Deus Ex: Human Revolution
A prequel exploring transhumanism and corporate power in 2027.
Deus Ex: Human Revolution is an action role-playing game from Eidos-Montréal, published by Square Enix. It takes place before the events of the original 2000 game and is the third title in the Deus Ex series. The gameplay blends first-person shooting, stealth, and role-playing mechanics. Players explore city-based hub environments and more linear areas, taking on quests that grant experience points and allow the main character to be customized using items called Praxis Kits. The story is set in 2027 and follows Adam Jensen, a security officer for Sarif Industries, a company that makes controversial artificial organs known as augmentations. After an attack on Sarif, Jensen is heavily augmented and sets out to find the shadowy group responsible. The narrative deals with transhumanism, the rising influence of megacorporations, and their effect on social class, all within a cyberpunk world full of conspiracy theories.
Development started in 2007 with a small team at the then-new Eidos-Montréal studio. Two main influences were the Icarus myth, a theme from the earlier Deus Ex games, and Renaissance art and ideas, which shaped the story, visuals, and music while mixing with the series' usual cyberpunk style. Creating the open-ended gameplay was difficult for the team, and the boss fights were given to another developer because of time pressure. Michael McCann composed the music, focusing on ambient, layered pieces rather than character themes or strong melodies. The game was announced in 2007, shortly after development began, with its title and release window revealed in 2010.
Human Revolution came out for PlayStation 3, Windows, and Xbox 360 in August 2011. Critics praised its player-driven story, gameplay, and the freedom it gave in both narrative choices and character customization. The main criticisms targeted the boss fights and technical issues. The director's cut was praised for its improved gameplay. By November 2011, the original version had sold 2.18 million copies. After launch, a downloadable episode called The Missing Link was released, which included gameplay enhancements. A director's cut with further improvements and extra content came out in October 2013 for the original platforms and the Wii U.
Quick Facts
- Title
- Deus Ex: Human Revolution
- Publisher
- Square EnixSelf-published under the name Eidos Interactive Corp following sale of Eidos-Montréal to Embracer Group in 2022
- Director
- Jean-François Dugas
- Producer
- David Anfossi
- Designer
- François Lapikas · Antoine Thisdale · Pierre-Francis Lafleur
- Programmer
- Simon Hamelin · Julien Bouvrais
- Artist
- Jonathan Jacques-Belletête
- Writer
- Mary DeMarle
- Composer
- Michael McCann
- Series
- Deus Ex
- Platforms
- Windows · PlayStation 3 · Xbox 360 · Mac OS X · Wii U
- Genre
- Action role-playing, first-person shooter, stealth
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Deus Ex: Human Revolution is set in the year 2027, 25 years before the original Deus Ex. The story follows Adam Jensen, a security officer for Sarif Industries, a company that develops controversial artificial organs called augmentations. After an attack on Sarif, Jensen undergoes extensive augmentation and investigates the shadowy organization behind the attack. The narrative explores themes of transhumanism, the growing power of megacorporations, and their impact on social class, using the series' cyberpunk setting and conspiracy theory motif.
Reader's Guide
Development of Human Revolution began in 2007 at the fledgling Eidos-Montréal studio after failed attempts to create a sequel at original developer Ion Storm. Key influences were the myth of Icarus and Renaissance art and ideas, which shaped the story, graphics, and music. The open-ended gameplay was challenging to achieve; boss battles were outsourced due to time constraints. The game received critical acclaim for its player-driven plot, gameplay, and freedom of choice, though boss fights and technical problems drew criticism. By November 2011, the original version had sold 2.18 million units. A director's cut, praised for revamped gameplay, was released in 2013. The game was followed by a spin-off, The Fall (2013), and a direct sequel, Mankind Divided (2016). Its legacy lies in its successful revival of the Deus Ex series and its thoughtful treatment of transhumanist themes.
Did You Know?
- The game's two key influences were the myth of Icarus and the artwork and ideas of the Renaissance.
- Boss battles were outsourced to another developer due to time constraints.
- The music, composed by Michael McCann, focused on ambience and three-layered compositions.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Deus Ex: Human Revolution?
It is a 2011 action RPG created by Eidos-Montréal and released by Square Enix, functioning as a narrative prequel to the original 2000 Deus Ex. The game weaves first-person gunplay, stealth, and character-building into a 2027 world dominated by megacorporations and transhumanist technology.
Who do you play as, and what drives the story?
You take on the role of Adam Jensen, a security chief at Sarif Industries who is rebuilt with cybernetic augmentations after a devastating attack. His investigation into who orchestrated that attack pulls him into a conspiracy spanning corporate boards, rogue AIs, and a shadowy cabal known as the Illuminati.
How does Deus Ex: Human Revolution end?
The final outcome shifts based on your accumulated karma and faction choices, but the climax centers on a confrontation with the Illuminati at their hidden base, where you can choose to destroy their infrastructure or let it stand. Either way, the game closes with Adam Jensen walking away from the city, directly setting the stage for Deus Ex: Mankind Divided.
What are Praxis Kits and how do they affect gameplay?
Praxis Kits are upgrade tokens you collect by completing quests and side objectives, and they are spent to unlock or enhance Adam Jensen's cybernetic augmentations. This system lets you shape his capabilities—stealth, combat, hacking, or social—around whichever playstyle you prefer.
Why do fans consider Deus Ex: Human Revolution a landmark title?
It proved that a tightly scripted, single-player narrative could coexist with the deep player agency and multiple solution paths that define the immersive sim tradition. Its blend of moral choice, world-building, and mechanical freedom influenced both its sequels and a wider wave of narrative-driven RPGs.
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