[DJ]

So I'm gonna dive in on this game, finally. $5 on Steam if you already own the previous version, and I haven't replayed it since my initial run through it back when it launched, but I'm a huge fan of this game and I've actually been looking forward to this for a bit.

In the interests of utilizing technology my slow ass is just getting around to figuring out, I'm livestreaming the entire playthrough right here, and archiving the footage so eventually I'll have an entire run on record.

I don't really know what they added to the Director's Cut outside of reworked boss fights, so I'm going in semi-blind on this. Anyone else who feels like playing along, by all means! Or just drop in the channel and yell at my poor stealth skills.

I'll be adhering to the following during my playthrough.

The Rules
1. Avoidance of Savescumming -- If I fuck something up, I'll do my best to roll with it unless it really avalanches into a Problem.
2. Play on the hardest difficulty.
3. Attempt stealth where possible.
4. "Realistic" murder rules -- I'll attempt to avoid overt bloodbaths and/or murdering people for no reason or when it's directly out of character, but Jensen isn't a pacifist and isn't emotionally void. If it makes sense (to me) in terms of the narrative, it's murder time. In the previous playthrough the killguns came out when the pod hotel got stormed, we'll see about this one.

I'll drop in here to post commentary on what changes I've noticed and/or to just ruminate on the game in general, too.
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[Glam Grimfire]

are you going to try and save the helicopter chick
if you don't i'll be disappointed in your ability to shoot mans
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##SKELETON PARTY (new article as of 04/26/14)Grim

[CubaLibre]

I did this on my yourtub with MAXIMUM MURDER and saved helicopter chick on the first try (I was also doing Realistic/no savescumming). I felt pretty boss.


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Let's Play, starring me.

[DJ]

I am going to save Malik yes. I'll savescum that if I have to because fuck it. It's not too hard if you use the giant fuck-off sniper rifle though.

Also they seem to have juiced up the difficulty a bit for the Director's Cut. That or I just need to get back in my groove, because I ate shit like 5 times at the start of the game there.

I actually let Zeke go this time. Last time I did the cooler-but-ultimately-doesn't-change-much stunshot to the face before he could execute his hostage -- he retaliated by shotgunning me in the back later in the game. We'll see what he does this time, but hopefully it'll be something different than his reaction to me just opening the door and popping one of his eyes with a tranq dart.

Anyway saving all the past broadcasts here.
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[Glam Grimfire]

I really wish Malik were more important to the plot after you save her! I felt like A boss because on my second try I ditched the rifle and did it with the revolver. One of the best and most tense firefights I think.
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##SKELETON PARTY (new article as of 04/26/14)Grim

[Ni Go Zero Ichi]

Hey guys remember when this edition was announced as a Wii U exclusive
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Just another savage day on Planet Earth.

[DJ]

[Ni Go Zero Ichi]

Oh really? You've played the Wii U version? What does it do with the pad?
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Just another savage day on Planet Earth.

[CubaLibre]

[Toptube]

I have a PC retail boxed version of one of the older versions of this game. I wonder if it activates on steam/is eligible for a $5 upgrade.

I think some other changes were reworked graphics assets and shaders. Re-worked AI.

[DJ]

[Felix]

this was a very competently executed if forgettable sequel to Deus Ex that also felt like it came from a world where Metal Gear Solid 2 was a big influential mainstream AAA instead of the "oh, is Kojima plucking his dick like a banjo again?" reality that we have instead (not that one is necessarily superior to the other). none of the improvements I've seen mentioned offhandedly seem like they address actual issues with the game (crummy sidequests, half-baked underlying conspiracy plot, anticlimactic last few hours) -- look, people, stop making your dystopian futuristic cyborg games about lame questions of personhood and focus on convoluted American corporate evil. I know they go hand in hand but there's a reason that Robocop was better than Robocop 2.

I am among the people who didn't mind the bossfights or the original shaders.

[DJ]

I quite like this game! But, as we've established on this board a million times by now, I run things through about 1/3rd the median amount of filter that this place tends to. Cliche are-we-human? plot to me was fine because a) it was quite well done in context to itself and b) It's a Deus Ex game and that's kind of the whole thing those games do. The plot was actually more coherent than Deus Ex 1's was for most of it, although that's to be expected as DX1 tried to shoehorn in absolutely everything it possibly could (MIBs, Aliens, two sentient AIs, government spying, manufactured plague, the Illuminati, false flag terrorism, black helicopters, China/US cold war, undersea black ops laboratories, the dark side of the moon, lightsabers, replicants). It's one of the reasons I love it, but I'm not going to hold a lack of it against anything.

I want the old light effects back though.
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[Felix]

honestly, for all of the late-90s-early-00s games that have ridiculous maximalist plots in addition to playing well, I can't think of a single one that's not improved for it

[Iacus]

[Felix]

when do you even go to the sealab? is it ... after France? but before the gas station and Area 51? I think the Illuminati guy and the AIs are pretty much carrying the narrative by that point. and if you've built at all wisely you're pretty much invulnerable and can wreck everything with the dragon's tooth and sniper rifle and the GEP gun (and/or the explosive ammo you get for the assault rifle that finally makes it good)

the PS2 ending cutscenes were pretty cool: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ye68o5tRgLI

[Iacus]

Definitely after France.
I really had no problem with the difficulty, it's just that the level itself is pretty boring. Not as inspired as the early to mid game stuff.
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Guayaba 2600

[Felix]

yeah, no argument

[CubaLibre]