Deus Ex: Mankind Divided

Introduction

   Deus Ex: Mankind Divided is the fourth main entry in the Deus Ex franchise and a direct sequel to Deus Ex: Human Revolution. Developed by Eidos Montreal and published by Square Enix, the game continues the story of Adam Jensen in a cyberpunk world where augmented humans face severe discrimination. Released in 2016, Mankind Divided offers an immersive blend of first-person shooter, stealth, and RPG mechanics, allowing for multiple playstyles and deep narrative engagement. While the game refines many of the mechanics introduced in its predecessor, it also suffers from an abrupt ending due to its episodic nature, leaving some narrative threads unresolved.

Story

   The game is set in the year 2029, two years after the events of Human Revolution and the infamous Aug Incident. Society is now more divided than ever, with augmented individuals treated as second-class citizens and forced into ghettos. Adam Jensen, now working for Task Force 29, an anti-terrorist unit under Interpol, must navigate a world filled with conspiracies, betrayals, and hidden agendas. Secretly, he collaborates with the hacker collective known as the Juggernaut Collective to expose corruption within powerful organizations like the Illuminati.

   The narrative presents a rich, immersive cyberpunk experience, with themes of social inequality, transhumanism, and government surveillance. Choices made throughout the game impact not only dialogues but also mission outcomes, leading to multiple endings. Side quests are particularly well-written, often intertwining with the main story and providing additional world-building elements. However, the main story ends rather suddenly, setting up a sequel that never materialized.

Gameplay

   Mankind Divided continues the franchise’s tradition of offering multiple gameplay approaches, ensuring that players can tailor their experience. Whether favoring stealth, hacking, combat, or diplomacy, the game provides deep, flexible mechanics. Augmentations play a crucial role, offering new abilities such as:

• Tesla Arc System – Fires electric projectiles to take down multiple enemies non-lethally.
• Icarus Dash – A short-range teleportation ability useful for mobility and evasion.
• Titan Shield – A temporary armor enhancement that reduces incoming damage.
• Remote Hacking – Allows Jensen to disable security cameras, turrets, and other electronics from a distance.

   Level design is intricate, providing multiple routes to complete objectives. Players can sneak through air ducts, hack doors, or go in guns blazing. The game rewards exploration, with hidden pathways, secret stashes, and compelling environmental storytelling scattered throughout Prague, the main hub city.

   The Breach Mode, a separate game mode, introduces a more arcade-style hacking challenge where players navigate a virtual environment to extract data. While an interesting concept, it lacks the depth of the main game and feels like an optional distraction rather than a fully fleshed-out addition.

Graphics

   Visually, the game excels in cyberpunk aesthetics, with Prague serving as a beautifully crafted yet oppressive environment. The neon-lit streets, graffiti-covered walls, and high-tech security checkpoints create an immersive atmosphere. Character models are detailed, but facial animations occasionally fall into uncanny valley territory. Lighting and reflections, especially in dark urban areas, enhance the mood, making the city feel alive.

   The game utilizes the Dawn Engine, which delivers impressive visuals but struggles with optimization, leading to occasional performance dips, particularly in larger outdoor areas.

Sound & Music

   The atmospheric soundtrack by Michael McCann and Sascha Dikiciyan complements the cyberpunk setting perfectly. Haunting synth melodies accompany moments of tension, while powerful beats emphasize action sequences. Voice acting is strong, with Elias Toufexis reprising his role as Jensen, delivering a gruff and weary performance fitting for the character. Sound design is meticulous, from the hum of neon lights to the mechanical whir of augmentations activating.

Controls

   The game controls well on both keyboard and controller. Gunplay is responsive, though enemies can sometimes feel overly spongey, requiring multiple hits to take down. Stealth mechanics are refined, with Jensen smoothly transitioning between cover, takedowns, and hacking. The cover system is intuitive, allowing seamless movement between first-person and third-person perspectives. Hacking remains an essential tool, requiring strategic timing and resource management.

Performance on Steam Deck

   Deus Ex: Mankind Divided runs on the Steam Deck, but optimization is required for a smooth experience. The game can be demanding, especially in open areas like Prague, leading to frame rate drops. However, tweaking settings can significantly improve performance:

Recommended Settings for Steam Deck:

• Resolution: 1280x800 (native Steam Deck resolution)
• Overall Quality: Medium
• Textures: Medium (VRAM limitation)
• Shadows: Low
• Anti-Aliasing: TAA (FXAA for better performance)
• V-Sync: Off (use Steam Deck’s refresh rate limit instead)
• Frame Rate Cap: 40 FPS (for better stability and battery life)
• Ambient Occlusion: SSAO (disable for more performance)
• Volumetric Lighting: Off

With these settings, the game runs at 35-40 FPS in most scenarios, with occasional dips in large areas. Battery drain is moderate, and the game remains playable with some visual sacrifices. Given its reliance on precise movement and cover mechanics, adjusting gyro aiming can enhance accuracy when using the Steam Deck’s controller layout.

Conclusion

   Deus Ex: Mankind Divided is a solid entry in the franchise, offering deep gameplay, strong storytelling, and a richly detailed world. It refines many mechanics from Human Revolution while introducing new abilities and improved level design. However, the abrupt ending and some technical issues hold it back from being a masterpiece. On Steam Deck, it requires tweaking but can still deliver a decent portable experience for those willing to adjust settings. For cyberpunk and immersive sim fans, it remains a must-play despite its flaws.