It doesn't..if we are talking about the plot.
It does if we are talking about world building and lore, but we aren't really talking about that here since Deus Ex has that one locked down.
It's to do with the fact that "story" in most reviews just means the main plot thread that takes you through the game...I believe that to be far less important than world building and lore.
Agreed, bear in mind the hierarchy is like (I just realised the formatting to follow might entirely break):
<story>The entire fictional universe, the whole thing, like as a ubiquitous whole.
---------------<symbolism and theme>
------------------------------<narrative>How the story is told, the 'lens' (style, techniques, perspectives - the execution)</narrative>
------------------------------<plot>Events that pull the user through the narrative - basically optional</plot>
------------------------------<backstory/lore/context>
---------------------------------------------<characters></characters>
---------------------------------------------<places></places>
---------------------------------------------<historical events>Past plot</historical events>
------------------------------</backstory/lore/context>
---------------</symbolism and theme>
</story>