The Beginner's Guide to System Shock 2

New to System Shock 2? This brief guide has what you need to take on The Many.

I. Introduction

System Shock 2 is an old PC game that lacks the streamlined simplicity of modern game design, and many who start don't finish. This is unfortunate, though understandable. It's not a game you simply pick up and play. It was difficult, even for its time, so is there any wonder it goes tried and unfinished?

Much of the difficulty comes from resource scarcity. Equipment is scarce, and the game never gives you more than you need. Each bullet you shoot is a bullet you could have saved. Each skill you upgrade means other skills won't be upgraded. Every choice, each pull of the trigger has long-lasting consequences. After the first playthrough, this sinks in, and players enjoy things more the second time around. This guide is written in hopes that first-timers will make it to the second time.

In The Beginner's Guide to System Shock 2, we'll cover a few gameplay basics and strategies for success. This is not intended to be a walkthrough for completing the game. For that, I recommend the one at VisualWalkthroughs.com. (Sadly, now defunct.) Also, this is not an exhaustive list of secrets. My hope is for newcomers use this information to find secrets on their own.

--Vasari, 2016

Addendum, 2020: NO PLANS TO UPDATE THIS GUIDE EVER AGAIN, HOWEVER... do keep playing, it's a fantastic game.

II. Gameplay Basics

At the beginning of System Shock 2, you select a character class: Marine, Navy or O.S.A (these roughly correspond to Fighter, Thief and Mage in other games). Do you want to specialize in fighting? Be a Marine. Do you want to be a tech specialist? Then go Navy. Do you prefer unconventional tactics? O.S.A. Even though it's possible to be a Marine with psionics, the key to not getting screwed is to pick a style and commit to it. There isn't enough time to be good at everything.

Throughout the game, you receive cybernetic modules that allow you to upgrade stats and skills. Be careful how you spend them. While most skills are optional, research and hacking are eventually required to beat the game. You need only invest one level in research, but if you don't have at least three levels in hacking (or if you don't have any ICE-breakers), there will come a point when the game becomes unwinnable. MAKE SURE YOU HAVE THESE SKILLS.

Be aware that most weapons have prerequisites for use. For example, the pistol takes one level in Standard Weapons, and the shotgun takes three. The rarest weapons take up to six levels in their respective classes (e.g, Standard, Heavy, Energy and Exotic) plus other stat requirements. Melee weapons are good most of the time, but it's inadvisable to use them against certain enemies. Be ready to switch tactics at any time. A good rule of thumb is, "Melee when possible, ranged when necessary."

III. Seven Strategies for Success

1. Specialize. If you try to be good at everything, you won't get access to the best equipment, the best weapons, etc. There aren't enough cyber-modules for you to do that. Specialize in one or two areas, and invest in a few minor skills that complement your specialties. For example: those who specialize in weapons should also be good at maintenance, since weapons degrade over time.

2. Audio Logs. These comprise most of the story and sometimes tell you things like door codes and hidden item locations, making them indispensable to your progress and enjoyment of the game.

3. Inventory. You have a limited amount of space to carry stuff. Strength increases the size of your inventory, and so does the Pack Rat O/S upgrade. If you run out of room, you can always drop things off and come back for them later. A good idea is to keep a cache near one of the elevators.

4. Research. This skill is required to use certain items. Always retrieve the manifests from Chemical Storerooms, and leave the chemicals there until you need them. That way, you know where to find the right chemicals later on.

5. Keyboard shortcuts. Learn them. Use them. During combat, it's faster to press a button to switch your ammo type than to open the inventory and drag whatever type of rounds you need to your current weapon. The game doesn't pause when you open your inventory, so speed matters.

6. Looting. Guns, hypos and cyber-modules are free for the taking if you only bother to look for them. Loot items from corpses and the environment. If you come across weapons, unload them for ammo, even if you don't plan on taking the weapons. You'll come across many hybrids with broken shotguns. Take their spare shells.

7. Room clearing. Don't charge blindly into a room. Lean around corners and progress carefully, deliberately, systematically. Never assume you're safe, especially when when you are. Enemies will respawn after a while and catch you unawares.

[Handsome JezdaNikki]

Thank you

[Prop]

you should update this guide and tell as about your psi build experience

[Splinter]

Never updating this guide again, BUT... the best run I ever had was with a psi build. Psi was confusing at first, but once it made sense? Oh, the possibilities. I would almost venture to say you haven't played it until you've done a psi run.

[cheugy]

I have to go back to one of my old saves and basically start over because I didn't level up well enough. I am stuck before the cargo bays section and just don't have enough ammo and health. Anyways thanks for the guide. I think it will be helpful.

[large frog]

One thing I really like doing is blocking attacks.
If you swing a melee weapon like the wrench, timing it right,
and aiming it right, you can block a shotgun blast or another pipe-hybrid's attack.

You can also angle yourself if you're fighting an enemy near you
and a long ranged enemy near it, so the long ranged one
is behind it. The one you're fighting melee will take the hits from
the long ranged enemy.

[minister of chlorine]

"Enemies will respawn after a while"
The feel of this game is really too spooky for me. I'm afraid of combat, and just makes it worse.

[Splinter]

@911 carrera 4s
Sadly, that website no longer exists. It was a good one.

[911 carrera 4s]

the URL VisualWalkthroughs.com is no longer the URL of a System Shock related site.

[Reytholian]

What I do is save almost every few minutes, especially when I hack the crates in case it explodes or can't complete the current attempt.

[olthaen]

Damn it, I don't know how but I can't believe I never thought use the manifests in that (III; 4) way. Most of the time I forget about them as soon as I leave the room - with my inventory packed with chemicals. My mind is blown in the dumbest way possible.