In a recent turn of events, Aspyr unveiled its highly anticipated official remaster of Deus Ex, which elicited mixed reactions from the gaming community. While some expressed disappointment over the new design choices, many PC enthusiasts quickly remembered the existence of Deus Ex: Revision (DX:R), a fan-driven modernization of the original game that is easily accessible via Steam.
Deus Ex: Revision Update
Deus Ex: Revision stands out as a remarkable compilation of the best mods available for the original game. It features reimagined maps alongside popular gameplay enhancements such as Shifter, BioMod, and Human Renovation, all while incorporating modern rendering techniques. One of the most appealing aspects of Revision is its flexibility; players can choose to disable the new features and enjoy the classic Deus Ex experience, fully compatible with contemporary systems and resolutions. In my experience, it offers everything one could desire from the game.
Recently, Revision received its first update since 2023, polishing the overall experience by addressing lingering bugs and introducing new memory-assistance features. This enhancement is particularly beneficial for long-time players, as it now allows users to toggle a saved passwords/keycode feature. This functionality enables players to quickly input codes discovered throughout the game into its numerous terminals, streamlining the gameplay experience.
The Nameless Mod’s Major Update
Another noteworthy development is the substantial update to The Nameless Mod (TNM), a total-conversion mod that first launched in 2009. For those unfamiliar, TNM is a cyberpunk spy narrative set within the Planet Deus Ex forums, featuring characters that represent regular forum members. The plot revolves around the quest to uncover the fate of an abducted moderator, and despite its seemingly convoluted premise, the storytelling is engaging and well-crafted.
TNM’s recent update, which took three years to complete, introduces a plethora of changes, including brand new levels, additional secrets, new items, and various gameplay modes. It also incorporates features from the DX:R update, such as the password manager function, enhancing the overall experience for players.
For those interested in experiencing TNM, it can be easily installed through the DX:R Steam Workshop. Additionally, nostalgic players who enjoyed the original mod back in 2009 can now opt to play with its original maps at the start of a new game. With such offerings, one might wonder if remasters are truly necessary in the face of such dedicated fan efforts.
