System Shock 2 vs Bioshock

[VelvetDivan 96]

Do not read this thread if you mind spoilers!

 

I've been a fan of System Shock 2 since I played the game five years or so ago, and it scared the pants off me.  I didn't get around to playing Bioshock until recently though, and I've been making my way slowly through the first game.

 

The plasmid system was an interesting replacement for the PSI abilities from SS2, and the plasmids are streamlined enough that I was encouraged to use those abilities more than I ever bothered with SS2's PSI powers.

 

While I do kind of appreciate not having to struggle with inventory management in Bioshock, it was one of the elements from SS2 that made me feel like I was struggling in a survival situation, keeping with me just what I needed most.  I had to make painful decisions at times, leaving behind weapons or resources.  The only way this is reflected in Bioshock is the limits on how much ammo or how many items you can carry.

 

As far as the environment goes, Rapture is radically different from the Von Braun.  There was almost nothing 'beautiful' about the sterile corridors of SS2's starship, or its crippled laboratories and blood-smeared deck plates.  Still, most of the ship looked like with a week's cleanup using a small army of janitors and engineers, it would look as good as new.  You were following right on the heels of the trouble that had transpired there.  Rapture on the other hand was a *mess* that was beyond salvaging, both socially and physically.  While I would hardly call the more interior sections, the shabby apartments and steelworks-esque underbelly beautiful, every time you found a porthole, a window, or a tunnel looking out into the sea it was like an (ironically enough) breath of fresh air.  There was grandeur in some of the environments, and you could feel for Ryan, seeing how run down and overrun with crazed Splicers the sites had become.

 

Rapture was far darker, literally, than the Von Braun.  There are more shadows for enemies to lurk in, and you barely ever saw any of your opponents in full light.  It's only gotten worse as I've reached the escort portion of the game, donning the Big Daddy suit, restricting my vision.  (Yes, I haven't yet finished the game.)

 

As far as the plot goes, I was expecting to be betrayed, quite possibly by Atlas, but the mechanic of the betrayal was a total shock. Ryan's death was grisly, possibly the most visceral death ever dealt out at the hands of a character I controlled.  Not the most violent, but the death in which I could *feel* every blow that caused it, and it meant something.  It wasn't just 'one more' body on my way towards the finish line.  In System Shock 2 you never kill anyone who isn't beyond redemption, and though you are deceived, you're always in control of your own actions physically.  With all the cybernetic implants it's almost surprising SHODAN didn't have a degree of direct control over you near the end, but that avenue wasn't explored in the game.

 

 

I could blather on, but does anyone have any thoughts to share about the two games?

[King 5,625]

Bioshock is simply that.....

It's a game designed to take you to an environment thats extreme with its own extreme inhabitants...

It takes you out of your comfort zone and thrusts you into this dark,damp world thats falling apart and throws in some psychotic drug users with guns and knives...

 

I LOVE it...to put it simply...

 

Rapture is a world Id love to read about in books, and to play more in games. But truthfully, I think Bioshock Infinite has more to the worlds story then Rapture does.

 

With that said, Rapture just seems like a city thats dies long ago, and ghosts are all that inhabit it.. no more parties, no more fun and games...just murder and mystery...lots and lots of murder and mystery...

 

And I haven't played System Shock before, but to me Bioshock would trump it in no time...

[Rainblow H. Ash 5,091]

Well, as a fan of both Bioshock and System Shock 2, I definitely can comment on this.

 

I agree that Bioshock had much darker and more shoddy environments that certainly reflected the fact that stuff had gone down a while before you had gotten there, while System Shock 2 was you in thick of something that had just occurred.

 

I think one reason SHODAN possibly gaining control of you wasn't explored in System Shock 2 was that the game was rushed near the end. I dunno if you ever noticed, but the pacing of the game becomes really quick and the game becomes more linear once you reach the Body of the Many, and that's because they had to rush near the end, and it's also why the ending is the way it is. That is to say, completely ridiculous, although it certainly has grown on me over time. I do think Bioshock handled having good environments and a tight combat system better than System Shock 2, although I actually like the setting more in System Shock 2.

 

Regardless, I like both games for different reasons. I found System Shock 2 to be very difficult, but I played Bioshock on the hardest difficulty and, while the Big Daddies were certainly still a huge, huge challenge, the rest of the game was fairly easy. I'm not going to spoil anything about the end of the game, though.

 

And Dawn, you've never really played System Shock 2 before, but that game is legit and if you liked Bioshock you'd probably enjoy System Shock 2 as well, although it is a lot bigger on inventory management and RPG elements.

 

Overall, they both have different strengths and weaknesses and that I like them both about equally.

[VelvetDivan 96]

And I haven't played System Shock before, but to me Bioshock would trump it in no time...

While you won't be thrilled with System Shock 2's graphics, there are mods available to make it look better than it originally did.  Playing it, you'll see the roots of Bioshock.  Cameras that alert enemies to your location, hackable turrets/cameras/vending machines, points you earn to distribute among your attributes and skills, keeping you isolated from allies and only allowing communication via radio or through recorded logs...  Both games don't allow 'cleared' areas to remain cleared for long, so you're never able to truly relax.

 

You're bound to get annoyed by the inventory management and the weapon degradation feature, but try to stick with it.  They *do* add to the game by keeping you desperate, keeping you nervous, keeping you feel unprepared.  While there are no Big Daddies, there are plenty of opponents that make distinctive sounds you'll learn to dread...

[Guest]

System Shock 2 definitely have a very creepy atmosphere, also in terms of it's audiologs. Man, oh man.

[Rainblow H. Ash 5,091]

System Shock 2 definitely have a very creepy atmosphere, also in terms of it's audiologs. Man, oh man.

 

I completely agree.

 

And thanks for bringing back this topic from the dead, it was nice rereading a post from way back when I first joined the forum.

[Guest]

I completely agree.

 

And thanks for bringing back this topic from the dead, it was nice rereading a post from way back when I first joined the forum.

 

Any topic about System Shock 2 / BioShock deserves a revival. Legendary game(s).

[Rainblow H. Ash 5,091]

Any topic about System Shock 2 / BioShock deserves a revival. Legendary game(s).

 

Indeed they are.

 

Though now I just got bad memories of my first time playing through System Shock 2 when my brother and I were doing multiplayer. A horrible glitch near the end of the game caused our inventories to mess up and we had to restart from the beginning.

 

It was clearly SHODAN's doing! Curse you, you Artificial Intellijerk!

[Guest]

Indeed they are.

 

Though now I just got bad memories of my first time playing through System Shock 2 when my brother and I were doing multiplayer. A horrible glitch near the end of the game caused our inventories to mess up and we had to restart from the beginning.

 

It was clearly SHODAN's doing! Curse you, you Artificial Intellijerk!

 

Yeah, getting the co-op to work is a real bitch, isn't it?

[Rainblow H. Ash 5,091]

Yeah, getting the co-op to work is a real bitch, isn't it?

 

By the almighty Xerxes, yes it is. I can't even remember how my brother and I pulled it off, but after we got it to work it was awesome two-manning the game. After a while, we ended up doing four player multiplayer once we got my other bro and my cousin in on it. That was probably the most fun I've ever had in a computer game ever. Beating those stupid monkeys to death with wrenches as a team never got old.

[Megas 27,742]

Never played much of System Shock 2 honestly

 

But I absolutely adored Bioshock

[Guest]

Gave System Shock 2 another go. I can't get enough of them audio logs and them atmosphere.

[ghostfacekiller39 23,860]

Never played Bioshock, but I'm actually playing System Shock 2 right now, and this is mind-blowing.

It's horribly scary and the atmosphere alone makes my knees tremble. I'm going to turn off my lights and play it tonight...this is going to be freaky

Anyway, according to a friend who's beaten the game before, I'm only about 1/4 of the way through If the rest of the game keeps up like this (apparantly it does) then I really have trouble seeing Bioshock live up to this.

 

also didn't read a single post in this thread falalala still playing System Shock no spoilers please thank you
 

[Evilshy 5,090]

Yeah, System Shock 2 and Silent Hill 2 are still the only games that have ever made me scared to find out what was around the next corner, behind that door, or what is making that strange sound.

 

No thank you, I'll just sit here with my back to this corner so nothing can sneak up on me.

 

I need to play SS2 again and actually beat it this time...

Edited August 1, 2014 by Evilshy