System Shock 2

Playing this game for the first time in 2015—I recommend it very strongly to fans of FPSs, RPGs, and space horror. There are so many great aspects to this game that I will break my rule and compile a list: It requires and rewards exploration of diverse levels and environments. Everywhere you turn there is something you either need or want... or fear. There is some degree of backtracking, but that's part of the fun: as you explore more of the game world you progressively understand how it all connects together. I got quite emotional when I had to go back to the areas in which I started! So much had happened since then. weeps gently

• Nicely balanced skill-based character progression. Decisions you make on how to upgrade your abilities have very real consequences. Not only that, but there are paths you can choose leading to very different gameplay styles, thus allowing for some very nice replayability. On my first play, I focused on melee weapons and hacking skills. It would be quite a different game the next time I play it, focusing on psionics.

• Careful loot management: you never know when something might come in handy. Luckily, you can stash it and come back to it later... although it might not be so easy to get back. To help you out, it's possible to put markers on the map with your own custom text: a very practical and logical little feature that I hope other games would mimic.

• An engaging story that reveals itself slowly throughout the game via superbly produced audio logs, as well as environmental clues. The story is spooky as hell. The characters are not well developed, but there's enough details that you can get attached to them, even though you never quite get to meet them in the game. Or do you...?

The game has aged very well, but you might want to install NeutralX2's mod pack for more up-to-date visuals. (Nothing very fancy, but at least it looks better for contemporary screen resolutions.)

And it's hard, very hard in some areas. I played on "normal" difficulty and still got quite a challenge. It never got unfair or frustrating, though, so if you're feeling up to it, move your mouse away from "easy"!

If I have any criticisms, they're about the physics system: it's awful. Running and jumping around swinging sword-like objects can get a bit clunky (and even buggy) at times.

But that's really petty criticism. This is a very fun and satisfying game, as well as an important piece of gaming history.

I'd like to thank the developer for the effort of releasing a Linux version. Unfortunately, their release did not work for me. (It's based on WINE, by the way.) However, I could play it just fine on Linux using CrossOver