Czech gaming magazine hratelne has gotten the latest look at Eidos Montreal's cyberpunk TBS/RPG Deus Ex 3 (PC,X360,PS3). Unlike some other recent 'previews', this one actually has a number of new, juicy tidbits of information.
Fans of the game on the official Deus Ex forums have taken a stab at a translation -- it is reproduced below, but here is a short-list of highlights for those with short attention spans (taken from the forums):
"-the world is ruled by megacorporations, more powerful than national governments. The conspiracy groups are setting these corporations against each other.
-the black ops slaughter the research division of the corporation Adam works at. The questions who and why is behind the attack are answered relatively soon into the game, however more serious questions arise with the answers.
-You will be regularly visiting Adam's apartment with many reminiscences of his past like photos and a diary
-The game takes place in five well-known metropoleis, mentioned were Shanghai, Detroit and Montreal
-Women play a large role in the game, some of them you've known for a long time, others will try to seduce or betray you, depending on your previous actions
-Bosses are included, their difficulty also depending on your previous actions
-The secret societies are just puppets for a shadowy figure who wants to take control over all of the market, society, and the human evolution.
-The events of the game will lead to the establishment of UNATCO
-The main villain is to be 'similiar' to Jensen
-a rescue mission across the globe later in the game
-squad based combat AI with a visually identifiable squad leader"
Huh! Sounds promising to me. If they don't go too easy on the RPG elements, or over-simplfy the game like Deus Ex 2, Deus Ex 3 could be one of the more promising games for 2009 (at least for this gamer.)
Here is the fan translation of the article. It is not a word-for-word translation, but instead, sort of a terse summary:
"It had seemed the second sequel to the famous Deus Ex is just utopia.
The Ion Storm studio had been closed down some time ago, Warren Spector and Harvey Smith, the spiritual fathers of the originals had scattered into other projects.
However Eidos had not forgotten about one of its most priced brands, so when they'd opened a new studio in Montreal they decided to christen it with the developement of Deus Ex 3. There is a more than hundred member team currently working on the game, with a large budget and a lot of ideas to make this an unforgettable experience.
The first Deus Ex took place in 2052, second one will take you to 2027. Therefore it is a prequel, telling a story prior to the events of the legendary original and its worse accepted, but still solid sequel.
Deus Ex had two main themes: transformation of a man by nanotechnology and motifs of a global conspiracy.
In the third Deus Ex, these events are just rising to horizon, however society is already starting to split up.
Huge cybernetic syndicates in many states outreach the power of national governments. Who can afford it, is helping himself by the use of mechanical implants.
How do the people put up with the fact that some of them are now much smarter, stronger and more competitive than others. Tension grows in a new form of racism, on the streets augmented people are bullied by groups of ordinary people.
In the upper levels of the out of sight high skyscrapers company strategists are planning how to sabotage the competition. In background of the companies operate secret societies, however even those are only puppets. Whose puppets though? Someone wants to take control over the entire market and society, but mainly over the human evolution!
At the start of the storyline skein is a man named Adam Jensen, his world has just come to a ruin as he works as a chief of security for one of these cybernetics syndicates.
One day a special commando breaks into the building and kills all the scientists. The attackers know every detail of Adam's security plan. Someone must have taken out information.
Anyway, Adam Jensen is the protagonist, whose story starts with looking for the perpetrators and their motives. Who it was we find out soon. But the answers Adam finds will lead to more questions and in the end a rescue mission across the globe. The main villain is apparentely very similiar to Jensen. Could he be one of his relatives?
Deus Ex 3 puts a stake on a strong identification of the player with the main character. You'll get your own apartment, filled with reminiscences on Adam's life up to now.
Pictures hang on walls, and there's a computer on the table which soon becomes filled with super secret data. Distinctive female characters should appear in the game some of share common past with Adam, some of them have an interest in common future. At least one of them, though, will cross his path as a foe.
Events of DX3 will lead to the establishment of UNATCO, a police organisation of which JC Denton, protagonist of the original, was a member. Even this time it will be possible to end the game in different ways, which will depend upon the player's choices.
The authors have a difficult goal ahead of them: create a unique style for DX3. Such as the original's, System Shock's, and the latest, Bioshock's.
In short and atmospheric enviroment, which would instaneously capture the player without even focusing on the plot.
For this reason the authors are looking back at renaissance, in which they see the bonding between man and nature. However in the world of DX3, people want to exceed nature. It is, however, mainly just a visual style.
Eidos Montreal doesn't hide that they liked Bioshock's Art Deco, but obviously they can't copy that, so they made their own style. Style which combines the rough style of pessimistic cyberpunk with surprisingly detailed renaissance elements. Rich areas therefore filled with golden colors, whereas darkness rules in the poor areas below.
DX3 will, unlike the original, have more of an action spirit. Unlike its predecessor, shooting won't be impacted by stats as much as player skill. But this doesn't mean the game got rid of RPG elements.
On the contrary - skills and augs you gain will impact the choice of your combat techniques. Therefore you will be getting better, without having to worry about artificial handicaps.
AI is to get better. Groups of enemies will have their easily identifiable squad leader, and who gets him as the fist one will have his work cut out for him, as the enemy group will lose its tactical abilities. AI is supposed to react to changes in player behavior or switching weapons.
Cover is important not just for them, but for the player as well, the authors are implementing an advanced cover system, not unlike in Rainbow Six: Vegas. You will stumble upon regular enemies, robots, and of course bosses. The bosses' difficulty will depend on your previous actions!
Of course augmentations can't be missing, implants which Adam will receive through time such as X-ray vision, 'claymore', which causes a crossfire explosion and 'multi-kill' which can kill 3-4 enemies in a visually attractive scene.
And the best one - when leaping from a building, some sort of wires shoot out of Adam's back, with which he will grapple the wall and be able to comfortably walk down. The rules for augs are that they each have unique visuals, cost money and you're able to upgrade them at least once.
Money are one in-game currency, experience the other. You get experience by completing missions. Money you either find or get. And there's supposed to be only a little. The player should be constantly making decisions on his investments among augs and weaponry.
Weapons can be customised by up to four upgrades, such as scopes. Each weapon will have unique upgrades.
Augs are sorted in four categories: combat, stealth, technology (like hacking and lockpicking) and dialogue augs.
Dialogues look ordinarily at first glance, you pick from a variety of options how to continue the convo, however it is also important to watch out for the facial expressions andy body language of the particular person, you can get a lot of crucial info from these and with a bit of luck, you will be able to pick the most suitable option.
The player will visit a total of five metropoleis, other than the previously announced Shanghai it should be Detroit and Montreal. The other two are not known. The main plot will lead Adam from one metropolis to another, but the player's actions, whether he will complete the side missions and in which order will he visit the key locations, will in each of the cities be entirely up to him.
Asking if we are looking forward to DX3 is probably needless. Of course we do. At the same time we're keeping our doubts whether the untouched team will understand the original's spirit and won't create just another action game in a quite interesting environment
Sure Bioshock has shown it can be done without heavy RPG elements, but nevertheless we expect a different style from DX. Which the authors promise up. Let's hope they will keep their promise, and DX3 looks fantastic."
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