Oh System Shock 2, how do I count the ways in which I love thee? System Shock 2 is one of the earlier examples of a game that combines first-person movement and shooting with RPG mechanics to differentiate playstyles and encourage replayability. It is also an amazing example of an "immersive sim," a design philosophy in which freedom to approach the circumstances is paramount.

The FPS mechanics on their own are fairly poor compared to the shooters of the time, namely Quake and Unreal. Movement isn't anything to write home about and the shooting has a fairly low quality to it. The default control-scheme is awful, although it is very customizable, so it's a moot point. The control aspect of the game gets the job done well enough, and really isn't where the meat of the enjoyment comes from.


The real fun part of this game is the RPG side. The player chooses a class of sorts by deciding between one of three military branches. The difference largely coming down to starting skills. The skill variety is massive, and a fair amount of them are useful and allow for different playstyles depending on the choices made. From a psi-user that can beef up their speed and melee damage to a pure damage focused, guns blazing kind of person, replaying with a different style is definitely encouraged. The primary problem this all brings up is build quality. While you can go many different ways with your build; a bad enough build can almost prevent you from finishing the game at all.


The writing and story is back and forth. The audiologs and enviromental storytelling is fantastic, and immerses you in the world in an unforgettable way. The twist is fantastic, fantastic enough to be mimicked by it's successor several years afterwards. Anyone who spoils it for you deserves to have their vocal chords ripped out. The ending cutscene is comically bad and atrociously ruins everything that's built up over the past several hours.


The sound design is fantastic. Crewmates infected by the local bug-alien population project bone-chilling moans and screams, begging for you to kill them and apologizing for their uncontrollable attempts to end your life. Cyborgs charged with protecting larvae threaten to tear out your spine with a horrifically calm demeanor while their feet clang against metallic floors. The sound design in this game is second to none, with the exception of the music. While the high-intensity techno-dance music isn't bad on it's own, you really need to turn it off for all the other sound design to have their intended effect. Graphics are nothing to write home about, infact they're pretty dreadful in areas. Definitely grab a mod to increase the quality.


It took me three tries to get into System Shock 2. After it clicked, however, I had the most fun I've had in almost any game. Definitely pick it up if you liked 2017's Prey. If good FPS mechanics are a priority for you, it might suit you to go elsewhere.