I found this game for free on GoG, and it immediately caught my attention. Downloaded it, tried it, did not understand it at first. However, I persevered, and oh boy am I glad that I did. I've rarely found a game that actually gives you the feeling of campaigning through war. Instead of focusing on "this batallion here, that other one over there", it makes you go through the tactical decisions that involve chasing, evading or fighting the enemy, with a big focus on choosing the right pathway and/or camp spot. Recruiting allies feels just as it should feel. Some will join, some others won't - and choosing who will do the talking makes a BIG difference - , and they will not feel enough at all. Picking battles is risky and rewarding, exploring will give you bonuses that could be useful, or not... there's a lot to this game. But you have to go through a little bit of learning. Just a little bit. Perhaps a tutorial would have helped all of those that just don't have the time (which is a lie; we just choose what to do with it) or the will to search for a way instead of being told what to. It can be overwhelming. But the reward is worth it.
I will start my first review on Gog.com with a bold statement: I enjoyed Invisible War a lot more than the original Deus Ex. Now, since I can hear the furious crowd approaching with their magrails ready to shoot, I will tell you why oh why you should purchase this infamous title. 1- This game is, I will admit, not for everyone. The first and major complain you will hear time and time again is that the levels are much smaller than the original Deus Ex's. This, however, is very well executed, allowing you to grab a serious number of quests and meet a great cast of characters just by walking a few steps, instead of running for minutes through an area you already cleared. This does, in no way, invalid the huge levels the original game had, but if you are a person with very little spare time, you will thank Invisible War for its not-too-large environment. 2- Universal ammo may be annoying for some, yet in realistic mode, it can have a great impact on the way you play the game. I just finished the game with just half a clip on my pistol, after having to end more than a few enemies using close combat, which, at this level of difficulty, gets quite tricky. This is yet another "disadvantage" that helps you get through the game without spending precious minutes looking for the right ammo. 3- The Omar. Love them or hate them. In my case, I just love the whole concept of them. 4- Excellent characters, with decent voice acting, that will play different roles based on your choices along the game. 5- Four very different endings that carry on with the dark utopias already presented before. 6- Factions, politics and manipulation. All in all, this game does not compare to the original, but IMHO that's just because they are very different games. My case might be one in a million, but, if you play this game ignoring the angry screams around claiming that change is a bad thing, you may be surprised by a great story, good action/stealth gameplay, and good replayability.
