Customer Reviews

System Shock 2

5 star:		(42)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

The game had me dropping my mouse, backing away from the monitor and out the door. The focus here is on how Environmental Audio can go a long way to scare the be-jesus out of you. And it does it well.

Otherwise, an intelligent RPG woven together with a first-person shooter, but with a very clever, puzzle-solving touch.

Basically, you awaken from cryo-sleep on a derelict spacecraft that was sent on a mission to deep space. You awaken to find things have gone horribly, horribly wrong as some form of alien life has taken over. It's all up to you to solve the mystery.

System Shock II was a sequel that came out of nowhere and hit the gaming community like a bolt of lightning. It was one of the first 1st person shooter games that combined the usual tactics and traits of a shooter game with roleplay elements. Your goal isn't just to kill every monster in sight, but also to solve a mystery on the ship.

Another interesting aspect is that you can set up your own skills and traits, either as a fighter, a computer wiz, or a psychic. Each skill will get your through the obstacles in different ways and as you progress your prowess grows in whatever areas you choose.

The atmosphere is wonderful. As you sneak thorugh the darkened corridors there are sounds and bits of ambiance all around you. Zombies gibber as they hunt you down, monkeys chatter as they prowl through the ships, cyborgs politely ask you to come out (so they can explode in your face), steam hisses from vents, computers humm softly. This game has the hairs on my neck standing up half the time or threw me into wild fits as I tried to get myself out of a suprise attack.

The only downsides to the game were the monster re-spawning after you had cleared out a level and the rapid degredation of guns while you used them, but there is a game patch that very nicely handles this problem and also allows you to play cooperative multiplayer if you desire.

All in all this game is very much worth the price. If you want a nice shooter game with enough atmosphere and history to make it seem real then this is the perfect game for you.

After reading the reviews on this game and ordering it online, I eagerly awaited it's arrival. That wait was not in vain.

First I must say that this is not any ordinary shooter. Nor is it any ordinary RPG. It's better than both and much much more. Although the graphics are now slightly dated (running SS2 on a 720mhz machine and GeForce2 GTS is overkill for sure) the gameplay is state-of-the-art. Nothing else out there offers the melding of Shooter excitement, RPG skill and customization, and Sci-Fi Horror madness that this masterpeice sports!

I can't rave on about it enough. It is honeslty frightening! It's addictive and challenging and just a touch psychotic. The first time a baddie dashes around the corner from nowhere mumbling incoherently about "The Many," you'll be changing your shorts! And if that isn't enough, wait until you walk up on the wrong computer terminal...

This is a thinking-person's shooter. You must be very wise with your supplies and limited inventory as you sneak (and I mean sneak) your way around the remains of the ruined intersteller craft. You will need to be very sparing and particular about the upgrades you choose. You will have to be one sneaky cyber-enhanced mother with eyes and ears open wider than than a cheap hooker's legs if you want to survive this little intersteller outing.

Playability? SS2 has it. It's a quick game to learn and easy to get used to (save for those freakish things lurking in the next corridor). The interface is stunningly high-tech. Plus, if you get bored, you can always play with the "Game Pig" you found on that decapitated engineer back in Cryo...

Bottom line? Buy this game now. At the low price you'll pay, you have no excuse for denying yourself such horrific entertainment. Buy it and play it alone... with the lights off... if you dare!

Finished playing SS2 awhile back and though I would provide some quick comments. I really believe this game is highly underrated, although its obvious flaws no doubt resulted in poor counter sales. First off, the graphics are fantastic, especially given there ease on relatively low-medium range systems (the system ran very smooth and had very little glitches or freeze ups). The story is engrossing, highly intelligent (although not original), and massive in scope (this is a huge game in terms of area covered, both story wise and mission wise . . . it never seems to end and just when you think its over, Shoden has plenty more surprises). Two major pluses, the sound effects and the AI are obsolutely astounding and definitely give Half Life a run for the money. Enemies will hunt you down and security systems will track your movements with fine persicion and huanting audio presence. I can't say enought, the AI is very impressive. The major flaw of the game is that it is far too difficult for those of us who have to work for a living. Learning the proper sequence of upgrading your character so as to be super-bionic by the end of the game, and thus finishing the game, is near impossible. The missions are so challenging, that by the time you complete one, the last thing you want to do is go back to the beginning of the game and try to properly upgrade your character in order to finish further missions. However, the challenge of the game makes completing a mission very satisfying. If you save a game before rounding a corner into a shooting gallery, everytime you go back to that scene after being ..., the enemies will not come at you from their previous positions . . . talk about frustrating, but exciting nonetheless. Enemies can be very difficult to... and if you don't happen to have the proper weapons (which frequently break down by the way) forget about it! In fact, if you your not against using cheats, I highly recommend their use for the last several sequences which are, for the most part, impossible without cheats.

Given these mixed attributes however, I highly recommend SS2. For all its flaws, it is a completely submersive and unforgetable FPS/RPG experience. Great graphics, astounding AI, smooth play, and incredible depth of story, make completing the last sequences of SS2, even with cheats, undoubtedly satisfying.

If you put Thief in a blender with the movie 2001 A Space Odyssey, a touch of the movies Event Horizon and Dawn of the Dead the result might be System Shock 2. It's an RPG/Action hybrid.

The graphics and animation were knock-your-socks-off gorgious when this game originally came out (1998 I think). They still hold up well. Each level is a treat to behold. It's not quite half-life but close!

The creatures you'll encounter get a little repetitive and the levels begin to get a little less creative 3/4 the way thru. But for 10 bucks it's no big deal (actually this game is worth much more). The game always has a thick atmosphere.

I have yet to finish the game even though I've had it for several years. This is one I play when nothing else suits me. It's hard to believe this game wasn't a big commercial success. It was on many "Best of" lists. Buy it!

Two gripes: the creatures multiply when you save your game too much and the radiation spiders suck!

It's your typical nightmare; you are stationed in the starship capable of faster-than-light travel. Millions of light years away from Earth, you're awaken from the hyper-sleep only to find out the whole ship is infested with flesh eating zombies and nightmarish creatures.

You have been implemented with various cyber-modules that allow you to perform inhuman tasks, but they might not be enough to save you ... During the whole course of the game, you do not interact with any 'living' crew. Only ally you have is the woman who calls herself Dr.Polito, occasionally communicating with you via the comms module in your head, and giving you objectives that are insanely difficult. She is dubious at best but you have no other choice, but to follow her cold voice of command.

This is the outline of System Shock 2 - one of the most intense and terrifying journey you will take in PC gaming history. It's literally one hell of a game. Consider as 'Aliens' equivalent in interactive PC gaming where you 'do' have to try 'very hard' to survive.

At start there are a limited cyber-modules to upgrade your system, and some weapons you may not able to even use just yet. But there is never enough cyber-module and it makes you think really hard how you want to develop your skills.

In terms of game play SS2 is a mixture of First Person Shooter and RPG (not unlike Baldurs Gate). You do have weapons and shoots monsters but you cannot be proficient with certain types of wespons unless you learn the skills in those areas. As you go on, you will make certain choices that will affect how you would play the game later on. My advice is to study the manual and think hard before making any rushed decision. Even on easy level this game is extremely tough, not a game for casual gamers who want to play something 'quick' and 'relaxing'.

The level design is, I think, where this game shines. Each level of the starship is totally believable and makes sense to have it there. From Engineering to Medical bays, the levels are detailed and well-thought out. And the Body of the Many ... Don't even let me start....

The graphics are by todays standard are pretty much dated (especially (dead) humans where polygon counts are pretty low), and cut scenes are pretty bad in comparison as well. But they are crisp and neat at least, and convey the feelings of the starship adequately. You will be so scared - you won't even care anyway.

The sound work in the game, I think, will be the true milestone of gaming industry. Yes it's that good, especially if you got good speakers. Shrieks of crazy monkeys were never sooooo scary. Sound plays an important part in the game, I pity those who don't have good speakers or sound card. It will be a worthy investment before playing this game.

...It's a steal; you have my permission to proceed, soldier!

This is one of best games of any type I have played (and I have played a lot of games on PC). Here's what I like:

1) Outstanding, creepy ambiance...augmented by great sound and good graphics. This is one game that totally envelopes me, to the point that I completely lose myself in it for hours on end.

2) Great story. I care about what's going on and the characters.

3) Many ways to play the game. The RPG aspect, added to a FPS is truly outstanding. This is a game where it's absolutely necessary to build your character by making hard choices. In this way you write the story.

Because it's an older title it's on sale. Don't let that fool you. This is one of the greats.

All is NOT quiet aboard the Starship Von Braun, as you reel from the effects of hypersleep after a "voluntary" surgery. SS2 opens with a bang and the tension begins to mount. This is a game reliant on sound to generate atmosphere - and I assure you, atmosfear is something to worry about. From the chilling voice which issues commands, to the log files of the dead, up through the horrid sounds of the Many (and let's not forget the creak and groan of millions of tons of metal around you, holding you in space) this game radiates fear like none other.

As a soldier assigned to security duty aboard the Von Braun, you begin the game 4 years eariler, and go through the process of enlisting into one of three military branches. You then receive additional training before being shipped off; all of this seems fairly innocuous.

Once you re-awaken, things are radically different. Equipped now with a cyber-interface, you will easily be able to manage skills, equipment, and personal statistics - all available at the click of a mouse. There's something here for any fan of action games or RPGs; a broad selection of weaponry, an array of Psionic abilities (read: magic), and a group of skills and upgrades that will, with a bit of luck, see you safely through one of the most hazardous tours of duty I've ever been on.

The game is smooth, sleek, and is beautifully well lit. While creature animations lean towards the low end of the poly-count scale, they aren't really missed. What will grip you by the throat is not only the feeling of being on board this doomed expedition, but the realization that They are the Many... and They see you...

This game was, for me, perfect. Perfect balance of fight and run (don't shoot everything - this is HORROR, not ACTION - ammo isn't exactly lying on every corpse) along with a beautiful blend of action and puzzle solving. For 10 dollars you can't go wrong.

This game oozes with intense atmosphere. It is wonderfully balanced and includes some of the best gameplay to date.

The mechanics of the game work as an action-RPG. You have several attributes and several skill categories. The attributes includes speed, endurance, strength, etc. Each has a very noticable effect on your character. You inventory and melee damage increase with strength, your character moves faster with a higher speed, etc. It makes for a different play experience based on how you choose to develop your character. You can run through with guns a blazin' or develop a sneaky hacker. In addition to weapons and technological skills, you can also develop psionic powers if you choose.

The sound is also phenominal. You can hear the tormented moans of your enemies as they walk around. Using a four-speaker setup or preferably headphones really enhances the fright-factor as well.

The character interaction is very minimal. You find audio-logs of the dead crew as your explore the ship. You will also witness ghostly apparations of the recently deceased. While some thought it was empty, I felt it was right in tune with the rest of the game. It really drives home the feeling of aloneness, helplessness and desperation of struggling against an awesome unknown enemy. The other interaction you will receive is from the main computer on board the ship. It also contributes greatly to the atmosphere.

Do yourself a favor and play this game. Play it several times. It is one of the better games to be produced, period. Then pick up Deus Ex for an equally engaging experience.

This game is by far, the best game I have ever played. In my opinion, it is what games are meant to be strived for...perfection...

I am insulted, on the other hand, by some of the reviews below. Those people claiming it a poor game should go away and play their quake and their Unreal tournament. Nothing is wrong with these games, in fact, I really enjoy Unreal Tournament. The fact of the matter is UT and System Shock 2 are completely different, even though they share FPS similarities. Shock2 is not about graphics...its about immersion. Using the Thief the dark projects dark engine, I was completely immersed in Shock2, more so than any other game I've played. Its about Depth, Gameplay, plot, level and progression. Not about high frames per second and polygon counts. Leave that stuff at the door, Shock2 isn't about it...and one must have more IQ than a fish to play this game.