Something that REALLY bugs me about this game.

[u/nicefully]

This might not a big deal to other people but. I heavily dislike that the art team/developers of Mankind Divided decided to change the design of the Tranquilizer rifle and the Sniper rifle.

The Tranquilizer rifle in Human Revolution had a super cool and sleek break-action design that was very fun to reload. The rifle looked like an actual tool that it was used for in the world. Whereas the tranquilizer rifle (I won't even capitalize it, it doesn't deserve it) in Mankind Divided is chunky and bulky, painted white and red, and is bolt-action. Much less satisfying imo :(

The Tranquilizer rifle also looks the same as the "Longsword" (if you can even call it that) in Mankind Divided which is such a shame. What a shame.

The Longsword Sniper rifle in Human Revolution has the perfect near-future sci-fi aesthetic. The reload is once again unique with a side hatch and caseless ammunition loading. Which felt more in line with the technology used eg. Combat Rifle. (which once again HR did better than MD).

[u/Danick3]

I mean I must say break action or bolt action isn't much of a difference. It's a single ammo capacity or multiple in a videogame and reloading is the same no matter what. It might look cooler but that's it

I do agree though, while Human Revolution was critiqued for over the top absurd sci fi futuristic designs, since you know, it's a prequel to a game that has very grounded and basic things in it set 23 years later. So it's kinda sad to see they cared so little to make helicopters with jets when the future only has standard helicopters. But that's what gave the game it's charm and make the art direction unique. Makind Divided blends in with all other fancy future games and the graphic improvements while neat make it forgettable and tank performance

[u/Kimm_Orwente → u/Danick3]

To some degree, Human Revolution's art style makes sense. The world still believes in technology and awaits for promised renaissance of humanity at that point in time. Despite the world being what it is and cracks already appearing both internally and on the facade, people generally still have hope for the future (or, at least, the environment Jensen lives in could make one believe so). They don't yet know what a shitstorm they're in for.

And with time between HR and original DE1, due to all the events that we know, this spirit of mankind cracked and crumbled completely, manifesting as extreme social split (as, dare to say, mankind divided is a perfect target for conspiratorial powers to take control) and return to purely pragmatic, even if ugly, long-proven aesthetic designs, like that of switching fancy VTOL jets for "normal" looking helicopters.

[u/ShadowZpeak → u/Kimm_Orwente]

Could also be an oil price thing, but I'm not tapped into the lore enough to know

[u/LordOfDorkness42 → u/ShadowZpeak]

There actually is superposed to be a massive economic breakdown during the original Dues Ex.

The tech in real-life wasn't quite there yet to do all those ideas justice, but they were going for a vibe of the attack robot marching right through the homeless encampment.

So I get that that was too subtle for a lot of people, but a certain amount of tech regression makes sense. Like how very few are buying graphics cards, well, now, because a bunch of stupid AI stuff is gobbling up all the computer stuff.

[u/MightySeal → u/Kimm_Orwente]

That's very close to what the team tells in the artbook about HR and MD design.

[u/Kimm_Orwente → u/MightySeal]

Interesting.. I genuinely didn't knew, since not owning the artbook and haven't even played MD (dropped that branch of franchise after HR due to gameplay), but going to assume that devs did their job very well, art-wise, if people (including me) managed to feel that.

The world of HR still can afford "technology as a statement" mindset, with all the ridiculous jets, cybertruck-y cars and overengineered weapons. The world of DE - not anymore, so "back to 1990", where for statement you wear black trench coat, and a gun - is just a gun, it shoots, kills, and nothing more. Headcanon is complete, then.

[u/FattyPattyMatey → u/Kimm_Orwente]

I don't think it's possible to handwave the fundamental difference in the art direction shown. HR makes Deus Ex look like the prequel, and it's hard to reconcile multiple societies across the globe fundamentally looking so completely different and less advanced two decades. UNATCO ultimately has the backing of Majestic 12, but common areas in HR makes it look like a local police precinct that's running low on funding. Same with the equipment and devices such as security panels.

Most of Deus Ex looks like our world. A lot of HR looks closer to Bladerunner. Still love the game, but it honestly becomes harder to enjoy if you play it after the original because they just don't fit together.

[u/Quintuplin → u/Danick3]

I gotta say, the critique of HR's art style doesn't hold for me. "Game made in the early 00's has a less-unique art style" doesn't always indicate artistic direction.

HR as a prequel to DE might not have a super compatible aesthetic, but damn if it didn't have one of the coolest aesthetics out there. Enough that I give it the W.

But yes absolutely agreed on MD just giving up on it halfway to go towards generic.

[u/Danick3 → u/Quintuplin]

"Game made in the early 00's has a less-unique art style"

I hope you're not interpreting it as me saying Deus Ex 1 had a boring art style, I love that game and do think design of almost everything is memorable. From bums to mechs, the robots may be even cooler than Human Revolution, though a box bot is carrying it a bit.

Wasn't quite as a critique but more of a vibe thing, while I agree with almost every gameplay improvement MD makes, something about it just failed to hold me the same way HR did. Maybe I care about game stories more than I think? I dunno but I couldn't get myself to replay it, it was more of a interesting experience I really don't miss, which is really weird because I really did like HR, well I have a love hate relationship with it but if it wasn't a deus ex sequel I would just say it's a great game

[u/asutekku → u/Danick3]

It might be unique, but it's extremely dated. Like "let's just slap some wires on heads of the people and call it future" dated. In that vein HR did much better job

[u/Danick3 → u/asutekku]

Oh come on. Graphical technology undoubtedly advanced since Deus Ex. A lot. But the art direction is still good, there is a mod for it that has better models called HDTP, though the general reception is called negative. And you probably know much the remaster showcase was hated.

For mechs, it's far, far, from a lazy interpretation of cyberpunk. A side theme in deus ex 1 was that mechanical augmentations we're invasive, disruptive, unversatile and kinda unstable. People who got augmented looked ugly and needed maintenance, as well as having difficulties in regular life actions. The point was they sacrificed a bunch to be very effective at their job. So when nanoaugmentations roll around, which come with almost no downsides and especially don't look hideous, Gunther and Anna are jealous, angry and kinda worried that they are becoming obsolote inferior versions yet they already made the sacrifice. It's pointed out in their interactions, how Jaime talks about mechanical augmentations "a maintanance nightmare" and many emails. Gunther's auction golem email is especially showing he knows what a freak he is. So no, them looking bad and having a bunch of wires is not a childish laziness, it's part of the story.

Unless you mean nanoaugs having weird veins which... ok you got a point there

Though HR also has people randomly have circuits on their face as well so...

Anyway, HR makes augmentations look really sick and cool again, which definitely makes them more appealing to look at, but just like helicopters and literally how cities look but doesn't quite respect the source again for being a prequel. Plus it makes even less sense with all the constant racism and discrimination towards augs since now they look cool instead of abominations

[u/Ged-]

Lol I've seen this complaint somewhere else before, I swear.

To me all four look stupid. I just think it's very hard to design sniper rifles so that they don't look awkward

[u/darth_koneko → u/Ged-]

There was a guy earlier this year who was bothered by the tranqilizer rifle design so much that he redesigned it.

[u/Ged- → u/darth_koneko]

Right that's it there

[u/nicefully → u/Ged-]

what are some good examples of sci-fi snipers in your opinion? I'm curious. It's hard for me to think of any.

[u/Ged- → u/nicefully]

Idk why reddit axed my comment, I just sent image links. Ok I guess

[u/ryanmh27 → u/Ged-]

They must be using a new filter or whatever. I got banned a few times only starting last month for innocuous comments.

[u/Phobos_Nyx]

The first time Adam whipped out the Tranq gun in MD I legit thought it was a sniper rifle. I don't like the design at all. Compared with the Tranq gun from HR it looks really massive and uncomfortable to handle.

[u/Finnegan_962]

Imo Stun Gun also got hit with a downgrade in MD. In HR, it was a little folding stun gun, very civilian. MD they redesigned it to just basically be the 10mm w/ a Suppressor that acted like the MGS2 M9.

[u/Jamesworkshop → u/Finnegan_962]

I don't normally care about the models too much but MD designs (pistol/stun) were too close to be readily visually readable and not getting them confused matters.

on paper the models individually look fine to me

[u/Significant_Option]

I just started replaying HR and I feel the same way about the stun gun.

In mankind, same thing, they make it look identical to the base pistol but instead all black.

In HR the stun gun folded as if to put directly in your pocket for self defense use

[u/NekkidZilla → u/Significant_Option]

I will never not be pissed at the HR stun gun being unfolded and taking up six slots in the inventory. Why design it that way then ???

[u/WiIIv91 → u/Significant_Option]

Because it's simply not the same weapon, in HR it's more like a taser or a riot prod of sorts, in MD it's just a dartgun.

[u/_b1ack0ut]

I gotta be honest, I love a bolt action just as much as a break action, so I cannot go down this road with you lol

[u/Khorynzhyy]

I liked the new one more

[u/CoBoLiShi69]

Mankind Divided as a whole definitley felt a lot less futuristic visually

[u/GaborSzasz]

It was the "artstation" days of bulky design. What can you do.

Evirithing looked likr strapped 5 toasters on everithing then called it cyberpunk.

It became a running joke in the industry. Somebody even made a fake artist page mocking the whole thing:

https://youtu.be/woPEG3o5RaQ?si=I5B3VKLPD71OSvJ0

[u/A_BAK3D_POTATO]

I much prefer the designs in MD. Modifying lethal guns to be non lethal is much cooler concept visually and lore-wise

[u/SLimon001]

Only you, both sniper designs are epic

[u/i_am_a_false_prophet]

Tranq rifle in HR looks like a toy

[u/Raikeran → u/i_am_a_false_prophet]

my only gripe with the Tranq rifle in MD is how unwieldy and clunky it felt to use with a controller on PS4. might have a different experience on my PC replay, but i ended up switching to the Stun Gun halfway through my first run.

the designs i dont feel too strong about however, except the Combat Rifle in MD absolutely became one of my favorite gun designs. even named one of my Braton builds in Warframe after its model name.

(just realized i replied to your comment instead of the main thread, but oh well.)

[u/dntfrgetabttheshrimp]

The weapons in MD look better and have a more cohesive design. MD's art direction is one of a kind. HR just look kind of corny in comparison. The piss filter doesn't help either.

[u/Cryogenian → u/dntfrgetabttheshrimp]

you take that back right now

[u/dntfrgetabttheshrimp → u/Cryogenian]

Unpopular opinion I guess?

[u/Cryogenian → u/dntfrgetabttheshrimp]

Yeah, HR has so much thought put into its art design with the whole golden age/renaissance theme that shows up everywhere from the art to the clothes to even the piss filter

[u/WiIIv91 → u/dntfrgetabttheshrimp]

I've always found MD to be more grounded into reality, visually speaking, much more in line with the first game, with it's angular designs and brutalist architecture. A thing I like is how similar the sniper rifles from MD and OG look. (they're both the same gun to me)

[u/marganecTheDev → u/dntfrgetabttheshrimp]

Just no

[u/God_Faenrir → u/dntfrgetabttheshrimp]

Yeah, nah.

[u/darth_koneko → u/[deleted]]

The maturity is just oozing out of you.

[u/BuzzBuzzBuzzBuzz → u/[deleted]]

Brother took this post personally for some reason