Originally posted by JohnnyTheWolf:

I am a long-time fan of System Shock 2 and I am considering giving RetroSpace a shot, but first I wanted to ask those who played both of them their opinions.

How does RetroSpace fare in comparison? Do you think it is better overall, worse, just as good as System Shock 2? If so, in what ways?

Thanks in advance!

We probably won't see anything resembling SS2 again for a while. If the SS games had never been made or existed, you would be grateful for RetroSpace because it plays a lot like it sans Shodan or the Von Braun. The game does need some fine tuning with the difficulty and a few other minor things but still well worth it. The game is difficult to put down.

I thoroughly enjoyed my time with RetroSpace; that said, it is still a 20 bucks lower-budget game made by a tiny team, so don't expect it to fully measure up to classics like System Shock 2 or Prey in every respect.

RetroSpace's got more jank (not all of which is intended), and things like combat balancing and ability pacing aren't as good as they are in those big studio projects. RetroSpace also doesn't have an RPG skill system like System Shock 2 or Deus Ex, if that's what you like, but it does offer upgradeable gadgets and abilities that'll notably change the way you play the game (cloaking, detecting enemies through walls etc.)

If you can go into this game with your expectations set accordingly, it's probably the best recent implementation of the System Shock gameplay loop you'll find outside of the classics, even if it's pretty easy and a bit janky. In particular, I love how the game presents you with a space station made up of various interconnected hub areas, and it'll then tell you "go to the security station to do X, Y and Z" with no quest marker; so it's up to you to learn the layout of the station and find your way around when the main mission sends you back to various places around the station. Really makes you feel like you're using your own wits, just like when the System Shock games do it.

It's a good game, it has that dark atmosphere SS2 has but a bit more quirky so I'd say it's more like Bio Shock especially how it plays up retro but futuristic. It's got enough to keep you exploring and wanting to push forward, though combat gets a bit samey as the game is a bit too easy. Still it's well put together, plays smoothly, and I'm having a lot of fun.

SS2 has better atmosphere and plot in my opinion.
Retro Space kind of falls victim to a lot of modern writing pitfalls (overly "quirky" characters, unnecessary references to pop culture, etc.) But it's still enjoyable on it's other merits. There is "some" intrigue, although if you're paying attention you'll see the plot twists coming a mile off.

RS is way easier that SS2. It's got some fun puzzles in it and you will have to exercise the old gray matter on occasion. It's slightly more puzzly than SS2, but not by much, since it's all just variations on "find the door/console code."

The RPG elements in RS are basically pointless. Aside from the regeneration skill I barely used any of the mutations. SS2 is more "build" heavy than RS.
On the plus side this means you can't soft lock youself with bad skill choices. On the negative side it means experimenting with new skills is unexciting as they wont change your play style much.

On the second hardest difficulty (hardest essentially being hardcore) I was falling over ammo and supplies. I never felt pressured at any point in the game and the enemies aren't exactly difficult to outsmart.
SS2 is, as we all know, hard. Supplies are difficult to come by and you're always under some form of pressure.
RS lets you feel comfortable. SS2 does not.

RS puts a heavy emphesis on stealth, and to be fair the stealth works really well. It's just not at all necessary since you can blast your way through the entire game.

I'm making RS it sound bad, but it's really not. It's a good game and easily recommendable, it just wont set your world on fire like SS2 likely did.