System Shock® 2 (1999)

I still remember the first time a hybrid came at me when I first got then game it years ago. I panicked hit him with my wrench once before dying. That one moment very early in the game made me paranoid and it never stopped. This is the game that made me love and look for atmosphere and immersion in all the games I play. It is not a perfect or easy game but the flaws have never been enough to tarnish it for me. I could go on about it for pages about it but let me just say this is on the list of games you should play in your life if you love games. Not only that but it's still even after 14 years number one.

One of the finest and most revolutionary games ever made, right up there with the original Deus Ex, everything about System Shock 2 exudes class and atmosphere, and I am very happy to see it finally get a new release after all these years of publisher neglect. Anyone who has played Bioshock, Doom 3, Dead Space, and countless other titles will recognise their favourite aspects in this game, and in many ways this title still supercedes titles coming out today. On top of this, the excellent (if unfortunately unfinished) co-operative multiplayer adds a whole new dimension to the single player campaign, and should be attempted by anyone who can get it working stably.

I have a confession to make: when this game was released, it frightened me so much I was incapable of playing it for more than an hour. The respawning simply scared the pants off me and while I'm no fan of respawning, it's one of the few games where it works and makes sense. Replaying it after over 10 years, it's still tense but luckily I can enjoy it now without quitting the game whenever I hear a mutant nearby. It's still a magnificent RPG vs FPS and although the combat was always rather mediocre, the rest of the game more than makes up for it. Remember: this was released a mere year after Half Life! The depth is just amazing.

This game was way ahead of its tme and still rocks. Don't think, just buy it. That is all.

All you need to do, is throw your money at GoG, download and enjoy the game that basically re-invented the FPS and survival horror. They just don't make them like they used to!