As a massive fan of "Deus Ex: Human Revolution," I waited five long years for "Deus Ex: Mankind Divided" to drop. The trailers pumped up my excitement, making me believe this sequel would surpass its predecessor. However, I approached it with a bit of skepticism after learning that the choices I made in the first game wouldn't impact the story this time around. I figured it was a necessity of moving to a new console. Unfortunately, "Mankind Divided" suffers from what many sequels do: the burden of expectation and the weight of comparison to the original.
Set primarily in Prague, the game brings back the semi-open world format, allowing players to wander the streets, tackle side quests, and dive into the main storyline. The premise picks up after the events of "Human Revolution," with enhanced individuals being treated as outcasts due to a violent incident. While that setup promises an intriguing narrative, the execution falls a bit flat, which I'll get into shortly.
When comparing side quests, "Mankind Divided" had potential, but many felt underdeveloped. In "Human Revolution," side quests felt meaningful and added depth; in "Mankind Divided," some quests left me wanting more, often lacking the atmosphere that made them compelling. It felt like a missed opportunity.
On the technical side, there's no denying that the game looks fantastic. The graphics are on point, the sound quality is excellent, and the gameplay is smooth. However, when it comes to locations, my feelings were mixed. While you can travel to various places, Prague itself feels narrow and less exciting to explore compared to the vibrant settings of the previous game. Some locations seemed linear and rushed, lacking the sense of discovery that kept me engaged before.
New skills and upgrades are one aspect that stands out. The ability to shoot projectiles from your hand is a cool addition, but I tended to rely on stealth, so I didn't use them much. That's more a reflection of my playstyle than the game's design, which is fair.
The story, unfortunately, is where "Mankind Divided" really disappointed me. It felt like it was building towards something epic, only to fizzle out at the end, leaving me confused as to why it ended so abruptly. It lacked a proper beginning, middle, and end, giving me the impression I was only halfway through. The final level was a highlight, bringing back that classic "Deus Ex" vibe, but the overall narrative left me unsatisfied.
Character development was another area that fell short. The main antagonist felt more like a sidekick than a formidable foe, and while there are new characters alongside Adam Jensen, they didn't leave a lasting impression on me.
Despite its flaws, it's a shame "Mankind Divided" didn't achieve the success I hoped for. I would have adored a continuation of the series, as the potential is still there. While the game isn't bad, it didn't live up to the high bar set by "Human Revolution." If you loved the original, it might be worth checking out for the visuals and gameplay, but be prepared for a narrative that doesn't quite hit the mark.
