Deus Ex: Invisible War
Description official descriptions
Twenty years have passed after the events described in Deus Ex. The actions of JC Denton have eventually led to a period of economic depression, known as "The Collapse". The world is on the brink of chaos after the dismantling of the mighty biotech corporations, and multiple religious and political groups lust after power.
The city of Chicago is destroyed in a devastating energy blast by unknown terrorists. Two trainees of the Tarsus Academy, Alex D and Billie Adams, are evacuated to another Tarsus-controlled facility in Seattle. Shortly thereafter the facility is attacked by members of a religious organization called the Order. Billie admits that she has been collaborating with them, implying that Tarsus may be involved in a conspiracy. It is now up to Alex to find his or her place in the new world, and ultimately shape its fate.
Deus Ex: Invisible War is a first-person shooter that retains many gameplay elements of its predecessor, such as conversations with characters, inventory management, exploration, and mixing various gameplay styles during missions. As in the original game, the style of play helps shape the game as it progresses, from how characters interact with the protagonist to the types of situations encountered. Each potential conflict can be resolved in a number of ways, through peaceful means or through violence, using stealth or a show of force. Hacking computer terminals and unlocking doors with special tools are prominently featured.
Weapons can be modified in a variety of ways, e.g. increasing their rate of fire, silencing the shots, allowing the weapon to shoot through glass, etc. Characters can once again outfit their bodies with an array of biotech parts, some of which include the ability to see through walls, disappear from radar, regenerate from critical hits, or jump forty feet in the air. Unlike the previous installment, there are no true role-playing elements in the game. The player must search for biotech canisters to install and upgrade biomods; however, no experience points are awarded for either completing missions or dealing with enemies. Inventory management has been simplified as well.
The sequel places more emphasis on decisions and different approaches to missions. From the beginning of the game the player has the freedom of performing missions for organizations and people of his or her choice. Like in the first game, several endings can be reached depending on the player's decisions.
Spellings
- 杀出重围:隐形战争 - Simplified Chinese spelling
- 駭客入侵 - Traditional Chinese spelling
Groups +
- 3D Engine: Unreal Engine 2
- Console Generation Exclusives: Xbox
- Deus Ex series
- Gameplay feature: Multiple endings
- Games with 451
- Green Pepper releases
- Middleware: Bink Video
- Middleware: FaceFX
- PC Gamer Presents games
- Physics Engine: Havok
- Protagonist: Cyborg
- Protagonist: Female (option)
- Setting: Arctic / North Pole
- Setting: City - Cairo
- Setting: City - Chicago
- Setting: City - New York
- Setting: City - Seattle
- Software Pyramide releases
- Theme: Hacking / Pseudohacking
- Theme: School
Screenshots
Promos
Videos
Add Trailer or Gameplay Video +1 point
See any errors or missing info for this game?
You can submit a correction, contribute trivia, add to a game group, add a related site or alternate title.
Credits (Windows version)
276 People (233 developers, 43 thanks) · View all
Studio Director | |
Project Director | |
Executive Producer | |
Producer | |
Associate Producer | |
Lead Programmer | |
Programmers | |
Additional Programming | |
Director of Technology | |
Lead Technology Programmer | |
[ full credits ] |
Reviews
Critics
Average score: 79% (based on 64 ratings)
Players
Average score: 3.4 out of 5 (based on 152 ratings with 16 reviews)
Heavily underrated, but not as good as the original
The Good
Unlike the original Deus Ex, this game starts pretty interesting right from the start, and then as it gets more and more complicated and everyone turns their right face in the grand final, it turns out to be just another regular sequel with nothing new to offer but graphical goodies due to a time difference. However, this game holds a strong point over its originator, and that is that certain places are so well made it almost reaches the worlds created in Anachronox in its intriguing exploration and citizens. Well, far from Anachronox, but still, it poses a touch of creative design.
Unlike what other have said, I find the graphics to be quite good (after seeing how character looked in original, I can't say I expected them to be anything too great, but they are fine nonetheless), and game does support higher resolutions, so whether this is an Xbox port or not, it may be questionable. Whereas Deus Ex put you in a role of JC Denton without giving you so open choice over your freedom, this game quite vividly forces you vast selection of choices on every corner. It is neat to pretend to work for everyone's cause yet working against them all, while still trying to spare certain people you may care about to stay alive.
Physics are something I totally forgot from the first game. I expected that from Half-Life 2, but never have I thought they'll be so cool to utilize in here. I remember how cool it was the fact you could carry enemy soldiers and put them somewhere in the shadows or such unspottable places, but here, you can toss them further than those guys toss discs and spears on the olympics. The whole tossing issue puts a great deal of fun to this title, and it's done pretty well. This is definitely a much more interesting game then I ever imagined it'll be due to all those cons, it's as addictive to rid me of my sleep for the past couple of days, really driving you on.
The Bad
JC Denton looks like crap in here, I sure don't remember him like that. Not just his attitude because he's merged with Helios now, but the whole extern appearance.
Also, there's a crappy bug about the savegames, I reached the ending map, just to later figure that savegame can sometimes be buggy and drops you right back at your desktop, so had to replay the past four hours since the previous valid savegame file. Tsk tsk tsk, seems they had some serious lacks in the code, and the sound starts to crackle after some time, maybe it's not their fault, but of Microsoft's DirectX, so I guess I should look pass it, it wasn't the first game to have sound problems like that.
Also, there is some serious AI balance on the loose. For example, certain leader and his surrounding troops are not firing at me, but any other of his will be. Kinda weird to take it serious when he asks from my allegiance then, wouldn't you say? Also, there was a scene when some bum accidentally caught a fire and started yelling and running all in flames. Soon after, one bumped into another, and then that one into the third one, and they were all on fire. Kinda strange to observe, so I didn't have a choice but to put their pain to an end with a bullet through each one's head. Also, it's not good when nearby people won't talk with you after some shootout, they seem either to be afraid or just want to relax for some time but, it's strange, and not likely, especially if they're on your side and even more, if you came to rescue them.
The Bottom Line
All in all, very addictive game from the moment you start playing it. It made me appreciate a PC after long period of time of preferring console games. Sure, this game exists for Xbox as well, but still, it just ain't the same feeling, not to me anyway. Deus Ex and Deus Ex: Invisible War are two great games on their own that deserve a certain percentage of respect no matter the odds, and they aren't just a mindless shooters in a true sense of FPS way, so you guys stalking over another masterpiece called Half-Life, don't go into playing these games unless you're ready for some dialogues and a bigger story.
Windows · by MAT (240793) · 2012
The Good
If you forget all about Deus Ex one game (which I consider to be the best FPS I played) and judge Deus Ex 2 for what it is, you might say that it has a good graphics engine. It's not your regular FPS because adds some elements from RPGs and even has a decent story.
The Bad
Where do I start? The GUI is to large and annoying. The universal ammo is a terrible idea that ruins the fun of having different weapons.
The story does a great job burning up everything the previous game strive to set. You pile up missions in one level up to a point you can't decide what to do next. Without the patch I has problems running in most machines. I guess I can go on and on forever.
The Bottom Line
If you Liked Deus Ex then stay the hell away from this abomination I mean it. It is painful to see what a misguided story and destructive set of ideas can make to a classic.
And to think they even wanted to make a film from the franchise. That's one movie that I regret you wont see anytime soon.
Windows · by Shin_Akuma (15) · 2005
Not as good as the original but it's still Deus Ex
The Good
- Graphics are good and fitting for a game coming out late 2003.
-
Sound and music are appropriate for the game. The Main Title Theme is the best as it pays tribute to the original Deus Ex theme.
-
Voice acting is done well, except for a couple of poorly done foreign accents.
-
You get to meet up with many familiar faces from the original series (but no Smuggler :( )
-
Combat is simplified which makes it much more accessible to gamers at large.
-
All the wonderful plot twists and conspiracy theories that made you love the original Deus Ex.
-
Multiple endings depending on the decisions you make, like the original
The Bad
- The RPG element that was existent in the original Deus Ex, has been taken away in this one. This makes it less fiddly (e.g. no need to mess around with an inventory determined by a grid) but it also gives the player less choice in making their character a sneaky back-stabbing spy, a gung-ho rocket gunner or an elite sharpshooter. The customisation in your character is now limited to just the biomods available. In the end, Deus Ex 2 feels more like a true FPS than the original. This may appeal to some, but not me. -
The maps are way too small - even the first game had larger maps. I think this may have something to do with the fact that due to the limitations of the Xbox, the levels had to be reduced in size - so this means lots of pre-loading of maps!
-
Universal ammo: All ammo types are the same. This I assume was another aspect that was simplified to make the game less fiddly (and less like an RPG). You're able to modify the weapons somewhat but every weapon uses the same ammunition. That means if you're running out of ammo you won't be able to use ANY gun rather than just a particular one.
-
Smoking 10 cigarettes in a row isn't as entertaining anymore.
-
Dying sequence is not as good as the old one :P.
-
JC was just cooler :).
The Bottom Line
For those FPS players that want to try something different, consider Deus Ex: Invisible War. It's got an interesting sci-fi/cyberpunk/conspiracy theory storyline and a really immersive world (our own one in a dark future). For the RPGers that gave Deus Ex 1 a shot and liked it, you'll probably not be as satisfied with the sequel.
Overall, Deus Ex: Invisible War is a good game. It has a great storyline, great graphics, memorable characters, ambient music that sets the mood and it's fun to play. When stacked against the original though, the original still comes out on top. However, the game is still Deus Ex and IMHO is a much better game than any of the ones out there at the moment :).
Windows · by Rambutaan (2782) · 2004
Discussion
Subject | By | Date |
---|---|---|
It's not that bad! | Unicorn Lynx (181780) | Sep 15, 2011 |
Screenshots | Cantillon (76815) | Sep 8, 2011 |
Dynamic Lighting | St. Martyne (3648) | Nov 15, 2008 |
Trivia
Basketball
Continuing the Warren Spector tradition, Invisible War features a basketball court. It's right at the beginning of the game and there's no missing it; one of your mandatory objectives will send you through there.
Engine
Ion Storm licensed the Unreal engine and heavily modified it for this game. Its a inhouse engine with a tiny bit of Epic's Unreal code left in. It is said that the engine programmer left mid-development with a largely undocumented code which caused the game's numerous technical problems.
Music
In order to bring popstar NG Resonance's music to life, Eidos licensed a few tracks from the industrial/techno band "Kidney Thieves". Said tracks can be found in their Trickstereprocess album. The original soundtrack for the game on the other hand, can be downloaded for free on Eidos's site.
References
The coffee shops, Pequod's, and QueeQueg's are from Moby Dick. The Pequod, was the name of the ship. QueeQueg is the Indian harpooner.* In the abandoned curio shop over the 9 World Taverns, you can find a book containing text on the care and cleaning of Ohio State Bobbleheads. Chris Carollo, the lead programmer for Invisible War is an Ohio State alumni. * The Tarsus Academy shares a name with the city that was the birthplace of Paul, the apostle. Paul Denton acts as the apostle for J.C. Denton.
Awards
- 4Players
- 2004 – Best Console Story of the Year
- GameSpy
- 2003 – #7 Game of the Year
- 2003 – #3 Xbox Game of the Year
- 2003 – #5 PC Game of the Year
- GameStar (Germany)
- Issue 04/2009 - One of the "10 Most Terrible Sequels" (It is a good game in its own right but it changes everything which made Deus Ex big for the worse, e.g. exciting story, clever level design, RPG elements and freedom of decision.)
Information also contributed by MasterMegid, Scott Monster and Zovni
Analytics
Upgrade to MobyPro to view research rankings!
Related Sites +
-
Deus Ex 2
Official Web Site -
Deus Ex: Invisible War Post-Mortem
Warren Spector and Harvey Smith speak about the development and shortcomings of Deus Ex: Invisible War (Youtube) -
Hi-Res Textures for Deus Ex: Invisible War
Download a pack containing hi-res replacement textures for the game. -
Kidney Thieves official site
Site of the industrial/techno band Kidney Thieves, who contributed to Invisible War's soundtrack.
Identifiers +
Contribute
Are you familiar with this game? Help document and preserve this entry in video game history! If your contribution is approved, you will earn points and be credited as a contributor.
Contributors to this Entry
Game added by Jeanne.
Xbox added by Jason Walker.
Additional contributors: xroox, Zovni, Unicorn Lynx, Shoddyan, Paulus18950, Patrick Bregger.
Game added December 6, 2003. Last modified March 19, 2024.