System Shock® 2 (1999)

I hardly ever refer to games as "perfect", but for me System Shock 2 is one of the few games that comes close to that. The graphics are a bit outdated by today's standard, but the atmosphere has not changed at all. SS2 is probably the only game that has genuinely scared me. I remember the first time I played it, in a dark room at night, and how my heart rhythm probably qualified as cardiac arrest at several points. You don't need to have played the original System Shock to enjoy this game, but if you have then you'll be pleased to know that Shodan is back. If you don't know who Shodan is, imagine a darker and more angry GLaDOS.

Why haven't you bought this game already?

well, i gave up and used a fan patch and my old cd last year so I ain't buyin..but it's utterly worth it if you can't find your old disc, don't have it anymore, or have never played it. one of the best action-RPGs ever, the game that inspired Deus Ex, and the horror game to end all horror games. The kind of game that you finish and realize you'll never see anything that good again.

Works on OSX via Wine :)

One of the best games out there, period. You can find reviews that rave about this exceptional game everywhere around the internet. What's more important about this great release on GoG though, is that it represents a second chance, a chance to mark SS2 as a best selling success. Although critically acclaimed, SS2 never managed to be a "commercial" success. It's one of those games that publishers will say that "do not appeal to focus groups", "people find complicated and difficult to follow" and whatever else that's gotten us to the point where we get Modern Military Warface Call of Medal 12 every year. Sales figures of this 13 year old masterpiece is the loudest roar that we, as gamers, can shout to publishers to make them see that these are the games we want, these are the games they should be making and these games can sell great. No need for Modern Military Warface Call of Medal 13 next year.