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Deus Ex: The Conspiracy Comments by Martin Taylor

22 June, 2002

Review - console ports of PC games are not all good, and this isn't all good, but it's close

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Comments: 1-37 of 37 in total

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mouse [staff]
22/06/02 @ 15:09
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What?
bystander
22/06/02 @ 15:14
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Mouse in good game review shock?

"A triumph of the Ion Storm “Design Is Law” philosophy (and perhaps the only one to date),"

What about Anachronox?
mouse [staff]
22/06/02 @ 15:25
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I've personally never played Anachronox, but from what I could tell it was merely "okay", not really reaching the heights of slick design demonstrated by Deus Ex. But you know, this is someone who hasn't played it talking, so feel free to disagree :)
caligari
22/06/02 @ 15:45
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I just don't understand all of this constant whinging about the joypad configuration on console first person shooters!
The retail assistant in Chipsworld was pretty much trying his hardest to talk me out of purchasising PS2 Deus Ex because of the "bastard controls".
Sheesh, give it half an hour max and you'll have it...as it was with DC Quake 3 and PS2 Medal of Honour.
I'm sure it's just that "hardcore" PC FPS gamers have had too much of a good thing with the joypad-mouse set-up and just can't adjust.
mouse [staff]
22/06/02 @ 16:03
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The DC analogue stick is far more suited to FPS gaming because it has far less give which enables more precise control, in my opinion. I've always considered Sony's sticks to be utterly whimsical, and I suppose it boils down to personal opinion.
Natas
22/06/02 @ 16:32
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There are two Ion Storms. One, the one which released Daikatana and Anachronox, is now gone. Ion Storm Austin, the one which released Deus Ex, is working on Deus Ex 2 and Thief 3 at the moment. Oddly enough, the guy with the Design is Law philosophy was the one in the Ion Storm that failed.
mouse [staff]
22/06/02 @ 16:47
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I know, but let's not split hairs, eh?
skalmanxl
22/06/02 @ 19:11
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Anyone care to elaborate?

Basicly, the technology they are using (graphics engine and such) mustn't get in the way of producing a game where the player can get immersed in the game on a higher level. Basicly.
Tyronne
22/06/02 @ 20:24
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Sounds like a commen sense approach to game design ....
Daryoon
22/06/02 @ 22:27
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Am I the only one who thinks this is the sort of game the Metal Gear Solid series should have been like?
FeZZ
23/06/02 @ 00:58
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The ps2 simply is outdated hardware.
Gestalt
23/06/02 @ 08:34
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Thanks Fezz, get back in your box now.
caligari
23/06/02 @ 13:07
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"Might as well just go for the mouse and keyboard option."

Or just buy a damn PC.
otto [mod]
23/06/02 @ 21:02
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Mouse in good game review shock?

I think this line is long overdue a comfortable chair by the fire and a shawl on its knees at the retirement home for EG in-jokes. He seems to get more good stuff than bad these days.
Tyronne
23/06/02 @ 23:06
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i`m actually replaying deux ex on the pc again and i`d forgotten how good it was.....and it still beats many titles out at the moment.....
Blerk
24/06/02 @ 09:01
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I just don't understand all of this constant whinging about the joypad configuration on console first person shooters!

Despite Mouse's other comments, his opinions on the controls of this have made me decide not to buy it. Looked interesting, but I hate dual-shock first person games. Juddery, flakey, three-and-a-half-hours-to-line-up-your-shot controls just spoil the whole experience. They could at least have the common decency to include a full 'auto-aim' system for people who aren't anally retentive about shooting the baddies precisely in the eyeball and just want to enjoy the game.
Tyronne
24/06/02 @ 09:16
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System shock 2 is a game well worth hunting down....played it through at least 3 times now....
UncleLou
24/06/02 @ 11:16
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System Shock 2 is a killer of a game. And: it is (at least for me) the most frightening, terrifying game in existence (and this includes Silent Hill2). If you want to experience pure horror, created not through cheap effects à la Resident Evil, but through atmosphere, this is the game for you.
Edited 1 times, most recently on 24/06/02 @ 12:16
DaM
24/06/02 @ 14:13
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Anyone know if System Shock 2 is still coming to the PS2 or have I dreamt it?
mouse [staff]
24/06/02 @ 14:28
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They could at least have the common decency to include a full 'auto-aim' system

Well there is a kind of auto-aim, but it works weirdly because your have to wait about for your aim to sort itself out in the game anyway, despite the crosshairs locking onto a target.

I'm not sure the jittery analogue is enough to stop you from buying the game though, that's going a bit far. Also, if you've got a USB keyboard and mouse and you don't have the PC version, there's really no reason not to get it.
Blerk
24/06/02 @ 14:38
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I'm not sure the jittery analogue is enough to stop you from buying the game though, that's going a bit far

I don't think so. If I'm so busy fighting with the controls that I don't have any fun then what's the point? I just wish companies would figure that out and give us more control options. Aiming with a mouse is dead easy - second nature. Aiming with an analogue stick is not. Some of us don't want to aim perfectly, we just want to play the damn game without missing every second shot or spending ten minutes lining it up while taking damage.
Edited 1 times, most recently on 24/06/02 @ 15:39
mouse [staff]
24/06/02 @ 14:54
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Indeed, but that's an issue with Sony's hardware rather than the developers isn't it? Look at the aiming system in GoldenEye and Perfect Dark on the N64, and Quake 3 on the Dreamcast for example - they all worked great thanks to both good game and hardware design decisions. And as I've said, you DO have the option of using a mouse...
Blerk
24/06/02 @ 15:19
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but that's an issue with Sony's hardware rather than the developers isn't it?

Yes, but also no. The developers are well aware of the limitations of the joypad - just saying that it's Sony's problem for not designing a better pad is no excuse. They should recognise the problems and work around them. The other games you mention prove that it can be done well.

As for the USB mouse and keyboard - that's all well and good for the three people who own them, but what about everyone else? :-)
mouse [staff]
24/06/02 @ 15:32
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Surely the same goes for the hardware. If there were joypads tailored for FPS gaming, would you not buy one?

I don't see how Deus Ex could have been tweaked any more to suit the PS2's hardware, the developers aren't at fault here. All the games I mention manage to do it well because the hardware allows it.
Blerk
24/06/02 @ 15:48
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the developers aren't at fault here

I think we'll have to agree to disagree on this one, mouse. I'll readily agree that the pad is flawed, but I disagree that there isn't more that the developers could do if only they took the time.

Tell you what - I'll rent it and see what I think. Fair? :-)
mouse [staff]
24/06/02 @ 15:57
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Fair! I'd hate you to miss out on a pretty fantastic game for reasons that you may or may not get past. By the way, make sure you get a good way into the game before you make a judgement on it, because some people find that it starts a bit slow, but as the story kicks in it really grips them. See how you like it anyway :)
caligari
25/06/02 @ 01:17
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“a yank bastard game”

Hmmm, me thinks that Mr Paris may well be a bastard silhouette terrorist…
Natas
25/06/02 @ 05:40
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System Shock is probably gone forever... sadly... I loved the series so. And it had one of the coolest villians ever, I love SHODAN! But with the death of Looking Glass, and the poor sells of System shock 1 and 2 (despite them being really great games) I don't think there will be a console version. Unless it's already been announced and I haven't heard of it; If that's the case I'll just look like an ass...
skalmanxl
25/06/02 @ 08:56
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Blerk, you'll love this one. Get it.
Blerk
25/06/02 @ 09:06
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Blerk, you'll love this one. Get it.

Nnnnngh.... Controls... joypads... FPS... moan, whine, etc. :-)

Like I said to mouse - I'll rent it to check out the controls first. I had been really looking forward to it, but sorta chickened out at last minute until I was talked out of it yesterday. :-)
skalmanxl
25/06/02 @ 09:18
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Or get it on PC for a tenner (of your currency).
Blerk
25/06/02 @ 09:52
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Would it run on my knackered old PC, though? Bear in mind it's a 433Mhz Celeron with only 64megs of memory, very little free hard disk space and an 'unidentifiable and probably crap' 3D card.
skalmanxl
25/06/02 @ 11:21
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It will run Blerk, not good, but it will run.
mouse [staff]
25/06/02 @ 18:29
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GF3? Steady on. Runs fine on my vanilla GeForce 256 DDR.
caligari
25/06/02 @ 21:09
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Just a message to the forum-poster Donnie Darko that has absolutely nothing to do with this topic.
It's good to know that there is actually someone else in the UK that has actually seen that film. It was so god damn mind blowing, and Frank the demonic-esque giant rabbit gave me my first real nightmares for years...
skalmanxl
25/06/02 @ 21:13
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I've heard some good stuff about that movie, haven't come to Sweden yet, so no luck yet.
Bassassin
20/12/05 @ 10:56
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Late to the party - as usual. This has been on my shelf for 2 years and I FINALLY got 'round to playing it.

Stunning. After playing it obsessively for a fortnight I'm at Area 51 & I guess there's not much left...

Wonderful game - reminds me there used to be a time when games weren't designed by focus group, aimed at anecephalics and over in 10 hours.

Comments: 1-37 of 37 in total

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