Table of Contents
Introduction to “Deus Ex: Mankind Divided”
“Deus Ex: Mankind Divided,” developed by Eidos-Montreal and published by Square Enix, is a critically acclaimed action role-playing game released in 2016. It serves as a sequel to “Deus Ex: Human Revolution” and continues the story of Adam Jensen, an augmented agent working for Interpol in a dystopian future. The game is set in 2029, two years after the events of “Human Revolution,” amidst escalating tensions between augmented and non-augmented humans.
Gameplay Overview
“Deus Ex: Mankind Divided” blends elements of stealth, action, and role-playing, offering players multiple paths and choices that impact the story and gameplay outcomes. As players navigate through various chapters, they encounter moral dilemmas, conspiracy plots, and intricate world-building that characterize the “Deus Ex” series.
Narrative Structure
The game’s narrative unfolds through a series of chapters, each focusing on different locations, characters, and story arcs. These chapters are designed to immerse players in the sprawling cyberpunk world while advancing the main storyline and exploring thematic elements such as transhumanism, social segregation, and corporate intrigue.
Chapter 1: Dubai
Overview
The opening chapter of “Deus Ex: Mankind Divided” introduces players to the protagonist Adam Jensen and sets the stage for the game’s narrative. Set in the opulent city of Dubai, this chapter serves as a tutorial and introduces players to basic gameplay mechanics, augmentations, and the overarching conflict between augmented and non-augmented individuals.
Key Events
- Mission Objective: Adam Jensen, now working for Task Force 29, is tasked with infiltrating a high-rise hotel in Dubai to apprehend a group of augmented terrorists.
- Introduction to Augmentations: Players learn about Jensen’s advanced augmentations and abilities, including hacking, stealth, and combat enhancements.
- Story Setup: The chapter establishes the socio-political tensions surrounding augmented individuals and introduces key characters like Jim Miller and Joseph Manderley.
Gameplay Highlights
- Tutorial Elements: Dubai serves as a tutorial level, guiding players through basic mechanics such as stealth takedowns, cover system, and dialogue choices.
- Choice and Consequence: Early decisions impact later events, setting the tone for player agency throughout the game.
- Exploration: Players can explore the luxurious interiors of the hotel, uncovering optional side objectives, collectibles, and lore through exploration and interaction with NPCs.
Chapter 2: Prague
Overview
Prague serves as the central hub in “Deus Ex: Mankind Divided,” offering a sprawling urban environment for players to explore, interact with NPCs, and undertake main and side missions. This chapter expands upon the game’s themes of segregation and surveillance while introducing new factions and conspiracies.
Key Events
- Arrival in Prague: Adam Jensen relocates to Prague as part of his assignment with Task Force 29, navigating through checkpoints and encountering hostility from both augmented and non-augmented civilians.
- Hub Exploration: Players can explore multiple districts within Prague, including the bustling city center, augmented ghetto of Golem City, and secretive areas like the Dvali Theater and Palisade Property Bank.
- Faction Interactions: Jensen interacts with various factions, including Task Force 29, the Augmented Rights Coalition (ARC), and the secretive Juggernaut Collective, each with its own agenda and alliances.
Gameplay Highlights
- Open-World Design: Prague encourages exploration and non-linear gameplay, with multiple paths to objectives and opportunities for stealth or combat approaches.
- Side Missions and Activities: Players can engage in side quests, hacking challenges, and investigation missions that deepen the game’s lore and provide rewards like XP, credits, and unique augmentations.
- Player Choices: Dialogue choices and actions in Prague influence relationships with factions and characters, shaping the narrative and unlocking different outcomes.
Chapter 3: Golem City
Overview
Golem City, a massive ghetto for augmented individuals, serves as a pivotal chapter in “Deus Ex: Mankind Divided.” This chapter explores themes of oppression, segregation, and resistance while delving into the harsh realities faced by augmented citizens in this dystopian world.
Key Events
- Infiltration of Golem City: Adam Jensen travels to Golem City to investigate a terrorist attack and gather intelligence on the Augmented Rights Coalition (ARC).
- Environmental Storytelling: Players navigate through the labyrinthine structures of Golem City, witnessing the living conditions and societal divisions faced by its inhabitants.
- Political Intrigue: Jensen uncovers a conspiracy involving powerful corporations, radical factions, and government entities vying for control over augmented individuals and their rights.
Gameplay Highlights
- Vertical Exploration: Golem City’s vertical design encourages exploration across multiple levels, from makeshift dwellings to towering complexes, offering diverse gameplay opportunities.
- Social Dynamics: Players interact with residents and factions within Golem City, making choices that affect Jensen’s reputation and the outcome of future missions.
- Combat and Stealth Challenges: The chapter presents challenges such as navigating security checkpoints, evading patrols, and engaging in combat encounters that test both stealth and combat skills.
Chapter 4: Prague (Part 2)
Overview
Returning to Prague for the second part of the chapter, players continue to unravel the conspiracy while navigating the escalating tensions between augmented and non-augmented communities. This chapter intensifies the narrative stakes and introduces new allies and adversaries.
Key Events
- Political Unrest: Prague becomes a hotbed of unrest, with protests, riots, and escalating violence between augmented rights activists and law enforcement.
- Investigative Journalism: Jensen collaborates with investigative journalist Eliza Cassan and hacker allies to uncover corporate corruption and government collusion.
- Moral Choices: Players face moral dilemmas that challenge their beliefs and shape Jensen’s journey, influencing alliances and narrative outcomes.
Gameplay Highlights
- Dynamic City Events: Prague evolves dynamically based on player actions, with consequences that affect NPC interactions, mission availability, and public perception.
- Expanded Side Quests: New side missions and story arcs deepen the game’s lore, providing opportunities for exploration, puzzle-solving, and uncovering hidden secrets.
- Augmentation Upgrades: Players can acquire and upgrade new augmentations, enhancing Jensen’s abilities in combat, hacking, and social interactions.
Chapter 5: The Utulek Complex
Overview
The Utulek Complex serves as a pivotal location in “Deus Ex: Mankind Divided,” revealing dark secrets and escalating the conflict between augmented rights advocates and their adversaries. This chapter delves into experimentation, betrayal, and the ethical implications of advanced technology.
Key Events
- Prison Break: Adam Jensen infiltrates the Utulek Complex, a high-security detention facility for augmented individuals, to rescue prisoners and uncover hidden agendas.
- Ethical Dilemmas: Players confront ethical choices involving human experimentation, corporate greed, and the consequences of unchecked technological advancement.
- Revelations: Jensen uncovers shocking truths about the origins of augmentation technology, the role of clandestine organizations, and the extent of government surveillance.
Gameplay Highlights
- Stealth and Infiltration: The Utulek Complex challenges players with complex security systems, patrolling guards, and environmental hazards that require strategic planning and adaptive gameplay.
- Story-Driven Puzzles: Players solve environmental puzzles and hacking challenges to progress through the facility, uncovering clues and accessing restricted areas.
- Consequential Choices: Player decisions in the Utulek Complex influence alliances, mission outcomes, and future story developments, shaping the narrative’s moral and political landscape.
Chapter 6: London
Overview
The final chapter of “Deus Ex: Mankind Divided” culminates in a climactic showdown in London, where Adam Jensen confronts powerful adversaries and faces the consequences of his choices throughout the game. This chapter resolves key story arcs while setting the stage for potential future installments in the series.
Key Events
- Global Confrontation: Jensen travels to London to confront the masterminds behind the conspiracy, facing off against elite forces, augmented mercenaries, and corporate operatives.
- Epic Showdowns: Players engage in intense combat encounters, stealth operations, and dialogue-driven confrontations that determine the fate of augmented individuals and the future of humanity.
- Endings and Epilogues: The chapter offers multiple endings based on player choices, reflecting moral alignments, alliance outcomes, and the consequences of Jensen’s actions throughout the game.
Gameplay Highlights
- Epic Boss Battles: London features challenging boss battles that test players’ combat skills, augmentations, and tactical decision-making.
- Final Choices: Players make critical decisions that determine the ultimate outcome of the game, influencing the fate of characters, factions, and the global socio-political landscape.
- Narrative Closure: “Deus Ex: Mankind Divided” concludes with narrative closure while leaving room for future exploration of its cyberpunk universe and thematic elements.