November Modern Community Playthrough - System Shock 2

[GrayGhost81]

The first half hour or so of the game has no combat and consists of tutorials and spec'ing out your character. Take the time then to get used to the controls. If you don't like it at first try changing the mouse sensitivity in the options menu. I never play games on PC either and I got used to it pretty quickly.

[techwizard]

what grayghost said, PC is all about customizability. if you don't like the feel of the game, make the game fit what works for you.

[Disposed Hero]

I got started on this over the weekend.  I was really put off by the game at first, so much so that I almost gave up on it.  This game can be pretty complicated with all of the different items you find and the stats and abilities you can spec, and I wasn't sure what would be good to invest in.  It also felt pretty dated by today's standards, which is a given for an FPS that came out in 1999, but in my opinion System Shock 2 feels even more dated than Half-Life, which came out a year earlier.

Anyway, before giving up on the game, I checked out a Youtube video of someone (who knew what they were doing) playing through the opening parts of the game, and I also checked out a couple of FAQs detailing all of the different skills and attributes, as well as many of the other finer points of the game.  After starting a new game, I'm enjoying it much more on my second attempt.  I'm not following a walkthrough, but I still have to refer to a FAQ pretty often just to know what certain items and abilities do, and to know what skills are worth upgrading.

With that being said, I'm really enjoying this game now and have become pretty engrossed by it.  Despite being 15 years old, this game is still genuinely creepy/scary, even more so that most of the more recent horror games that I've played lately.

[techwizard]

I should be starting on this soon too now that I'm finished Super Metroid. i'll probably need to use a skill/attribute FAQ as well, I always feel like that isn't really cheating so much as just getting explanations that the game should be giving you but doesn't.

[samus5678]

I started the game during the weekend, gotten to the cargo bays on the 2nd deck, I found that my history of MMOs (mainly EVE) helped me with figuring out the different key combos (also rebinding WASD helped) and screen management.

Right now for my first impression, I'd have to agree with Yahtzee from The Escapist.
(warning: language)

[GrayGhost81]

I'm glad you guys are jumping in already and sounding off here. Like I said in the OP, this game is way deeper and more complex than I, for one, am used to.

I'm also glad to hear you guys are open to using guides. I really think they are a necessity with this game.

The good news is this games is pretty short (8-10 hours), and we have all month, so take your time.

[singlebanana]

Glad to see good participation on this thread and that people are enjoying it.   I like what Disposed wrote about being frustrated at first and then going and watching a video to help understand the game a little more. Games are about having fun, so do what you need to do to have fun, whether it be watch videos or add mods. No one is going to judge you for it here. Have fun guys, wish I had a gaming PC; since Super Metroid is already in the can, I would have definitely joined.  Oh well, going to get some shmup practice in to kick all of your a@#es in December. *pew* *pew* 

[Disposed Hero]

Are you guys having as much fun with this game as I am?  I'm actually surprised by just how much I am enjoying this game.  I'm having a hard time putting it down.

I've already passed the Week 1 checkpoint and am well into Deck 3.  Won't be long before I finish that up and head to Deck 4....

Has anybody here invested into Psionics at all?  I haven't.  I've been putting my points into hacking, maintenance, and weapon skills instead.  I'm curious to try out Psionics because it looks like there are some useful skills there.

[GrayGhost81]

I have also been going more for hacking, etc ahead of Psionics. I feel like you're better off, though some of the later tier Psi powers seem like they'll be awesome.

[Disposed Hero]

If I ever replay this game (which would be at least a couple years from now), I think I'll attempt a Psionic-heavy build and see how that goes.

Right now I'm progressing through Deck 4.  I hit the big plot point, but I've known about the plot twist there forever so it wasn't a surprise for me.  I think it's pretty much common knowledge at this point, at least in the gaming community.

[Fleach]

I hit the big plot point, but I've known about the plot twist there forever so it wasn't a surprise for me.  I think it's pretty much common knowledge at this point, at least in the gaming community.

Not for me.

[techwizard]

I hit the big plot point, but I've known about the plot twist there forever so it wasn't a surprise for me.  I think it's pretty much common knowledge at this point, at least in the gaming community.

Not for me.

me neither, i've actually never even heard of this game until it was suggested as a playthrough.

[Disposed Hero]

Hmm.... I guess it's not as well known as I thought then.

[Fleach]

If the twist is...

Spoiler (hover to show)

Everyone is dead

I'm not surprised because the space station is empty except for proto-splicers/zombies/what have you. I figured that much in the first half hour.

This game is living up to GrayGhost's description. It's tough. That's actually untrue, it's unfair. The enemies seem to have a much better reach with melee attacks than the character does.

[GrayGhost81]

Floyd, that's not the twist.

Let's all take it easy with the twist. I haven't even posted week two's checkpoint yet.