System Shock 2

 PC
User Score
9.1

Universal acclaim- based on 715 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 647 out of 715
  2. Mixed: 41 out of 715
  3. Negative: 27 out of 715
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  1. DanielF.
    Jul 15, 2003
    10
    Certainly one of the best games I have ever played. A real classic!
  2. Giygas
    Oct 9, 2008
    10
    Possibly the greatest game I have ever played. Great music, great gameplay, and even greater story.
  3. JohnLama
    Mar 3, 2008
    10
    This is such an easy review, it's the greatest game ever made. If you haven't played it, get it now! Don't think I've over hyped this game, you can't it really is that good. If you are a game developer reading this, please, please play this game and learn from it. We don't need another boring shooter with no atmosphere and a plot to fall asleep to. We need aThis is such an easy review, it's the greatest game ever made. If you haven't played it, get it now! Don't think I've over hyped this game, you can't it really is that good. If you are a game developer reading this, please, please play this game and learn from it. We don't need another boring shooter with no atmosphere and a plot to fall asleep to. We need a System Shock 3.… Expand
  4. MichalW.
    Dec 5, 2003
    10
    There are only two games in history that can compare to it - Thief and Deus Ex. It's simply a masterpiece.
  5. TheHacker
    Aug 14, 2006
    10
    System Shock 2 received a lukewarm market reception and suffered from the closing of its development studio shortly after release. Despite the obvious troubles Looking Glass were experiencing financially, System Shock 2 was released to universal critical acclaim. And rightly so. Every element of this Science Fiction FPS/RPG is so close to perfection it is almost a religious experience to System Shock 2 received a lukewarm market reception and suffered from the closing of its development studio shortly after release. Despite the obvious troubles Looking Glass were experiencing financially, System Shock 2 was released to universal critical acclaim. And rightly so. Every element of this Science Fiction FPS/RPG is so close to perfection it is almost a religious experience to behold. [***SPOILERS***] Your journey through the halls of the Von Braun on her maiden voyage gone awry is one of wonder, excitement, trepidation and outright terror, all convincingly fit into an RPG that was (for its time) uniquely set in the first person without feeling shoehorned. Character building is balanced, rewarding and essentially requires enough thought and planning to satisfy RPG fanatics without being inaccessible to fans of the more arcade style FPS genre. The interface is clean, clear, informative and functional. Each item has a complete text file attached giving its history, stat requirements and method of use, giving a sense of depth to the System Shock universe and even filling many story gaps from the previous game. The storyline is rich, detailed and full of the kind of incidental information that makes the Lord of the Rings feel like a living breathing world. As mentioned above, each and every item, from weapons and health items to potted plants and bottles of whisky have their own lovingly crafted place in the overarching plot of the System Shock world. Gameplay is closely linked to the main story and follows as a direct sequel to the original game in a manner that would make most Hollywood script writers embarrassed of their work. Each morsel of storyline, sparingly fed to you throughout the game, is like a treasure uncovered, another piece of the jigsaw slotted into place. Coupled with satisfyingly cerebral and often intense combat in both the ranged and melee departments, it still stands out as one of the most well crafted FPS games in existence. Sound is a standout feature, with an attention to detail more acute than is given to entire games. The low hum of machinery, the various computer noises, the inane chatter of the ship's droids and the tormented ramblings of your ill-fated crewmates will all conspire to build a tension so thick that it becomes almost unbearable. Much of the story is told through audio logs from dead or missing crewmates and the voice acting must be heard to be believed. If even one quarter of the games released today had this quality of voice acting, the gaming industry would be a much better place. The single drawback of System Shock 2 is in the graphical department. Whilst the concept design of the Von Braun, the items and the creatures which inhabit the ship are of exceptional quality, the Dark engine didn't allow the game to be a shining example of graphical prowess, even at release. That said, everything is functional and well made, but the low number of polys on the characters is a drawback, however small. System Shock 2 is easily one of the best games ever produced in this world or any other. Smart, tense action backed up by a surprisingly deep character development system makes this the ultimate 'thinking man's shooter' and will be no doubt held in the hearts of gamers as an overlooked gem for many years.… Expand
  6. BBarage
    Sep 4, 2007
    10
    Everything that Bioshock should have been. I'll take the less impressive graphics of SS2 and stellar replay/gameplay over the stellar graphics of Bioshock and lacking replay/gameplay. If you've played Bioshock, you owe it to yourself to find a copy of SS2 and see what could have been!
  7. DanielSill
    Mar 1, 2008
    10
    I spend about 2 weeks locating patches, hacks & add-ons to make it run under Vista32. Still a great game!! I graphics were dated at its release, but the audio more than made up the difference. I believe it is still one of the creepiest game audio experiences there is to be had.
  8. KittenYuna
    Dec 30, 2002
    10
    This game is brilliant. not one for all you f..king noobs who can only play counterstrike though.
  9. DanielF.
    Jul 14, 2003
    10
    Certainly one of the best games I have ever played. A real classic!
  10. BobB.
    Aug 19, 2003
    10
    It is an awesome game, must have!
  11. K.M.
    Nov 16, 2004
    10
    In this day and age where the typical FPS game has more style than substance, this game, despite its age, is a welcome breath of fresh air. I've almost never come across a game so well-crafted, and I've played a lot of PC games. From its believable characters, deep plot, immersive atmosphere (read: spooky), exquisite sound and art, System Shock 2 delivers in every way. It is a In this day and age where the typical FPS game has more style than substance, this game, despite its age, is a welcome breath of fresh air. I've almost never come across a game so well-crafted, and I've played a lot of PC games. From its believable characters, deep plot, immersive atmosphere (read: spooky), exquisite sound and art, System Shock 2 delivers in every way. It is a successful marriage of several game genres. Although FPS games nowadays may be fused with better graphics and sound, very few can come close to the production values and innovation of this game. Unforgettable. A classic in PC gaming.… Expand
  12. MattM.
    Apr 8, 2004
    10
    The multiplayer patch added later enhances the game immeasurably. Suddenly you and four friends have the freedom to specialize in different skill areas and team up against any enemy you come across - or split up and complete objectives separately to make it through the game faster. Coop is -so much fun- that for a period of 6 months I played it exclusively. I've never seen another The multiplayer patch added later enhances the game immeasurably. Suddenly you and four friends have the freedom to specialize in different skill areas and team up against any enemy you come across - or split up and complete objectives separately to make it through the game faster. Coop is -so much fun- that for a period of 6 months I played it exclusively. I've never seen another game approach anything like this, in the 5 years since its release. … Expand
  13. Col
    Apr 25, 2005
    10
    SS2 is simply the best PC game Ive ever played. I got it around 4 years ago in a PC game bundle and was blown away. Ridiculously atmospheric, great for allowing different approaches and a stunning plot make this a classic. This one goes up to 11!
  14. [Anonymous]
    Mar 28, 2006
    10
    Great Game.One of the best I ever played. Would like to see a remake of thi game. Having Valve do it.
  15. BrettM.
    Dec 17, 2008
    10
    Playing this for the first time 10 years after its release, it still impressed me enough with the gameplay, story and atmosphere to rank it in my top five games of all time. Wanting to see how good a modern remake of it could be, I tried playing Bioshock, and now I weep for modern video gaming. Seriously, if we've digressed this much, I pity our future generations. SS2>>>>bioshock Playing this for the first time 10 years after its release, it still impressed me enough with the gameplay, story and atmosphere to rank it in my top five games of all time. Wanting to see how good a modern remake of it could be, I tried playing Bioshock, and now I weep for modern video gaming. Seriously, if we've digressed this much, I pity our future generations. SS2>>>>bioshock (and most other games for that matter).… Expand
  16. JAG
    Dec 25, 2003
    10
    System shcok 2 is among my list of Best Games Ever, and considering all the pcgames I've played, that is high praise. Not for newbs, and definently not for console kiddies, but for everyone else, ENJOY!
  17. BalazsS.
    May 28, 2006
    10
    Forget Half Life or Doom forever! This game is still my favourite of all!
  18. RichardF.
    Jun 29, 2006
    10
    Quite simply The best PC game I have ever played, dethrowning the previous champ; System Shock One. Terrifying, exciting, and engrossing, with amazing sounds, level design, and plot. Oh, and don't expect to finish it in a weekend, it has plenty of challenges to offer.
  19. SHODAN
    Nov 15, 2007
    10
    Very intelligent game design with near flawless execution. The art and sound direction contructs a thoroughly believable, atmospheric setting laden heavily with tension. It really does seem that you are 6.5 billion miles from Earth, utterly on your own, and that the ships were once well lived in. The nature of the antagonist as all-pervasive is brilliant in instilling a sense of futility. Very intelligent game design with near flawless execution. The art and sound direction contructs a thoroughly believable, atmospheric setting laden heavily with tension. It really does seem that you are 6.5 billion miles from Earth, utterly on your own, and that the ships were once well lived in. The nature of the antagonist as all-pervasive is brilliant in instilling a sense of futility. There are just so many design decisions here that seem so well thought out, even insightful. Brilliant.… Expand
  20. Cynewulf
    Nov 18, 2008
    10
    Simply one of the finest games ever created. One of very few games that reduced me to cowering in a corner listening intently for any signs of movement. The graphics may not be up to standard these days but there's no way this game should be marked down for that. Perfection! Rest in peace Looking Glass.
  21. AndrewG.
    Jan 13, 2008
    10
    Probably inferior to Half-Life in its scenic variety and execution - but a far more compelling story, with intelligent and very well balanced rpg elements - Story and depth - this is as games should be. Better than BioShock, by a country mile. We need a System Shock 3.
  22. PeteD
    Feb 17, 2008
    10
    All I can say, is that I love this game so much, that if I were to win the lottery, I would hunt down all the previous developers of this game, and hire them to make a system shock 3. I would then publish it, and the computer gaming world would be sent into a frenzy. Nobody would be able to get enough of it, because it would be the most perfect game ever made. And this version wouldAll I can say, is that I love this game so much, that if I were to win the lottery, I would hunt down all the previous developers of this game, and hire them to make a system shock 3. I would then publish it, and the computer gaming world would be sent into a frenzy. Nobody would be able to get enough of it, because it would be the most perfect game ever made. And this version would have the multiplayer built in, in an easy to use way.
    One of my absolute top 10, no, top 5 games.
    I'm wanting to play this game again, but it doesn't run on my new computer. Dumb new technology...    … Expand
  23. magcakpro
    Mar 13, 2011
    10
    Best survival horror I have ever played. This is a game wear I actually was scared a few times, and the tension of every shot having to count is pulled of perfectly.
  24. Mesmermojo
    Aug 8, 2011
    10
    A Masterpiece, why this game hasn't had a HD remake is beyond me. A terrifying and clever take on the original with brilliant writing by the always magnificent Ken Levine.
  25. SuicideMachine
    Oct 8, 2010
    10
    How awesome is this game? Well - I've played it for the first time in 2007, right after I have finished playing Bioshock and OH MY GOD, SS2 just dominated it.... SO DAMN MUCH. It is a really unique game - one of few games, which manages to combine perfectly cRPG with a shooter - no really, I was very disappointed with Bioshock, Fallout 3 and even Mass Effect 2. SS2 is just so damn good.How awesome is this game? Well - I've played it for the first time in 2007, right after I have finished playing Bioshock and OH MY GOD, SS2 just dominated it.... SO DAMN MUCH. It is a really unique game - one of few games, which manages to combine perfectly cRPG with a shooter - no really, I was very disappointed with Bioshock, Fallout 3 and even Mass Effect 2. SS2 is just so damn good. Sure, the graphics are kind of ugly now, but the game is just so original, so complicated and at the same time, so player-friendly. It shows a beautiful and convincing vision of future - combine it with really great gaming mechanics, good plot, great sounds, beautiful music, huge replayability and even 4 player COOP - and you get System Shock 2. Yeah, the game has some worse moments, but playing it is just so fun, that it makes you forgive about anything that's bad about it (and there's not many bad things about it). If there's a game which makes any new game looks bad and 'brainless', it's System Shock 2. My favorite game of all times and well-deserved 10/10.… Expand
  26. LordOwlet
    Apr 25, 2013
    10
    Well let's go with this. It's in my top 5 single player games.
    Survival horror, FPS RPG, a fascinating story and world, memorable characters, solid OST and replay value.
    Can't truly go into details without giving spoilers! It does slip up towards the end though when things become rushed, level design quality drops and there's a terrible mandatory platforming section that never showed up    Well let's go with this. It's in my top 5 single player games.
    Survival horror, FPS RPG, a fascinating story and world, memorable characters, solid OST and replay value.
    Can't truly go into details without giving spoilers!
    It does slip up towards the end though when things become rushed, level design quality drops and there's a terrible mandatory platforming section that never showed up in the previous 17 hours of the game.    … Expand
  27. Nasher
    May 11, 2013
    10
    Still one of the greatest games ever made. They don't make em like they used to.
  28. Soul_it
    Nov 2, 2011
    10
    What else to say? Other comments said everything that has to be said. A simply masterpiece done by Looking Glass.
  29. Sh0dan
    Apr 1, 2013
    10
    Nothing short of the best game I have ever played, and ive played a fecking LOT of games. Sadly, they just don't make them like this anymore. While modern games look prettier, and are far more technically accomplished, none of them are half as immersive as this game was and still is to this day. Everyone should give this game a chance and try to look past its age visuals, because it trulyNothing short of the best game I have ever played, and ive played a fecking LOT of games. Sadly, they just don't make them like this anymore. While modern games look prettier, and are far more technically accomplished, none of them are half as immersive as this game was and still is to this day. Everyone should give this game a chance and try to look past its age visuals, because it truly is one of the greatest games every developed.… Expand
  30. CsendesMark
    Mar 9, 2012
    10
    This game is one of my all time favorites, not because it's good graphic or fancy characters, but the awesome story and epic atmosphere. Too bad, current games are lacking those elements. I am waiting for the new episode more than 10 years now, and still hoping someone can do it right!
    Best mix in FPS-RPG elements, just like Deus Ex one.
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Awards & Rankings

2
#2 Best PC Game of 1999
3
#3 Most Discussed PC Game of 1999
3
#3 Most Shared PC Game of 1999

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
92

Universal acclaim - based on 20 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 20 out of 20
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 20
  3. Negative: 0 out of 20
  1. FiringSquad
    90
    A gaming triumph...More astonishingly, they've created a system of classes and abilities that are so varied that there's a compelling reason to actually play through the game more than once.
    Read full review
  2. Electric Playground
    85
    A frightening game to the point that I found myself having to take breaks from playing just to ease the tension in my shoulders.
    Read full review
  3. PC Gameworld
    94
    Like RPGs? Like to be scared? System Shock 2 shows that a game can please you on a multitude of levels: visual, auditory, and emotional.
    Read full review
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