Skill Tree
Upgrade your soldier with cyber-modules to survive the infection.
System Shock 2 is a 1999 action role-playing and survival horror video game. The player assumes the role of a soldier trying to stem the outbreak of a genetic infection that has devastated the ship. The game incorporates role-playing elements, in which the player can develop skills and traits, such as hacking and psionic abilities. The player can upgrade their skills by using "cyber-modules" given as rewards for completing objectives such as searching the ship and spend them at devices called "cyber-upgrade units" to obtain enhanced skills. Operating system (O/S) units allow one-time character upgrades to be made (e.g. permanent health enhancement).
Quick Facts
- First appears
- System Shock 2 (1999)
- Affiliation
- Player character (soldier) and SHODAN
- Disciplines
- Combat
- Hacking
- Psionics
- and more
Lore & Background
At the beginning of the game, the player chooses a career in a branch of the Unified National Nominate (UNN), a fictional military organization. Each branch of service gives the player a set of starting bonuses composed of certain skills, though may thereafter freely develop as the player chooses. The Marine begins with bonuses to weaponry, the Navy officer is skilled in repairing and hacking, and the OSA agent gets a starting set of psionic powers. An in-game currency called "nanites" may be spent on items at vending machines, including ammunition supplies and health packs. "Quantum Bio-Reconstruction Machines" can be activated and reconstitute the player for 10 nanites if they die inside the area in which the machine resides. Otherwise, the player can reload a save to continue.
Reader's Guide
The player can hack devices, such as keypads to open alternate areas and vending machines to reduce prices. When a hack is attempted, a minigame begins that features a grid of green nodes; the player must connect three in a straight row to succeed. Optionally, electronic lock picks, called "ICE-picks", can be found that will automatically hack a machine, regardless of its difficulty. The game includes a research function. When new objects are encountered in the game, especially enemies, their organs can be collected; when combined with chemicals found in storage rooms, the player can research the enemies and thus improve their damage against them. Similarly, some exotic weapons and items can only be used after being researched. OSA agents effectively have a separate weapons tree available to them. Psionic powers, such as invisibility, fireballs, and teleportation, can be learned.
More in Gameplay & Mechanics
Elsewhere in System Shock
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