System Shock 2: Enhanced Edition

System Shock 2: Enhanced Edition is the remastered version of a 1999 immersive sim, a cross between an FPS, RPG and survival horror. It was developed by Nightdive Studios; the team is specialized in remastering old classics, being also responsible for the remake of the first System Shock.

Plot

System Shock 2: Enhanced Edition is set over 40 years after the first game. We play as a soldier participating in the maiden flight of the Von Braun, a modern spacecraft. After waking up from a coma, he discovers most of the crew has been murdered, while the ship is infested with aggressive robots and mutated humans. Our task becomes to survive and learn what happened on the spacecraft.

Mechanics

System Shock 2: Enhanced Edition is a first-person game (FPP). The player can choose their character's class, the choice affecting his initial abilities. Afterwards, the game proper begins.

We must traverse the Von Braun, complete story quests and listen to scattered audiologs to gradually discover what happened aboard the ship. Our job is made more difficult by environmental puzzles and various opponents. We can fight machines and mutants wielding melee weapons or firearms. As we progress through the game we develop our hero (using special implants unlocks or upgrades his abilities) and his equipment (we can craft new weapons or upgrade already owned ones).

Game modes

System Shock 2: Enhanced Edition supports singleplayer and co-op.

Technical aspects

Similar to Blade Runner: Enhanced Edition, the Nightdive Studios team have reverse-engineered the entire game to their proprietary KEX Engine. They've also collaborated with the systemshock.org community, including their best modifications in the game. The remaster thus stands out compared to the original with its nicer cutscenes, textures, weapon and character models.