System Shock 2

One of the most immersive games ever made. The last Mission sucks major poo poo stains tho

This is 11/272 in my unplayed steam library so far. This is an easy recommendation, especially if you already like Bioshock. It's kind of fascinating, this game has the clear building blocks before they ended up making Bioshock. All the survival, heavy worldbuilding is all there. It's just clunkier. I personally don't plan to beat it right now, but maybe one day I will. For me the Bioshock series gives me all I need and more compared this System Shock. For anyone that wants more, or that old 90s pc game aesthetic along with it, this is definitely for you.

I don't want to wax on about what [i]System Shock 2[/i] is not rather than what it is, but because I feel strongly about it and to get it out of the way, I really have to say that my one, main disappointment upon completing the game is that it's supposed to be a sequel to [i]System Shock[/i]. This game hardly feels anything like its predecessor. I absolutely loved the first game and its excellently designed action-exploration gameplay in a lonely, suspenseful setting. I'd heard that the sequel was fairly different and knew that it introduced RPG elements with a bit more of a horror focus, but I still expected that it would have some of what I loved so much about the first game. This didn't really end up the case much at all despite still more or less involving lonely exploration of dangerous corridors in space. [i]System Shock 2[/i] is a good game but truly a completely different kind of game from [i]System Shock[/i]. [i]System Shock 2[/i] is pretty fun for what it is. The creepy atmosphere and ambience are well done, quite similarly to [i]Thief: The Dark Project[/i] since it's made in the same engine and uses a lot of similar techniques (and even some carried over guard animations that I chuckled at). Logs are used like in the first game to further establish atmosphere and tell the story of what happened on the Von Braun. The maps are also designed very much like they're supposed to be real spaces occupied by people, even more so than in the first game. It's all rather interesting and immersive. The RPG aspect of [i]System Shock 2[/i], as you'd expect, stands out for offering variety in how you can approach situations. Resources are limited, particularly early on, so you have to rely on effectively focusing a build that lets you work around limitations, like using psionics to avoid ammo usage and weapon degradation or hacking to more easily get around cameras and turrets. I went with a build focusing on PSI supplementing melee and standard weapons since PSI is more or less the magic option. It was pretty cool. It costs a lot since you have to invest more cyber modules into unlocking psionic disciplines, but the way they can buff you up and get you out of sticky situations in ways you can't quite manage with just plain tools is very satisfying. You're given more lenience in how you can spend points in easy and normal difficulties, but whatever difficulty you choose, you're very limited in how you approach enemies by what you've invested cyber modules in to the point that you can't even use a pistol without at least one point in Standard Weapons. This entire system generally feels like the main focus of the game. The core experience is about how you build your character in the oppressive corridors of the Von Braun in order to fight back against The Many with your limited resources. I don't feel like it's entirely that well balanced considering the numerous psionic disciplines of dubious usefulness or the sheer level of cyber module investment required for many build paths that may or may not even be that good, but the options available and how they limit you are what matter here and make it interesting nonetheless. Exploration, on the other hand, felt like much less of a focus than character-building and action, a stark contrast to [i]System Shock[/i]. While exploration is indubitably still a focus and something to put some effort into in order to be rewarded with new supplies and cyber modules, [i]System Shock 2[/i]'s map generally feels far less mazelike and more intuitive to navigate and figure out. There's also more guidance. You're more frequently contacted via e-mail and given clear directions about your current objectives on top of having an objectives list that can be checked at all times. You need to try to explore, but it never felt like something that required that much effort compared to managing stats and equipment. Compared to the first [i]System Shock[/i] or even [i]Thief[/i], it's a much smoother experience, so I was kinda disappointed on that front. Like stated previously, more of the focus is on the obstacles and curveballs encountered during exploration and how you handle them rather than exploration itself. Story is much more front and center than the first game, which I don't mind. It's told about as well via the logs you find while also featuring more direct twists and turns. I like how it ties into the story of the first game in an unexpected way. It's creepy and compelling, and my only real gripe is that the ending cutscene is absolutely (amusingly?) bizarre. I don't have too much to say about it and generally liked it. [i]System Shock 2[/i] is a very fun and well made RPG although I'm not sure I like it quite as much as other RPGs I've played. In regard to how it stacks up to the first game, I feel like it really comes down to what kind of gameplay you like more. Personally, I really love exploration and that Metroid-esque feel the first game has on top of its brilliantly done atmosphere and storytelling. I don't quite feel [i]System Shock 2[/i] is as much of a masterpiece as that game was and lament that it's such a radically different experience, but nevertheless, it's overall a blast to play for how well it provides you with numerous strategies for overcoming obstacles and may be more up your alley depending on your tastes.