It has been included in several ' greatest games of all time' lists. Many critics later determined that the game was highly influential in subsequent game design, particularly on first-person shooters, and considered it far ahead of its time.

The game received critical acclaim but failed to meet commercial sales expectations. System Shock 2 was originally released in August 1999 for Microsoft Windows. It incorporates role-playing elements, in which the player can develop skills and traits, such as hacking and psionic abilities. Like System Shock, gameplay consists of first-person combat and exploration. The player assumes the role of a soldier trying to stem the outbreak of a genetic infection that has devastated the ship. The game takes place on board a starship in a cyberpunk depiction of 2114.

The alterations were made when Electronic Arts-who owned the System Shock franchise rights-signed on as publisher. Originally intended to be a standalone title, its story was changed during production into a sequel to the 1994 game System Shock. System Shock 2 is a 1999 action role-playing survival horror video game designed by Ken Levine and co-developed by Irrational Games and Looking Glass Studios. Action role-playing, first-person shooter, survival horror

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