Deus Ex: Human Revolution

Deus Ex: Human Revolution is a prequel to the original Deus Ex, set in the near future, when humanity splits between those who can afford mechanical body augmentations and those who reject them or can't afford them. The player takes on the role of Adam Jensen, head of security at a biotech company, who survives a brutal attack on the lab only thanks to extensive implants and sets out to find who was behind it. The path leads through Detroit, Shanghai, and other locations that serve as small open cities full of side quests.

The core of the game is the ability to solve every situation in more than one way. A building can be entered through the front door after a conversation, through a rooftop vent, through the sewers, or by force through security. The player spends Praxis points on augmentations that unlock silent falls from height, seeing through walls, hacking better terminals, greater carrying capacity, or a social module that gives an edge in conversations. Combat works with cover and a shift to third person, but stealth is often more advantageous and the game rewards it with both experience and content. Verbal duels with key characters are a self-contained minigame, all about reading the other person and picking the right tone.

Visually the game bet on a striking gold-and-black color scheme with nods to Renaissance painting, which still gives it a distinctive look today despite its older engine. On computers it offered higher-resolution textures and better controls than the console versions, and today it runs on practically anything. The music rests on subdued electronic textures that reinforce the feeling of an alienated, corporate world. Reception was very good, and the game is considered a successful revival of the franchise, though the boss battles against major antagonists were often criticized and the studio later reworked them. Today it stands as one of the cleanest fusions of RPG, stealth, and storytelling, one that also laid out themes that haven't lost any relevance.