Preview: Deus Ex 3 (PS3)

Set twenty-five years before the original Deus Ex, it dispenses with the ‘what if’ ending of the sequel Deus Ex: Invisible War. In reflection the sequel tried to move the series onwards and contained a great deal of enjoyment, matched with interesting ideas from the development team. Whilst failing to scale the heights of the groundbreaking first Deus Ex, Invisible War remains an unpolished diamond on the Xbox system. Well worth experiencing if you haven’t done so already.

Number three promises a massive global conspiracy theory, with the dawn of the nanotechnological industry and its body augmentations. In this pre-JC Denton era, the technology is very much still on the drawing board, with any benefits purely speculation or rumour. Set in 2027 this close proximity future landscape is very much influenced by Blade Runner and the whole cyberpunk genre. Cities have expanded into huge, sprawling metropolises, with Detroit, Montreal and Shanghai confirmed with two other destinations yet to be revealed.

The United Nations Anti-Terrorist Coalition (UNATCO) has yet to be formed, with the Montreal development team promising that events in the game will herald its introduction.  The team faced with the exclusion of nano augmentations, which lets face it allowed a great deal of customisation for players and the ability to experiment have substituted these for mechanical improvements. What this means remains to be seen, but if you fancy turning yourself into the Deus Ex equivalent of the classic Terminator then maybe you’ll have your chance. Gamestyle always favoured less visually restrictive modifications, but the original did feature a couple of characters from the old regime of mechanical augmentation.

The Montreal team have taken another bold decision in removing the need to scrounge for health packs, instead favouring the accepted industry standard of automatic health regeneration. Also promised is a cover system, as popularised by Gears of War and such like. However, thankfully, this seems to be only another option during combat. It is not the fundamental and only way to achieve success. Stealth will also be included, which will prompt sighs from the Gamestyle team but hopefully (again) it will remain one of several tactics at your disposal including hacking. The much-debated feature of tentacles seen in an early concept has been ditched.

Deus Ex 3 promises to be an RPG experience like the first instalment, with the influence on action. Dismiss those impressions of random battles, laboured storylines and tiresome Square-Enix dynamics. Instead the series cultivates the RPG elements of developing your own character and interaction throughout the world in which you find yourself. Your decisions and actions will have consequences, as you try to journey through the multi-layered storyline. A first person viewpoint again will be used, with the third person perspective popping up now and again during pivotal moments. The team have stressed the importance of a social aspect, which you will be free to explore across each of the cities as you try to solve the global conspiracy.

Deus Ex 3 will remain the subject of much debate and speculation amongst fans of the series until it arrives and then after. Gamestyle hopes that the team appreciates that the series isn’t necessarily about shooting your way to the ending. We have plenty of other experiences that offer such a journey; instead Deus Ex can represent choice, freedom and new solutions to old problems. Eidos will be hoping that the franchise can be resurrected to great success as seen with Tomb Raider of late.

Words by Jason Julier