System Shock 2 opens with your character waking from cryogenic sleep aboard the starship Von Braun, where the crew has been slaughtered and infected creatures roam the corridors. The rogue artificial intelligence SHODAN taunts you as you investigate the derelict ship and its disturbing mystery. Its science-fiction horror premise is paired with a focus on exploration and an oppressive atmosphere.
Character development connects the game’s role-playing and shooter elements. You choose one of three military branches, each associated with distinct skills, weapons, and psionic powers, then improve abilities such as hacking, weapon proficiency, and psionics. Audio logs and ghostly apparitions add narrative clues, while research can aid combat and unlock exotic weapons and items. These systems make investigating the ship part of preparing for its dangers, rather than a backdrop to shooting alone.
The store listing identifies both single-player and multiplayer, and describes co-op for up to three friends; it also notes that co-op works in Windows only. The game’s mix of character choices, exploration, research, and combat gives that premise its distinctive shape.
