This is, without a doubt, the scariest game I ever played. Sure, there are some intense survival horrors to play, with a lot of action and monster jumping on you at every corner, but is it really scary, or just shocking at times? I actually know people who didn't finish this game because it was too frightening for them to play. "Look at you hacker - pathetic creature of meat and bone, panting and sweating as you run through my corridors. How can you challenge a perfect immortal machine?" - this is how you feel throughout the game: panting and sweating, with no real hope of survival. Every enemy is a challenge, every room is a potential death trap, you are always on the run, overwhelmed and fighting to stay alive. Graphics is dated, by today standards, sure, but still shocking; atmosphere is second to none; game mechanics - just perfect, balanced and well thought through; and above all: voice acting - splendid, best I heard in any game, it makes you really immerse yourself in the world of System Shock. Of course I can't omit the main enemy: Shodan. It's the most menacing, vile and frightening presence you'll meet in computer games. Always present, even when you don't see/hear her, always plotting to harm you. I've seen she's compared to Glados from Portal, and it's just laughable. Shodan is a nightmare, and Glados is just a toy, literally. So, if you're undecided about System Shock 2, my recommendation: buy it, play it, and be amazed.
