Recent reviews by Azrepheal

It's not easy to review Deus Ex. So much can be said about it, but then, so much already has. There is a good chance you have already played and completed it - but if not, allow me to suggest why you should. Deus Ex is an FPS/RPG sci-fi masterpiece, packed with action, stealth, conspiracies and philosophy. You will often find it referred to as 'greatest game ever' or at least in many people's Top 10 list, and you might wonder what the appeal is. Even fans can agree that it’s not the best looking game out there. The enemy AI isn't great and the voice acting... well, the less said, the better. These flaws aren’t very subtle either, they are quite blatant - so if the game has these problems, how can so many people find it so amazing?

What defines a great game is not an absence of flaws, but an experience so rich and rewarding that any flaws - no matter how obvious - are happily ignored because they do not detract from the game overall.

Nevertheless - do people claim Deus Ex is great just because of nostalgia goggles? Yes and no. Deus Ex pioneered a number of things that have become standard practice since, and so someone coming to it completely fresh won't find it as innovative as someone who played it when it was first released. Despite that, it still shines when it comes the most important part of the game - the story. If you are the sort of gamer who cares more about the polygon count, or skip through all the text so you can get back to the shooting, this might not be the game for you. For everyone else, prepare for a wonderfully rich and detailed world with secrets around every corner. Prepare for characters that will assist you with vital information, only to find out later that they were lying through their teeth to manipulate you into furthering their own plans. Prepare for hidden agendas, dangerous enemies, international conspiracies and difficult choices.

Deus Ex is designed so well that despite being very linear, if feels like an open world game. Every level has different methods of approach that can completely change your game experience. Most importantly - your actions have consequences. It's not usually as blatant as 'go this way to save this character or this way to save this character' but far more subtle, with different ideas and philosophies introduced to you for you to decide which one you think should be the right choice.

It's my favourite game. Many others say the same. This review, as well as all others, is attempting to put into words something better left unsaid - something far better experienced. It's Deus Ex. What more can you say?