Matt Chat 34: System Shock 2

This week, I look at Irrational Games' System Shock 2, a cult classic hybrid of FPS and RPG. Set in a cyberpunk landscape of robots and mutants, System Shock 2 might be classified as survival horror--yet its RPG system seems distinctly inspired by the likes of GDW's Traveller role playing system. In any case, System Shock 2 inspired many later FPS hits, particularly Bioshock. In the video, I give the history of the game's development, showing footage from Ultima Underworld, System Shock, and Thief: The Dark Project.

Category:

Gaming

Tags:

• system shock 2
• system shock
• videogames
• games
• survival horror
• fps
• rpg
• role-playing
• bioshock
• thief: the dark project
• thief
• ultima underworld
• traveller
• doom 3
• looking glass
• irrational games

[Mii85]

PS. I noticed you have The Longest Journey hidden behind your back. Any changes of getting episode on that someday? Best darn point-and-click with Beneath a Steel Sky, Day of the Tentacle and bunch of other Lucasarts classics.

And I noticed you have TLJ sequel Dreamfall: The Longest Journey there aswell. :) Great taste and great library of games. peace.

[blacklily8]

I do mean to get to those eventually. I also liked the other games you mention, and would add Syberia and the GK series, another of my favorites.

[RichardEllwood]

Oh fantastic review. You've really piqued my curiosity of this game -- I've never played it and it looks good.

I was also glad to see your mention of Thief -- I was a great fan of that game. I thought at the time of it as a welcome relief to the tired conventional FPS: finally a first-person game that didn't emphasize shooting. Sneaking around in Thief was really fun.

Anyway, I will give this one a try when I get time. Thank you for your work on these reviews, as always. --Richard

[blacklily8]

Thanks, Richard!

[DJDa9L]

Yeah and 10 years newer -.- .. How stupid are you? Halo 1 wasn't even started in development at this time.. and even though Halo 3 is 10 years newer, it isn't even as advanced as System shock 2 ..

That is .. Fail..

[TheAggroGod]

I am amazed that Bioshock got away with "inspired by" when it's a defintive ripoff. Every game element in Bioshock exists in SS2, from the pre-recorded messages from crew, to the minigames when breaking security turrets, and the upgrade stations. Everything. And SS2 did it all better.

[Gooberslot]

I think this game's biggest flaw is the degrading weapons. I know some people consider it cheating but I turn that down.

[that1dude0092]

@TheAggroGod

isnt bioshock made by the same company that made system shock? 

[MetalJesusRocks]

The voice acting and sound effects in this game really makes it freaky. Love the weird monkeys, Shodan's psychotic voice, and the nurses. Great game! One of my all-time favorites.

[TequilaCT]

Love this game, one of my all time fav games So far. If anybody reading this hasn't played it yet do so. So what if the graphics are not great, it's the gameplay and story that matters!

[mrbikard]

@TheAggroGod excerpts from wikipedia's history of Irrational Games:

1999 – System Shock 2 released to critical acclaim;

2007 – Irrational Games is renamed to 2K Boston and 2K Australia on August 10, BioShock released August 21 to wide critical acclaim and strong sales.

hope this helps ;)

[Doomguy9]

One of the best games I've ever played.

Great show, I subscribed.

[midnightshade32]

This game, Thief, hell even Ultima Underworld, were so ahead of their time. Why do games like these get shoved aside in history while games like quake, half-life and gaylo get all the recognition? Is popularity the basis of innovation? I think not. Maybe because looking glass and irrational fps games made you think...and we all know masses (especially console kiddies) don't like doing that...reading and patience aren't fast enough for them.

[midnightshade32]

@TheAggroGod

well bioshock was made by the same developer. Irrational games..and the same lead designer Ken Levine. Looking glass just handled the engine work for SS2 (do check out their thief and UW games though pure genious). So you really can't rip-off your own creations.

[kudelbudel]

My favorite game ever. The atmosphere that is created is just breathtaking. And everything works together so well, from the music, voice acting over story elements, gameplay, up to the RPG elements. I would love a worthy SS3.

[shiftergr]

Excellent music, psychedelic... My best 1st person shooter/action adventure/rpg game ever, number 1 on my shortlist :)