Deus Ex is one of those PC games that gives you an incredible amount of freedom and simply lets you get on with it.
Released in 2000, this cyberpunk action RPG puts you in the role of JC Denton, an augmented agent caught up in a massive conspiracy involving governments, corporations, terrorists and some seriously dodgy characters.
The biggest strength of Deus Ex is player choice. You can approach situations with guns blazing, sneak past enemies, hack computers, pick locks or use your dialogue skills to find another way through. There isn’t always one correct solution, and experimenting with different approaches is a huge part of the fun.
The RPG mechanics work brilliantly alongside the action. You can improve skills, install cybernetic augmentations and customise JC Denton to suit your preferred playstyle. Want to be a stealthy hacker? Go for it. Prefer heavy weapons and shooting everything in sight? That’s perfectly possible too.
The story is another major highlight. Deus Ex tackles themes of conspiracy, surveillance, inequality and technology, giving the game considerably more depth than your average shooter. The world feels packed with secrets, and exploring conversations and documents can reveal plenty of interesting details.
It isn’t perfect, though. The graphics and animations have definitely aged, and the interface can feel clunky. Some of the AI behaviour is also a bit rough around the edges.
Still, once you get past its age, there’s an enormous amount to appreciate.
