Video Game Details | Deus Ex: Human Revolution and gun safety

I loved Deus Ex: Human revolution. It had a great atmosphere, pretentious (but fun) story that also encapsulated some pretty big themes and ideas. It managed to create a world both futuristic and believable; even if every part of the future vision it offered was pretty damn pessimistic it still felt quite possible. Within this world we get a lot of things I love and could praise in great detail; like the fashion, the way strangers in different areas treat you (gwai lo or laowai in one area, handsome stranger or bar creep in another; narc or cop-lover in one area and hanzer in the next) or just the fact that the game has some sexy, sexy rooms and ceilings. (Seriously, those ceilings are incredible; check out this album of screenshots someone put together, they are beautiful http://imgur.com/a/FDAbV)

Something I really love is the way NPCs react to your actions; they will freak out if you do dumb stuff like crouch walk everywhere, and will get frightened if you’re waving a gun about. If you holster your pistol there’s an easy to miss animation where Jensen flicks the safety with his thumb (couldn’t find a clip of this for some reason, I guess no-one else bothers to holster their weapons, but the detail is there should you care). I love this; in games often your weapon is somehow inseparable from your being; you can’t holster them in times of peace, or lulls in action and the result is almost surreal at times.

This is how I would also react if someone talked to me while pointing their weapon at my crotch

DE:HR though allows you to holster your weapon and it’s important; there are stealth sections that you will immediately be spotted/ suspected if you carry your gun around in the open and people won’t talk to you if until you holster your hand cannon of choice. Have a look at the way two different NPCs react to your weapon; both are used to a stepped up military and police force and aren’t terrified of the weapon as some scientists you might meet in the game can be so their two sets of reactions represent a balance between a lack of surprise and the discomfort of having a weapon in their face.

Without a gun pointed at him

With a gun pointed at him

I like this a lot; you aren't threatening to shoot strangers and acquaintances every couple of seconds and you're made to represent the familiarity and professionalism you're character is supposed to posses though your own actions. It's a small detail, but one that contributes much to the world of the game; the self-same world that is probably the main reason I love this game.