Four Deus Ex: Invisible War Reviews
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Ambitious games like Deus Ex: Invisible War inherently open themselves up to more criticism than most games do. Their attempts to present serious storylines, to portray realistic characters, and to present convincing settings and situations are the equivalent of high-wire acts, which are impressive so long as no missteps are made. Unfortunately, Invisible War does make a few missteps, and though some of these are largely the very same problems that affected its three-year-old predecessor, they might not be as acceptable today as they were back then. None of this should ultimately deter you from checking out Invisible War, if you're otherwise inclined. It's certainly a bold undertaking that delves into some philosophical and science-fiction territory that most games wouldn't dare touch, and though it may not be a superior game to its predecessor, on its own merits it's a great and original experience that's well worthwhile.
IGN gives it a 9/10:
Why haven't more people stolen this idea yet? I mean, seriously. Since the original Deus Ex came out over three years ago, only titles like Morrowind and Knights of the Old Republic have tried to allow for this type of emergent story-telling. I can only surmise that it must be damn hard to make a game like that. Come to think of it, given the quality of linear, scripted RPGs of late, that seems pretty likely. Though I finished it in less than twenty hours (about half the time it took for Knights of the Old Republic, about a millionth for Morrowind), I dove right back in again to try out some different things and see how some of the big either/or decisions worked out.
And finally, Games Domain gives it a 4/5:
Many long time fans of Deus Ex will take serious issue with the changes found in Invisible War. But all that needs to be said is that the game offers unparalleled variety and choice in the actual gameplay. The non-intrusive design sets just as much of a precedent as did Deus Ex, which is a joy to realize. The game feels a bit short -- especially considering how much choice the player is given -- and the presentation values could have been polished up more, but it's an experience like no other. Cheers to Ion Storm for raising the gameplay bar once again, and giving us a reason to look forward to the future of gaming.
