Rating: 
Summary: The Best
Review: This game is by far, the best game I have ever played. In my opinion, it is what games are meant to be strived for...perfection...I am insulted, on the other hand, by some of the reviews below. Those people claiming it a poor game should go away and play their quake and their Unreal tournament. Nothing is wrong with these games, in fact, I really enjoy Unreal Tournament. The fact of the matter is UT and System Shock 2 are completely different, even though they share FPS similarities. Shock2 is not about graphics...its about immersion. Using the Thief the dark projects dark engine, I was completely immersed in Shock2, more so than any other game I've played. Its about Depth, Gameplay, plot, level and progression. Not about high frames per second and polygon counts. Leave that stuff at the door, Shock2 isn't about it...and one must have more IQ than a fish to play this game.
Rating: 
Summary: What a waste..
Review: Of time and money on this game. It's one of the worst games I have played. Poor graphics and mediocre sound at best is just the beginning. When your character is walking it's as if you are in slow motion. I got a decent way into this game and still only had a wrench as a weapon. Weapons and especially ammo are near impossible to come by in this game. If you want a good fps game, try Daikatana, an excellent game, or Unreal and Halflife, two guaranteed blockbuster games. But skip this game at all costs, don't worry, you didn't miss anything special at all.
Rating: 
Summary: It's not as good as they say!
Review: I bought this game after playing the demo and reading several reviews, which all lpretty much made it out to sound pretty good. I've played it through and am content to say that the only ting that it really has going for itself is a good story line and reasonable sound. The enemy graphics and the cutscenes stink. The weapon graphics as they fire are awful. Imagine an EMP Rifle. What do you see. A beam of energy. This thing in the game fires a giant floating blob of blue with points at the sides. Pretty dumb. Whenever someting gets shot, it dies. Shoot it in the head, shoot it in the foot, shot it in its little pinky, same effect. The role-playing is totally limited, this is not a first-person shooter for anyone with experience. The multiplayer stinks, as it is only cooperative and requires your friend to have a copy and an equal-speed modem. If you want a role-playing game with action, get Deus Ex or Sacrifice. If you want a first-person shooter, get No ONe Lives Forever or Unreal Tournament. Be smart! Even though it is inexpensive, I would never suggest buying this game.
Rating: 
Summary: System Shock 2
Review: Finished playing SS2 awhile back and though I would provide some quick comments. I really believe this game is highly underrated, although its obvious flaws no doubt resulted in poor counter sales. First off, the graphics are fantastic, especially given there ease on relatively low-medium range systems (the system ran very smooth and had very little glitches or freeze ups). The story is engrossing, highly intelligent (although not original), and massive in scope (this is a huge game in terms of area covered, both story wise and mission wise . . . it never seems to end and just when you think its over, Shoden has plenty more surprises). Two major pluses, the sound effects and the AI are obsolutely astounding and definitely give Half Life a run for the money. Enemies will hunt you down and security systems will track your movements with fine persicion and huanting audio presence. I can't say enought, the AI is very impressive. The major flaw of the game is that it is far too difficult for those of us who have to work for a living. Learning the proper sequence of upgrading your character so as to be super-bionic by the end of the game, and thus finishing the game, is near impossible. The missions are so challenging, that by the time you complete one, the last thing you want to do is go back to the beginning of the game and try to properly upgrade your character in order to finish further missions. However, the challenge of the game makes completing a mission very satisfying. If you save a game before rounding a corner into a shooting gallery, everytime you go back to that scene after being ..., the enemies will not come at you from their previous positions . . . talk about frustrating, but exciting nonetheless. Enemies can be very difficult to... and if you don't happen to have the proper weapons (which frequently break down by the way) forget about it! In fact, if you your not against using cheats, I highly recommend their use for the last several sequences which are, for the most part, impossible without cheats. Given these mixed attributes however, I highly recommend SS2. For all its flaws, it is a completely submersive and unforgetable FPS/RPG experience. Great graphics, astounding AI, smooth play, and incredible depth of story, make completing the last sequences of SS2, even with cheats, undoubtedly satisfying.
Rating:
Summary: Masterpiece
Review: It's your typical nightmare; you are stationed in the starship capable of faster-than-light travel. Millions of light years away from Earth, you're awaken from the hyper-sleep only to find out the whole ship is infested with flesh eating zombies and nightmarish creatures. You have been implemented with various cyber-modules that allow you to perform inhuman tasks, but they might not be enough to save you ... During the whole course of the game, you do not interact with any 'living' crew. Only ally you have is the woman who calls herself Dr.Polito, occasionally communicating with you via the comms module in your head, and giving you objectives that are insanely difficult. She is dubious at best but you have no other choice, but to follow her cold voice of command. This is the outline of System Shock 2 - one of the most intense and terrifying journey you will take in PC gaming history. It's literally one hell of a game. Consider as 'Aliens' equivalent in interactive PC gaming where you 'do' have to try 'very hard' to survive. At start there are a limited cyber-modules to upgrade your system, and some weapons you may not able to even use just yet. But there is never enough cyber-module and it makes you think really hard how you want to develop your skills. In terms of game play SS2 is a mixture of First Person Shooter and RPG (not unlike Baldurs Gate). You do have weapons and shoots monsters but you cannot be proficient with certain types of wespons unless you learn the skills in those areas. As you go on, you will make certain choices that will affect how you would play the game later on. My advice is to study the manual and think hard before making any rushed decision. Even on easy level this game is extremely tough, not a game for casual gamers who want to play something 'quick' and 'relaxing'. The level design is, I think, where this game shines. Each level of the starship is totally believable and makes sense to have it there. From Engineering to Medical bays, the levels are detailed and well-thought out. And the Body of the Many ... Don't even let me start.... The graphics are by todays standard are pretty much dated (especially (dead) humans where polygon counts are pretty low), and cut scenes are pretty bad in comparison as well. But they are crisp and neat at least, and convey the feelings of the starship adequately. You will be so scared - you won't even care anyway. The sound work in the game, I think, will be the true milestone of gaming industry. Yes it's that good, especially if you got good speakers. Shrieks of crazy monkeys were never sooooo scary. Sound plays an important part in the game, I pity those who don't have good speakers or sound card. It will be a worthy investment before playing this game. ...It's a steal; you have my permission to proceed, soldier!
Rating:
Summary: Well done, but just too violent for me
Review: This game has many positive aspects as detailed by other reviewers, but was just too violent for me. I found the images of severed heads and limbs disturbing. While the game does have some good strategy elements and character development, in the end it is a first person shooter and your main activity is killing. The plot was very good and kept my going long enough to finish the game. I guess I should stick with Lucas Arts titles.
Rating:
Summary: Classic sequel to a classic original
Review: This game oozes with intense atmosphere. It is wonderfully balanced and includes some of the best gameplay to date. The mechanics of the game work as an action-RPG. You have several attributes and several skill categories. The attributes includes speed, endurance, strength, etc. Each has a very noticable effect on your character. You inventory and melee damage increase with strength, your character moves faster with a higher speed, etc. It makes for a different play experience based on how you choose to develop your character. You can run through with guns a blazin' or develop a sneaky hacker. In addition to weapons and technological skills, you can also develop psionic powers if you choose. The sound is also phenominal. You can hear the tormented moans of your enemies as they walk around. Using a four-speaker setup or preferably headphones really enhances the fright-factor as well. The character interaction is very minimal. You find audio-logs of the dead crew as your explore the ship. You will also witness ghostly apparations of the recently deceased. While some thought it was empty, I felt it was right in tune with the rest of the game. It really drives home the feeling of aloneness, helplessness and desperation of struggling against an awesome unknown enemy. The other interaction you will receive is from the main computer on board the ship. It also contributes greatly to the atmosphere. Do yourself a favor and play this game. Play it several times. It is one of the better games to be produced, period. Then pick up Deus Ex for an equally engaging experience.
Rating:
Summary: The most terrifying Action/RPG ever made - period.
Review: All is NOT quiet aboard the Starship Von Braun, as you reel from the effects of hypersleep after a "voluntary" surgery. SS2 opens with a bang and the tension begins to mount. This is a game reliant on sound to generate atmosphere - and I assure you, atmosfear is something to worry about. From the chilling voice which issues commands, to the log files of the dead, up through the horrid sounds of the Many (and let's not forget the creak and groan of millions of tons of metal around you, holding you in space) this game radiates fear like none other. As a soldier assigned to security duty aboard the Von Braun, you begin the game 4 years eariler, and go through the process of enlisting into one of three military branches. You then receive additional training before being shipped off; all of this seems fairly innocuous. Once you re-awaken, things are radically different. Equipped now with a cyber-interface, you will easily be able to manage skills, equipment, and personal statistics - all available at the click of a mouse. There's something here for any fan of action games or RPGs; a broad selection of weaponry, an array of Psionic abilities (read: magic), and a group of skills and upgrades that will, with a bit of luck, see you safely through one of the most hazardous tours of duty I've ever been on. The game is smooth, sleek, and is beautifully well lit. While creature animations lean towards the low end of the poly-count scale, they aren't really missed. What will grip you by the throat is not only the feeling of being on board this doomed expedition, but the realization that They are the Many... and They see you... This game was, for me, perfect. Perfect balance of fight and run (don't shoot everything - this is HORROR, not ACTION - ammo isn't exactly lying on every corpse) along with a beautiful blend of action and puzzle solving. For 10 dollars you can't go wrong.
Rating: 
Summary: Fun, but long and repetitive; klunky interface
Review: This game does the best job I've seen of building an atmosphere; it's the best thing about this game. Let me tell ya - get ready for one creepy ride. Every aspect of the game contributes to it - the music, scenery, sounds, critters, etc. You'll jump, squirm, and hold your breath hoping those "Many" baddies don't get a glimpse of you. Once the creepiness wears off (and it does), the game gets really long, tiring, repetitive; long, tiring, repetitive; long, tiring, repetitive. The storyline, told for the most part through emails and logs, moves incredibly slowly. It takes your character about 12 or 14 hours of play to "learn" what the user knows by reading the game's CD insert. The game's design has a few other flaws, such as a significant lack of ammunition on most of the levels. There are also several points in the game where I wasn't sure what exactly I was supposed to do. The interface is klunky and can be difficult to manage when timing in the game is an issue. Overall, the game was fun and had some interesting facets to it, but it didn't make me want to play it over and over. In fact, if/when System Shock 3 is released, I'll probably skip it.
Rating:
Summary: Additional note.
Review: I wrote a review of this game earlier and forgot to mention a first for me. I've played computer games since I got my Vic-20 in 1980. This is the first time a computer game left me highly emotional and sad. I don't want to give it away but anyone who has reached a certain point in this game will know what I'm talking about. It's easy to get lost in this game's atmosphere. Also, I agree that this game is one of the creepiest ever made. Just try playing it in the dark and you'll see...
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