This review contains spoilers
What an experience.
While a great deal of the plot is, indeed, references to 10+ year old in-jokes formed on an internet message board that has been dead for quite a while now, it's easy to relate if you've ever been a part of an internet community, especially one that's no longer around.
There is also something to be said, I think, about the narrative twist revealed near the last few levels - GameSpy being hostile invaders planning to take over fansites and turn them into profit-driven websites. While GameSpy may be long dead by now, the twist is still relevant for today just the same as it was back in the early to mid 2000's (Fanon/Wikia as an example off the top of my head.)
As far as the gameplay goes, it's great. Deus Ex with some updates to the formula. I had a ton of fun. I went WC and ended up banning Scara once I realized that was an option.
Play it, especially if you liked Deus Ex! It was recently updated with new maps by some of the original team.
While a great deal of the plot is, indeed, references to 10+ year old in-jokes formed on an internet message board that has been dead for quite a while now, it's easy to relate if you've ever been a part of an internet community, especially one that's no longer around.
There is also something to be said, I think, about the narrative twist revealed near the last few levels - GameSpy being hostile invaders planning to take over fansites and turn them into profit-driven websites. While GameSpy may be long dead by now, the twist is still relevant for today just the same as it was back in the early to mid 2000's (Fanon/Wikia as an example off the top of my head.)
As far as the gameplay goes, it's great. Deus Ex with some updates to the formula. I had a ton of fun. I went WC and ended up banning Scara once I realized that was an option.
Play it, especially if you liked Deus Ex! It was recently updated with new maps by some of the original team.