Let's Play Deus Ex! -Warning: Blind LP-

Hello, this is Lockon starting my very first liveblog!

Let's have a round of applause!

...Or maybe not.

I've decided to play the original Deus Ex, a classic shooter that will be getting Its first sequel February of next year! Or to be more accurate Prequel. After having read a PC Gamer article on the game, I went on Steam and watched the Trailer.

...Mother of God.

After this, I decided to purchase the original off of Steam for a rather well-priced 9.99 USD. If you like shooters and have some cash lying around, buy it. Hell, buy it if you don't have cash lying around.

After playing the tutorial, I learned the player character is a man by the name of JC Denton, who is a UNATCO agent along with his brother Paul.

Gee willikers, maybe you guys should have been a little less subtle.

In any case, I'm starting a new game immediately after posting this post  ^*

Wish me luck!

edited 7th Nov '10 8:46:40 AM by lockonlockon

Aside from the classic "don't pick swimming" advice, good luck. Do you have a preferred combat style in general (i.e. heavy weapons, stealth, sniping, nonlethal, etc.)? It may help later on in making informed character builds.

I want to be stealthy, but as I have learned, I kind of suck at it.

Other wise, I like sniping.

Okay, let's rephrase that, as soon as I can retrieve my password from the bowels of the "Forgot your password" form, I will play it.

Stealth is good, and later abilities make it significantly easier. The primary reason why I like it is because it allows you to conserve ammunition, which is in limited supply in this game. You're usually not given more than a few magazines per mission.

SUCCESS!

After watching an expository intro that skipped the last bits of voice dialog. I've got a hold on the setting.

A pair of mysterious men have just bribed a senator using a vaccine for plague that is wreaking havoc upon the world. A vaccine that is not making its way to the lower classes. Evidently these unfortunate victims are rioting and causing problems for the people.

They briefly discuss their disappointment with a primary unit, and why they'll win, and UNATCO will lose. Why being that they're willing to kick up a little dirt.

The man in the labcoat (Who sounds oddly familiar) makes a brief A God Am I statement involving some guy named Aquinas and his City on thew Hill.

WIKIPEDIA TIME!!

Saint Thomas Aquinas, O.P., also Thomas of Aquin or Aquino; (Aquino, 1225 – Fossanova, 7 March 1274) was an Italian priest of the Catholic Church in the Dominican Order, and an immensely influential philosopher and theologian in the tradition of scholasticism, known as Doctor Angelicus (the Angelic Doctor) and Doctor Communis or Doctor Universalis (the Common or Universal Doctor).[1] He is frequently referred to as Thomas because "Aquinas" refers to his residence rather than his surname. He was the foremost classical proponent of natural theology, and the father of the Thomistic school of philosophy and theology. His influence on Western thought is considerable, and much of modern philosophy was conceived as a reaction against, or as an agreement with his ideas, particularly in the areas of ethics, natural law and political theory.

Okay, so what's this "city on the Hill"?

Wikipedia has failed me, but it appear that gamespot has not.

Thomas Aquinas was a thirteenth century theologian. The phrase 'city on a hill' refers to a model society and is a reference to the Bible, Matthew 5:14. From the New International Version:

Now when [Jesus] saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, and he began to teach them, saying: "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.... You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds."

It was used by the colonial era writer John Winthrop in 1630 to describe America's destiny to be a shining example to the rest of the world. President Reagan's farewell speech refers to it as well:

I've thought a bit of the 'shining city upon a hill'. The phrase comes from John Winthrop, who wrote it to describe the America he imagined. What he imagined was important because he was an early Pilgrim, an early freedom man. He journeyed here on what today we'd call a little wooden boat; and like the other Pilgrims, he was looking for a home that would be free. I've spoken of the shining city all my political life, but I don't know if I ever quite communicated what I saw when I said it. But in my mind it was a tall, proud city built on rocks stronger than oceans, windswept, God-blessed, and teeming with people of all kinds living in harmony and peace; a city with free ports that hummed with commerce and creativity. And if there had to be city walls, the walls had doors and the doors were open to anyone with the will and the heart to get here. That's how I saw it, and see it still.

Intruiging

Alright, gameplay time.

After starting up on a dock, I receive a message from some guy named Alex. Likely my Mission Control. He tells me to find my brother, Paul.

I take two steps, WOOP THERE HE IS! Completely pointless.

Paul informs me of the situation. Apparently, one of our agents have been captured by terrorists. JC complains that all he's got is a pistol and an electric prod, and asks for some hardware.

I'm given a choice between a sniper, a GEP, and a crossbow. I want to make as little fuss as possible this time around so I pick the crossbow. Two Non-lethals are better than one.

So now I've gotta find out why the terrorists kidnapped Agent Hermann, and also bring Hermann back to safety.

Mission 1 is go.

Oh my god, I love this game. I've played it around 9 times now. It is incredibly long, though. I wish you luck all the same.

edited 7th Nov '10 9:55:51 AM by gentlemanorcus

I spot some supply crates in the corner and.. Is that a crowbar? [picks it up] Awesome! Now can beat the shit out of people!

But first, these crates. Yayifications! Binocs and a lockpick!

I test it on a trash can, and a rat the size of one of my cats pops out.

New York, go fig.

I talk to one of the Red Shirts milling about the docks. Apparently Gunther, our Charlie Foxtrot, went rogues when we were given a hold back order.

Nice going, Hermann

'nother message from the MC. Look for a bum, codeword is iron and copper. Got i- Ooh, more supply crates.

Thank you, Orcus!

STRIFE!!

Here's a Mook! He shoots at me, but his aim sucks. I respond with crossbow, and he runs off before collapsing.

Yesssss...

Hmm, supply crate where I cant reach it. Time to get some stairs.

Crossbow's nice for silent takedowns. By the way, sometimes finishing a mission without killing anyone earns you a reward. Conversely, lots of casualties generally earns you a lecture.

Well, I got as far as the door, and only killed one guy.

But then I failed to notice the wall mounted turret.

Game over. time to load and try again.

Succesfull hack is successful.

After procuring an EMP grenade from HQ. I took out the sentry.

Also, I found a carelessly placed Data Cube giving me the username and password for the security. Turret now shoots terrorist, cameras are off and door is open.

I'm the man.

Who just died.

Loading time.

edited 7th Nov '10 10:46:58 AM by lockonlockon

About time.

After several deaths —both on my part and the enemy's— I reached the top of the tower and spoke with the commander, who shipped the ambrosia vaccine already. I was given the option to kill him, but I opted to go by the book.

After speaking to the man in charge, Mr. Manderley, I have found that I will be partnered with an "Anna Navarre" for my next mission.

Time to go to medical, and the quartermaster. And to get this aug installed.

Hmm, I have two augmentation options.

Mircofibral muscle, or combat strength?

One lets me lift large objects, the other lets me kill people with crowbars faster.

Opinions?

I sprung for the combat strength.

Lifting large objects is nice for accessing certain shortcuts/secrets, though combat strength may help you out in melee if I remember correctly.

Alright, next mission.

Looks like on this one, Navarre wants we should kill all the NSF terrorists?

What's your call, guys?

As a general rule, Anna Navarre's suggestions should be taken with a grain of salt.

Alright, minimum casualties as usual.

gonna need more crossbow darts :/

edited 7th Nov '10 1:49:58 PM by lockonlockon

Damn, 2 dead already.

Not looking good.

If you haven't already, I would suggest setting your quicksave and quickload keys. Then again, you're a smart chap, lockon, you'd have already done that.

Also, if you can get the drop on someone by getting up close, there are certain spots you can hit someone in to make them pass out instantly. You have to be really careful, though, I would suggest using the prod for a better chance at success. Even if you miss your target's OHKO spot, you can still stun them long enough to find it.

And yeah, definitely take Navarre's suggestions with not just a grain, but an entire bag of salt.