Deus Ex: Invisible War on the PC and Xbox- A Review from a Nobody

[@Banzeken]

As someone who regularly plays Invisible War (version 1.0, without patches) on period-correct PC hardware (Pentium 4 2.4 GHz + GeForce3/GeForce4 mostly in my case) I can confirm that there are technical oddities with that version. The ones that affect the game itself - broken ladder climbing and potential physics weirdness (etc.) - can be solved by locking the frame-rate via V-sync (too high of a frame-rate, far exceeding 50/60 frames/sec, was most likely not accounted for by the devs), however most of the problems stem from other quirks not related to the game logic/loop. (1) All in-game settings automatically resetting to default values and resolution defaulting to 640x480. This happens *every* time you launch the unpatched version of IW. The reason why it does this has to do with how settings are kept by the game; each time you make a new game the changes you make to the settings for that “session” are stored whenever you save your current game. This means that each save file will recall the exact settings you made for that specific play-through when loaded, which is kind of neat but I can see why the default settings at start-up could be seen as an annoying bug/oversight. (2) Copy-protection scheme locking up the game (and Windows to an extent) in the middle of loading screens after X amount of area transitions (I haven’t counted, not sure if it’s random or after a fixed amount). This one is genuinely an issue as it makes it frustrating playing the game it was meant to be played (no nVidia required). The game will do the usual pause to check the CD before the loading begins proper but when the issue occurs this CD-check stage keeps going forever, forcing you to either power down the PC or CTRL+ALT+DEL rebooting the system (I couldn’t figure out a better method). The solution? Use a no-CD patched game executable. That’s right, cracking saves the day (and slightly shortens loading pauses)! I don’t know how common this issue is across PCs of that era and, hell, maybe I’m just unlucky but it certainly *can* happen. The only caveat with this “fix” is that you have to copy the whole game directory and only crack the copied executable or else the game refuses to start up again without re-installing it (an anti-piracy measure?). At least that’s what I had to do… (3) The mouse lag does occur in unpatched IW on PC but it’s only really an issue when there is a lot of slow-down happening and I still find it a lot easier than using a gamepad to aim and shoot. Not something that I personally find to be an annoyance. Default mouse sensitivity is pretty high, however, so lower it like crazy before getting used to the game. (4) Playing unpatched IW with an ATi Radeon 8500 card (GeForce3 competitor in 2001) causes bloom lighting to multiply in intensity to the point of making everything look like it’s glowing with extreme radiation. Doesn’t happen on Radeon 9500/9700/9800 series cards. This is a blinding eye-sore that can only be fixed by disabling bloom lighting wholesale. I don’t know if an “ATi fix” patch was ever issued, maybe one of the patches for IW fixes this? Either way, this is an out-of-the-box issue that is very much real. (5) The game supports PC game pads of the time (Thrustmaster Firestorm Dual Power is what I have and sometimes use) but it’s pretty clear that stick aiming/looking doesn’t quite feel right in IW. Maybe there is a Windows setting I’ve missed or maybe it’s an issue with this particular model of game pad but looking diagonally has a certain stiffness to it I can’t quite explain that’s definitely not in the Xbox version. Maybe the PC game has issues registering the X- and Y-axis simultaneously with sticks? I don’t know. I didn’t test this very extensively so it’s possible I missed something but it was yet another unpatched issue I came across. There might be some other quirks I missed but these were the freshest in my mind. Anyway, thanks a lot for the video! It’s always refreshing hearing a perspective that doesn’t outright slam the game. I don’t personally find the universal ammo to be a problem. The bigger issue for me was how quickly you max out your biomods and how upgrade cans and money become obsolete in the game’s latter half unless you constantly change your play style. Some biomods being more useful than others is another thing I wish was addressed.

[@ANobodyReviewsGames-wm9gg]

Since you put such a long, infomative post, I'm going to pin your comment. That money issues was something I was gonna mention, because it did hit me this time that you do all these missions for money, but for what reason. There I things I make mental notes about during playing, that I sometimes forget to work into the review. Another thing I forgot to mention as a bug for the Steam version I noticed on my Laptop and old Dell rig which have Nvidia cards, if you are recording with Shadowplay, the game will refuse to load the next area until you stop recording. So I had to quit recording at every load screen on an Nvidia card. On my main PC now, using Radeon Relive to record, it would load just fine while recording

[@Banzeken]

Very kind of you!

[@ANobodyReviewsGames-wm9gg]

@@Banzeken I respect well thought out, informative posts. I like pinning good comments

[@alexscott8587]

The Xbox version was the first Deus Ex game I ever played and I still love this one. The Helios ending still haunts me.

[@ANobodyReviewsGames-wm9gg]

Yeah, as much as JC was my main man in the original DX, his ending was one of the worst. I should have mentioned that all the endings in the game kind of sucked, but I didn't want to give away the endings. The Illuminati one is bad, but was the least bad. The templar ending was bad, and the Omar ending was crazy. Helios has spoken

[@rekocastren923]

"Storyfatigue" is spot on. Cutscenes have gotten out of hand in the last decade.

[@ANobodyReviewsGames-wm9gg]

If it wasn't for retro gaming, I'd be going insane. At first it was novel and new, but now the heavy story elements are caked on so thick, it's just like, I ain't got time for that. Devs need to balance out story to gameplay better in their games. For me, it's just gotten old I guess.

[@templarkid.]

I played Tron on PC and it is still one of my favorites.

[@ANobodyReviewsGames-wm9gg]

I love what I have played of it so far. I'm not sure why it doesn't get more love from PC gamers nowadays

[@obredaanps3]

There's a mod called "Visible Upgrade" which fixes most of the issues running on modern hardware and even on widescreen monitors. Lock the game at 60fps and your good to go.

[@ANobodyReviewsGames-wm9gg]

I definitely need to get that mod. I'm tired of having to reset my resolution and refresh rate

[@jcdenton9844]

bro im doing halo McC right now i can agree with what you're saying big time

[@ANobodyReviewsGames-wm9gg]

MCC is a great collection. The Halo footage I use in the video is from the MCC

[@theyellowarchitect4504]

cool review, haven't played invisible war, but man 34 minutes for that kind of content is wild. 10 minutes could have been cut overall imo

[@wildonionchase3934]

The tagline, the cover art, so 2000s coded it’s almost parody. Shame we’ll never finish the Jensen series followed by remakes/followups to the OG series.

[@ANobodyReviewsGames-wm9gg]

The cover almost looks like some alternative rock album cover. Makes me want to go listen to an Adema or Static X album.

[@Mmsmickey]

highly under rated game, remaster is due

[@ANobodyReviewsGames-wm9gg]

I would love a remaster, especially one that runs better on modern hardware

[@wiredmania2653]

Fun fact: the many people you see claiming to be a sega fan being a xbox hater doesn't make sense, and many don't get someone to say somenthing to break it

[@ClellBiggs]

Try Special K (not the cereal lol) to see if it will get rid of that 30hz issue. The game is old so I don't know if it will work with it but if it does it will solve that and allow you to play at 60 or higher.

[@ANobodyReviewsGames-wm9gg]

I was gonna say, what's cereal going to do? Lol

[@Nickelodeon81]

I don't think Ketamine is the answer.

[@darkknightcat]

I love YTs algorithm

[@drewb6107]

Blood Gulch LAN parties with 4 consoles, 16 players, 8 v 8. LAN is still superior to online gaming in my opinion.

[@ANobodyReviewsGames-wm9gg]

Alas, my friends were not that cool

[@andrewblackmon1574]

Idk, halo 2 was kinda it

[@cyphaborg6598]

Piracy can be an easy excuse for not having to deal with different configurations. In a much harsher environment they're all flocking towards PC currently but back then it was about piracy? this is why the PC version felt like it was "consolized" you didn't have those area loading screens with the first game on PC (you did on PS2). With Invisible War it was with both versions and it wasn't a good port for PC back then.

[@ANobodyReviewsGames-wm9gg]

The PC version was designed around the Xbox's limitations. So the load times were in the same spots, and the areas were the same size even though the PC could have handled much larger areas if they would have designed it with the PC version being the main focus

[@JohnSmith-qh4mi]

12:12 what game is this?

[@ANobodyReviewsGames-wm9gg]

The original Unreal from 1998

[@RaidSix]

My cousin rented the PS2 version because his friend told him it was the greatest game ever. Me: You're not going to like it, dude. Cuz: My friend is a real gamer. He doesn't play the types of games you play (referring to shooters). Me: LoL ok. Cousin plays the game, sees that it's FPS and absolutely loses his shit. He can't play FPS games, he gets dizzy. Comes out of the room and sees me laughing my ass off. Completely wrecked the game and had to pay for a new copy.

[@RaidSix]

Haha! Thanks for the shout out!

[@ANobodyReviewsGames-wm9gg]

No problem. Your point on Story Fatigue was too good not to share.

[@wiredmania2653]

Les go

[@luciusdebeers6176]

No hate for people who enjoyed this, but man I think game is technically, aesthetically, gameplay and storywise complete ass. What a shame.

[@ANobodyReviewsGames-wm9gg]

I can appreciate your take on the game. I know that some people just didn't like it, and never will. We shall agree to disagree. I need to Play Human Revolution and Mankind Divided though. What are your thoughts on the newer games in the series?

[@luciusdebeers6176]

@ANobodyReviewsGames-wm9gg We shall and thats fine! I like the newer games, I think it's a little jarring technology seems to be more advanced compared to the original when it's a prequel and the story and overal themes are sometimes a hit or miss. But they're fun games to play with lots of options to handle situations, satisfying upgrade options and solid gunplay

[@d4rz0t667]

Well, it's the worst mainline Deus Ex game imo, but still a good game although with many flaws (especially on PC). When I was playing it I was annoyed but its technical state and how streamlined it was but ended up kinda liking it anyway. Go figure

[@ChristianEdwards-i9r]

Watch the damn movie...