Does anyone else find Shock 2 scarier than anything since?

terrannova on 3/8/2010 at 06:04

I had more freaky moments in F.E.A.R. (the first and best one) than in System Shock 2. It remains my number one scary game.

Also, Clive Barker's Undying was ridiculously scary and that came out a few years after Shock 2.

As for a sense of atmosphere and consistent ambience, System Shock 2 wins hands down. Many other games out there have yet to properly integrate this.

In Shock 2 the sound is so well done and the speaker placement is fantastic. Not bad for a game from 1999. I'm trying to remember if it supported 5.1 surround, definitely the best 2.1 anyways.

D'Arcy on 3/8/2010 at 17:52

I think it does support 5.1. I've always played it like that.

terrannova on 4/8/2010 at 06:07

Yeah I've had these Creative Inspire 5300 5.1's so long I stopped checking to see if a game was 5.1 capable or not. :cheeky:

Great sound output all these years later. They are the oldest components connected to my PC today.

D'Arcy on 4/8/2010 at 14:14

More or less the same here. I have a Cambridge Soundworks Desktop Theater 5.1 DTT2200. I've had it for ten years already, changed computers two or three times meanwhile, but never thought of changing the sound system.

Bluegrime on 4/8/2010 at 18:51

Surround sound nothin' man, headphones and a dark room are where its at for maximum Shock experience. I've got a pair of Bose noise canceling headphones that really bring the game to life. For maximum effect turn the gamma down a few notches and mute the soundtrack. ( SS2 is one of the only games I can stand to play without a soundtrack.. Infact I find it easier that way )

Also I hate SS2 for spoiling me when it comes to scary games. It was the first real horror game I ever played and so far everything after has been a laugh. Actually my first playthrough of it was bad enough that even SS2 itself dosen't get to me anymore. But oh man, back in the day those midwives made my skin crawl.

devilsknight89 on 4/8/2010 at 19:18

I have just freshly completed shock 2. I'm not so sure that I find it scarier than everything I have played before. As much as I love the game, I couldn't hold it as a survival horror game. I think I was spoiled by dead space. The sound effects are what made that game, and I think if ss was to have a makeover of the sound effects in a similar fashion it would gain a scarier atmosphere. The techno music took away some of the horror too. Instead of creeping with fear, I wanted to charge in with my giant wrench and rip of some heads...

Admittedly, I did find being inside the worm scary.

I found doom 3 scarier (jumpy), and I found dead space scarier (dreaded atmosphere - twinkle twinkle anyone?)

That being said, none of them come close to the quality of ss.

Shalebridge Cradle is the scariest fucking thing I've ever came across in a game :eek: I _had_ to take a break when playing it.

EDIT: I re-read the first post, I do agree that system shock 2 is one hell of a creepy game in the context you describe. I should also add that this is my first play-through (shock-horror). I have played the thief series and deus ex many a time, but this is the first time I have played ss2.

Al_B on 5/8/2010 at 20:11

I'm a complete wimp when it comes to computer games (I was terrified by (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/3D_Monster_Maze) 3D Monster Maze back in the day) and both System Shock 2 and Dead Space are great at evoking fear and isolation. However, after failing to get more than a quarter of the way through Dead Space in my first playthrough I restarted and found that the tension had gone. I simply knew what was going to happen, how enemies were going to appear and what were atmospheric "red herrings".

In contrast, although I haven't completed SS2 more than a few times, it's maintained the same tension as things are far less predictable, even if the plot is no longer a mystery.

Quote Posted by devilsknight89

I think if ss was to have a makeover of the sound effects in a similar fashion [to Dead Space] it would gain a scarier atmosphere.

I'm not claiming that SS2 is perfect with its sound (although it's very good), but I got annoyed by Dead Space's use of sound in places. It seemed to rely on instrumental sound bites to evoke atmosphere and its use of "strings bursts" (I'm sure there's a proper musical term) reminded me of episodes of Lost where they need to ensure that the viewer realises that what had just been seen was meant to be dramatic.

Omgz a CD on 5/8/2010 at 22:43

I haven't been able to sleep until sunrise because of the midwives.
Truly amazing game, not even some horror games, (half life, alan wake, silent hill) haven't scared me as much.

Enchantermon on 6/8/2010 at 05:11

Well, Half-Life isn't a horror game...

D.W on 6/8/2010 at 16:32

Quote Posted by Enchantermon

Well, Half-Life isn't a horror game...

Sure isn't, Half-Life would be scarier if it weren't a corridor shooter.