Granted, that does work, which I was not aware of. However, several of the moves he pulls in that video would not be possible without metagame knowledge of where the guards will spawn and how they will patrol. It might be possible to do it more legitly. Still feels a bit awkward though, given that you don't have the ui indications for when you can move from cover to cover, and there's the "combat tutorial added" messages.
His moves
are the result of certain foreknowledge, but it's also something that a regular player would also have, courtesy of a magical "save/load" feature. It's also fairly possible without rushing forward at the earliest opportunity. Finally, nothing stops you from making a run for it, stealth be damned, once you're close to the exit.
UI indications can be disabled, IIRC, and you can also ignore the one-button-wonders of auto-sneaking and do it the old way. Admittedly, it yields worse results (the wall-hug-button sneaking provides better cover than simply crouching behind objects), but it's not impossible, I've seen the videos.
Tutorial messages can also be disabled, or simply ignored.
Even if I were to admit that that is not the first mission as you say I still find 'trons statement ridiculous, as that would make both games about equal., were it not for the fact that one of them directly and heavily incentivizes direct handling of the enemies whereas the other doesn't.
Even with the above concession, I still feel it is ridiculous to claim deus ex is more combaty at start. In one game, you are given a wide variety of tools, told to remember the stealth course and that as a police you should probably do your best to take them alive and in the other you are given an assault rifle with infinite ammunition, and reminders/introductions on how to shoot people (and nothing suggesting you should sneak through).
What do you want, man, decline is everywhere. Anyways, I find the "combatiness" argument retarded in its entirety. All of the DX games (even that one that doesn't exist
) could be as "combaty" as one likes. Just because you're presented upfront with one option doesn't mean you sjould take it. It's a Deus Ex game, man! Question everything, trust no-one.
Regarding incentivisation - while DXHR makes the intro sequence fairly popamole, it actually promotes the stealth gameplay more, with very fragile protagonist and hefty bonuses for stealthy non-lethal playthrough.
Plus, you're not police ("I'm ex-SWAT"), you're chief of security protecting the company from murderous attackers. There's no place for the "Stick with the prod" bullshit in such situations.