What could have been.
Deus Ex is absolutley immersive, you'll be sucked into the world, as it has many characters and big open landscapes.
Deus Ex is immersive, atmospheric, has one of the best soundtracks ever, and has an amazing story.
But why a 6.5?
Because the gameplay can go die.
The RPG eleme--oh wait, their terribly implemented. The Stealh---oh wait, it's pretty terrible too.The A.I--no wait, their dumber than a bucket of toast.
Deus ex, takes the "Shooter" part of the "shooter" and breaks it over it's knee. Why, I ask, can't the highly trained agent shoot anything at the beginning of the game? This is really bothersome as you'll find yourself having to ditch the games awful stealth for a more gun toting aproach.
And once again, we fall flat on our face. Deus Ex's stealth mechanics are also terrible, as it removes the one thing necessary for stealth. EQUIPMENT. The game gives you jack crap to do any stealthing with, even though the game ENCOURAGES you to be stealthy. The game ENCOURAGES you to not kill as many people, but only gives you a taser that runs out of ammo within the first level.
The RPG elements are also as broken as can be, by that I mean, their barely there. The only things that you'll be leveling up in are Computers and Pistols, 1) so you can complete the game and 2) so you can actually SHOOT things.
Deus Ex's gameplay makes hearing this amazing story absolutley painful, as it's hair tearing difficulty curve and atrocious stealth elements break down what could have been one of the greatest games of all time.
And most of all, why in the world isn't there a store? That's important for every RPG.
When I use a lockpick (Btw, they run out, you know, the lockpicks) to get in somewhere, I find I need more lockpicks, but where? No where to be found. AWFUL DESIGN
Deus Ex's ambition makes it fall over it's feet.
I know your sending me angry comments right now commenting on how it's a "game from 2000"
But let's look here.
"Thief: The Dark Project" what makes this the weirdest, is that the lead designer of Thief was the lead designer of Deus Ex. So why was the stealth such a pile of crap? Because Looking Glass are actually competent?
"System Shock 2" The pinnacle of great game design, SS2's RPG elements play a massive role in the game. While Deus Ex's RPG elements feel like they were stuffed in. And there is moments where you have to be stealthy in SS2, but the difference is, if you get caught you can actually ESCAPE.
"Unreal" So yes, Deus Ex runs on the same engine. So why couldn't they have bothered for Unreal's amazing A.I? That is what bothers me the most. Deus Ex's A.I will stand there while you carefully pick off their heads, and get caught behind walls, it's really embarassing too.
Deus Ex is a complete mess, playing it is frustrating and painful. If you really want a FPS/RPG that bad, hunting down System Shock 2 would pay off more.
Deus Ex has a great atmosphere and story, but it's hard to enjoy these when the gameplay is flawed and broken.