Deus Ex: Human Revolution CGI Q&A

13 Mar 2010 at 03:15:36 by Tim McDonald

Following yesterday's release of a brand new CGI trailer for the highly-anticipated Deus Ex: Human Revolution, Square Enix and Eidos Montreal sent over a Q&A discussing the meaning of the events and images shown, as well as some details on how it ties into the game and the way it was made. Check out the trailer, linked above, and then read on.

Who is the main character in the video? Can you tell us more about him?

The main character is Adam Jensen, the character you play throughout the game. Adam is a security specialist who has been handpicked to oversee the defensive needs of one of America’s most experimental biotechnology firms. Adam has a rich back-story and will soon become one of the key ingredients in a vast global conspiracy.

Why is he covered in bandages? He seems to have been injured and also seems to have mechanical arms… what’s going on there?

Adam is nearly killed and must become augmented to save his life. In the world of Deus Ex: Human Revolution, mechanical augmentations are commonplace and can take the form of everything from microchips implanted in the brain to fully replacing limbs. In Adam’s case, he has a host of new augmentations received from a generous donor, some of which are military-grade. When we see Adam in this video, he is resting at home just days after his operation.

The main character says the line, “I never asked for this.” What is he referring to?

The circumstances of Adam being critically wounded, and the impetus for his life-saving operation, are suspect. Is becoming augmented something Adam was ready for? Or wanted at all? And who supplied him with his military-grade augmentations?

What’s happening at the beginning of the video? Is it a flashback to some previous event or is it a dream?

The beginning of the video is Adam’s dream. In the world of Deus Ex: Human Revolution, society has mixed Renaissance elements with archetypical Cyberpunk stereotypes and the Icarus Myth weaves its way through the story of the game. The Icarus myth dealt with Icarus being given wings to fly. But the wings were made of wax and he was perhaps not ready for such a gift; so in his haste, he flew too close to the sun which melted his wings and he fell to earth and his death. This story parallels our Deus Ex universe where mankind is using mechanical augmentations but there is still much to be determined in terms of their effect on society and the ultimate direction it will lead us in.

Does that mean you will be able to fly in the game?

No, Adam can do a lot of things, but flying is not one of them.

What does the game’s subtitle, Human Revolution, refer to?

The progress of technology and the advent of mechanical augmentations has offered mankind many exciting new possibilities but also many dangerous ones as well. In Deus Ex: Human Revolution, humanity will come to a tipping point where Adam Jensen will have to decide the path our society takes. It’s a time of wonderful advancements but also much unrest as the general public, governments, and corporations all struggle to come to terms with the new possibilities.

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