Deus Ex: Human Revolution Director's Cut is a worthy update of the original game

Deus Ex: Human Revolution The Director's Cut augments a lot of what made the original game such a solid experience by including second screen integration, revamped boss battles, and neat extras.

Ozzie Mejia

November 6, 2013 1:00 PM

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Editor's note: Given its similarities to the original PC release, we decided against a formal review of the recently-released Wii U version. Instead, we focus on how the Director's Cut improves upon the original.

The Director's Cut version of Deus Ex: Human Revolution updates Square Enix and Eidos Montreal's original 2011 game, reincorporating the Missing Link DLC back into the game and fixing some of the game's flaws. New extras, like second screen gameplay, supplement the overall experience.

Some of the HUD elements are transferred to the second screen to free up valuable real estate on the main screen. Players will look down to check out the area map and radar to help spot potential enemies, turrets, and cameras. It'll also helpfully indicate whether Adam has raised the ire of hostiles or if he's triggered an enemy's awareness. Players can also manage their inventory, upgrade Adam's augmentations, and search fallen enemies for loot. It can become easy to rely on the second screen a little too much and stop paying attention to the action on the main screen, but I didn't find it to be too much of a hindrance.

One of the better uses of the second screen is DX:HR's hacking mechanic. Hacking segments now become touch screen mini-games, which feels much more natural given the premise of having to hack into computer terminals. It also handles a lot better, as touch controls in this instance feel more intuitive than fumbling around with analog sticks.

One area where the Wii U's second screen may get a leg up on the other console versions is through the use of Miiverse integration. Players can use the Infolog feature using the GamePad to take screenshots and add drawings or voice notes. Wii U can then send these Infologs out into the Miiverse social network and show them off to their friends.

The Director's Cut also goes a long way to fix the brutal boss battles from the original game. Players were previously forced into combat to take on bosses, which came as bad news for anyone that took a more nonviolent path. However, boss battles have been revamped to include new areas that have added hacking terminals, which are tied to doors, cameras, and turrets. I was able to level up my hacking ability and take advantage of these terminals to defeat some of the bosses without firing a shot. There are multiple paths to victory in boss battles and they definitely feel a lot more gratifying than they did before.

Those that have already had their fill of DX:HR may not find enough new content to bring them back for another round. Although it may boast some enhanced features, at the end of the day, it is the exact same game. On top of that, some players might not have access to the second screen experience. Xbox 360 users without a tablet and PS3 owners without a Vita won't be able to take advantage of the second screen, which is where many of the Director's Cut's improvements can be found. Revamped boss battles may not be enough of a reason to jump back into the DX:HR world.

A double-dip may be a bit too much to ask for, but for anyone looking to experience DX:HR for the first time, the Director's Cut is a great place to learn what all the original fuss was about.

This review is based on download PC code provided by the publisher. Deus Ex: Human Revolution Director's Cut is now available at retail on Wii U for $29.99. It is also available digitally on the eShop and PC. The game is rated M.

Ozzie Mejia

Senior Editor

Ozzie has been playing video games since picking up his first NES controller at age 5. He has been into games ever since, only briefly stepping away during his college years. But he was pulled back in after spending years in QA circles for both THQ and Activision, mostly spending time helping to push forward the Guitar Hero series at its peak. Ozzie has become a big fan of platformers, puzzle games, shooters, and RPGs, just to name a few genres, but he’s also a huge sucker for anything with a good, compelling narrative behind it. Because what are video games if you can't enjoy a good story with a fresh Cherry Coke?