Games

System Shock 2

Looking Glass Studios, Irrational Games

1999•Shooter•ESRB M•About 13 hours

Taste attributes: actionadventuredisasterhorrorscience fictiondetectivemonster/alien/supernaturalmusic/dancerobots/ai/spacesportsvehiclesfastunsavouryheavyimaginarysimplelinearglossybig & variedall consuming questfighting evilgame/competitionhuman spirit/resilience/survivalinjustice/tragedy/vengeancerescue/escape/jeopardysolving the riddle/not as it seemstroubled leadsunderdog triumphs

See which match your taste

Boxlist takeA fantastical shooter that is breakneck, expansive and dark. Best if you like the extraordinary over the everyday.

Pace: very fast · Originality: balanced · Tone: dark · Weight: balanced · Realism: imaginary world · Story: simple · Structure: very linear · Look: glossy · Scale: big and varied · Emotional punch: balancedHow we score

IGDB rating

89 / 100

392 ratings

Your matchTake the taste test to see your match

Based on your film and TV taste: games are matched on the same ten characteristics, with your own match bands.

About This Game

A first-person cyberpunk exploratory horror RPG and sequel to System Shock (1994) in which a soldier wakes up in the starship Von Braun in the aftermath of a disaster and finds himself in the midst of a conflict between SHODAN, the artificial intelligence antagonist of System Shock seeking mastery over humanity, and The Many, a flesh-based psychic hive mind led by the ship's corrupted AI.

Summary: IGDB

Story

The game takes place on board a starship in a cyberpunk depiction of 2114. The player assumes the role of a lone soldier trying to stem the outbreak of a genetic infection that has devastated the ship. Like System Shock, gameplay consists of first-person shooting and exploration. It also incorporates role-playing system elements, in which the player can develop unique skills and traits, such as hacking and psionic abilities.

Characteristics

Where this game sits on each taste spectrum

SlowPACEFast

FamiliarORIGINALITYOriginal

DarkTONEWholesome

LightWEIGHTINESSHeavy

FantasyREALISMRealistic

SimpleINTRICACYIntricate

Non-LinearLINEARITYLinear

UnderstatedSTYLEStylised

IntimateSCALEEpic

RestrainedEMOTIONIntense

Genres and themes

ActionAdventureDisasterHorrorScience fictionDetectiveMonster/alien/supernaturalMusic/danceRobots/ai/spaceSportsVehiclesAll consuming questFighting evilGame/competitionHuman spirit/resilience/survivalInjustice/tragedy/vengeanceRescue/escape/jeopardySolving the riddle/not as it seemsTroubled leadsUnderdog triumphs

Keywords

AliensGhostsAssassinBasketballExplorationCyberpunkCyberneticsBloody

Where to play

Details

Developers: Looking Glass Studios, Irrational Games
Publishers: Electronic Arts, Nightdive Studios
Released: 11 August 1999
Series: System Shock
Platforms: Linux, PC (Microsoft Windows), Mac
Modes: Single player, Co-operative
Perspective: First person
Time to beat: 18h rushed, 13h normally, 32h complete
Age rating: ESRB M
Taste scores: How we score
Source: IGDB

How game matches work

Games are scored on the same ten characteristics as films and matched with the same formula and your own match bands, from your film and TV taste. Game scores are estimates, made by fixed rules from IGDB genres, themes, keywords and descriptions.