Enter Deus Ex, almost as much an RPG as it is a first person shooter, where you become the be-all and end-all of an immersive, ever-changing universe. You play JC Denton, one of a scant few to be enhanced with nanotechnology, effectively transforming you into something of an amorphous super agent. Since this is a relatively new technology, soldiers that are much more machine than man (known in 21st century military parlance as "mechs") still abound, mucking up the place with their cold, pale, and all around threatening demeanor. Beginning the game in New York, you're sent to infiltrate a group of terrorists who've just swiped a shipment of Ambrosia vaccine, the only bastion against a mysterious epidemic known as the "Gray Death." Sorry, chums; that right there is about all I can disclose about Deus Ex's very VERY intricate plotline. The story is what one may expect to find from a game like this: a conspiracy-laden drama with twists galore. But what makes Deus Ex so special is its fluidity, which prevents the constantly shifting plot from yanking the player around.

What's that? It's gameplay you want? Ion Storm's got you covered...like a Saint Bernard wearing a fur coat. The amazing gameplay is most apparent in the wide range of options open to you in any given situation. For instance, in one mission, you're required to destroy two military robots flanking the sides a building. In most other FPSes, it's mainly a matter of scrambling to find the biggest, most powerful weapon in your inventory, hoping the search doesn't turn up a measely pistol. Such is not the case in Deus Ex. If you've got a scramble grenade handy, you can make one 'bot pull a 180 and open fire on its allies. Planting a mine for the unsuspecting 'bot to stumble across is always a viable option. With the necessary hacking prowess, you can even reconfigure the security turrets to fire on the enemy, then lure the robots to their deaths. This sort of "if there's a will, there's a way" design challenges the player to discover every possible method to complete the task at hand, and isn't limited to just combat techniques, either.

The virtually limitless possibilities for character creation constitute this game's true beauty. Eleven unique and upgradable skills apply to the most frequently occurring situations. As noted earlier, a high computer rating allows you to swiftly crack open security systems, computers, and ATMs, while becoming an olympic-caliber swimmer offers excellent maneuverability and at the same time can get you around undetected. In addition to skills, there are augmentation canisters interspersed throughout the levels. Augmentations bestow special abilities apart from skills, such as greater strength or nightvision. You can choose between two augmentations in each canister, and you can heighten your selections upon finding special upgrade items. Why should you care about all this? Quite frankly, because it could mean any number of things. It could mean the difference between a 21st century ninja and a bulletproof juggernaut. It could mean the difference between a precise sharpshooter and a quickdrawing gunman. Demolitions expert? Shadowy thief? Invisible assassin? The only true boundaries lie in your preferential spectrum.

Deus Ex's graphics are admittedly nothing to rave about, but everything it lacks visually is compensated for and then some by mammoth level design. Drawing inspiration from real life locations, these enormous, non-linear stages tie in perfectly with the game's overall sense of freedom. Just as there are at least two to three ways to approach a situation, you're free to reach objectives from almost any direction you please, be it via the maze-like air ducts, murky sewers, or pristine waterways. Full frontal strategies will work, but aren't always as effective (or as fun) as uncovering some alternate route to gain the upper hand. And who wouldn't get a few kicks out of operating noisily yet unseen, making the enemy troopers scuttle around frantically while you cut them down one head shot at a time?

An extraordinarily designed game world also happens to be densely populated. NPCs give Deus Ex most of its RPG feel, being remarkably true to life, if a bit stereotypical. JC Denton's supporting cast is an intriguing mix of computer geeks, cyborgs, anarchists, gangsters, government agents, etc., each playing an integral roll in the game's machinations (an all too appropriate word!).

Prodded along by an expertly composed techno/symphonic soundtrack and some great voice acting, there's very little to find wrong with Deus Ex. Okay, so it's not without its idiosyncrasies. I personally can't figure out why the government's anti-terrorist golden boy was engineered to have the vertical of a paperweight, or how surrounding enemies can pinpoint your exact location after you've picked off some cronie using a silenced sniper rifle from a pitch black corner. Those are just miniscule speed bumps in what is otherwise the smoothest of rides, however.

If we overlook its other admirable merits for just a second, one crucial ingredient elevates this title to A-list status -- longevity. Many a cynical gamer will regale (read: bore) you with tales of the days before replay value was a lost art. Well, the amount of replay value contained herein will have even those bitter old timers beside themselves. Your MO can change with literally every subsequent pilgrimage through the game. Hell, seeing the plot unravel a few more times won't wear out right away, either! Renowned architect, designer, and engineer Frank Lloyd Wright once stated that "form and function are one." Thanks to Ion Storm, the industry now has an outstanding tribute to that ageless philosophy. PC Game of the Year competition? You're looking at it.

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