Deus Ex: Mankind Divided Reviews
A slightly weak narrative can't obscure how compelling and exciting Mankind Divided's is to play. Here, the best stories are those you make yourself through emergent gameplay.
Whether you're a gung-ho Leeroy Jenkins wannabe or a more measured warrior of the shadows who likes skulking around, Deus Ex: Mankind Divided features diverse, mechanically sound gameplay that will entertain. Storytelling could be a bit more fleshed out especially toward the end but it still provides a nice take on a serious and uncomfortable topic. It stops short of being an outright revolution but it's also a tight, polished experience that should satisfy fans itching for either a stealthy reprise or adventurous action.
While not a triumph, Mankind Divided is an extremely enjoyable cyberpunk adventure with enough content and gameplay options to keep fans of the franchise happy. The main story lacks impact and drops off completely at the end, but the missions are almost universally fantastic, allowing you to flex your cybernetically-enhanced muscles in a multitude of ways.
Mankind Divided offers up an excellent romp through a cyberpunk world as it descends into oppressive madness. The story is somewhat lacking, but the numerous side quests, fantastic stealth, and gritty setting will keep you engaged for hours.
While I'm not sure any game will replace my nostalgic, rose-coloured memories of the original Deus Ex, Mankind Divided is a small but satisfying step forward for the franchise, offering tons of player freedom in a dark, dangerous and intricately detailed future.
While its desire to draw parallels with real-world issues lacks teeth, that criticism wouldn't be worth making if this weren't an enjoyable game. As an intricate, entertaining, and genre-bending action-stealth RPG, Mankind Divided lives up to the Deus Ex legacy. It may not quite meet its larger narrative ambitions, but it's still a hell of a good time.
Deus Ex: Mankind Divided is still a Deus Ex game through and through, even if it doesn't always manage to hit the same highs as its predecessor. But for all its faults, its numerous other triumphs made it utterly compelling to play through until the end.
Mankind Divided trades some global breadth for localised depth, setting the majority of its free-approach missions in Prague. The narrative feels closer to home too, thrusting Jensen in with the oppressed augmented masses. It's a strong sequel, reinforcing the mechanics of player agency and unique world design Deus Ex is famous for, but unresolved plot points do disappoint.
Video game narratives can be great, but nothing will surpass the stories we create in collaboration with a game – emergent, unscripted moments that pop up unplanned and create lasting impressions, and that's where Mankind Divided excels.
If you're a fan of the first game, I certainly recommend this one as well. But in a competitive season, it's hard to see Mankind Divided being as impactful or memorable as Deus Ex's reassurance five years ago.
Deus Ex: Mankind Divided isn't as polished as it could be, but it still continues the franchise's deft interpretation of modern political, technological, and societal issues without being preachy. Though the story could have brought more attention to the ending and more fully developed the character relationships in the game, the environmental storytelling and exploration through the city of Prague is intricate and memorable. The stealth-based first-person gameplay, paired with the flexibility of the augmentation system, remains as one of the best in the business. Adam Jensen doesn't ask for much, but I'm sure he wants a sequel, and I do too.
Deus Ex: Mankind Divided doesn't succeed in making me care about the plight of humans and augs, but it still pulled me into its compelling cloak-and-dagger world where people in capes can turn invisible and shoot balls of lightning out of their arm. Oh, and your aug doctor looks just like Prince, so it's in the running for GOTY.
Adam Jensen returns in an all-new adventure, proving that Human Revolution wasn't a fluke. Eidos Montreal has outdone itself with the same great stealth experience, improved combat, and some gorgeous art direction. There's a whole host of augments and weapons, allowing you to customize your experience and certain moral choices you make will stick with you. Deus Ex: Mankind Divided does not disappoint.
Adam Jensen's return is largely successful, even if the conspiracy surrounding him could've been a little more engaging.
Deus Ex: Mankind Divided refines and reinforces the defining foundations of the series.
An impressively complex action role-player, where every problem has multiple solutions, but it's not always quite as smart as it thinks it is.
Deus Ex: Mankind Divided is more of the same from Human Revolution, with improvements.
Deus Ex: Mankind Divided is an excellent sequel to Human Revolution and one that any fan of stealth games should buy.
Deus Ex: Mankind Divided features one of the best level design in the series.
Deus Ex: Mankind Divided offers the players the freedom to choose their own story. The gameplay shines through the use of augmentations and the story never takes itself lightly by focusing on the tension between humans and augmented humans. If you have enjoyed your time with Deus Ex: Human Revolution, you shouldn't miss out on Adam Jensen's latest adventure.