Others say...

"A Spellbinding Classic"
There is nothing else quite like Deus Ex.

I have a long history with video games, but have never encountered such a detailed, immersive experience as this. The player is thrust into a palpable, decaying technological society of the near future. It's a dark world where secret conspiracies spin incredibly plausible schemes for world domination, where a plague is ravaging the populace, and where fear is cunningly manipulated to further terrifying power-grabs. Deus Ex is a classic for many reasons, but this latter point is as prophetic and well-executed as any warnings handed down to us from Orwell.

I won't recount the vast, epic storyline of this remarkable game. Suffice to say these are the points that make it a must-have, must-play, and rightly deem it a classic video game.

1. The amount of exploring that can be done throughout the awesomely-rendered settings of New York, Hong Kong, Paris, and other locales is amazing. Each is highly atmospheric and immersive... from the rotting catacombs below Paris to a futuristic Hong Kong district to an abandoned fortress once belonging to the Knights Templar.

2. Actions have consequences. This is a highly intelligent game, demanding that characters do more than shoot at everything that moves. You can play through many times and each will be different, depending on things you choose to do or say.

3. This is storytelling at its best. An ingenius hybrid of conspiracy theories, technological innovations, philosophy, political theory, and sheer imagination makes for the most rewarding video game experience I've ever encountered.

4. The sweeping cast of characters is memorable, well-acted, and unique.

5. The attention to detail is unsurpassed. Everywhere you go there are books, newspapers, datacubes, emails, and messages that can be snooped into. Sure, they can be ignored easily enough, but it is fascinating to pay attention to them because they each spin ongoing, miniature story-arcs. Again, this has little to do with the story-at-large, but as you proceed with the main tale you can keep abreast of the unfolding events of this futuristic universe, read succeeding chapters of in-game novels, learn relationship dynamics between minor (and sometimes unseen) characters.

6. A combination of many game genres is to be found here: stealth, exploration, FPS, roleplaying, etc.

My first time playing Deus Ex still burns vividly in my mind years after playing it, and it possesses an addictive quality for all the reasons listed above and many other ones that can't be articulated. I still play through it once a year, like returning to a favorite book or film.

Naysayers may point out that the game's graphics are dark and grainy. Graphics do not make a game, and I found them appropriate enough in the context of the future this game creates.

This is the kind of game that should be saved, and relished, by generations now and to come.

"Four years on...and STILL at the top of it's game!"
Combining aspects of both FPS and RPG (First Person Shooter and Role Playing Games), Deus Ex promises a genuine gaming experience like no other, but let's face it; the game is now outdated in practically ever technological aspect. The graphics are showing their age, the sounds don't have the quality compared to newer titles, and the engine is almost redundant. Now you might say, "Yeah, without a doubt!" - But there is something in the game that to masses changed their perspective of gaming when it was released. Some spark, some hint of ecstasy that brought the game out into the open, and inspired a generation.

No doubt many of you have played the latest and greatest of gaming technology. Titles that made you drool over the astonishing graphics, map design, physics systems...but as you sat down and glued yourself to the monitor, you began to realise that it lacked the ability to immerse you into its environment, storyline and overall game play. Very soon it became `just another game' that promised everything, but delivered nothing but poor results, and frankly, was just another mediocre game packaged into impressive visuals.

However what Deus Ex now lacks in visual `eye-candy' it more than makes up in game play. It has the undeniable ability to draw the player into its chaotic world and immerse them deep within the corruption. The fact that your actions reflected the outcome of a situation or even the entire, game allowed us to think long and hard about what we really desired to achieve; and also questioned our very own morals - AND for four years it has continuously captivated me personally.
Few games have ever had the capacity to bring about such empathy and judgment in casual and hardcore gamers alike - and is becoming clear that it's something we are lacking in the gaming industry; INSPIRATION. What Ion Storm created was nothing other than a masterpiece, pure and simple. Regretfully the studio has now collapsed, and so their work has become but cherished memories of a company striving to become something more than just `average'. They yearned for remarkable results, and hence in my opinion they have triumphed!

Deus Ex will forever be the landmark of gaming brilliance, and I so I only hope that the reader of this review not blindly take my word for it, but download the demos - experience the game for yourself! There are copies of both the original and GOTY Edition (Game Of The Year) still lingering about; I should know - I only just purchased a NEW copy the other day. So do yourself a favour; if you haven't yet experienced the genius that is Deus Ex, or are looking to rekindle the old flame, DO IT! You won't regret the decision!

"Bryan Eastin"
Deus Ex ought to win the prophetic game of the century award. It was published back in 1999 when nobody talked about terrorists or abuses of the constitution or sacrificing freedom for safety, yet there are so many parallels with what's happened recently that it's almost spooky to play the game.
I don't generally like first person shooters, but this game is awesome. You can play like a commando, a hacker, or a thief. The plot is smooth and side quests are plentiful and generally fit in well.
Get this game.

"best game ever ."
take all the GTA's times it by both Halo and Halo 2 add all the jak & daxter games and Ratchet & clank games multipled by mortalcombats put them on steriods and they won't even put a scrach on this game..it that good. if you like shooters and stealth games this game has it. if you like adventure and RPG's with great story this is a MUSTHAVE. when doom 3 came out people bought computers just to play it.i'd buy a movie theater just to play this game to the best extent.the sequel didn't mach up to this games superior.if you r a gamer you have to have atleast heard of this.if not im asshamed to call you a human being

"Yes it will run on XP"
Download the demo on download.com and give it a try first.
I tried the demo with a bit of skepticism but I was pleasantly suprised. Though I have been out of the gaming scene for about five years, I was sad to not be able to have a joystick in my hands -- too much fumbling around the keyboard during critical moments.

Anyway, I bought the game on ebay for under two bucks.