Locks are gameplay elements that appear in all games of the Deus Ex series. Locks typically serve as obstacles that the player must overcome in order to pass through a locked door or obtain valuables in a locked container.
Deus Ex[]
Deus Ex features two types of locks:
- Traditionally locks, which can be picked using lockpicks and/or opened using NanoKeys on the keyring. Traditional locks are implemented as properties of doors. Locked doors have a meter indicating their "Lock Strength." The Lock Strength must be taken to 0% of 100%, though it can start at any number in between. One lockpick will lower the percentage by a certain number, and this is determined by the Lockpicking skill.
- Security keypads, which are interactive electronic locks that can unlocked by entering a passcode or by use of a multitool.
If JC Denton is spotted by friendly AIs when he is lockpicking or bypassing, they might turn hostile.
Deus Ex: Invisible War[]
In Deus Ex: Invisible War, there are still interactive electronic and simple locks. All interactive locks can be opened through explosives, softkeys or universal multitools, which will now open a metal lock on a door along with keypads, which can no longer be used button-by-button as they were in Deus Ex. The Keycode must be read to access a keypad, and the code is never revealed to the player. Many more locks can now be opened through hacking a computer and selecting the "open" queue.
Deus Ex: Human Revolution[]
In Deus Ex: Human Revolution, only electronic locks, known as keypads, can be found in the game. Keypads can be accessed by the hacking minigame or by entering a four-digit code. Unlike Deus Ex, they are always four-digit and they cannot contain symbols such as "*" or "#". Those symbols on the keypad are replaced with the "Close" and "Undo" buttons.
If the player has found the code in-game, the code will be displayed when the right keypad is used. No penalty is given if the code is incorrectly entered. However, failing a hack will cause the keypad to be locked down for 30 seconds and may trigger an alarm.
Deus Ex: Mankind Divided[]
Locks in Deus Ex: Mankind Divided come in two forms:
- Keypads and terminals – Keypads (also known as "terminals" when used to unlock additional control functionalities), are similar to the keypad locks in Deus Ex: Human Revolution. Each keypad will have between 5 and 2 hacking attempts, based off the lock strength. Locks can be hacked, opened with a Multi-Tool, or opened with a code. For details on game mechanics, please see the linked article.
- Keycard readers – Keycard readers function as locks that can be opened only if the corresponding keycard has been found.