Three Classes

Animal, vegetable, mineral

System Shock 2 boasts 3 unique character classes, and you choose what you want to be in-game. These classes include a weapons specialist (the Marine), a computer specialist (hacker), and the psionic abilities specialist (Black Ops). You're not restricted to using just the abilities of your class as you can develop a combination of all three as you go through the game through the allocation of experience points as you go through the game and go up in levels. One thing to remember is that that gaining greater specialization in a specific field will unlock more powerful abilities. Trying to be a jack of all trades may not be in your best interest.

Big enemy + no weapon ready = RUN!

Could that be your ride home?

Yes it matters

The classes are central to the game play in that there are almost always several ways to solve different problems and advance through the story. For example, getting past the proverbial locked door isn't just about running around clicking on everything to find the key. A hacker would try accessing the computer system to unlock the door. The weapons specialist might go hunting around for a bigger gun to blow the thing open, while the psionic character might try using his special abilities to possess a monster on the opposite side to open the door for him. The farther you go in the game, the more the classes differentiate themselves. Also, this kind of game play means that SS2 should have some great replay value as you try to solve different problems in different ways.

Why am I tempted to break it?

Sorry, couldn't help it

How are they different?

The Marine character is going to have better accuracy with weapons and be able to repair them much more easily (yes, you must keep weapons in repair or risk breaking them). He'll also be able to more easily modify weapons with new fire modes etc. The hacker type can of course infiltrate computer security systems, but also research alien technologies and figure out how to use alien weapons more quickly (so he won't break them). The Psionic character is given powerful spell like abilities whereby he can turn monsters against one another, shut down electrical machinery. However, if you screw up while using your psi powers you can hurt yourself by "overloading."

Eat green gas, fiend!

Oh just shoot him