Description
Developed by Irrational Games and the now-defunct Looking Glass Studios, System Shock 2 is an FPS/RPG hybrid set on the Von Braun, the first faster-than-light speed space vessel. After choosing a set of initial skills, you are thrust into the plot as you awaken from cryogenic sleep with no memory of recent events. Something has gone horribly wrong on the Von Braun and you must fend for yourself with only one mysterious contact to guide you.
Fighting takes place in the FPS style, with both ranged and melee weapons. However, the efficiency and effectiveness of the weapons are determined by your skill level, much like an RPG. You can develop your skills in several categories, such as weapons training, hacking, and "psi," which allows you to use special abilities through the use of a cybernetic implant. This provides for very open-ended gameplay.
The game makes heavy use of sound, imagery, and the logs of your former crewmates to create an immersive game world. Setting and timing are used to create an atmosphere which smoothly alternates between dark horror and fast-paced action.
Alternate Titles
- "网络奇兵2" -- Chinese Title (Simplified)
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Trivia
System Shock 2 was published by Electronic Arts instead of Eidos, which was Looking Glass‘ world-wide publisher at the time. This is due to the simple fact that EA held the copyright for the System Shock franchise -- the firm had acquired it with the purchase of Origin Systems.
Although System Shock 2 was rated a masterpiece by all major magazines, sales were only mediocre. Ironically, the game shared the same fate as its predecessor: Both games never reached a mass audience, partly because of bad marketing efforts.
The voice of Shodan was done, as in System Shock 1, by Terri Brosius. She is the wife of Looking Glass Audio Director Eric Brosius.
There is a patch available for System Shock 2 which does not only allow adjustments of the respawning and weapon wear and tear, but adds a cooperative multiplayer mode.
The localized German version of the game was slightly modified for fear of banning. Some corpses were removed (e.g. a hanged man), and all blood was colored green. Needless to say, this looked ridiculous.
This entry to the MobyGames database was contributed by
robotriot (3385) on Dec 17, 1999.
