Sound

Whispers in the dark

Sound effects are where System Shock 2 really shines, and that's important because sound plays a huge role in how you play the game. Most of the enemies in the game make a characteristic noise. Hybrids mutter to themselves, lab monkeys chatter, while the security cameras buzz, beep, and whirr. One of the most frightening things in the game is when you're in an otherwise empty corridor and you hear the creepy muttering and whispering of a hybrid or a chattering monkey approaching….but you can't pinpoint the direction! I can't count the number of times I've spun around in circles, frantically, looking for an enemy I could hear but not see. The game does support 3D audio via EAX but it doesn't seem to work that well compared to say, the A3D in Thief. I'm not sure if this was intentional or not (metallic walls echoing in the spacecraft), but whether or not it was, it sure added to the tension. After playing enough of this game, you'll get creeped out at night with strange whispering in your head.

Ack, a hybrid!

Blast him!

Other sound effects were just as impressive. You'll walk around picking up audio logs of dead crew members that give you clues and add to the backstory. The voice acting in these is quite good actually, making it all the more chilling to hear these "voices from the grave." Xerxes, the ship's computer, will also speak to you from time to time to discourage you from continuing in your quest. Gun pops sound good, as do the random beeps from humming and whirring machines throughout the ship.

Better search the desk

Buying items from the replicator

Music

SS2 includes a very good soundtrack as well. Normally in a game like this, you want to keep the music off to concentrate on game noises, but most of the music in this game is too good to pass up. Particularly the music from the first (demo) level - medical/science. That track was rocking and definitely on a par with the best game music I've ever heard (Mechwarrior 2 and Warcraft 2).

Ransacked room

Someone died here