First there was Hitman GO, then there was Lara Croft GO, and now the latest installment of the popular turn-based portable franchise takes the series to another level with Deus Ex GO. That's right, Adam Jensen has infiltrated yet another video game series, and now his exploits can be taken, ahem, on the go as players attempt to master numerous puzzle-based levels. Not content to simply star in another sequel in the franchise, the deadly cybernetic cyberpunk significantly ups the ante by offering players the ability to design their own levels and share them online. How cool is that?
Despite the casual nature of Lara Croft GO, I was pleasantly surprised at how fun it was to play. It certainly helps that I'm a big fan of turn-based games, as sometimes I want a relief from action-packed games that require quick thinking and quick reflexes. Since most turn-based games have no time limits, I'm able to carefully plan my moves in advance, just like playing chess. After playing several rounds of Deus Ex GO, I'm happy to report that it feels much more complex than its predecessors. It's also really cool to see this franchise take place in the futuristic cyberpunk world of Deux Ex.
As one would expect, Deus Ex GO plays like other games in the series. Players can immediately see the entire layout of each level as soon as it is entered. This gives them time to plan out their route before they even take one step. There are lines to show what paths can be taken, with small diamonds to indicate where Adam can move to with each turn. Some levels have multiple paths, some levels have dead-end points, and some have both. This helps to give players options and also makes the only escape route less obvious. While this may sound really easy, levels can become extremely difficult to figure out due to the complexities of level design as well as enemy type and location.
For example, one early level I played had one laser turret that was covering the only escape route. All I had to do was move my character to a dead-end that had a switch to turn it off, and then make my way to the exit. Another level had a similar design but added an enemy that immediately moved towards me as soon as I crossed his line of sight. Since there was a square path that led to the switch, I basically let the enemy chase me three steps behind. I made my way to the switch, activated it, and kept ahead of him all the way to the exit. Every subsequent level became more and more difficult as different abilities and features were added.
One cool ability let me turn invisible for a couple of turns so I could sneak through an enemy's line of sight without being detected. Another complexity was added by having rotating platforms that are activated with a switch. Depending on the situation, rotating platforms can be strategically used to open up pathways or block them. This makes it easy to open a path for Adam to dash across and then close it to block enemies. Levels can become very complex when all of these abilities are added together, and this was just the beginning. I'm sure that there are many more abilities and features that weren't shown during my time with the game.
I really love the idea of letting players create their own levels and share them online because this feature can extend gameplay almost indefinitely. Not only will it be a lot of fun to create levels, but I can't wait to see what other people will come up with. What's really cool is that every single feature, ability, object, and enemy that players encounter while playing the game will be available in the level editor. However, they won't all be available from the start. Instead, they must be unlocked by proceeding through the adventure, which is a great incentive to finish the game.
While Deus Ex GO is most definitely a casual game, it also appeals to core gamers who are fans of the franchise. I'm sure it will also be a great way to pass the time when I'm away from my big-screen TV. Who knows? Maybe it will inspire some casual gamers to look into the Deus Ex universe and even play one of the more complex games in the series.
