Please support Game Informer. Print magazine subscriptions are less than $2 per issue
Deus Ex: Human Revolution – Director's Cut
Deus Ex: Human Revolution was one of my favorite games of 2011. The mix of stealth and action combat with the philosophical undertones kept me hooked. So when I heard, a Director's Cut was coming for the Wii U, I thrilled that a new audience would get a chance to experience it.
Today on the show floor, I finally got to see in action how the Director's Cut measures up, which has a slew of new enhancements such as reworked boss battles, improved graphics, and a grenade throwback option. I tested it out for the Wii U, which was what the Director's Cut was originally announced for, but is now also coming to other platforms.
The timing for my hands-on demo with the Wii U version couldn't be better since the GamePad controls are the only aspect separating it from the other platforms. The Wii U version certainly looks great and better than I ever anticipated it could on the console. But looks aren't everything, and adapting to how the game plays on the Wii U isn't easy. Since the GamePad is such a larger mass than an average controller, it's not exactly ideal for shooters. The clunky GamePad is hardly the biggest issue though. The map appearing on it is jarring, as you have to look down and then up on the larger screen. I'd preferred it right on the main screen, opposed to this setup.
The map isn't the only thing that appears on the GamePad's screen, any text in the game is brought up on there as well. It took me out of the experience to have to stop and look down, especially for simple tasks like hacking. Playing the game on two screens just doesn't feel natural, and that's disappointing since that's the Wii U's bread and butter. Moving around the world doesn't feel as natural as before as I'm adjusting the camera way more than I can remember in the original console versions.
Additions like throwing back grenades add a new option to combat, but I couldn't get away from the feeling that the Wii U version plays differently than what I originally experienced with Deus Ex. Human Revolution and not for the better.
Adam Jansen's story of being thrust into a world where humans are genetically enhanced is worth experiencing, but the Wii U may not be the best avenue for the experience. Nonetheless, this isn't a knock at the Director's Cut, which has the improved the boss battles, something that were criticized when the original version came out.
Products In This Article
I’d like to ask you to support Game Informer’s continued coverage of games with a subscription. For less than two dollars per issue, we mail you a full year of 10 print magazines, each with cover stories and preview features filled with exclusive details about the most exciting upcoming games. We profile and interview game creators. We look back on the rich history of gaming, and we celebrate what’s next.
Here on the website, we offer much of our content for free, including game reviews, daily news, videos, event coverage, and more – all with minimal ads.
We do so with a small editorial team, alongside contributing paid writers from around the world – over 65 individuals from 9 countries around the world, just in the last couple of years.
It’s not possible without support.
In a time when game makers and games coverage have faced hard struggles and layoffs, the future of this 30+ year magazine and community is at risk. Our new standalone magazine subscription is the number one way you can keep us alive – and we believe you’ll get a pretty fantastic gaming magazine in your mailbox every few weeks for your trouble.
Thank you.
