It's all been said in the other reviews, but let me just add that if you haven't had the Deus Ex experience yet, you ARE missing out. Yes, the graphics are dated and some elements of the user interface leave a bit to be desired, and the same could be said of the damage modeling. However, small hiccups aside, this is still - by far - the most memorable journey I've ever taken from within the construct of a game. DX received some criticism for being a "jack of all trades", a little RPG, a little Shooter, a little Graphic-Novel-esque... But what the game does so well, is it lets you uncover the game's story - the conspiracy - for yourself, first-hand, with whatever means suit your style. (And as a side note, the story itself is actually built on existing real-world conspiracies, both alleged and in a few cases, partially confirmed). This is a hugely ambitious game that actually pulls it off, and in every area that matters - over-delivers on its promises. It has since become the measuring stick for all games that attempt to follow in similar style, including the sequels. To date, nothing has come close to creating the sense of immersion and player-driven discovery of a virtual world, inside an action/adventure game. Deus Ex is ironically named. The writing mechanism ("deus ex machina") is a plot device where a crisis or problem is solved through the sudden appearance of a far-fetched solution that essentially just drops out of the sky - and usually just in the nick of time. It's a tactic used by lazy writers everywhere. Fortunately, Deus Ex (the game) takes no such shortcuts. The plot, and the unraveling of the conspiracy, is completely fleshed out, and vastly comprehensive to the player who is willing to explore DX's virtual world in depth. And so there you have it. My take on why Deus Ex is currently, and likely will be for a very long time - the most unforgettable gaming experience I've ever had. Buy it, play it. You'll thank me later.
