System Shock® 2 (1999)

For two reasons (number one I'm lazy, number two being I don't want to give it away) I'm not going to discuss the story of this game; it's just too good to just give away in a review. Suffice to say it's an amazing story. The gameplay of System Shock 2 is well... clunky, to say the least but, it adds to the terrifying feel of the game along with: weapon degradation, low ammo amounts, low health, and a crap load of other things; all this adds to the terrifying feel. The music is good and fits the feel of the game. It's not the best music in the world, not likely to be something you'll want to put on your iPod but it most certainly gets the job done. This game is (as evident by my title) my favorite game of all time. Everything in this game works together to create such a creepy and unsettling atmosphere: the gameplay, music, graphics, story. All these things combine to create an absolutely wonderful game, for example: at one point in the game you see a blood splatter on the wall and, under it the body of a man with a gun in his hand and bottles of alcohol surrounding him; it's easy (though not pleasant) to imagine him drinking to the point of being drunk and shooting himself in the head, ending his life. As you can see this game is very dark. As I said before all of this combines to make and incredible atmosphere that creates one of the most breathtaking game experiences you will have in your lifetime.

System Shock 2 is one of my all time favorites, which I've played many times and will play many times more. It's a great game in all respects. The game is a CRPG-FPS hybrid with basic stats and specific skills to level up. Skills include a Hack skill, a Repair skill, a Strength skill, skills for specific weapons (Standard, Energy, etc.), psionic powers (think magic spells), and other standard RPG skills and stats. The shooting aspect of the game requires caution--ammo is scarce and weapons break (which is one reason you'd want to level up the Repair skill). You don't feel powerful in this game; the sense of surviving on limited means is one of the aspects that makes System Shock 2 rewarding and fun to play. The game takes place on the Von Braun, a spaceship of the mega corporation TriOptimum. It's exploring way out in space when the ship is hijacked by an unknown force. On top of PDA audio logs, there are other effective story elements, like blood writing on the walls and intercom voiceovers by the ship's AI, "Xerxes". The audio is also really well done. The hum of the spaceship makes you feel like you're floating way out, isolated in space; the music is fantastic cyber-computery fare; and the voice acting for the PDA logs and enemies is overall excellent. System Shock 2 an excellent, great game. I feel kind of bad just writing this quick snippet review of it, but I'll have to let this suffice. You owe it to yourself to play this classic.

Greetings, pathetic little hackers of flesh and bone! ;) I remember playing this game when it got out, back in 1999 or so. I didn't finish the game back then, because it was way too difficult. I played it bruteforce at the time, only wielding the wrench and not paying attention to anything. So I probably missed the whole game. A few days ago I installed (with all the recommended PlugIns and Updates) and after I've almost finished it I have to say: A masterpiece. With flaws. The Good: Evolving story, story twists, RPG and character development (in terms of leveling up) at its finest, great music by Eric Brosius and a huge backstory which unfolds in audio logs. Effectively SS2 ist just one HUGE big level on a spaceship, where you can (have to!) travel back and fourth. I like the idea a LOT. Overall it's the grandfather of Deus Ex, BioShock etc and it shows in many terms, how it's done right. The Bad: The graphics were just plain terrible even back then in 1999. All the texture updates by the community just slighty increase this fact. Enemies have almost no variation and are done without any effort; shotgun wielding hybrids look like the gun is part of their arm. Also, grenade throwing hybrids have grenades grown in their hands. Big problem is that enemies hit you, whenever you're in range. There is no dodging or anything, if you're in line of sight, you're being hit. And even on the easiest settings, your enemies are dead accurate shooters / throwers. Overall: Enemies are boring. Monkeys? Little worms? Now c'mon! Biggest flaw is the fact that the (great!) levels are so huge and sometimes labyrinth-like you absolutely have NO clue where to go or where to find a mission object. While you're searching for the objective and scavenging the maps, all enemies respawn and slowly drown your supply of boosters and energy. The map or the "notes" - section is no help here either to help you reach your destination. Overall: Buy and play this game, you won't regret a second.

Masterpiece!

Amazing predecessor to BioShock