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System Shock 2 Enhanced?
Mathias Wittlock writes "Etienne Aubert has created a mod for the classic System Shock 2 which replaces all models with much better looking, higher polygon ones. Maybe a reason to pick up this game again?" You can also find more info about this classic Looking Glass-legacy title at fan site Sshock2.com - and this is yet another good mod for an older game.
Well it's about bloody time!
It's sad when choosing an installation directory on your own qualifies you as an "advanced user."
Let's see if my trusted old Voodoo 2 board can handle the new graphics :)
My cats ate my karma. They also wrote this comment.
I love to see unofficial upkeep of past games, especially when they're as good as this one.
But would it be too much to ask for win2k support? I've searched for Win2k enabling patches, or methods to get this and the other killer Looking Glass titles (Thief 1&2) to run on my favorite OS, but until a dedicated group like this remedies that I think I'm out of luck.
I just reinstalled SS2 to finish playing from where I left off a couple years ago (graduate school intervened). I was always bit disappointed with the models, and with my current machine I have horsepower to spare.
No need to wait for Doom 3, I can start getting creeped out RIGHT NOW! (With the funky movements of the original models, the more detailed version will probably be VERY disturbing)
"It's overkill, of course. But you can never have too much overkill." - Anonymous Slashdot Coward
kiiiIIIIiillllll...mmeeeeEEEeee.....
There was progress but dunno if it's working now. The screenshots are oldish.
These new models look quite cool, but it would also be nice to update some of the inanimate objects (or, if they're being thrown around by explosions, technically animate) and textures - in the screenshots, the models look just a tad incongruous, simply because they're so much more detailed than their surroundings. BTW, System Shock 2 is now considered abandonware (as already mentioned, its makers went bankrupt), so you can find it on most abandonware sites. Technically speaking, that's not legal, but I believe most of these sites get permission from the original creators of any games they put up.
--- Bwah?
This mod can't really be considered a beta yet, because it isn't features-complete. Many of the models that are slated to be included are missing as of now, making for some rather obvious holes in the game. I tried starting a new game with the mod. The first thing that I noticed was that many of the characters were missing, most notably the robots in the training area. In fact, I did not see a single new model until I hit the game proper. Unfortunately, it was impossible to get very far: apparently the wrench weapon hasn't been modelled yet, making it impossible to use (whether the wrench hits anything or not must be determined by collision detection with the wrench model). The wrench was necessary to escape from the very first room (used to destroy some rubble blocking the way), so I could not even leave the first room. Presumably, it's possible to get further into the game using save files, though.
--- Bwah?
SS2 is exactly what a game should be. Challenging, innovative, and downright scary as hell at points. Glad to see someone is working on making a great game even better.
... to even fscking scarier. Goddamnit, this game is one of only two to make me shriek aloud like a little girl (the other was Quake II). This game literally gave me nightmares...
:)
And now it's gotten more realistic, and thus scarier.
I can't wait for this mod to be done, then I have an excuse if I'm ever institutionalized.
"To pass through the jungle; silence, courtesy, ferocity, as the occasion demands." -- Kamau, "Proper Passage"
I'd like to see game developers do this more.
Obviously I don't want to just see old tedious content re-hashed, but many games with great storylines (like this one) could benifit greatly from something as simple as updated 3D models.
Obviously with titles like DN3D, Marathon, Dark Forces, Doom, etc you can't simply inject new full 3D models, but for existing older fully 3D titles, games like Jedi Knight, Driver, System Shock 2, etc., then adding new models and high resolution textures needent require any additional programming and could make an older game attractive again.
If you wanted to take things a little further, with a little map work to smooth things out and some additional coding to take advantage of lighting effects/bumpmapping then you can have a great looking-great playing title again with much less work (and cost) than creating a game from scratch, and you can reach out to all those who didn't play it (or finish it) first time round, and who maybe those who really enjoyed it and would love to play it again.
I'd love to play Jedi Knight again with Doom III quality models for example.
With the current speed of advancements in 3D hardware (and the future advancements still to come for quite a few years) I'm surprised firms aren't looking to capitalise on their existing assets.