My First Time Playing System Shock 2 was Time Well Spent

The world that Irrational Games created in the original Bioshock was a true testament to what can be accomplished in video games from a design perspective. Aside from a few minor missteps, it was also a masterpiece of interactive storytelling. With that said, despite Bioshock’s undeniable genius, it was not the first of it’s kind. For many, System Shock 2 serves as the apex of what I will refer to as the “Shock” series. I am ashamed to admit it but even I have remained ignorant to the early days of the series so I felt that it was time to undo this injustice.

Last night, after years of procrastinating, I stepped foot on the Von Braun space station for the very first time.  I had absolutely no idea what to expect from the game as I had actually never seen much beyond a few pieces of art and perhaps a screenshot from time to time. In fact, I didn’t even know what kind of threats I would be facing until a deranged mutant was charging at me; sending me into a fit of terror as I blindly swung my heavy wrench to defend myself. It was a feeling whose familiarity surprised me. Despite everything I have heard about the game, I often found it difficult to picture how a “Bioshock” game would have played in 1999. To my surprise, I felt right at home for the most part. Combat still has that satisfying weight to it, the lumbering security mechs reminded me Big Daddy’s, and I guess the psychic monkeys COULD even be compared to the deranged little sisters (yes, there are psychic monkeys). With that said, a big chunk of what makes System Shock so special was nowhere to be found in Bioshock.  

Unlike Bioshock, System Shock 2 is an RPG in every sense of the word. Abilities are not dropped in your lap at convenient, scripted moments but are instead dictated by the player from beginning to end. I was having a really hard time choosing a class at the outset because of how little I knew about the experience that lied ahead. Being the master of indecision that I am, I went with my default and chose to be a marine because it focuses on combat to survive. But beyond this basic class choice, I suddenly had to decide whether to spend points to level up everything from my skill with different weapon types to my proficiency with various technical skills and character attributes.

It didn’t take long to learn what kind of consequences might derive from my decisions. Almost immediately, I was unable to deactivate security systems because I didn’t put any points into Hacking. This was immensely satisfying because it forced me to improvise and alter my play style on the fly. I was surprised by how many people in chat indicated that stealth was their preferred play style as I spent most of my time facing enemies head on. But that is what’s great about this game! Similarly to something like Dark Souls, System Shock puts choice back in my hand and doesn’t punish me for it.

Alas, I am still very early as I have only heard Shodan’s name uttered once.  I have yet to do much with weapon modification, implants, and psi abilities so I still have much to experience. On top of that, i’m a sucker for the kinds of stories that Irrational likes to tell so I can’t wait to experience first-hand why Shodan is one of the most talked about villains(?) in gaming history. If the first few hours are any indication, i’m destined to love System Shock 2 just as much as I love the trilogy of Bioshock games but for completely different reasons.

If you have played the game before and have any tips for me, let me know in the comments below! I will be continuing my play through sometime next week and you can expect me to talk about the game at length on the next podcast. Check the calendar for scheduling details as they become available.