Is Deus Ex: IW still playable today?

[Via]

I bought the game when it came out, but it just didn't take for me the first time I installed it. I think it was just too different from the original, and that turned me off.

I've tried to install it a few times since then but for some reason it won't run (sometimes it wont even install; the progress bar hangs), and I never put much effort into finding out why. After having a discussion about it not too long ago I'm sort of tempted to give it another go. Before I try to re-install it and go on an internet scavenger hunt to try and make it work: Is it even worth it? It pops up on steam for the cost of a Snicker's bar from time to time and I've been tempted to re-buy it, but I never do.

I have DE:HR as well. Should I just skip to that one? Is the story of DE:IW compelling?

 

[DigDog]

i enjoyed IW very much. it doesn't have the same depth as the first one, but it's a decent episode 2. and yes, i'm aware everyone else hated it.

 

[AyashiKaibutsu]

It was never playable.

 

[dighn]

It was never playable.

lol... it pales in comparison with the first, and even the third (Human Revolution), but it's a decent game. story is not bad, some interesting ideas and locales. just don't expect it to have the same kind of depth as the other two games.

 

[runzwithsizorz]

I played IW on my so so laptop while waiting for my gaming computer. Specs are Win 7 64, Athlon II x2, AMD HD 4250. I had no problems installing or playing. It was a decent game and I enjoyed it. I don't understand why it won't install on your computer. Maybe a bad DVD?

 

[StrangerGuy]

The graphics aged even worse than the first.

 

[stahlhart]

http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2088245

 

[SaurusX]

Terrible.

 

[FalseChristian]

There you go: some like it, some don't. You'll have to play it yourself and see.

I enjoyed Rage from id software very much but alot of people didn't like it.

 

[Via]

Yeah, I guess you're right.

I guess what I really wanted to know is if the story was good enough to make up for sub-par gameplay before I go through the trouble of digging up the discs and trying to make it run. Or spend a few bucks re-buying it.

I like story. Story important.

I actually had the Xbox version as well (probably still have it); picked it up in a video store bargain bin for like a buck.

Now THAT was stinker. If you really want you're eyes to rebel try playing DE:IW with the Xbox on a CRT.

 

[StinkyPinky]

IW is the member of the family that is disowned and locked away. I wouldn't say it is terrible but it is not the same quality as the recent game and certainly not even in the same area code as the first game.

Deus Ex - 10/10
Invisible War - 6/10
Human Revolution - 8/10

 

[RampantAndroid]

IW is a different game. I enjoyed it as a kid, but the original is on my top 3 list for best games of all time (right there will System Shock 2)

as for is it playable, I think so. Doesn't Steam sell it even?

 

[Via]

Yeah, but regular price is seven bucks. No way I'd spend that much on this game.

It's been under $2 during specials iirc.

 

[orbster556]

I liked the story -- especially the Thomistic influences -- even though both the game-world and narrative wasn't as fully developed or compelling as the original Deus Ex.

As well, I actually really liked their attempt to make the HUD resemble an in-eye HUD (even though it was itself an attempt to make the game more playable on consoles).

Although the gameplay definitely is 'dumbed-down' slightly and doesn't afford the player the same degree of freedom and customization as the original, if you're looking for a pretty good story you do a lot worse.

 

[AdamantC]

In and of it self IW isn't a bad game. However as a sequel to the first it pretty much fails in every way possible.

They just should have picked one ending from the first game as canon, as trying to create a coherent plot line out of all of the wildly different endings of the first game was just madness.

 

[BFG10K]

I liked it better than the original. Just install the texture pack and it plays even better.

 

[GodisanAtheist]

IW is a perfectly respectable game and even though it does not live up to the standards of its predecessor it feels like a great game when compared against the legions of unimaginative military shooters we have now.

I admit that I am the ultimate sucker for FP Sci-Fi RPGs (System Shocks, Bioshocks, Deus Exs etc..) and while this game does not stand out from the crowd its definitely worth a play as a fan of the genre.

 

[CZroe]

I have a ton of copies. I paid less than $0.50 each just for the three-disc cases.

I'll see if I can get one to run.

 

[JoetheLion]

I think the question is not if it's playable today, but if you are able to enjoy the departure from the original Deus Ex (especially how JC Denton turned out). Otherwise I don't think that there is a problem. Of course, it's not as good as the original, but that doesn't mean that it's a bad game.