Review: The Missing Link DLC (PC)

Title: Deus Ex: Human Revolution DLC – The Missing Link
Platform: Xbox 360, PC, PS3 (reviewed on PC)
Developer: Eidos Montreal
Publisher: Square Enix
Tagline: More of what you loved from Deus Ex Human Revolution
Family Friendly: Not at all. Adam Jensen does have blades that stab people, guns are used, headshots are pretty fatal and it can be all around violent. Stick to the ESRB rating with this one.

DLC is always a tricky proposition for a popular game. Some games have found the magic formula like the Fallout games, where the DLC adds new areas, missions and more. Some, like the DLC for Heavy Rain, fall flat due to a lack of polish, instead feeling like throwaway content. Thankfully, The Missing Link DLC for Deus Ex Human Revolution is more of the former. It is content that adds and expands on the Deus Ex brand, and it does it in an intelligent manner that does not upset the main story.

The Missing Link DLC does take place at a break point in the main story of Human Revolution. Adam Jensen decides to catch a ride on a freighter, just thinking he will sleep the trip away. Instead, things go awry, and Jensen ends up without any of his weapons, augmentations and locked into a seat. Two people are interrogating you with their fists. Jensen finds his way out, only to step knee deep into a Belltower Security substation, where gruesome experiments are being performed under the watchful eye of a man by the name of Burke. Who Burke is and what is happening on the station becomes your primary focus through the DLC.

The biggest surprise was how smoothly the DLC fits into place with the main story. You start the DLC from a separate place in the menu, but it does come at a natural breakpoint in the main story. I would also recommend that anyone that is playing this DLC wait until they complete the game as several huge plot points will be covered by characters and Jensen in The Missing Link. You can play it at any time, but it might spoil some of the main game content.

The Missing Link does not mess with the formula all that much. You can choose your pathway to success, whether you want to move in a stealthy manner, or just jump in guns blazing. It did feel like it leaned on guns at the beginning, as you are left with few stealth options and four to six enemies guarding all your exits. But shortly after that, I found myself back to my quiet ways, navigating air vents, hacking doors and putting the occasional guard into a sleeper hold.

Everything about this DLC pack seems to be so well constructed. The content is surprisingly long, yet it never drags on. The boss fight that you face is well thought out and can be approached through several avenues. It taps out around six hours in length, including most of the side quests that you can undertake. It does have you backtracking though a couple of areas several times, and while it is irritating, it does not take away from the fun of the game.

The Missing Link is a surprising bit of DLC content for Deus Ex Human Revolution. It offers up a lot of value for its cost, and ties two points of the main story together in a very nice manner. If this is a model for what Eidos Montreal has planned for future episodes of DLC content for Deus Ex Human Revolution, they have started off with one hell of a bang. The Missing Link is definitely worth the admission price and should be a day one purchase for owners of the main game.

The Good:

• Surprisingly long
• Much improved boss fight
• Adds to the main story nicely

The Bad:

• Backtracking can get old fast
• Cliched reasoning to reset your skills