Deus Ex - The Synapse (Hong Kong Streets)

Deus Ex (2000) was widely praised for its melodious and ambient music which incorporates a number of genres, such as classical, jazz, and techno.
The soundtrack of Deus Ex was extolled by critics for aptly complementing the gritty and haunting atmosphere predominant throughout the game.
All listed tracks were composed by Alexander Brandon, Dan Gardopee, Michiel van den Bos and Reeves Gabrels. A compact disc of the Deus Ex soundtrack was only included in the "Game of the Year" edition and is not available for separate purchase, but all tracks are readily available on the internet. Originally only thirty tracks were included with the re-release, with tracks thirty-one through forty-one considered as extras.
During play, the music will change to a different iteration of the current song based on the player's actions. For instance, this usually occurs when the player starts a conversation, engages in combat, or transitions to the next level.

[@fran6384]

MJ12 Troop: [cough]

[@Reflexion555]

Best quotes of the game! Deus Ex/10

[@mikejlr]

Hey, holy shit. I just realised this might be implying that even the MJ12 footsoldiers have the Grey Death, too. That's fucked up.

[@colin-campbell]

mikejlr Grasping at straws.

[@B0mm3Lkills]

Legendary

[@OGXenos]

I will forever love that despite all the intense attention to detail this game had, the fuckin coughing troopers gave away the hidden wall almost immediately.

[@grandpathong]

not safe for tourists to visit the canals at night.

[@PonzooonTheGreat]

[quicksaves]

[@CKOD]

Sampan rides, five credit

[@noahwilliams8996]

"Come back tomorrow." he said waving his machine gun at me. "Sampan rides, five credits." he said with a twinkle in his eye.

[@erhansolhan9564]

And then I said to soldiers; "Look how I will jump from that blasted bridge!"

[@daedalus6433]

[quicksaves, activates my augment and jumps over with no effort] What a shame.

[@StupidJellyfish]

JAY CEE DENTOWN IN DA FRESH

[@Ksensei41]

Or rather in the hazard suit.

[@fran6384]

StupidJellyfish ...as dark and serious as his brotha'

[@skipek597]

StupidJellyfish

[@jozinek876]

@@Ksensei41 wrong game lol

[@nitrowave7146]

I took the liberty of relieving you of your weapons, most of them were government property. As for the suit, I think you earned it.

[@mcdonkey500]

MISTA JC DENTON IN DA FRESH

[@mcdonkey500]

six years later time for another playthrough

[@toastsoup489]

Were you sent to jail by UNATCO for these 6 years?

[@mcdonkey500]

@@toastsoup489 I was spending 6 years trying to stack some crates on top of eachother to climb on them to get a soyfood

[@mcdonkey500]

4 years later I finally managed to get out

[@mattwolf7698]

I listened to this while walking around Hong Kong at night in real life.

[@gman1857]

be careful of the triads

[@paulgibbon5991]

Don't visit the canals at night.

[@Dawg.Wit.]

sampan rides, five credits

[@El-Dorado930]

Were you an unfamiliar face on tonnochi road?

[@strongarm8937]

how close was it from the game ?

[@omnitrix152]

WHILE YOU ARE HERE, OBSERVE THE LAWS OF THE TRIAD.

[@kirkhammer9612]

While You Ar- While You- While Yo- While You A- While you are here observe the laws of the- While you are here observe the laws- while you- while you are **goes on for like 12 hours about the laws of the triads**

[@N1DM]

@Damian 2000 aaaaa I like that little attention to detail you did there

[@dogchaser520]

@@kirkhammer9612 But never even tells you what they are :::deepthink:::

[@tassiloIII]

"Such a quaint little market."

[@Ezio999Auditore]

Versa life?

[@Nickelodeon81]

Not advisable for tourists to roam here at night

[@BlackSailPass_GuitarCovers]

> Visit Hong Kong > Find Tracer Tong > Jam to this song

[@skaterkid901]

Relatable! Tracer Tong in hiding, his assistants point out "we have seen JC Denton." Tracer asks where he is. "Sir, he is on Main Street dancing in front of a security bot." "He stepped on a cat."

[@BlackSailPass_GuitarCovers]

@@skaterkid901 🤣

[@senatormollywater3031]

dont forget about getting wasted with the the triad and yakuza gang bosses to

[@lyricsfromsweden]

"Okay, you need to find Tracer Tong. I used to drop Paul off at a small compund next to the market, you can start there. Don't waste any time. Your killswitch is 12 hours old." "If you die our plans will fail. Locate Tracer Tong."

[@theultimategashands4334]

+lyricsfromsweden bro

[@lyricsfromsweden]

+The Ultimate Gas Hands dude

[@Irraptured]

+lyricsfromsweden bro. Oh well, time to replay I guess.

[@tenaciousrodent6251]

Aaah that moment. "So much already happened...and still I'm just getting started!" (Eternally in my top five, this game is)

[@freshownage]

Hy Daedalus)

[@olivercuenca4109]

Every so often, this music pops back into my head just like I heard it yesterday.

[@andrewwiggin7433]

About once a year or so, for me

[@colinbutcher1004]

Whenever I hear the standard apple ring tone it reminds me of this

[@GyroGarrison]

Yeah it come and goes

[@Gggmanlives]

WE'RE FROM AWSTRALIA

[@AzureSymbiote]

Blimey! You're here too!

[@Zelousmarineinspace]

LET'S JUST WAYET FOR RUSS!!

[@CosmicKangaroo]

Gggmanlives IN DA FWRESH!

[@Zelousmarineinspace]

Prof Mole I THINK HE'S KEYENDDA KUtE

[@TheRedSetterr]

+Puglous YEA SOOO BAAAD

[@DylanBeight]

DX:MD had this as "atmosphere" music playing on people's radios around prague...that made me super happy.

[@LukesGamePage]

Really?! That is awesome; will keep an ear out for it.

[@AveNullusMajestic]

Yeah, the UNATCO tune plays on various radio's in Human Revolution.

[@SBMark89]

I'ts in between the Alex Jones soundalike rants.

[@N1DM]

Damn, wish I knew that in my playthrough

[@neerajkrishnan8574]

@@LukesGamePage your ears need to be augmented for that

[@kirklandlake]

Get out! Enough games in da tempoh. ~Monk

[@oscardighton8580]

8hobo8 many other Buddhas in Hong Kong

[@jozinek876]

"I'm not posing for any more photos today." - Monk

[@fran6384]

UM GO JIE WO

[@OniMasta]

@@fran6384 NE HO MA

[@karamelflan]

@@OniMasta Yaw Hak

[@MioRaem]

I have to drop something. Hee hee. Hold on.

[@cubablue602]

There's nothing quite like forgetting the music of Deux Ex, playing the game once more and remembering it all over again.

[@TheDukeOfComments]

I honestly wish I could forget it so I could experience it all over again.

[@yep8058]

When you go to Chinatown and meet JC Denton in the fresh.

[@Ctrekoz]

...drip.

[@bobbyisland]

0:34 best bass line pattern in existence

[@JessieThorne886]

Agree. This track is so fun to play along with on electric bass.

[@Gomorrha21]

One of the happier tracks from DX. Just made me run around Hon Kong's lively center just to hear this awesome music. Of course if you're good you quickly pick the lock of the small police office and get on a roof to hide. Fun, then you discover you wasted a lockpick for nothing valuable inside it, aside the angry person. And you gotta hear "Hong Kong Action" for a few seconds, too. Priceless moment.

[@watwatwatwat]

That sounds like a sequence from a Jackie Chan movie lol.

[@alexanderpasha1590]

This just makes me think of how cool a prequel where you play as Paul, working with tong in Hong Kong would be, in the original game's engine

[@bogiesmigforl1]

why the original engine?

[@bogiesmigforl1]

it would probably be harder to get working on modern pcs

[@wombatkins]

I'm sure there's a mod for that lol

[@bogiesmigforl1]

@@wombatkins well if there is than thats nice

[@Cmajor165]

awesome idea!

[@tohopes]

See, if Pagan Min had stuck around in Hong Kong, he could have met JC Denton in the fresh.

[@fran6384]

tohopes ....AS DAAK AND SEWIUZ AZ HIZ BRADDA

[@bishubi]

+tohopes haha imagine that, the most cynical protagonist in gaming history with the most happy-go-lucky villian in gaming history

[@daedalus6433]

@@bishubi He's not just cynical, he is also somehow a deep philosopher.

[@dogchaser520]

All you had to do was follow the damn sampan, JC!

[@giobot]

Go away!! - Louis Pan

[@kadeshaderow]

I KNOW THE DRAGON HEAD.

[@SmrsinusCZ]

G San Gaaaaaaaaah

[@supamanlova9250]

I SPEEL MY DRINK!

[@KnoxCarbon]

"I KNOW THE DRAGON HEAD!" (Riot prods in front of Dragon Head, no consequences)

[@SkullHeroLord]

Well,he does say that he would kill you for harming the "good boy",but that he is under direct orders not to do so. Or something like that.

[@DementedButtHole]

Um gui jei guo..

[@willlayng4548]

Is not advisable for tourist to visit the canals at night..

[@Komnen0s]

Suuuurrreee

[@subho9000]

Some day, when I go to Hong Kong, I'll be sure to play this on my ipod and experience HK Deus Ex style. ;)

[@happygardevoir]

I have to drop something. Hehe Hold on

[@mummel2013]

Well good luck now :/

[@callaway86]

Hong Kong feels incredibly Cyberpunk at night, amazing city.

[@TheThugnificant]

It's not advisable for tourists to visit the canals at night.

[@paulvarus859]

You'll catch the grey death if you go now 😂

[@tibik.8407]

This game really is a dinosaur fossil with all of its bones intact. I spent sooooooooooooooooooooo much time trying to figure out where's the door which gives me acces to the police station, I could have done entire maps of other RPG-s in that time. I dont think I've ever seen a bigger and more confusing layout in a game than Hong Kong.

[@Princessetch]

I've been looking for this song for a good 5 months or so after I couldn't get it out of my head. I am so grateful that the search is finally over 😭

[@Zelousmarineinspace]

Stand with Hong Kong Free Hong Kong Deus Ex ahead of the curve yet again

[@mikelamb2504]

Gray Death? Coronavirus?

[@kkeanie]

@@mikelamb2504 The Chinese Communist Party is what it is.

[@5000mahmud]

How did they get it so right?

[@demonicasoldier1770]

WHO,incompetent or on purpose?

[@trebuh]

Considering that there's no HK flags in Deus Ex, only PRC flags proves they were very much ahead of the curve. Hong Kong is rightfully part of the PRC.

[@killermoomin]

perhaps a present for your girlfriend?

[@HeyLookaSHOTGUN]

JC DENTERN IN DA FRESH

[@metroidprimefan18]

+Robert Dole Or rather in the Hazard Suit.

[@rorymannmusic]

AS DARK AND MYSTERIOUS AS HIS BRATHAR

[@civilwarfare101]

If I ever go to Hong Kong, I will make it a priority to play this song while I am there.

[@omnitrix152]

ME TOO, just playing this in dre beats headphones whilst walking the streets of wan chai with sunglasses on.

[@dogchaser520]

It's overpriced as hell Still, fun city I don't think Beats do you much good with this era of music, as it's not mastered. It's just an XM file literally. With all the harsh goodness that comes, and all the bad too

[@trevorsteele341]

HEY, I WAS WALKING HERE.

[@kem1kal]

juzz abowt had enuff...

[@jackyjones8873]

-random lonely guy in a huge alleyway

[@the3xtr3mist]

I've played hundreds of games and this is one of the best themes in all of them.. so many years later it still plays in my head from time to time

[@nikkovalenko8406]

BEST SYNTH EVER

[@LilShadFandubs]

Your Kill Switch is 12 hours old.

[@cr4yv3n]

If you die, our plans will fail. Find - Tracer Tong.

[@MrHalaVar]

The floor coverings were handmade in Tibet.

[@nicksalazar1487]

MrHalaVar No.... NO!!! You are mistaken! GUARDS!!!!

[@imwithstupid086]

I love how many people comment "Mistah Jay Cee Denton in da fresh" and it's still funny.

[@rezaka116]

I speel my drink

[@SoDaR2007]

Never will i forget my first experience of Deus Ex. Best game ever made in my book and this song underlines that fact. Epic.

[@igorromano8690]

I will be honest. I couldn’t finish any of the sequels because of their inferiority. This is an unforgettable game with unforgettable story and music

[@warmturkey3911]

Same

[@tomdenhollander2289]

straight fact brother

[@onetokatman7293]

human revolution is second best to this imo

[@stampoltaschris]

True

[@iurycabeleira7990]

I tried the new ones before playing the Original and couldnt play them, now after playing the original i absolutely cannot play the newer ones

[@tacitus6384]

"JC Denton - in the fresh!"

[@richarddoyle3420]

20+ years... Never get's old!

[@jonkadelic]

Deus Ex can be described in three words. Absolutely, Undeniably Awesome.

[@Riboshom]

I've just started playing DX : Human Revolution last week, and whenever I hear or see a nod to DX1 (like hearing the UNATCO HQ theme in the intro), I feel so nostalgic about it... But I just finished Deus Ex this summer! I don't even...

[@thewewguy8t88]

dues ex is one of the few games i have finished more then once myself(and yet there are still things i am sure i have not seen yet)

[@TheJayson8899]

@@thewewguy8t88 I've finished the game SO many times. I know every nook and cranny... yet there are still some details I uncover.

[@thewewguy8t88]

@@TheJayson8899 that's how I feel like there is still so much I can discover about the game.

[@EminencePhront]

This song manages to convey so much at the same time: Asianness - You are in Hong Kong and it may be the cyberpunk future, but it's still exotic and Chinese. You're far from home. Wonder - The Wan Chai market is a much different place than the depressing run-down New York that JC Denton is familiar with. It's more lively and safe than anywhere in the USA. Futurism - The instrumentation is either electronic, or distorted versions of traditional Asian instruments, reminding you that you are in a high-tech world. Sadness - Like pretty much all of the songs on the soundtrack, there's a mournful quality that laments the world that was thrown away.

[@femboyfantasia]

lol

[@tepleno3394]

With the head bob in the game it always made me think JC was bumping it side to side with this track.

[@bigmouthprick5852]

I used to do a goofy little dance with the lean, jump and then finish with a full mouse spin. Still do it when i get there in a new playthrough.

[@Happytreefriendsfan3]

Such a quaint little market.

[@s1ndrome117]

put the newspapers back when you're done browsing

[@magpie1862]

Such a quaint little song

[@deadspace4755]

This music is not from this world, it is so magnificent that mere words can't describe it. More games need this, if not all

[@IMINSIDEYOURMUM]

I wish I had grown up during the early 2000’s. Machinima was good. Seid Ex and Half Life were droppin’. And KZbin was picking up. Sounds awesome, and really so does all of the old internet.

[@tremendousyeet3467]

Don't forget Rage Comics.

[@Jvgeorge1]

When I was wandering through hong kong, I had this theme in my head. Was good ambience theme which reflects the hustle bustle lifestyle of hk

[@diablo2demo]

Crazy that this video was uploaded closer to the games release date than todays

[@danny6290]

I remember getting lost on purpose so that I could continue to listen to this song. Deus Ex is the quite simply, amazing. A true masterpiece and work of art.

[@jessical11]

GAH I played this game so many years ago and I was playing mankind divided and I was like I know this radio song from somewhere. 30 minutes later it just occurred to me. How could I forget this.

[@RazenHashikado]

Recognized it about instantly myself when I heard it playing from a radio. I was all "Heyyy I know this one, sweet nostalgia!"

[@Shamino1]

This + hearing the UNATCO theme for the first time transports me back to childhood.

[@a3039a]

my fav song from DX1. After 15 years still listening

[@pommezfritesde8021]

i love how you can hear out the Depeche Mode influences throughout the soundtrack.

[@Jerbsinator]

I just started playing this game recently (yes for the first time) and I gotta say the most impressive part of it is the music. This game has one of the best soundtracks I have heard in a long time.

[@dogchaser520]

It's all tracked music. Here's a reply to a comment you left literally 9 years ago. Here's a link to learn more about this lost art: kzbin.info/www/bejne/qKClnJpjnrWlmNk

[@dragonceo5911]

Back when I visited Hong Kong streets, played this music on iPod with beef noodles. Memories 😍

[@NehemiahDC]

Happy Chinese New Year 2021! Year of the Ox.

[@WoundedKite]

the bass in this song is IMMENSE...

[@NoVIcE_Source]

i havent played this game but the soundtrack alone makes me wanna play it so mch

[@Blap7]

you gotta

[@NoVIcE_Source]

@@Blap7 i will

[@trulyinfamous]

I am in love with this game's soundtrack. This song feels like a mix Goldeneye 007 sounds and Time splitters 2 feel.

[@7Tomb7Keeper7]

The sounds of vase & dishes breaking often follow this type of music in my head

[@SoDaR2007]

What a brilliant piece of music this is. Time to install and play Deus Ex again for the millionth time! What a game!

[@ED-le1pr]

1:39 favorite part

[@uuuibeubeo]

same, i crank the volume EVERY TIME

[@fabianrr]

The Bass

[@uuuibeubeo]

@@fabianrr its also that choir pad

[@Sleetysleetman]

Greatest game of all time

[@heh1914]

love getting lost in this game for hours

[@nrdesign1991]

A timeless classic!

[@oscarmanuel144]

Please...... look around.

[@patschoenherr7497]

Hands down one of the best games in 2000, the soundtrack was killer good and will last for the rest of my life in my head.

[@Danlovar]

How can someone dislike this masterpiece and other tracks from this game after loving Brandon's music since Unreal?

[@QuadfishTym]

Oh hell yes, that melody. Brings a tear to my eye. It's so perfect too after the drama of escaping from the heli hangar.

[@GrigoryRechistov]

Exactly, it's so relieving to finally hear it after returning from a Versalife mission or crawling half-dead out of the hangar.

[@soundember1990]

To this day one of the most memorable and iconic videogame songs for me personally.

[@sburton015]

I remember when I first played this game not long ago around October of 2000 on my computer. At that time, Windows ME was the latest and greatest operating system out there.

[@r.g9044]

Everytime i go to my chinese friend i put this music on and speaker to max and tell him "FANKS FOR GETTING ME IN"! :D

[@axa993]

Best fucking game ever made, absolutely beautifully and carefully crafted and executed. I enjoy all types of games and shit but this one... Damn. Since then only Dishonored came close to what I felt while playing Deus Ex but not in the same way...

[@smurfy]

I used to do an in-game dance. Changing my look direction to the minor notes and jumping and moving back and forth. Awesome.

[@RS250Squid]

I have arrived! An exciting new techicolor world full of possibilties, fascinating people, intrigue, mystical things, and a freaking awesome bassline!!! I Love The Synapse *cries happilly*

[@LlamaFIL]

This track is the the bomb..... JC, A BOMB!

[@Danixxxxx]

Sure as hell better than the China music from HR. Not that HR's music is bad. It's good but less varied and a bit more boring compared to this.

[@AleK0451]

Most of HR's music is forgettable tbh and the city hubs were off-feeling to me

[@TheJayson8899]

+SavageCorona completely agreed, especially with the hub worlds which no one seems to have pointed out before

[@AleK0451]

TheJayson8899 They're just generally boring to explore and don't feel lively unlike the first game and many other games with a similar kind of level design.

[@TheJayson8899]

***** Agreed, they also felt very tedious to get around and just rather uninteresting. Also the point in the game where there's supposed to be a huge riot going on was crap, you never saw anything on the streets going around. It was empty like usual. The original 11 years earlier when Battery Park is under marshal law later in the game felt way more lively and had actually gone to shit. 11 years later and you can't recapture a similar thing? pretty pathetic.

[@AleK0451]

TheJayson8899 while not the same genre or even a decent game, Hitman Absolution managed to get down a lively atmosphere in the crowded levels. Sleeping Dogs is another good example of lively atmospheres in a city kind of game.

[@rockyman88]

I remember getting lost in Hong Kong here for so long and theme was unreal. So so good

[@theia1653]

It's a breath of fresh air. I can picture JC running through the market from black clad paramilitary troops.

[@lmaoo69420]

As a Hong Konger I can confirm this is how Hong Kong sounds like before 2010

[@tnhnoztel]

that bassline is 20 credits.

[@drack610]

"And you... you... are a bad actress." -YK -unknown sound "And you have one less finger." -MC

[@NerdomancerKirou]

*_I SPILL my DRINK_*

[@mr.nostaforta34]

Please tell me, why do i find atleast 1 or 2 guys with a JC profile pic in almost every video i watch?! All the same too! Dark background, looking to the left, is it some kind of trend or something? Dont get me wrong, I LOVE IT! But it is so strange, coincidence? Really love seeing this game still got some fame! Man... This game is great.

[@somethingsecretsteersus5115]

Broo...... Same question =)

[@luminosity01]

i'm a bit late, but they're using it because they're not love the game lol

[@bobobsen]

Some cancerous youtuber made everyone use that pic

[@tinkz2009]

"Ever heard of Maggie Chow?"

[@yngvebalmsteen9174]

I can't believe it! The triads are one? This immediately takes me back to the late 90s. Thank you.

[@redcatjack]

Early 2000's* The game came out in 2000

[@yngvebalmsteen9174]

@@redcatjack I know. But it just reminds me of the days before graduating high school.

[@ZidaneTribal93]

True words. The fleshmarket on the left gave it the final touch.

[@BoM45]

thanks for the upload man, its great to see that these are online :)

[@Orogenesis]

This track is sublime.

[@Fyrn420]

Those elements mixed together is definitely like a sauce....

[@andali555]

JC Denton, in da fresh.

[@Squashylemon]

do we even need comments complimenting this song, it basically shows what the 1990s were capable of

[@CarryLarry]

Reminds me of investing points in swimming, because that flooded tunnel was terrifying.

[@ZidaneTribal93]

Makes me happy.