System Shock 2

System Shock 2 (commonly abbreviated SS2 or Shock 2) is an action role-playing game, designed by Ken Levine for the personal computer (PC). The title is a sequel to the 1994 PC game System Shock. It was originally co-developed as a separate game by Irrational Games and Looking Glass Studios. After Electronic Arts, who owned the Shock franchise rights, signed on to publish, the game became a sequel. System Shock 2 was released on August 11, 1999 by Electronic Arts.

System Shock 2 received positive reviews when released, but failed to meet commercial sales expectations. The game has since become a cult classic, and is widely regarded by critics as one of the greatest ever made. In 2007, Irrational — now 2K Boston/2K Australia — released a self-proclaimed spiritual successor to the System Shock series, entitled BioShock, to critical acclaim and strong sales. In January 2006, Computer and Video Games magazine reported System Shock 3 was under development; however, as of January 2009, nothing conclusive has surfaced regarding the purported title.

The game takes place on board an adrift starship in a cyberpunk vision of 2114. The player assumes the role of a lone soldier trying to stem the outbreak of a genetic infection that has devastated the ship. Like System Shock, gameplay consists of first person shooting and exploration, while a role-playing system allows the player to develop unique abilities and traits.