This month: Deus Ex Human Revolution

Part Four: 2027

Very slowly, video-games are growing up. We have reached a technological equilibrium. Our graphical prowess has hit its ceiling, we are now hunting for new land to conquer. Artistic land. The seeds of our medium have been planted, they just need watering Deus Ex Human Revolution is a venture into this artistic land, a little scouting committee that bring back a gold sliver to look forward to.

The trans-human thematics that blend so well into the gameplay, the player’s empowerment depending on these augmentations, are put elegantly into a debate about class and civil rights. Medicare even crops out, little commentary on free-speech and DRM does too. This is a game that lends itself to multiple interpretations, think about that, multiple interpretations. No longer is the ‘multiple choice’ approach to gaming choices no longer the status quo but how elements can be applied to societal and political issues of today.

I’ve heard it argued Human Revolution’s arguments against augmentation is simply “It’s not natural” when this is utter nonsense. Missions are built around helping both the highest and lowest of society and unearthing the fact that the rich are on top and the poor on the bottom, history continues. This little touch, I feel, is not a revolt against capitalism but irresponsible capitalism. Putting a price on life.

When a rich kid can out-score a working class boy at baseball thanks to his techno-arm then something is amiss. When the police are useless against a private company’s armies of millions of augmented guards then something is amiss. The world of Human Revolution is one of inequality, a mirror of what could come. Blade Runner being included in its visual complexion is no coincidence.

2027 doesn’t seem that far away, does it? Given the debates about SOPA, free speech, Protect IP Act, Digital Economy Bill, NDAA and multiple other legislation pieces that could destroy our freedom of speech... it’s not hard to imagine the world of Revolution as our own. The ending itself, the one I particularly chose, was filled with voting ballot footage and protesting. The Occupy movement and Arab Spring seem to have been perfect coincidences.

And this is where Human Revolution shines. In how it’s mature, elegant and yet takes the typical video-games ‘satire’ to new heights. The Deus Ex bits of ‘lemon lime’ and other touches blend inside this retrotechno beast to create something absolutely aware of its time in history. The references to 4chan, reddit and beyond only help to pique its awareness of the time. This is not an enclosed experience, this is an experience speaking to us all.

I think video-games are art. Shadow of the Colossus, Fallout New Vegas, Half-Life 2, BioShock and so so so many more use interactivity, non-interactivity and ironic non-interactivity as devices to create messages and commentary. Human Revolution joins these ranks as a grown-up video-game, while still being a fun video-game. Fun isn’t enough but it’s very important. Without that, we have nothing.

But video-games are not an artful medium. They are crammed with copypasta first-person jobs, war shooters, clones, Red Dead Redemption and the immortal ‘perfect’ beast of Rockstar Games with their poisoning of interactivity. I have a hope, a little hope, that the industry won’t fall back on simply ‘fun’ and instead push forward, evolve and grow-up a little. Video-games are already taken seriously by themselves, but it’s time to re-define what ‘serious’ means.

Next month: Half-Life 2

The Workshop is a weekly column written by Nathan Hardisty. Focusing on game design, narrative and overarching philosophy, a new title is run through the Workshop each month breaking down its formula into a 4-part series.

Catch up with these past Workshop columns:

Batman: Arkham City

Red Dead Redemption: Part 1

Heavt Rain: Part One

Batman: Arkham Asylum: Part One

L.A. Noire: Part One

Far Cry 2: Part One

Metro 2033: Part One

Bioshock: Part One