Note: I originally posted this review on Gamepro.com

Pales a little in comparison to the PC version, but it's still at the top of it's class.

     Hitting two years after the PC original, Deus Ex Hit the PS2 in style.

     Fans of the PC version will instantly notice many differences in the PS2 version when compared to the original. The game has been "consoled up" in an attempt to make it more playable to console gamers. Gone is the ability to to take individual limb damage which has been replaced by the standard life bar now. Many of the levels have also been redesigned, or rearranged due to ram constrictions, and there are longer and more frequent load times as well. You also now have the ability to upgrade your augmentations at anytime during the gameplay instead of having to find a medical bot, and the inventory has been expanded and redesigned.

     On a good note, I preferred the PS2 version's expanded inventory. Your inventory screen can be brought up anytime during the gameplay, and unlike the PC version requires less management. Now it could be argued that the PC version's inventory system required a more tactical approach, and really made you think more about what items you do and don't need which is true, but in the PS2 version, you only have to pick certain items once, and once they fill that slot, you won't have to deal with them again. In the PC version, I was constantly having to stop and drop a ton of items that I picked up in searching the dead or unconscious bodies of my enemies (why does everyone and their brother have to carry a damn knife on them in the PC version) which made item management a more frequent occurrence.

     The PS2 version also has better character models than the PC version does, and it adds fully CGI beginning and ending sequences. However, considering that this game runs on the original Unreal Engine from 1998, the game's graphics still aren't that impressive when compared to other PS2 games of it's time. In fact, the graphics are the weakest part of the game, but those who partake in Deus Ex will soon find out that the game's appeal isn't in it's visuals, but it's enthralling gameplay.

     What makes the PS2 port a still remarkable game despite it's differences from the PC original, is that it still retains the gameplay elements that made that version so fun to play. Retained is the first person shooter/RPG hybrid gameplay, the deep and conspiracy filled storyline, and, of course, the free-form you choose how you want to play the game gameplay.

     For those not familiar with Deus Ex, you play as JC Denton a government agent who's drawn into a world of conspiracies, and secret societies. The story has a ton of twists, and covers a lot of topics that will interest many a conspiracy prone gamer, or just any gamer who likes a deep story in their games.

     The gameplay is free form. That means that you have the choice in the game. Though there is a linear narrative throughout the game, and you will always end up at the same place in the end, it's how you go about getting there that matters. Each level is riddled with multiple branching paths, and hidden areas. The game leaves it up to you to choose how you want to play. If you wanna go in there like Rambo with guns blazing, and killing anything and everyone in sight, then you're allowed to do so. However, if you wanna take the minimum force approach, and don't want to take a life, or are just into exploring, then find another route, and in Deus Ex there is always another route, or two. The real beauty of it is that this gives the game endless replay value, because you'll never play through the game the same way twice. You are also rewarded with skill points for exploring every area. Those skill points can then be used to level up various abilities like lock picking, hacking, and ever your weapon skills which is where the RPG elements come into play.

Bottom Line: Though the PC version is the better version, the PS2 version still retains most of what made the PC original so great, and that makes it one of the best PS2 games you can put your money down on

Here's a vid I uploaded to youtube of the game in action: