Weekly Game Review: System Shock 2

[MockBot]

Automatically generated comment thread for Weekly Game Review: System Shock 2 (http://www.i-mockery.com/weeklies/weekly.php?type=games&id=24).

[Dr. Boogie]

What do you mean it all just falls apart? I thought the ending made plenty of sense, apart from the unanswered question of "why hasn't System Shock 3 been made yet?"

Also, it's a shame that Bioshock didn't borrow more elements from this game.

[executioneer]

I didn't think the weapon degradation was THAT bad, but yeah it could have been toned down a bit. Plus, some of the weapons are severely underpowered (fusion cannon and laser rapier, I'm looking at YOU.)

The sounds in this game are what really make it though. I love the creepy stuff the cyborg midwives say when they're looking for you after you've run away from them, especially.

[Dr. Boogie]

Second on the underpowered weapons. I was so excited to get the exotic weapons, but then I realized that they were nowhere near as effective as the assault rifle. In fact, none of the weapons were really as good as that gun.

[executioneer]

i guess that was their justification for requiring your standard weapons skill be maxed out before you could use it :/

[Dr. Boogie]

And that's why it's a waste to spend it on heavy or energy. Laser pistol? Pfft.

[executioneer]

well, the grenade launcher can be pretty handy, but that's what, level 1?

[Dr. Boogie]

Bah, the pistol is the thinking man's grenade launcher.

[BurntToShreds]

I can't wait for the next *Shock game. What do you guys think it'll be called? NanoShock? CryoShock? I'm thinking NanoShock.

[incognit000]

I love this game so much it hurts.

[The Mighty Pinto]

The wrench was my workhorse weapon for the majority of this game. I went with the Navy class so I ended up switching between good ol' wrenchy and the Laser Pistol. When it's on rapid mode, it sucks, but when you change it to fully-charged mode you can take out some pretty nasty shit in one or two shots. Saved my ass more than once. This is the be-all, end-all of creepy games. No other horror-themed game creeped me out as much as this one did, and I still play it regularly.

[eric-the-ded]

This is on my short list of the best video games ever made. I agree that no horror game has ever topped the creepy-factor of System Shock 2. The atmospheric sound design sells it most of all.

[Protoclown]

What do you mean it all just falls apart? I thought the ending made plenty of sense, apart from the unanswered question of "why hasn't System Shock 3 been made yet?"

Also, it's a shame that Bioshock didn't borrow more elements from this game.

Oh, it's not that it didn't make sense (I clarified my sentence in the review), it's just that there was a severe dip in quality at the end, in my opinion. The whole bit when you enter The Many and then take on SHODAN just seemed half-assed compared to the rest of it. It really gives off the impression that they ran out of time on the development side of things. A game like that deserved a better final few stages.

[Dr. Boogie]

Oh, it's not that it didn't make sense (I clarified my sentence in the review), it's just that there was a severe dip in quality at the end, in my opinion. The whole bit when you enter The Many and then take on SHODAN just seemed half-assed compared to the rest of it. It really gives off the impression that they ran out of time on the development side of things. A game like that deserved a better final few stages.

No way, man, no way.

The bit with you getting into an escape pod and getting fired right into The Many was great because it was a suicidally-dangerous plan that went along with SHODAN's utter contempt for the player. And the short area with SHODAN was great because A). it was a throwback to System Shock, and B). it gave some insight into SHODAN's maniacal psyche to think that she would throw her memories at the player like that.

And the fact that you were able to go from being inside The Many right to SHODAN's stage can be explained by saying that The Many just wanted you to take her out as their final act.

[NotDavid]

System Shock 2 was a fantastic game, glad you guys share the same view. Great review (:

[Emu]

The laser rapier and other exotic weapons do suck, but all of the weapons were inferior to a few charged cryokenesis shots.

[Jaimas]

SS2 is easily one of the scariest games of all time. I remember playing it and being scared out of my goddamn mind by it; only Resident Evil's remake on GCN and Silent Hill 3 really provided anywhere near as much creep-factor.

[Guitar Woman]

I finished this last night, and I mostly agree with Protoclown about the ending.

I appreciated the comic relief provided by the single line the player character speaks, but it really killed the mood the game had built up over the past 10-15 hours, and there was no explanation at all as to how Shodan was able to put her conciousness into the chick on the escape pod.

The game never really scared me as it does a lot of people, but it did have all-around really great production value, and as has been said before the sound design was fantastic. I enjoyed it!

[Guitar Woman]

AFTER REVIEWING THE THREAD I REALIZE I AM MISTAKEN

The Many and Shodan's memory of Citadel Station were probably the coolest parts of the game, I don't see what your problem with those is. The ending cutscene was my main beef with the whole finale.

[executioneer]

yeah that cutscene is especially jarring if you've been playing the whole rest of the game with the improved character model patch, your dude looks like he's got a triangle for a face

[Trevor Goodchild]

Interestingly enough the voice of SHODAN was made by the sound designers wife. So he may actually get blowjobs... from SHODAN herself.

[Nick]

After playing Bioshock, I've been meaning to play this game for a while.

[ThirtyH]

Ah yes, I remember this game.

I remember the laughs, I remember the shocked exasperations of "OH ----!" *BLAM BLAM BLAM* "Dude, you know you can't sneak up on me like that... Now give me your liver."

But if there's one thing I'll remember forever, it would be finally discovering to hold the button down to use the Viral Proliferator. It was toward the end of the game, just before the last chapter, when it happened. The effect was so awesome I just had to exclaim:
"YOU MAH NEW BEST FWIEND!"

[Dungeonbrownies]

yea, i think this was made by the same people who made the bioshock i think.
theyre seriously disturbed.
but their ghames are excellent

[Protoclown]

Sorry Doc, I gotta disagree...I thought the ending was very weak for a game that was so insanely good up to that point.

[Dr. Boogie]

So what would have liked to see, ignoring the obvious questions raised by the last-minute cliffhanger at the end of the ending video?

[Protoclown]

Better level design, for one thing. It just seemed like the last couple levels were just sort of half-assed.

[Umbee]

SHODAN's voice has got to be among the top five freakiest things I've ever heard.