The third game in the Deus Ex series sees cyborg security guard Adam Jensen work his way through the murky world of corporate espionage Detroit circa 2027.

Set against the backdrop of a tense debate over ‘augmentation’ – improving humans with robotic add-ons that only the rich can afford - it’s a heady mix of role playing and full-on action that rarely puts a foot wrong.

Sure, there’s some heavy handed ‘politics’ on the rights and wrongs of augmentation, with each incidental character offering their hackneyed view on the issue at every available opportunity, but that’s a minor quibble.

Human Revolution’s strengths lie in the choices it gives the player, and the consequences that come from them.

Players can influence game-play by making decisions, manipulating characters and choosing different upgrades – souping up (almost) every part of Jensen’s half-robot body you can think of, from eyes, lungs, to even pheromones.

And, although it’s a closed world, Human Revolution offers so many different alternatives to every obstacle that you’re given the impression of complete freedom.

Don’t fancy blustering in to the enemy camp all-guns blazing? Then why not try crawling through the sewer system? Not into forgiving the terrorist leader? Well, try shooting him in the head.

But it’s testament to the design of the game that the player never feels lost or made to spend hours wandering around identical corridors. Excellent maps and logical layouts mean that exploring future Detroit (and beyond) is a joy.

Combat controls are a little tricky at first, but once mastered, the battle sequences are tremendous fun, whether you’re sneaking behind enemy guard’s backs without setting off the alarm, or just creeping up behind them to perform a silent takedown.

(It’s possible to go through the whole game without killing anyone, although I guess it’s technically possible to complete the game wearing a blindfold too, if you really wanted to.)

The only downside to the game is the hacking sections, where you randomly jab at buttons and hope doors will open, but they’re thankfully kept to a minimum.

It’s definitely a tough game, where you’ll find yourself repeatedly dying, but it’s so addictive that you’ll be reloading over and over again, desperate to see what happens next. And while the plot is pretty heavy on the sci-fi, the more you play, the more immersed in Adam Jensen’s world you’ll become.

Part futuristic conspiracy-thriller, part stealthy shoot ‘em up, Human Revolution is perhaps the perfect video-game.