My Deus Ex lipsyncing fix mod

Original Article ↗ Hacker News Discussion ↗

Deus Ex’s Legacy and Impact

  • Many commenters call it one of the greatest PC games ever made, citing formative “mind‑blow” moments (e.g., prison escape, Anna Navarre decisions, MJ12/Illuminati arcs).
  • Praised for level design, sandbox mission structure, rich locations, dialog depth, and the sense of a larger world outside the maps.
  • Several say it changed how they thought about politics, leadership, anarchism, and distrust of institutions.

Nostalgia vs. Modern Playability

  • Some argue “you had to be there”: its impact was tied to its time, like The Matrix.
  • Others report replaying it recently with mods and finding it still excellent; story and themes seen as timeless, even if graphics and controls feel clunky.
  • There’s debate over how much nostalgia colors modern appreciation.

Themes, Politics, and Conspiracy Culture

  • The pandemic, corporate power, and “what if all conspiracies were true?” angle feels even more relevant or more uncomfortable now.
  • Multiple comments contrast 90s X‑Files‑style conspiracy fun with today’s QAnon/vaccine denial culture, saying the same material reads very differently now.
  • Some criticize public figures for selectively invoking the game to justify anti‑public‑health views while ignoring its actual stance on vaccines and power.

Mods, Fixes, and Remasters

  • Strong interest in mods: GMDX, Revision, and Deus Ex Randomizer (Zero Rando) are mentioned, along with Linux/Wine and Steam Deck tips.
  • Disagreement over Revision (some love its convenience and enhancements, others dislike altered maps/soundtrack).
  • The new official remaster trailer is widely panned as “low effort,” “AI-upscaled-looking,” and mood-breaking; fans compare it unfavorably to community work and to better-regarded remasters of other games.

Emergent Gameplay, Jank, and Tech Details

  • Many cherish the “jank” (lip‑sync, voice acting, odd scenes) as part of the charm; others welcome the new lipsync fix.
  • Detailed discussion of DX’s crude collision model: a single cylinder with awkward head/body/leg hit logic and broken bullet drop, explaining unreliable headshots and melee.
  • Examples of emergent exploits (LAM wall‑climbing, grenade jumps, scripted scenes breaking hilariously) are celebrated.

Music and Atmosphere

  • The tracked soundtrack is highly praised and still regularly listened to; specific levels and themes are called out as iconic and emotionally powerful.

Future of the Genre

  • Commenters compare Deus Ex’s ambition to later immersive sims (Prey 2017, Human Revolution, Cyberpunk 2077) and open‑world RPGs, debating whether any truly match its systemic depth.
  • Some speculate about an “ultimate game” combining open simulation (like voxel sandboxes) with LLM‑driven dynamic story and dialog.