Deus Ex: Invisible War

59%
Game Brain Score Based on 2,770 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • graphics
Deus Ex: Invisible War Game Cover
Starting at €0.97Buy now
Get on Steam

In Deus Ex: Invisible War, you play as a nanotechnology-enhanced agent caught in a global conspiracy. Set in a dystopian future, the game offers a non-linear experience with multiple solutions to objectives and factions to align with. Explore a variety of environments, from high-tech labs to war-torn cities, and make moral choices that impact the game's world and story.

  • PC
  • Windows
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

59%
Audience ScoreBased on 2,770 reviews
story440 positive mentions
stability98 negative mentions
  • The overarching story is intriguing and builds on the original Deus Ex.
  • Offers decent replay value with multiple endings based on player choices.
  • Retains some enjoyable elements from the first game, such as exploration and character interactions.
  • Significantly simplified gameplay mechanics compared to the original, including a lack of skill progression and universal ammo.
  • Frequent loading screens and small, cramped levels detract from immersion.
  • Technical issues on modern hardware, including crashes and resolution problems.
  • story1,754 mentions

    The story of "Deus Ex: Invisible War" continues the narrative from the original game, set 20 years later in a dystopian world filled with conspiracies and factional conflicts. While some players find the overarching plot intriguing and appreciate the multiple endings, many criticize the story for being convoluted, poorly executed, and lacking the depth and character development of its predecessor. Overall, it offers a mix of engaging elements and frustrating shortcomings, making it a polarizing experience for fans of the series.

    • “At its core, Invisible War retains enough of the elements of the first game that there is actually something to enjoy here, and the overarching story is actually mostly intriguing.”
    • “While the story isn’t as dense as the first game, it still has enough mystery to keep you hooked.”
    • “If you can get past the simplified mechanics and the few technical issues, the game still offers a captivating conspiracy storyline and a cyberpunk world that still looks great.”
    • “And because of that awful voice acting, I often found myself mentally checking out during dialogue exchanges, which ended up making the story feel convoluted, confusing, and downright ludicrous at times.”
    • “Let's be honest; the story was so messy and meaningless that I want to play the original Deus Ex again so that I can forget what I've just seen.”
    • “The multiple endings of Deus Ex 1 are retconned into being the same story 20 years in the future, cheapening your choices in the first game.”
  • gameplay794 mentions

    The gameplay of "Deus Ex: Invisible War" has been widely criticized for its significant simplification compared to its predecessor, resulting in a less nuanced and often frustrating experience. Many players noted the introduction of a universal ammo system, reduced RPG elements, and smaller, more linear levels that detract from the immersive gameplay that defined the original. While some appreciate the streamlined mechanics and find enjoyment in the story and setting, the overall consensus is that the gameplay feels clunky, shallow, and fails to live up to the expectations set by the first game in the series.

    • “If you can get past the simplified mechanics and the few technical issues, the game still offers a captivating conspiracy storyline and a cyberpunk world that still looks great.”
    • “The gameplay is fun and interactive; it's a cyberpunk looter shooter and a port from the original Xbox but sometimes looks a bit like Nintendo 64 graphics in a few places.”
    • “You still have a ton of tools at your disposal, and the gameplay encourages you to mix things up and adapt your character to your preferred playstyle.”
    • “The gameplay is terrible!”
    • “Every single mechanic was dumbed down drastically to work on Xbox and you can really feel that.”
    • “The gameplay, world design and story are all thumbs down.”
  • graphics426 mentions

    The graphics of "Deus Ex: Invisible War" are often described as dated, with many reviewers noting that they do not hold up well compared to modern standards or even the original game. While some appreciate the atmospheric lighting and dynamic effects for their time, others criticize the character models and overall aesthetic as lacking coherence with the game's cyberpunk theme. Overall, the visuals are seen as a mixed bag, with improvements over the original but still falling short of expectations for a sequel.

    • “The graphics are great, and the story, a direct sequel, I would say surpasses that of the original, at least in terms of depth.”
    • “I remember being really impressed by the visuals, as the real-time lighting system was very impressive for the time, and the ragdoll physics were also lots of fun to play with.”
    • “The best part of this game is the graphics; they are quite impressive for 2003.”
    • “The graphics are crap (even for the time they were behind other games), even to the point of being worse than the original's from 3 years before.”
    • “The entire aesthetic of the game is quite off-putting and even bizarre, it barely feels like you're in the same world/universe as Deus Ex, which pulled off a quite striking cyberpunk aesthetic that shined through even with the simplistic geometry the game had.”
    • “The visuals (which I'm led to believe were a major cause for the levels being so small) are absolutely horrid by today's standards, even when compared to Deus Ex 1.”
  • music214 mentions

    The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many players noting that while it is atmospheric and fits the cyberpunk setting, it lacks the memorable and iconic quality of the original game's soundtrack. Some standout tracks, like "Taxicab Messiah" by Kidneythieves, are appreciated, but overall, the soundtrack is often described as generic and less impactful, with many feeling it fails to elevate the gaming experience as effectively as its predecessor. Overall, while the music is deemed acceptable, it is frequently criticized for being forgettable and not as engaging as the original Deus Ex.

    • “The soundtrack is excellent, and supports the atmosphere very well.”
    • “The music for both games was composed by Alexander Brandon; interestingly, he took different approaches; the first game has very defined themes; the second has much more ambient, moody music.”
    • “The art direction, the ambient music, and the 'relaxed' gameplay adds to that; I felt like I should be receiving a massage and burning some incense while playing this.”
    • “The environments and music tracks are all pretty much a flat downgrade in my opinion.”
    • “Disappointing soundtrack; the first Deus Ex set a high bar musically, it had an iconic OST with lots of memorable songs. Invisible War doesn't even come close to equaling that accomplishment, most of what it has to offer is just a series of generic electronic melodies for ambience.”
    • “Coming from the original's monumental two-hour-long soundtrack, this game's half-hour soundtrack is just disappointing.”
  • atmosphere102 mentions

    The atmosphere of "Deus Ex: Invisible War" is often praised for its strong cyberpunk and dystopian elements, effectively capturing the essence of conspiracy and transhumanism despite its dated visuals and smaller, more claustrophobic levels. While some players feel it lacks the immersive quality of the original game, many appreciate the atmospheric lighting, sound design, and art direction that contribute to a gritty and engaging experience. Overall, the game maintains a captivating ambiance that resonates with fans of the genre, even if it doesn't fully meet the high expectations set by its predecessor.

    • “The sound effects and graphics are great this time, with amazing lighting and an atmospheric art direction accompanied by a soundtrack that tries to immerse you in the world, rather than just be memorable.”
    • “It's kind of like a spin-off of the original game and in this sense, it's charming. I think that the world has its immersiveness as well, so all of these factors, along with the story and the mood with the dark atmosphere, combine together into what I think is an excellent (gritty) gaming experience.”
    • “For an old game, it has a certain charm to the graphics. While human models are nothing fancy and weapon models are usually quite basic and generic, the graphics as a whole do not look that bad at all. It has a great sci-fi feel, and some of the poorer or crime-ridden areas you'll explore look run down and have a depressing vibe; the atmosphere is pretty top-notch.”
    • “In many respects this sequel is a regression and often frustrating to play, especially with the number of slow loading screens as this was built for the first Xbox with very small maps lacking atmosphere.”
    • “The atmosphere that was everywhere in the original is gone.”
    • “The interfaces are awkward, the story and atmosphere are dull, and the gameplay is often interrupted by bugs.”
  • stability100 mentions

    The game's stability is heavily criticized, with numerous reports of crashes, freezes, and various glitches that significantly hinder gameplay. Many players note that even with unofficial patches, the game remains a "buggy mess" that struggles to run on modern systems, often leading to frustrating experiences. While some find humor in the glitches, the overall consensus is that the game's technical issues overshadow its potential enjoyment.

    • “Runs great on newer machines.”
    • “Even with the unofficial patch, it freezes my PC (not just the game, the whole thing) straight after choosing a character.”
    • “A buggy mess of a game, not even remotely worth the effort to get it to run (much less to run well, or run without crashing).”
    • “The game freezes on every loading screen, without fail.”
  • optimization74 mentions

    The optimization of "Invisible War" is widely criticized, with users reporting significant technical issues such as long loading times, framerate drops, and crashes, particularly on PC. Many players note that the game was primarily developed for consoles, leading to poor performance on modern systems and requiring unofficial patches or mods to run smoothly. Overall, the game's optimization is deemed inadequate, making it a frustrating experience for many players despite some enjoyment of its design and story.

    • “I've been a PC player/modder for 20+ years, so for me, all of this was just standard vanilla minor stuff I'm used to tweaking to make sure older unsupported games would run smoothly.”
    • “I highly recommend installing the 'Visible Upgrade' mod; it improves performance on newer systems a lot.”
    • “Using the Visible Upgrade mod (I never use the texture pack, they change the look of the game too much) to run smoothly in 1080p, this looks a generation ahead of its time.”
    • “The game itself is fine, from a design standpoint, but the optimization on every platform is nothing short of horrendous all-around.”
    • “There is virtually no optimization on the game's side, you'll have to do everything yourself, even just to get it running in your monitor's resolution.”
    • “This game is very poorly optimized for modern systems and an unofficial patch is the only way to get it to run reasonably.”
  • humor70 mentions

    The humor in the game is a mixed bag, with many players finding enjoyment in its chaotic gameplay, silly side quests, and unintentional comedic moments stemming from poor voice acting and broken physics. While some aspects, like the competition between coffee chains and the absurdity of combat AI, provide genuine laughs, others feel like a step down from the predecessor, lacking the depth and charisma that made the original memorable. Overall, the game offers a blend of intentional and accidental humor that can lead to entertaining experiences, despite its shortcomings.

    • “The side quests with the two coffee bar chains competing are funny.”
    • “The physics in the game engine becomes hilariously rubber-band-like as objects get stuck in walls and there are plenty of fourth-wall-breaking moments of pure comedy where it just doesn't belong because of this.”
    • “Your augmentations can let you do some crazy, almost game-breaking stuff (bot domination is particularly awesome. It lets you take control of enemy robots, and getting the jump on an enemy patrol who was hanging out with enemy robots is both awesome and hilarious), which can lead to some fun situations.”
  • replayability38 mentions

    The replayability of the game is mixed, with some players appreciating the multiple endings and branching story paths that encourage exploration and different playstyles. However, others feel that the removal of RPG elements from the original game diminishes its overall replay value. While some find it enjoyable enough to return to, particularly for its intriguing story and mission structure, others suggest that it lacks the depth and variety seen in its predecessor, Deus Ex.

    • “This adds replayability and encourages exploration of different story paths.”
    • “Your decisions and loyalties will affect the path you take, and the story branches several times, which makes for a lot of replayability as you side with the various factions.”
    • “Both are worth the money and the first Deus Ex has probably the best replay value for any single player game of all time. I play it once a year for 15 years and each time still encounter new hidden areas and locations and outcomes!”
    • “Meaning this game has much less replay value and most of the variety comes from the weapons and biomods.”
    • “It's short-lived and the player feels nothing or is given replay value.”
    • “Play it once to understand the overall story, but don’t expect replayability.”
  • emotional28 mentions

    Overall, the emotional aspect of the game is criticized for its lack of depth and engagement, with many players feeling disconnected from the characters and story. While some moments, particularly in endgame speeches, resonate philosophically, the overall experience is marred by unlikable characters, poor animations, and a gameplay experience that detracts from emotional immersion. The game fails to evoke strong feelings, leaving players with a sense of frustration rather than emotional investment.

    • “The drama isn't tacked-on or manufactured by emotional NPCs telling you that something matters; if you're paying attention you will learn on your own how important the events of the game world are to the people in it.”
    • “I also liked the very deep explanation and reasoning that JC Denton gave for his world plan; I thought some of the end game speeches were very emotional in terms of philosophy and relatability to the current state of affairs in our world and evolution.”
    • “Eight years on, I can still recall how profoundly that game gripped me, and I am not an overly emotional person.”
    • “Only play it if you really have a desire for a boring story and unlikable characters, I guess.”
    • “Between crashing randomly, awful gameplay, boring story and characters, janky or non-existent animations (there seriously isn't an animation for NPCs sitting on chairs, they just stand next to them), ugly and tiny levels, and a horrible difficult-to-use UI, this game is absolute trash.”
  • grinding22 mentions

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and repetitive, particularly in the late game where character strength diminishes challenge and enjoyment. The need for constant backtracking, unfulfilling sidequests, and cumbersome controls further contribute to a frustrating experience. Additionally, technical issues and a steep learning curve add to the overall sense of tedium throughout gameplay.

    • “By mid-game, I already felt like my character was the strongest creature in the game, making everything even more tedious and boring.”
    • “The constant backtracking is tedious.”
    • “Tedious sidequests offered piddly rewards or sums of credits.”
  • character development16 mentions

    Character development in the game is generally criticized for being lackluster and superficial, with many reviewers noting that the diverse cast lacks depth and fails to engage players emotionally. While some appreciate the storyline and the immersive settings, the overall character arcs are seen as underdeveloped, particularly in comparison to previous titles in the series. The brevity of the game further exacerbates these issues, leaving players wanting more substantial character growth.

    • “I found the locations to be rewarding to explore, and I just liked the overall set and character design.”
    • “The storyline and character development is still quite good, let alone that you would have to travel in such nice places, like Cairo and Trier.”
    • “The character development isn't nearly as involved (or excellent) as the original either.”
    • “Lackluster character development: while the game introduces a diverse cast of characters, their development is often superficial.”
    • “There is no character development, so you don't feel convinced by their rhetoric to pick a side.”
    • “That being said, Deus Ex: Invisible War lacks character development, especially for Alex D.”
  • monetization4 mentions

    The monetization strategy of the game has been criticized as a cash grab, with users expressing frustration over misleading claims of full controller support by Steam, suggesting a lack of genuine value in the product.

    • “Just a cheap and easy cash grab by the greedy developers at Square Enix.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Buy Deus Ex: Invisible War

Play time

9hMedian play time
8hAverage play time
9hMain story
19hCompletionist
2-15hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 18 analyzed playthroughs

Videos

Similar Games