Rensje on 14/9/2007 at 00:49
Hey everyone, my name is Rensje, I'm just a young dude from Holland who stumbled upon the awesomeness that is System Shock 2 by accident while going through a drawer filled with old games and thinking "I didn't know we owned this?".
So I installed it, even got it to work eventually and then finally submerged myself into what would soon prove to be the single greatest game I have played in my entire life. I have only played it as a Navy hacker on Easy so far, but this game just tickles my fancy in every conceivable way; the sound, the music, the atmosphere, the story, the RPG elements.. all of it kicks my behind like no game has ever done before.
I'm replaying the whole thing now, this time on Normal difficulty, and again as a Navy hacker, because I liked that class so much I thought I'd try and perfect the build I was using on my first run. I made it about halfway into Hydroponics this time around until I died after not saving for a good while, and to clear my head I just started browsing the internet for SS2 for a bit. Then of course I came across this website and the rest, as they say, is history.
I'm hoping to share some of my really positive experiences about the game here, and maybe chat over some other games as well (I also have the Thief I+II boxset). Hell, I'm enjoying myself so much playing SS2 I'm actually considering doing a brand-new fansite about it. Nothing fancy, maybe something like an online shrine or so. If I do it though, I'll wait at least until I have completed the games once or twice more, so that by then I will really start to know what I'm talking about. ;)
Anyway, I'm hoping to get to know some of you lot while I drop in and out of these boards every once in a while, and maybe pick up some tips from the pros here and there as well. Well met, everyone!
Harvester on 14/9/2007 at 01:29
Enjoy the game! I wish I could go back and relive my first playthrough, the first time you experience everything is the most unforgettable.
BTW do install the mods SHTUP (for better looking textures) and Rebirth Complemented (for better looking enemy models), they are really worth your effort, I never play without them.
I'm also from Holland btw.
Kolya on 14/9/2007 at 03:05
Welcome Rensje! Have a good time and tell us a bit about your game if you feel like it. :)
BTW, "shocked" is the name of the shock-editor. I'm probably not the only one who thought this thread was about it.
Bjossi on 14/9/2007 at 03:45
Quote Posted by Harvester
BTW do install the mods SHTUP (for better looking textures) and Rebirth Complemented (for better looking enemy models), they are really worth your effort, I never play without them.
Maybe he should put Rebirth on hold until after the first runthrough, since the updated enemy models are smaller and less scary than the originals, at least in my opinion.
Rensje on 14/9/2007 at 07:46
You know, I actually thought about installing a couple of the modifications, but besides me not knowing how on earth to install them, I'm actually not really taken aback by the Rebirth mod. Indeed, the characters don't seem nearly as scary as their original counterparts. I am hoping to get the SHTUP mod to work at some point though, because just improving the visual quality of the surroundings doesn't really alter the atmosphere in a negative way.
Oh, sorry about the title, by the way, and thank you very much for the warm welcome. I realised that the editor was called ShockEd, but I just couldn't think of anything nice for a title. I hope you will forgive this newbie 'mistake'. ;)
rachel on 14/9/2007 at 08:41
No worries, some folks here are just very nitpicky :) Welcome aboard!
I would agree on the Rebirth holding. The two main mods I'd recommend would be SHTUP and Straylight, as they improve the game without altering anything. Rebirth however is a remake more than an improvement, so it should be reserved for later playthroughs.
Rogue Keeper on 14/9/2007 at 13:33
Fascinationg how this game still impresses new people after nearly a decade since it came out.
Enjoy it, Rensje. :)
Rensje on 14/9/2007 at 14:23
Thanks for the great replies guys. Hehe, I know BR796164, it's like an impossible task, but this particular game manages it.
I just finished my second run, by the way. Took my a little under 8 hours on Normal, as opposed to little over 10 hours on Easy difficulty setting. Of course, I knew my way around a little this time. I must say that my second go was way more enjoyable than the first one. I still got all the scares, but this time I understood much more of the story, so that really completed the atmosphere for me.
I'm thinking of making it somewhat harder for myself once I try the next difficulty level. Like not allowing myself to load a saved game whenever something goes terribly wrong, instead relying solely on the Quantum Bio-Reconstruction devices scattered throughout the Von Braun. That should make things interesting.
Which reminds me, I wonder how many of you have completed the game on the Impossible difficulty setting? It seems to me that it really lives up to its name, but just how bad is it really?
ZylonBane on 14/9/2007 at 14:41
Quote Posted by Rensje
I'm thinking of making it somewhat harder for myself once I try the next difficulty level. Like not allowing myself to load a saved game whenever something goes terribly wrong, instead relying solely on the Quantum Bio-Reconstruction devices scattered throughout the Von Braun.
Wait, you've mean up until now you've just been reloading when you die?
:nono:
D'Arcy on 14/9/2007 at 15:04
As someone used to say:
Quote Posted by h-son (aka Gray)
I never use resurrection. That's cheating. I save, die and reload. Which is also cheating.
