Search for games

Type three or more characters to search...

Links

Amazon

Playstation

Twitch

MONSTER

Deus Ex: Mankind Divided

Name: Comprehensive Review and Analysis of Deus Ex: Mankind Divided
Item: Deus Ex: Mankind Divided
Author: Critik Editorial Team

2016

GenresAdventure, Action, Third Person Perspective, Shooter, Puzzle and Logic, RPG, Drama, Single Player, First Person Perspective

AvailableAug 23, 2016

PlatformPC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One

DeveloperEidos Montreal, Nixxes Software

Overview

Deus Ex: Mankind Divided directly follows the aftermath of the Aug Incident, a day when mechanically augmented citizens all over the world were stripped of control over their minds and bodies, resulting in the deaths of millions of innocents. The year is now 2029, and the golden era of augmentations is over. Mechanically augmented humans have been deemed outcasts and segregated from the rest of society. Crime and acts of terror serve as a thin veil to cover up an overarching conspiracy aimed at controlling the future of mankind…

Elsewhere

7.9

Game analysis

Monster Scorecard

EXPAND ALL

Story and Narrative

Click for more details

SCORE DISTRIBUTION FOR STORY

Story Score

Positive (80-100)

50%

Mixed (50-79)

50%

Negative (0-49)

Based on analyzing reviews that specifically scored or critiqued the story and narrative.

The opinions of the critics regarding the story of Deus Ex: Mankind Divided are varied, with some positive aspects highlighted. Gameplanet and Hooked Gamers both appreciate the relevance of the story to today's society, with themes of discrimination and segregation. Game Rant praises the accessibility of the story for new players and the impact of the consequences from the previous game's story. RPGamer commends the emotionally gut-wrenching and well-written side missions exploring the theme of segregation. Wccftech finds the storyline gripping from beginning to end, exploring contemporary themes through the lens of cybernetic augmentation. However, there are also negative opinions regarding the story. Game Debate mentions that while the story has grand ideas, it ultimately has a small scale. ZTGD criticizes the story for being predictable and uninteresting, with loose ends and a rushed ending. Guardian and Impulsegamer both express disappointment in the story's execution, with Guardian finding it weak and lacking conviction in conveying its societal and racial messages, and Impulsegamer criticizing the game for not following through on its engaging premise and failing to have meaningful discussions on socio-political issues. Overall, the consensus among the critics is mixed. While some appreciate the relevance and impact of the story, others find it lacking in execution and depth. The story's exploration of discrimination, segregation, and socio-political issues is generally seen as a positive aspect, but its small scale, predictable nature, and unsatisfying ending are seen as drawbacks. The lack of personal connection for the protagonist and the missed opportunities to explore the tensions surrounding augmentation from their perspective are also mentioned as negatives. Despite these criticisms, the story of Deus Ex: Mankind Divided is still considered engaging, with plot twists, conspiracy theories, and branching storylines that offer impactful decision-making and emotional side missions.

TL;DR

story and narrative

Deus Ex: Mankind Divided's story impresses with its relevant themes of discrimination and segregation, but falls short with a small scale and predictable plot. Critics praise the emotionally impactful side missions but criticize the lack of depth in conveying societal messages. Overall, opinions are mixed on the story's execution and depth, highlighting both its strengths and weaknesses in exploring contemporary issues through cybernetic augmentation.

Gameplay Mechanics

Click for more details

SCORE DISTRIBUTION FOR GAMEPLAY

Gameplay Score

Positive (80-100)

83%

Mixed (50-79)

17%

Negative (0-49)

Based on analyzing reviews that specifically scored or critiqued the gameplay mechanics.

The gameplay of Deus Ex: Mankind Divided received overwhelmingly positive reviews from the majority of critics. Many critics praised the game for its multiple approaches and impressive level design. Gameplanet and Game Debate both highlighted the game's ability to offer choice, exploration, and dense systems, while also emphasizing the various ways players could approach different scenarios. ZTGD and Impulsegamer commended the gameplay for its satisfying level of choice, excellent level designs, and the inclusion of various augmentations. These positive aspects of the gameplay allowed players to choose between stealthy approaches or more aggressive playstyles, providing a wide range of playstyle options. However, there were a few criticisms regarding the gameplay of Mankind Divided. IGN Spain expressed disappointment with the lack of significant impact of player choices in conversations on the game's events. Push Square mentioned that the gunplay felt stiff and the stealth lacked challenge, while VideoGamer criticized the controls as being unwieldy and requiring the player to remember many button combos. RPGamer also noted that the removal of traditional boss fights in favor of social boss fights contributed to the feeling of shortness in the game. Overall, the consensus among critics is that the gameplay of Deus Ex: Mankind Divided is highly rewarding and important. The game offers a wide range of playstyles, including stealth, combat, and exploration, with multiple skill trees and augmentations to choose from. The open-ended nature of missions encourages experimentation and replayability, as mentioned by Guardian and Metro GameCentral. The game's level design allows for different approaches and non-lethal solutions, as highlighted by NZGamer and Post Arcade. The gameplay feels smooth and responsive, offering a satisfying experience whether playing as a shooter or stealthily, as stated by TrueAchievements. The majority of critics found the gameplay to be engaging, challenging, and fun, with the ability to choose different approaches to success and the rewards of exploration.

TL;DR

gameplay mechanics

Critics raved about Deus Ex: Mankind Divided's gameplay for its diverse approaches, impressive level design, and satisfying choice options. Players can tackle scenarios stealthily or aggressively, with various augmentations enhancing the experience. However, some critics noted shortcomings such as limited impact of player choices in conversations and stiff gunplay. Overall, the game offers a rewarding and varied gameplay experience with multiple playstyles, skill trees, and augmentations to explore, encouraging experimentation and replayability.

Graphics and Visual Design

Click for more details

SCORE DISTRIBUTION FOR VISUALS

Visual Score

Positive (80-100)

67%

Mixed (50-79)

33%

Negative (0-49)

Based on analyzing reviews that specifically scored or critiqued the graphics and visual design.

The opinions of the critics regarding the Graphics and Visual Design of Deus Ex: Mankind Divided are largely positive. Gameplanet, Game Debate, and Brash Games all praise the visuals, describing them as gorgeous, sharp, focused, and incredible. They highlight the detailed textures, impressive post-processing effects, and impressive environment, lighting, shadows, and effects. Toronto Sun, Guardian, and VideoGamer also commend the visuals, noting the improvement from the previous game and the immersive and detailed futuristic settings. They specifically mention the vibrant lights, exploration of Prague in different visual states, and the fusion of old world Europe and future dystopia in the game's design. Cheat Code Central, DarkStation, and New York Daily News further support the positive sentiment, emphasizing the gorgeous, polished, and immersive visual design, as well as the dense and detailed world that feels alive. However, there are some criticisms regarding the Graphics and Visual Design of Deus Ex: Mankind Divided. Push Square, Slant Magazine, and TrueAchievements mention issues with character models and general presentation. They describe the models as jagged, unrefined, and lacking graphical detail. Slant Magazine also points out that some areas feel repetitious and that all air ducts look alike. Wccftech and Easy Allies echo these concerns, stating that the average NPC model quality and facial animation fall short of expectations. Gaming Age specifically criticizes the character models and animation work. Overall, the consensus among the critics is that Deus Ex: Mankind Divided has impressive and gorgeous visuals, with detailed environments, lighting, and effects that create an immersive and believable world. The game's visual design successfully blends old-world architecture with ultra-modern elements, creating a unique and visually appealing setting. The improvements in graphics compared to its predecessor are acknowledged, and the game's style and futuristic edge are praised. However, there are some criticisms regarding character models, NPC design, and facial animation, which detract from the overall visual experience. Despite these criticisms, the positive sentiment outweighs the negatives, and the majority of critics appreciate the visual design of Deus Ex: Mankind Divided.

TL;DR

graphics and visual design

Critics praise Deus Ex: Mankind Divided for its gorgeous and immersive visuals, highlighting detailed textures, impressive effects, and a unique blend of old-world and futuristic design elements. However, some critics express concerns about character models and presentation issues, noting jagged and unrefined models. Overall, while there are criticisms about certain aspects of the graphics, the majority of critics appreciate the game's visually stunning world design.

Music and Sound Design

Click for more details

SCORE DISTRIBUTION FOR SOUND DESIGN

Sound Score

Positive (80-100)

71%

Mixed (50-79)

14%

Negative (0-49)

14%

Based on analyzing reviews that specifically scored or critiqued the music and sound design.

The opinions of the critics regarding the Sound Design and Music of Deus Ex: Mankind Divided are varied, but there is a general consensus on certain aspects. The positive aspects highlighted by the critics include the strong voice acting and well-crafted dialogue. Critics such as Hooked Gamers, RPGamer, and Wccftech praise the voice acting, with standout performances from Elias Toufexis as Adam Jensen. They also commend the secondary characters' voice work and the use of environment-based dialogue to highlight the poverty within Prague. The moody electronic soundtrack is also highly praised by Push Square and Gamers' Temple, who describe it as excellent and effective in enhancing the atmosphere and suspense of the game. However, there are some negative opinions regarding the Sound Design and Music of Deus Ex: Mankind Divided. Metro GameCentral criticizes the voice-acting, considering it to be some of the worst in a big-budget game in several years. They specifically mention the unconvincing Czech accents and distractingly bad lip-synching. Game Rant also points out issues with the synchronization of the character's lips with the words in cutscenes, which can be distracting. Overall, the critics' opinions on the Sound Design and Music of Deus Ex: Mankind Divided are mostly positive. The strong voice acting, particularly Elias Toufexis' performance as Adam Jensen, is consistently praised. The well-crafted dialogue and effective use of environment-based dialogue to highlight the game's setting also receive positive remarks. The moody electronic soundtrack is widely regarded as excellent and enhancing the game's atmosphere. However, there are some criticisms regarding the voice-acting, particularly the unconvincing accents and lip-synching issues. Despite these negatives, the overall consensus is that the Sound Design and Music of Deus Ex: Mankind Divided contribute positively to the game's experience.

TL;DR

music and sound design

Critics have mixed opinions on the Sound Design and Music of Deus Ex: Mankind Divided. Positive points include strong voice acting, especially Elias Toufexis as Adam Jensen, and a moody electronic soundtrack that enhances the game's atmosphere. However, some critics criticize the voice-acting for unconvincing accents and lip-synching issues. Overall, while there are some flaws, most critics agree that the Sound Design and Music add to the game's experience.

Voice Acting

Click for more details

SCORE DISTRIBUTION FOR VOICE ACTING

Acting Score

Positive (80-100)

56%

Mixed (50-79)

22%

Negative (0-49)

22%

Based on analyzing reviews that specifically scored or critiqued the voice acting.

The voice acting in Deus Ex: Mankind Divided has received mixed reviews from the critics. Some critics, such as Hooked Gamers and RPGamer, praised the voice acting, describing it as superb, fantastic, and fitting the tone of the game. They specifically highlighted Elias Toufexis' performance as Adam Jensen, with RPGamer even mentioning it as standout work. These positive reviews indicate that there are strong performances and that the voice acting successfully enhances the overall experience of the game. However, not all critics shared the same sentiment. The Guardian and Metro GameCentral criticized the voice acting, mentioning shoddy work, awful facial animations, and unconvincing Czech accents. Metro GameCentral even went as far as saying that the voice-acting is some of the worst in a big budget game for several years. These negative reviews suggest that there are significant flaws in the voice acting that detract from the game's writing and immersion. Overall, the consensus among the critics is somewhat divided. While some critics, like Toronto Sun, Push Square, Game Rant, and Gamers' Temple, generally praised the voice acting, others, such as The Guardian and Metro GameCentral, had more negative opinions. The positive reviews highlight the strong performances and fitting tone, while the negative reviews criticize the shoddy work, bad accents, and poor lip-syncing. It is clear that the voice acting in Deus Ex: Mankind Divided has both its strengths and weaknesses, leaving the overall impression somewhat mixed.

TL;DR

voice acting

Critics have mixed feelings about the voice acting in Deus Ex: Mankind Divided. Some praise it as superb and fitting, especially Elias Toufexis' performance as Adam Jensen. However, others criticize it for shoddy work and unconvincing accents, with Metro GameCentral calling it some of the worst in years. Positive reviews highlight strong performances, while negative reviews point out flaws like bad accents and poor lip-syncing, making the overall impression of the voice acting mixed.

Technical Performance

Click for more details

SCORE DISTRIBUTION FOR TECHNICAL PERFORMANCE

Tech Score

Positive (80-100)

38%

Mixed (50-79)

63%

Negative (0-49)

Based on analyzing reviews that specifically scored or critiqued the technical performance.

In terms of the technical performance of Deus Ex: Mankind Divided, the PC platform seems to have fared quite well according to ZTGD and Destructoid. Both reviewers mention that the game ran smoothly without any major crashes or game-breaking bugs. While Destructoid did experience some technical issues with an Nvidia graphics card, it did not hinder their overall experience. This suggests that the PC version of the game provides a stable and enjoyable gameplay experience for players. Moving on to the console platforms, the Xbox One version of the game, as reviewed by DarkStation, appears to have performed admirably. The game runs smoothly with solid framerates, and any minor bugs encountered can be easily fixed with a reload. Although DarkStation mentions long load times during specific sequences, it does not seem to significantly impact the overall gameplay experience. On the other hand, Gaming Age and RPGamer both played the game on the PS4 and noted noticeable framerate issues and excessive loading times. While RPGamer mentions occasional frame rate drops, they still consider the game's technical performance to be stable. These mixed opinions suggest that the PS4 version may have some performance issues that could impact the overall enjoyment for players. Lastly, Wccftech played the game on PC and found the performance to be slightly disappointing compared to other games that tax hardware less. However, they do mention that with some settings adjustments, the game is still playable. Gamers' Temple played the game on the PS4 and noted only slight slowdown in some areas, but overall, the game runs at a steady framerate. Easy Allies also played on the PS4 and encountered minor framerate drops and a level disappearing issue, but these problems eventually resolved themselves. These varying opinions suggest that while there may be some technical issues across platforms, they do not appear to be game-breaking or significantly impact the overall gameplay experience. In conclusion, the overall consensus among the critics is that Deus Ex: Mankind Divided generally offers a stable technical performance across all platforms. The PC version seems to have fewer issues, with reviewers such as ZTGD and Destructoid praising its smooth performance. The Xbox One version also receives positive feedback from DarkStation, highlighting solid framerates and minor bugs that can be easily fixed. However, the PS4 version receives mixed opinions, with Gaming Age mentioning noticeable framerate issues and excessive loading times, while RPGamer considers the technical performance stable despite occasional frame rate drops. Despite these platform-specific issues, the overall sentiment suggests that the technical performance of Deus Ex: Mankind Divided is satisfactory, with only minor hiccups that do not significantly detract from the overall gameplay experience.

TL;DR

technical performance

Deus Ex: Mankind Divided delivers solid technical performance across platforms, with PC version standing out for smooth gameplay. Xbox One performs well with minor bugs, while PS4 shows mixed results with noticeable framerate issues. Overall, minor hiccups do not hinder the gameplay experience, making it an enjoyable choice for players.

Replay Value

Click for more details

SCORE DISTRIBUTION FOR REPLAY VALUE

Replay Score

Positive (80-100)

41%

Mixed (50-79)

59%

Negative (0-49)

Based on analyzing reviews that specifically scored or critiqued the replay value.

The opinions of the critics regarding the replay value of Deus Ex: Mankind Divided are generally positive. Many critics highlight the presence of side missions, collectibles, and optional quests that provide additional content and incentive for replaying the game. Critics such as Hooked Gamers and Toronto Sun specifically mention the existence of side quests and different playstyles as factors that contribute to the game's replayability. The inclusion of a New Game Plus mode, as mentioned by Guardian and Push Square, also encourages players to revisit the game and make different choices. On the other hand, there are some negative aspects mentioned by critics. VideoGamer notes that the main missions can detract from the open-area play, which may limit the exploration and branching paths that players hope for. DarkStation mentions that while the game is well-suited for multiple playthroughs, the abrupt ending and sense of progression can be poorly realized, potentially impacting the overall replay value. TrueAchievements also criticizes the Breach mode, stating that it feels like an unnecessary add-on. Overall, the consensus among the critics is that Deus Ex: Mankind Divided offers a good amount of replay value. The game's multiple paths, choices, and playstyles are praised by critics such as GamesRadar++ and RPGamer. The inclusion of side missions, collectibles, and customization options, as mentioned by Cheat Code Central and Gamers' Temple, further enhance the replayability. However, there are some criticisms regarding the execution of certain aspects, such as the main missions and the Breach mode. Despite these drawbacks, the majority of critics agree that the game provides enough content and options to warrant multiple playthroughs, making it a worthwhile experience for players seeking replay value.

TL;DR

replay value

Critics generally praise Deus Ex: Mankind Divided for its replay value due to side missions, collectibles, and multiple playstyles, with some highlighting the New Game Plus mode. However, concerns include main missions limiting exploration, a poorly realized ending, and unnecessary add-ons like the Breach mode. Overall, critics agree that the game offers enough content and options for multiple playthroughs, making it a worthwhile experience for players seeking replay value.

Overall Verdict

MONSTER

OVERALL SCORE DISTRIBUTION

Monster Score

Positive (80-100)

85%

Mixed (50-79)

15%

Negative (0-49)

Based on analyzing all available reviews that scored and critiqued the game.

Deus Ex: Mankind Divided has garnered a range of opinions from critics, with some praising its positive aspects and others highlighting its flaws. In terms of positives, several critics commend the gameplay and level design of the game. Game Debate describes it as a strong contender for game of the year, with sharper and more focused gameplay compared to its predecessor, Human Revolution. Toronto Sun praises the satisfying step forward the game takes for the franchise, offering player freedom in a detailed and dark future. RPGamer also acknowledges the refined gameplay and visually appealing graphics, making it a solid follow-up to Human Revolution. The intricate and intelligent journey through a well-crafted cyberpunk world, as mentioned by Push Square, adds to the positives of the game. However, there are also notable negatives pointed out by critics. ZTGD mentions the lackluster cast of characters and rushed ending, which prevent Deus Ex: Mankind Divided from becoming a new classic. Metro GameCentral highlights weak voice-acting and lip-synching as notable drawbacks, while Slant Magazine mentions the game's focus on a single plot thread limiting its scope. Destructoid brings up the presence of microtransactions, which may be a concern for some players. DarkStation also notes that the game cuts itself short before it feels appropriate, potentially relying on additional paid content to conclude the story. Overall, the consensus among critics is that Deus Ex: Mankind Divided is a solid entry in the franchise, with enjoyable gameplay, a detailed world, and immersive storytelling. The positive aspects of the game, such as its refined gameplay, level design, and player freedom, are often highlighted. However, there are some notable flaws, including weak voice-acting, a rushed ending, and reliance on additional paid content. Despite these shortcomings, the game still receives praise and recommendations from critics, making it a worthwhile experience for fans of the series and newcomers alike.

TL;DR

Deus Ex: Mankind Divided impresses critics with its refined gameplay and detailed cyberpunk world, but falls short with weak voice-acting and a rushed ending. While some flaws are noted, overall it's a solid entry in the franchise worth playing for fans and newcomers.

MONSTER

Reviews

193 reviews found

Gamers' Temple

PlayStation 4

Oct 12, 2016