improvements. Movement and overall look in the characters and NPC's were more lifelike as they go about their daily routines. This is probably due to additional motion capture animations as well as textures and polygons being added. Another tick to their credit has to be the new rendered cut scenes and voice-overs exclusive to the PS 2 version. It really adds that extra polish and cinematic feel. You'll also find the soundtrack has been re-recorded using a full orchestra further bringing out the cinematic experience. The AI on enemies can be disappointing at places; terrorists go about in their scripted manner and react the same throughout the game. Once one of the enemies see or when you trip the alarm, guards in the proximity will rush out and per form the same clockwork routine, it gets predictable and the terrorists will soon be taken out with the relative of ease once you get the hang of the Dual Shock controls. Nothing inspiring about the AI, but it does the job. So as if with every game review, there is the good, the bad and the ugly. Deus Ex certainly has some of the bad and the ugly but in contrast to everything that makes it good, I cant help but salute Ion Storm and Eidos for doing a great job. A two-year-old conversion of a PC classic was always going to raise eyebrows, if you haven't played it yet and like FPS and RPG genres, what are you waiting for? You will find very little fault with this game, however if you have the PC version already, you might want to think long and hard before forking out the suggested retail price of £39.99. Wasabi             Latest Images:		Review Scores:    Graphics:   Sound:   Gameplay:   Length:   Overall: Click here for our Review Score Guidelines.  Review Summary:  What PC Gamers have known about for years can now finally be experienced on the PS2. Deus Ex will keep you entertained hour upon hour despite some glaring flaws.  Related Games:  Deus Ex: The Conspiracy for PlayStation 2  6  Screenshots  1  Review Click here for All Game Information.
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