Is it really possible to finish Deus Ex without actively killing a single enemy?

Question

Recently I read an old article about violence in video games. This article was astonishingly informed, since it mentioned that Deus Ex can be played without actively killing a single enemy.

I played Deus Ex a lot some years ago, but I can't think of a way to really complete the game without killing. I think the way to use is to use a lot of sneaking and tranquillizers. But I can't imagine that this is enough for the whole game. So my question is, has anyone of you completed the game without killing or has a serious source that mentions how it works?

Answer

Actually, yes, and I believe it even extends to all of the bosses. If you stick to tranquilizer darts, gas grenades, batons, and stun guns, you can get through most fights without actually killing anyone.

This is really easier said than done though, since non-lethal ammo is very limited, and you'll find that the some of the boss fights are nearly impossible.

If you're going to actually try this, sneak past as many guards as possible, conserving ammo for when you really need it.

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How do I earn the Pacifist Achievement?

Question

There have been some extended discussions on what will or will not break your eligibility for the Pacifist achievement, but nothing conclusive as to what actually is taken into account.

What actions (either directly or indirectly) result in an ineligibility to earn the pacifist achievement?

Additionally, is there any way to check one's save game to see if they are still eligible for the achievement?

Answer

An unofficial, but popular Deus Ex wiki says the following:

"The aim is to complete the game without killing anyone directly, or someone dying as a result of an action taken by the player. The only exception to this is the Boss fights...killing anyone in the Prologue chapter will lock out this achievement

And currently, it appears there is no way to see if you are still eligible for the achievement at any time:

"Unfortunately if you lock out the achievement by accident, unless you aware that you did so and reload an old save, there is no indication that you have done so and may end up playing through the game and not get the achievement due killing a character earlier in the game."

This seems to be a fairly sought after feature though. Since the game has been so popular since its release (over two million units sold already), I would not be surprised if a patch is released soon resolving these complaints.

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Are the gas cylinders the same as gas grenades in Deus Ex: Human Revolution?

Question

I'm doing a new run in Deus Ex: Human Revolution (going for Pacifist and Foxiest of the Hounds) and I was wondering if the gas cylinders you find lying around count as the knock out gas found in the gas grenades or if it is lethal.

I'm in the opening sequence and using the cylinders seems to be the best way to deal with the mercenaries.

Answer

The gas in them is non-lethal, so yes, enemies will be knocked out by the gas. But, if you actually throw or drop it on them, they will die.

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How can I not snap people's necks (or only snap it a little bit)?

Question

So the wall-punching augmentation (in the Cybernetic Arm Prosthesis augmentation tree) allows you to punch through weak walls, but will automatically have you snap the neck of anyone standing on the other side of them.

Am I correct in assuming this will ruin a pacifist playthrough? Is there any way to do a non-lethal wall-punch and only snap his neck a little bit?

Answer

Since breaking through walls is accomplished by using E instead of Q, there is no distinction between lethal and non-lethal intentions. When there is a person on the other side, you snap his neck and get the "Man Down" exp bonus without the "Merciful Soul" bonus you get from a non-lethal takedown. Since the game recognized this as a kill, I'm sure it will ruin the pacifism achievement/trophy.

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How can I avoid killing people?

Question

I hate to get murder jobs in the game (what should I tell Michelle?) ... until now I basically played the missions as usual, but as the game is "open-world" (well, is it?) I thought I could maybe play it differently ... right now I'm right before the "No Love Lost" mission, where I have to kill the biker boyfriend of Faustin's daughter. I don't mind getting unnerving people out of my way, but I'm certainly not born to be a hitman for other assholes. How can I avoid killing people in the game but still advance in missions?

Answer

It's... not that sort of game. Some of the missions explicitly require you to kill one or more people - including unarmed people. It's disconcerting, yes, but I'm pretty sure there's no way to advance the plot without doing these kinds of missions. The GTA series is infamous for the terrible things you do - it has missions in which you beat up juries, missions when you distribute drugs to kids, missions when you bury people alive, etc.

Alternatively, you can forget about the main plot entirely and just play the game as an open-ended sandbox, taking jobs as paramedic, vigilante, competing in races, etc. (though you have to kill some people just to unlock those options...).

One final thing, if you want to avoid running over pedestrians during intense car chases, use the horn! Pedestrians will run away and jump out of the way when you honk. It's also useful for warning other cars - so useful, in fact, that I've bound the horn to one of my mouse buttons (playing on the PC).

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Does killing in the opening sequence count against the Pacifist achievement?

Question

In Deus Ex: Human Revolution, is it possible to get the pacifist achievement even if one kills enemies in the opening sequence? Boss fight kills do not count against the achievement, so I'm wondering if the same applies to the start of the game since you have fewer tools at your disposal.

Answer

According to this thread at Xbox360Achievements.org, kills in the opening sequence do count towards the achievement.

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