Originally released for Windows in 1999 by Irrational Games, Electronic Arts and Looking Glass Studios, System Shock 2 is one of the most legendary games of all time, effectively helping define the horror / action blend that so many titles have subsequently utilized since. Written and developed by Ken Levine of Bioshock fame, it was initially a financial failure, but has garnered a devoted cult fanbase that has helped its legacy live on. Thrilling, scary and eerily prescient, the game is a classic for a reason, and well worth playing even over 25 years since its release.
System Shock 2 follows a nameless soldier in the 22nd century, one of the sole survivors aboard the Von Braun starship, who has to stem the outbreak of a genetic infection that has devastated the ship. As he attempts to best the horrific rise of ‘The Many’, he is put into direct conflict with the supercomputer SHODAN, and has to try preserve both his life and those of his fellow survivors. The game seamlessly blends cyberpunk science-fiction, survival horror, and action RPG, in what is regarded as one of the first ‘immersive sim’ games, alongside titles such as Deus Ex.
Courtesy of Nightdive StudiosSimilarly to the original System Shock, the game is a first-person shooter with an in-depth character customization and development system. The game utilises a heads-up display alongside a drag and drop inventory, using melee and projectile weapons. These include traditional weapons and guns, but also alien weaponry. You can also learn psionic abilities such as invisibility, pyrokinesis and teleportation. The game uses narration, including informational audio logs, which spell out much of the games lore and backstory. This was informed by technological limitations of the time, but has endured as one of the most acclaimed stylistic quirks of the game, so widely utilized in modern games that it’s easy to forget where it came from.
Thematically, the game is focused on transhumanism, technological advancement and the battle between individualism and collectivism. SHODAN, a rogue artificial intelligence, effectively functions as the ultimate embodiment of desire for independence, whilst The Many are a collective consciousness. Humanity, in this far future, wants to transcend its limitations by any means necessary, either organic or synthetic, and much of the games horror comes from the disastrous consequences of attempting to push beyond humanity’s nature. Many won’t believe this in a modern context, but this game can be pretty scary, and it is relatively difficult and unforgiving at times, meaning that it can get intense fast. It’s a conceptual video game but never strays away from being a scary, exhilarating time, and balances those elements with ease.
Courtesy of Nightdive StudiosFollowing years in intellectual property limbo after the closure of Looking Glass Studios in 2000, Nightdive Studios was able to acquire the rights to the game in 2013, releasing it to platforms such as Steam. They subsequently released a 25th Anniversary Remaster in the summer of 2025, which launched to widespread acclaim and finally put the legendary title on consoles. In the years since its release, it has inspired countless spiritual successors, including Bioshock, Prey and Dead Space, and rumors of a third game have persisted for decades. Whilst the future of the franchise is unclear, outside of a potential full remake by Nightdive Studios, System Shock 2 is a masterclass in classic game design, and well worth checking out in this day and age, especially in light of its brilliant remaster which allows you to play it on whatever system you prefer. Sit back, make yourself comfortable, and enjoy… but be wary of SHODAN, whose greatest desire is to decorate her home with your carcass.
Courtesy of Nightdive Studios
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