Despite the controversy surrounding the ‘Aug Lives Matter’ promotional art, the initial premise of Deus Ex: Mankind Divided is deeply engaging for me. This is, for me, what science fiction has always been about: reflecting on the issues of the present by reinterpreting them in the future. Given the significance of the Black Lives Matter movement (and its obvious parallels with the in-game movement) and racial tensions around the world, combined with speculative issues like synthetic humanoid rights, Deus Ex: Mankind Divided should have established itself as a highly interesting experience, if not a defining cultural work of our generation.

Star Ocean: Integrity and Faithlessness stars a blue-haired teenager who, in perhaps the most surprising twist, is not actually from space but is instead a resident of an underdeveloped planet. This slight departure from the norm could almost be mistaken for an innovative shake up of the formula—except that it discards the one thing that distinguished Star Ocean from other medieval fantasy-based RPGs. The science fiction coating is very Star Trek—with intergalactic treaties about not interfering with underdeveloped planets, faster-than-light travel, and teleporters—and would normally provide a contrasting viewpoint from which to explore alien worlds and customs. But in Star Ocean: Integrity and Faithlessness, you have to play the luddite—even when the truth is painfully obvious.