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Deus Ex: Mankind Divided - Review

Deus Ex: Mankind Divided, the sequel to the cult classic Deus Ex: Human Revolution, brings players back into a dystopian, cyberpunk world where body augmentations become the focal point of social conflict. Despite its ambitious vision and well-thought-out gameplay, the game suffers from significant issues that ultimately affect the overall experience.

World and Narrative

Mankind Divided presents a deep and multi-layered world full of political tension. The game is set in 2029, two years after the events of Human Revolution, and focuses on the social segregation between augmented individuals and “natural” humans. This theme resonates with contemporary discussions on discrimination and technology, giving the game a philosophical dimension.

Prague, where most of the events take place, is a fascinating location. The city’s detailed architecture, ranging from luxurious districts to neglected slums, reflects the contrasts present in this world. Players feel they are at the heart of the conflict, where every political decision has social repercussions.

Gameplay Mechanics

One of the game’s strongest aspects is its gameplay mechanics. Mankind Divided offers extensive customization options for playstyle – players can approach missions stealthily, using augmentations like invisibility or enhanced mobility, or choose more direct solutions by using advanced weaponry. For example, in the mission to infiltrate Palisade Bank, players can solve the task in different ways: by hacking, sneaking through ventilation shafts, or simply overpowering the guards.

Interactions with the environment and numerous secrets hidden within levels encourage exploration and experimentation with different approaches. This greatly enhances replayability, as discovering new paths and methods for completing missions can offer fresh experiences.

Augmentations

The augmentation system has been expanded compared to the previous game. New abilities, such as Tesla, allow players to non-lethally eliminate multiple enemies at once, while the Icarus Dash lets them move quickly across the environment. These mechanics are seamlessly integrated into the gameplay and provide a sense of freedom and experimentation.

Incomplete Story Development

The primary issue with Mankind Divided lies in its narrative, which feels incomplete. While the story touches on important themes, it fails to develop them fully. The subplot involving the Juggernaut Collective or the Illuminati is either abandoned or only hinted at. The game ends abruptly, leaving many questions unanswered. Many players were disappointed that the story lacked a proper climax, with the ending feeling more like a prelude to a sequel than the conclusion of a standalone narrative.

Microtransactions

The ability to purchase Praxis points (used to upgrade augmentations) with real money was met with negative reception. While not essential to completing the game, their inclusion suggests that the developers intentionally limited certain aspects to encourage purchases. Such practices in a story-driven, single-player game are seen as unethical and immersion-breaking.

Repetitive Side Quests

Although some side quests are well-crafted (such as the investigation of murders in the slums), many are repetitive and add little to the gameplay. Fetch-quest tasks quickly become tiresome and, over time, fail to engage. Additionally, these quests often have no impact on the main story, making them feel less important.

Optimization and Technical Issues

At launch, Mankind Divided faced significant optimization problems, particularly on PC. Players reported FPS drops, long loading times, and other technical glitches. While subsequent patches improved the situation, the initial issues negatively affected the game’s reception.

Conclusion

Deus Ex: Mankind Divided is a game with great potential, but its full realization is hampered by an incomplete story and controversial business decisions. The world, gameplay mechanics, and augmentation system offer players a lot of satisfaction, but the unresolved narrative and the inclusion of microtransactions in a single-player game tarnish the overall experience. For fans of the Deus Ex series, this is certainly a title worth checking out, but it may fall short for those expecting a closed and complete story. A shame we may never see another sequel… or will we?

Final Score: 7/10

First launch, first space combat, on the ground, commanding units, moving around the galaxy.

♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥, that was good. I need more!!!

Masterpiece, raiting 10/10!!!

Title: God of War
Rating: 8/10
Platform: Steam Deck

“God of War” (2018), developed by Santa Monica Studio, is undoubtedly one of the most significant titles of the previous generation. The game has garnered widespread acclaim from both critics and players, offering an epic story, a complex father-son relationship, and stunning visuals. However, despite its numerous strengths, the production is not without issues, which are worth considering in a more critical analysis.

1. Exploration and Linearity Issues

One of the main problems noticed by some players is the limited freedom of exploration. Although the game’s world appears open, many areas remain inaccessible until the player acquires certain abilities or progresses through the story. This structure, reminiscent of metroidvania-style games, can provide satisfaction from discovering new locations, but on the other hand, makes exploration feel artificially restricted.

Many players expected more freedom of movement, especially since earlier installments of the “God of War” series were more linear, raising hopes for an evolution toward an open world. However, the game balances between linearity and a semi-open world, which sometimes makes traveling through it monotonous, and repetitive obstacles may discourage exploration.

2. Pacing Issues in the Story

The story of “God of War” unfolds gradually, which for some players can lead to frustration due to its slow pace. While developing the relationship between Kratos and his son Atreus is central to the game, there are moments when dialogues and story events feel too drawn out. Well-written scenes are interspersed with segments that seem artificially prolonged. This pacing problem may cause some players to lose interest, especially during slower, less dynamic parts of the game.

3. Limited Enemy Variety

One of the most noticeable issues in “God of War” is the repetition of enemies. While the initial encounters are exciting, over time, it becomes evident that there is a limited variety of unique enemy types. Many enemies appear in different color variations, which attempts to suggest greater diversity, but the mechanics of fighting them remain largely the same. As a result, especially in the later stages of the game, combat can become monotonous.

Boss fights, which were a key element in previous installments, feel less varied in this version. Some encounters are well-designed, but many, especially the repetitive troll fights, lack the spectacle that was a hallmark of the series.

4. Somewhat Simplified Combat Mechanics

Compared to earlier entries in the series, the combat mechanics in the new “God of War” have been significantly changed. Instead of fast, dynamic action, players are given a more tactical third-person combat system focused on the Leviathan Axe. While this shift was a bold move and refreshing for many players, some aspects of the combat system may feel simplified. For example, the limited weapon variety makes combat less diverse compared to previous games, where Kratos had access to a broader arsenal of destructive tools.

Although the combat system is deep and satisfying, especially when combined with Atreus’ abilities, the lack of weapon variety and less varied attack combinations may cause battles to become predictable over time.

5. Complex Menus and Character Progression

Another aspect of the game that may evoke mixed feelings is the character progression and equipment system. While it offers players a lot of freedom in customizing Kratos and Atreus, some options are not very intuitive. The character progression and equipment management menus can be complex, and the game doesn’t always explain how certain mechanics work clearly. This can make players feel overwhelmed by the number of options, especially early on in the game.

Unclear descriptions of upgrades and a somewhat confusing rune system may make the progression process feel more tedious than satisfying. In this context, the game could benefit from a more transparent and simplified interface.

Summary

“God of War” (2018) is a game that combines extraordinary storytelling, beautiful audiovisual design, and engaging combat mechanics. However, despite its many strengths, the title is not without flaws, such as limited exploration freedom, repetitive enemies, or pacing issues in the story. While for many players these problems may seem secondary to the overall experience, I hope I’ve highlighted areas that could be improved in future installments of the series.

Title: Biomutant
Rating: 6.5/10
Platform: Steam Deck

Biomutant is an action-RPG game developed by Experiment 101, consisting of 20 people - veterans of the Just Cause series. The world they have created offers a unique atmosphere through humanoid animal inhabitants in a post-apocalyptic setting ravaged by humans.

What immediately sets Biomutant apart is its character creation system, which allows players to customize the appearance and abilities of their character to a wide extent. We can choose between various genetic mutations that affect our character's abilities and appearance. This flexibility allows for creating a character that precisely matches our preferences.

Biomutant takes place in an open, fairly diverse (by which I mean varying biomes), thankfully not sprawling, post-apocalyptic world. I admit, it captivated me right away and drew me in for several hours. Picturesque landscapes - forests, hot deserts, icy tundras, or contaminated areas, each have their own atmosphere and require appropriate equipment for traversal. The characters inhabiting the world, much like the protagonist, are humanoid animals that have adapted to specific environments and settled there.

The story in the game exists, and that's all I can say about it because it didn't interest me at all. Here begin to appear the main flaws of the production. In short, the plot revolves around avenging our mother's killer and saving the Tree of Life, with a war between factions inhabiting the world squeezed in between. Here it is worth mentioning the dialogues, which stand out from other games because the characters in the game speak in their own dialect, and everything is presented/explained by the narrator. Unfortunately, after a while, this becomes terribly tedious because the narrator has the same tone of voice, lacking any emotion.

Now onto the combat system, which combines elements of melee combat, shooting, and acrobatics. The combat is dynamic and satisfying, especially when utilizing various skills and attack combinations. However, the combat mechanics can be somewhat imprecise, leading to frustration at times. The game features several unique bosses and fights with them in various ways, but they do not pose a significant challenge.

Visually, Biomutant presents itself very well. The game world is colorful and full of details, creating a unique atmosphere. The music and sounds are also well-chosen, supporting the atmosphere of the post-apocalyptic world. The translation into Polish is solid but with minor errors.

In summary, Biomutant is a game that evokes many emotions. Despite certain shortcomings, such as a lack of narrative depth and issues with the combat system, the game offers a unique world to explore and an interesting character creation system. For fans of action games with RPG elements, Biomutant may be a worthwhile choice.


Biomutant
Ocena: 6.5/10
Ogrywane: Steam Deck.

Baldur's Gate 3 is a masterpiece that deserves accolades for its innovation, stellar gameplay, stunning graphics, and a captivating storyline that keeps players glued to the screen for countless hours. The creators have truly pushed the boundaries of what is possible in the RPG genre, delivering an experience that is both immersive and technically impressive. From the intricate details of the game world to the complex narrative choices, every aspect showcases the developers' dedication to creating a truly exceptional gaming experience. Baldur's Gate 3 sets a new standard for excellence in the realm of role-playing games.

For me 10/10, a masterpiece!

Edytuję tylko dla odznaki, elo!

Destiny 2 in one sentence .... This is what the first part should look like.

May the force be with you.

Overall Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord is a great game. It’s a case of if it’s not broke, don’t fix it, but it’s been improved on with some beautiful graphics and refining of basic gameplay. TaleWorlds continues to polish it with patches and listen to their community about it. This is hands down one of the best games that let you charge with your cavalry archers while you charge ahead with your lance to end banditry in the area and everything in between.

This should be on The basic version of the game. But with these effects, game looks insane.

In every significant way, The Witcher 2 is the subversive and compelling fantasy game. The enviroments you're about to explore create a truly rich RPG world. There are some minor technical and graphical blemishes, but they don’t detract from what is one of the best RPGs of recent years. This is an ambitious and absorbing game that’s not just superficially “adult”, but genuinely mature and worth playing.