<P>The primary exception the approach is the second way you can personalise your character. You're a nano-tech augmented being, capable of being upgraded when you find a suitable canister. When this is installed, with the help of a handy medical bot, you have the choice of one of two special abilities. Do you want to hypercharge your muscle neurones for hand to hand bonus or strengthen myocin fibrils for lifting strength? A spy-drone or an ECM based missile-detonator? Speed boost or silent running? And, like skills, once they've been plugged in you can upgrade them to four power levels with increasing power.
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<P>But leaving aside the specialisation inherent in choosing what to carry in your limited inventory space and the much-appreciated option to choose the racial group of your character (originally a sex choice was planned, but re-recording the immense amount of vocal information proved impractical. Forgive them), the most interesting way: your moral choices.
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<P>With the exception of Planescape Torment, I've never seen a game which judges and rates your moral performance then integrates it into the story - yet not preaching. This isn't the superior Daily-Mail-readership judgements that the Ultima series occasionally enforced. This is simply giving your choices an effect. From major actions - such as whether you choose to follow your orders or your conscience - to minor ones - such as whether to investigate the ladies toilets in your base, the results are clearly laid out.
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<P>Oh yes: the story. Its narrative is as deep as you choose. For adventure fans, this is probably the only game since undersung semi-classic The Longest Journey to sate your conversational desires. Equally, the world drips in details. Books to read, e-mail logs to study, newspapers and data terminals to peek at. Of course, the important ones are noted in your log book - as are all the conversatios, leaving only those who enjoy to sink up information to read them. You can savour Deus Ex. Like a fine wine, it can be drank by anyone - but those who take their time and let it breathe will notice the depth of flavour.