Ammo is incredibly scarce, particularly early on, so you have to figure out the most efficient way to get by enemies without using your precious bullets. System Shock 2 places a heavy emphasis on survival. In another playthrough I might decide to use the mage-like psionic powers in conjunction with energy weapons for a totally different playstyle.

I, for instance, never even touched the entire psionics skill tree in my first playthrough, and used 'standard' weapons exclusively. In addition to simply adding a layer of tough, strategic decision-making to the gameplay, it also allows for increased replayability because it's impossible to use every skill and ability in one playthrough. I knew at that moment that 'shit just got real,' and there was a genuine feeling of dread and terror in me as I witnessed it.Įven then, if you have 30 cyber modules to spend, is it better to invest in a single, higher-level stat/skill, or to spread those cyber modules among three lower-level stats/skills that require fewer modules per level, or to wait a little longer to stockpile even more so you can put the final point into maxing your primary stat/skill? Some skills are more innately useful than others, while others will be more or less useful depending on your desired playstyle and your immediate needs it's up to you to figure out how best to spend these modules and live with the consequences, because there are no re-specs whatsoever. You kind of have to expect that she'll show up at some point, since her face is on the game's cover and an intro cinematic reminds you of what she did in the first game, but even knowing that she was going to get involved in the story, I was still shocked and surprised at the way the twist presented itself. I'm trying to avoid spoilers, because even though this game is 16 years old, I think it's still worth playing if you haven't already, and this moment, when SHODAN's presence is revealed, is one of the singular most-memorable moments in all of gaming. What people remember most about the story is the dramatic twist that comes past the halfway point, when it's revealed that SHODAN - the artificial intelligence responsible for the destruction of Citadel Station in the first game, the villain of System Shock 1 who was trying to enslave and destroy all of humanity - has gotten into the Von Braun's AI system.

System shock 2 body of the many