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RF Generation Message Board | Gaming | Community Playthroughs (Moderators: techwizard, singlebanana, wildbil52, GrayGhost81, Disposed Hero, MetalFRO) | November Modern Community Playthrough - System Shock 2 0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic. « previous next »
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Author Topic: November Modern Community Playthrough - System Shock 2  (Read 20309 times)
GrayGhost81
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« on: October 22, 2014, 07:49:04 PM »

Welcome to the Modern Community Playthrough for November 2014!

As a huge Ken Levine and Irrational Games fan, I am thrilled to be hosting a playthrough of the spiritual prequel to BioShock, which is one of my all-time favorites. I'm also excited to be playing a PC game for the first time since I was a child.



System Shock 2 is a PC game first released in 1999. It was developed by Irrational Games and designed by Ken Levine. Although it sold poorly initially, it is looked back on as a classic and praised for its innovative and deep blend of first person shooting, role playing, and survival-horror elements.

Although System Shock 2 is a sequel to System Shock, the first game was not designed by Levine and company. System Shock 2 was originally conceived as an Ultima styled dungeon crawler in a science fiction setting and originally called Junction Point. When Electronic Arts signed on to publish the game, they suggested using the System Shock licence, which they owned at the time.

Story

You'll wake from a cryogenic sleep aboard the Von Braun Starship in the year 2114 (42 years after the events of the first game), very far from home. Right away you'll understand that something has gone horribly wrong and you'll need to get to the bottom of it.

Gameplay

While fans of BioShock and BioShock Infinite will recognize many of the gameplay elements and themes of this adventure, System Shock 2 is a much deeper and more complicated game than either BioShock title.

At its core, System Shock 2 is a first person shooter, but it isn't all about guns. Players can pick up Psi-Amps with which they can use a wide variety of powers to defeat enemies and overcome environmental hazards. Much like plasmids in BioShock, Psi powers add variety to combat and give the player more choice in the form of customization.



There is also a strong emphasis on resource management, which earns the game its above mentioned survival horror status. The player must loot containers, desks, dead bodies, and of course garbage cans for all his supplies, and as you might guess, ammo is a little hard to come by.

Having been published in 1999 it's arguable whether this game should be considered modern or retro, and this is appropriate because the gameplay is even blend of modern shooter mechanics and old-school PC game mechanics.

Resources (All Contain Spoilers)
http://youtu.be/s7DVOw1lIcM
http://www.gamasutra.com/...tructure_And_Spoilers.php

Platforms
PC
Mac
Sega Dreamcast
Linux

Participants
grayghost81
fleach
disposed hero
bombatomba
samus5678

Checkpoints
Week One - Get to Deck Four Three
Week Two - Get to Deck Five
Week Three
Week Four

Player Tips
As someone with a fondness for the BioShock series, the comparative complexity of System Shock 2 blindsided me and took a long time get used to. Some of these tips are things I figured out for myself while playing, some are taken from other sources but have been proven to be helpful in my time with the game. 

-Save often. This game rarely auto saves but gives you the ability to hard save at any time. This is one of those games where knowing when to hard save becomes part of the strategy.

-Learn about the systems. Pay attention to the tutorials and read a guide if you don't understand. There are many complex systems operating here, and it pays to understand what is going on with them to maximize your abilities evenly.

-Remember you can lower (or raise) the difficulty at any time. If all else fails, there is a cheat code command. Look it up and use it if you have to. I don't want to see people drop out of the playthrough because they had trouble with the combat.

-Toggle your mini-map on if you wish. I bring this up because it defaults to off, and I didn't realize it was an option until a few hours into the game.
« Last Edit: November 08, 2014, 11:41:05 AM by GrayGhost81 » Logged

Fleach
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« Reply #1 on: October 22, 2014, 08:52:46 PM »

I'm disappointed that this game takes place two years after 2112. The Priests must have been defeated or joined with the baddies of System Shock in this games.
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« Reply #2 on: October 23, 2014, 07:38:07 AM »

This and Deus Ex are just timeless classics.  I'm in.  Going to be playing it via my GoG purchase, though I haven't decided on Windows or Linux.
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Disposed Hero
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« Reply #3 on: October 23, 2014, 08:47:18 AM »

I see my name is already on the list, so I guess I don't have much choice, do I?  Tongue

This and Deus Ex are just timeless classics.

I played Deus Ex when it was first released and loved it, but unfortunately I missed out on System Shock 2.  It's a game I've always wanted to play.  A few years ago (before the game was released on Steam, GoG, etc.), I even went as far as to download the .iso and tried to play it that way, but I couldn't get it to run.  Fortunately the game has finally been re-released on digital platforms and now works with modern PCs.

@GrayGhost:  I don't suppose you used any mods for your playthrough?  I was considering using a graphics update mod, but I also feel like I want to experience the game as it was originally released, so I may just roll with the vanilla game.  I haven't decided yet.
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Fleach
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« Reply #4 on: October 23, 2014, 09:21:24 AM »

I forgot about the mods for this game. Is there a mouse aiming mod or anything that might improve the overall experience? I know System Shock 1 was greatly improved by some fan made mods.
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GrayGhost81
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« Reply #5 on: October 23, 2014, 09:23:15 AM »

I'm not using any mods. I really wouldn't know how to even get them or use them. I'd be more willing to mess with the game when I'm finished with it. Feel free to use mods, discuss them here and post screenshots.
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Disposed Hero
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« Reply #6 on: October 23, 2014, 09:47:00 AM »

I don't know what all mods exist for this game, but I'm sure there are plenty by now.  I was only really interested in some graphics mods because I don't want to mess with the game too much.  Assuming that you're playing on Steam, you should just be able to check the game's discussion/forum page to find useful mods and instructions on how to install them.  I haven't messed with it myself, but I think Steam makes it pretty easy to install mods.
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samus5678
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« Reply #7 on: October 24, 2014, 02:29:38 PM »

I'm in, this game has been sitting in my steam library for a while and haven't had the chance to play it yet.
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« Reply #8 on: October 24, 2014, 07:06:46 PM »

I'm disappointed that this game takes place two years after 2112. The Priests must have been defeated or joined with the baddies of System Shock in this games.

 I had The Temples of Syrinx caught in my head for hours after reading this post, and since I don't know very much of the song it was a long couple of hours.
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SirPsycho
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« Reply #9 on: October 27, 2014, 09:23:32 AM »

The Priests of Syrinx were defeated BY THE POWER OF ROCK AND ROLL!
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Addicted
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« Reply #10 on: October 31, 2014, 05:38:42 PM »

This game is on sale for the next two days at humble:

$2.00

https://www.humblebundle....p/systemshock2_storefront
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techwizard
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« Reply #11 on: October 31, 2014, 06:51:13 PM »

This game is on sale for the next two days at humble:

$2.00

https://www.humblebundle....p/systemshock2_storefront

nabbed mine, thanks for the heads up! anyone on the fence about this, the sale ends in 2 hours as of this post.
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GrayGhost81
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« Reply #12 on: October 31, 2014, 07:04:50 PM »

This game is on sale for the next two days at humble:

$2.00

https://www.humblebundle....p/systemshock2_storefront

nabbed mine, thanks for the heads up! anyone on the fence about this, the sale ends in 2 hours as of this post.

It's two days like Addicted said. Playthrough starts tomorrow though so grab it!
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techwizard
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« Reply #13 on: October 31, 2014, 07:12:14 PM »

oh i didn't see that, i just saw $2 and then when clicking the link i saw a countdown timer that started on 2 and assumed it was hours Lol
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Fleach
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« Reply #14 on: November 01, 2014, 09:26:25 AM »

Has any one started yet? My only mouse and keyboard control experience is with World of Warcraft. How would someone who's only played with a controller adapt to System Shock?
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"Another exciting Canadian"

Like RPGs and Indie Games? Check out my blog!

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