System Shock: Enhanced Edition PC Game Review
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- Опубліковано 4 жов 2024
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You're a renowned hacker, the most notorious cyberspace thief in the corporate world. Caught during a risky break-in, you become indentured to Diego, a greedy Trioptium exec who bankrolls a rare cyberjack implant operation. After six months in a healing coma, you awaken to the twisted aftermath of a terrible disaster. Where are the surgeons? Why is the station in such disrepair? Slowly, the chilling realization that something is very wrong creeps over you.
Once a prime corporate research facility, Citadel now teems with mindless cyborgs, robots and terribly mutated beings, all programmed to serve SHODAN, a ruthless A.I. There's scarcely time to think before it unleashes the first terror...
Exactly twenty one years after its first release, System Shock is back!
The Enhanced Edition adds a modern touch to this true classic gem, without taking anything from its unmistakable atmosphere.
See for yourself that the game that has been called the benchmark for intelligent first-person gaming, has lost nothing of its ability to keep you on the edge of your seat.
Can't believe we'll be getting System Shock 3 sooner than Half-Life 3.
But it isn't all that surprising though is it?
It's been put on hold if not outright cancelled so...perhaps not.
How can you not believe it? System Shock 2 came out before Half-Life 2
SaberRexZealot we have bioshock.
half life 3 was permanently cancelled bruh
Hey GGG, I noticed the advertisement in the intro and I just want to say that was probably the least intrusive ad I've ever seen. The video didn't come to a halt so you could spout marketing spiel, it didn't awkwardly blast the volume up, and it didn't interrupt the run time.
So I'm completely fine with it. Honestly not bothered with it at all if you continue to have them in videos.
+Kolbe Howard Thanks mate!
+Gggmanlives I enjoy these reviews for older games that get a face lift for modern tech, they do not get enough recondition
PATRiCKFBi PatrickRies
Maybe soon.
+PATRiCKFBi PatrickRies Watch his health kit 101 video.
+Kolbe Howard Me too! I am so glad about that.
This is my favorite series of all time, so thanks for putting it in the spotlight. There are several additional details I thought were worth mentioning.
* Grenades can be a hassle in the heat of combat, but they're devastating if you string them out to lay traps ahead of time. Drop (don't prime) them across corridors, then lure enemies through and blow them all to paste.
* Unlike most FPS games, you have unlimited ammo carrying capacity. I never liked how in other shooters, you can't pick up an ammo type if you're already carrying the limit, but then you run out later on during a firefight and have to backtrack to restock.
* Each aspect of the difficulty is customizable at the start, so if you don't like combat grinds, you can set that to low, and set everything else to high.
* This game was among the first to offer multiple solutions to a goal. One example is when you have to blow up several radar dishes. When you rig up the last one, SHODAN traps you inside with the explosive. You can either quickly hack the door, let yourself die and be resurrected, or hide on the opposite side of the dish and hit the deck so the explosion doesn't kill you.
I did have trouble recommending the original to a friend due to the controls that could not be remapped (unless you used DOSBox and its remapper feature) but maybe I can interest him in the Enhanced Edition.
Real conversation I had with a friend:
"What's this game? Is it anything like Bioshock?"
Oh, that's System Shock 2!!! It INSPIRED the Bioshock games!!! I freakin loved it growing up! Definitely worth playing through.
"Ah sweet. I'll just play through the first one that also on Steam and..."
Yeaahh... about that...
"What's the problem?"
How good are you at flight simulators?
"Well... I kick ass at Ace Combat."
Hehehehe... that's not a simulator.
I didn't even realize you could actually survive that explosion, and I didn't have the restoration bay activated. I just couldn't solve the puzzle fast enough, and I had left my logic probes in the area where you pick up the explosives (after that, I always kept at least one logic probe on me). I ended up using a reflex patch so I could solve the puzzle in slow motion, and I think that's yet another great example of how creative you can get when tackling different situations in this game.
This is a fair review, but I have just a few friendly objections for the enhanced version: 1.) it has widescreen options and you can customize resolutions in the ini.file. 2.) you can customize the buttons. I for example used r for reload, t for ammo type, f for flashlight and g for throwing grenades. 3.) you do not have to watch the death sequence after you died. 4.) I am dumb (when it comes to games) and I was stuck several times but never did I need a walkthrough. With patience (for reading logs) and pure logic you will always reach your goal. 5.) I would disagree that this is an action oriented game. It is rather an exploration based adventure game with action elements.
"you don't have to watch the death scene" please tell me you're trolling
You can skip the death scene with 1 click.
i'll take it as if you're a troll
Does leaning actually lower an enemy's chance of hitting you in this game?
@@Alianger yes
This review is due to be updated. The Sourceport update really adds a lot. Including the ability to bind a reload key for example. :) Proper mod support was added too... (One that is almost essential fixes the audiolog text)
Man your pumping these out like crazy! Serious respect dude for working so hard.
I wish more reviews were like this, not just objective but also taking modern audiences into account when deciding whether or not to recommend a game. While there are younger gamers out there that can appreciate older classics, sometimes the game mechanics can be so frustrating that it kills the experience. Hell, sometimes I'll go back and play older games that I used to love and find them completely unplayable (looking at you, Ape Escape). System Shock 2, thankfully, has aged much more gracefully.
+Sam Vimes um fuck modern audiences they ruin gaming them and there gay battlefield n call of duty bullshit
+retrodark gamer Oh look we have a special snowflake here.
retrodark gamer
xD
+Sam Vimes Yes, I really like this reviewers style. He doesn't just force his opinion as being the best, but he takes a lot of other people's opinions into consideration.
+retrodark gamer
I'm really delighted to see GOG pull this off. My hat is off for them. I'm kind of a fan of shodan, as you can tell. =)
Sweet!
A very fair review. I honestly view this game as one of the most influential and forward thinking ever made, and it mostly holds up, but you did a great job touching on the areas where it doesn't. Keep em coming man!
I really love the reload system in this game and it adds an extra level of immersion in a very simple way.
At the start of the game you're going to fuck it up a lot and end up fumbling with the interfaces while mutants slowly move towards you, but by the end you'll probably be able to switch magazines in milliseconds as the reloading is actually really simple to learn.
Also GGGman going by your footage you seem to have missed the lightsab- sorry, laser rapier which really makes the game a lot easier. It lets you take on even the most powerful enemies (seriously you can kill Diego and sec2 bots with this thing if you're good enough) at melee range and has near limitless ammo.
+Mondo78951 I don't use melee weapons all that much and how could you even get close to Diego?
+Gggmanlives
Ambush him at corners in the first two encounters and he spawns right behind you in the final one.
As long as you can dodge his melee attacks you should be fine, although I haven't tried this on combat 3.
Mondo78951
That's brave. I normally just cheap him out around corners.
Hands down the best use of marketing I've seen on UA-cam. If only others would follow suit.
+Jordan Black I'd probably be inclined to disable adblock in certain places if the ads weren't so god damn obnoxious.
3:26 so that's where Nintendo got Bowsers voiceclips.
Holy shit! You’re totally right!
The fact that between this and the release of Soma you managed to produce two separate and excellent reviews in such a short span of time is impressive as all hell. Brilliant stuff.
The enchance edition of SS1 was really needed. Remember trying to play it years ago on a more modern computer and it was a complete pain in the ass to get running.
How you are able to jump from one genre to another without any whiplash never ceases to amaze me, Sonny jim!
+Salokin Sekwah you said it
+Salokin Sekwah Oh I get whiplash.
*****
Thanks for your sub!
+Gggmanlives I got into all these retro games like doom and system shock 1 because of these videos. I have got to say that these games are amazing. Thanks for reviewing games like these.
+Mitchell Ehrlich I've never had a gaming experience like my first playthrough of System Shock 2, just incredible.. :-)
+Nick Hunter (DJCR33P) yeah it totally is
+Nick Hunter (DJCR33P) I have never played something like it. Honestly, I hated the shooting, though. Stupidly, I was hoping for less combat, and more exploration
Hayden Onion the shooting was terrible unless you were maxed out in the skill tree then it became hugely satisfying imo, took a long time to do that though and the wonky recoil plus deteriorating weapons made it painful
Nick Hunter Just beat the game, and I don't think it was ever built to have satisfying shooting, because that's not the point of the game. The point, in my opinion, is to manage your resources effectively, and to successfully kill, or get past the enemies, and that's where the enjoyment comes from, relief.
I'm in awe at your work. Not sure why I haven't stumbled across your channel before, but I subscribed straight away. I do more technical videos, tweak guides, and that keeps me busy enough. No idea how you find the time to play through all these games :) And thank you for correct 4:3 aspect ratios and 60 fps captures, I do care about these details.
+philscomputerlab Thanks mate!
Apparently nightdive is gong to do a full on proper remake where they've gone on record to state they want to keep the overall everything, but trim out the archaic that keeps people turned off... with the possibility of having hand holdy 'go here, do this, etc etc' markers on lower difficulties, but gradually stripping them away as you ramp the difficulty up.
From what I know they're going to use a lot of the same level geometry (make of that as you will) with tweaks here and there, and likely new areas or readjustments here and there when things make sense.
I hope it does well because if it does, then we get a proper system shock 3.
But dude, we ARE getting SS3. They even announced it, with a teaser site.
Hayden Onion Oh I know. I'm just saying I hope that's the reason for the remake of shock1, to hype and prep and all that for the next one.
I figured Bioshock was the sequel to SS2, I think SS3 would be more of a sequel to Bioshock one, they'll be taking a lot of the updated mechanics from that game and shoving it in a space ship, or they might make a Bioshock 4 that is set in a space station or space ship, if you know the story they might be able to link it in somehow.
Dandra, no, the two IPs are completely separate, canon-wise, rights-wise, developer-wise etc.
humanzyx No dev wise, Bioshock is considered a spiritual successor to SS2
For me, LONG LIVE SYSTEM SHOCK 1&2! I think they were better than all the Bioshock games combined!
+Blazkowicz I mean were not was!
+Blazkowicz And it sucks how System Shock Portable was removed for this one to exist.
+Blazkowicz FYI: he people who made SSP are now in the process of making a better patch version of SSP that will require you own a copy of the game (GOG.com actually offers the original, unaltered game as a goodie included with the Enhanced Edition if you don't already own a commercial version of the game).
+ratchet256 idk...bioshock infinite was pretty...eh...shit....
+PrimeVinyl Well that's your opinion.
I was hoping that my favorite new reviewer would post a System Shock Enhanced review and here it is. Good times.
Not to mention the music is fucking amazing.
But it's better to turn off the music while playing.
Ilja Unbekannt Well that's like your opinion, man.
ABYZZ WARRIOR I admit the music is amazing but it kinda takes away from the creepy feeling.
Ilja Unbekannt Just don't do it on maintenance. :P
It is annoying, even from the main menu.
One thing to note about throwing grenades; they are physically simulated. Your camera view and mouse momentum effect the angle and speed at which the grenades are thrown, respectively.
Played this game start to finish this week. Had never played a SS game before. Have to say that this game is pretty amazing. Level design is flat out great and working through each level of the station is really fun. I felt like a cartographer mapping out each level and leaving notes on the very helpful in game map.
Everytime I see you upload a video I smile for the fact that your honest
Graphics don't really define games but I have a really hard time going back 20 years to play any games that I didn't play as a kid because they just don't seem to appeal to me when they seem so dated. Thanks for the review, i've never even seen gameplay from the first SS.
I hadn’t played it and did so reecently ... really v. good, worth trying
Just finished the enhanced version. It was awesome. Level design, variety, story, all top notch, especially considering it was made over 20 years ago. I actually enjoy the point and click controls - it seems to break up the monotony a bit. Highly recommended.
Man I've been waiting for this to come out for the longest time, loved Bioshock 1 and 2 and always wanted to see where the "shock" series all started. Great video man, you are definitely my favorite UA-cam reviewer, always happy to see your videos in my feed.
I'm not sure if this was the case during this review, but a config file in the installation folder allows for custom resolutions, even widescreen ones. I played the game at my screens native resolution 1440x900 without any issue.
Also pressing the second button down at the top-left hand of the screen disables the massive screen borders and shrinks down the UI. This in conjunction with the higher resolution makes it feel almost like some kind of source port.
I have no idea how people played this game originally with how clunky the controls were, and I suppose they didn't given how it wasn't very popular. It's good to see it make a comeback.
I actually prefer the original System Shock to it's sequel.
It’s a great game and I can definitely see why you’d say that, but for me System Shock 2 will always be my favorite.
Just wait for the remake this year...
@@aiodensghost8645 I’m very excited to play the remake and I already pre-ordered it so I can get the System Shock 2 remake for free when it comes out. I was just saying that I personally prefer the second game over the first.
@@ryanhutchinson4467 huh just so you know there's no system shock 2 remake, it's system shock 2 enhanced edition
@@jordancup5802 From what I understand, they intend to remake System Shock 2 with the same engine that they’re using for the System Shock 1 remake. I think you might be right about it not being free with the pre order of the System Shock remake, and that’s my bad. Either way, I intend to play the System Shock 2 remake when it eventually comes out, regardless of how much it costs me.
I felt the overall level design of SS1 is still unmatched. Even superior to 2.
But System Shock 2 in my opinion is getting much atmospheric, intense and of course gameplay had improved so much
Wtf are you talking about? SS1 level design is a fucking maze
@@nihilblue9669 For 1994 System Shock had pretty good level design, but it looks really antiquated today.
The level design is very complex but I'm generally quite good at navigation so it just takes a bit of exploring to find where to go. I feel bad for people who would have to work in such an environment though. I imagine most everyone would get lost constantly (and that's before Shodan takes over!).
@@nihilblue9669 That opinion is bullshit.
I don't know if someone has told you this already, but if you press 2, it takes away the HUD's cybernetic border and makes it easier to see
Yeah I don't understand why so many people use the messy HUD that takes up 70% of the screen when the 'full-screen' mode is so much vastly better.
Thanks for the review this was my first pc gmae back in the days :)
Thanks for the review! This was one of the first games I played and definitely one of the best. The controls were bad, but I still enjoyed its atmosphere. Now if you would only do a review of Bungies Marathon I would die a happy man :)
Can't wait for the remake :), gggmanlives will you do a review on the remake?
I would love to see your thoughts on the new System Shock 3 trailer!
One thing about the difficult controls that bears mentioning: At the time, people hadn't decided on WASD + mouse for control. There really wasn't a standard scheme, and on top of that, this game added so many new things to control - certainly far ahead of it's time, but without a standard base control scheme, it was bound to be archaic at best.
Still they went ahead and did it, and thank God for that. Really, once you've gotten the hang of the controls, you don't think about it so much, as the story is THAT good.
I played System Shock 2 first some years ago and absolutely loved it. Yesterday, I finished this game and I have to see that I ADORED it. It's one of those few games that actually make you feel like you're 100% the protagonist and that everything depends on your choices. Not to mention, I actually loved how less the game gives you; no flashy tutorials, no explanation of the mechanics. You can figure these out on your own.
I just wanted to say great review and I'm glad that people are still talking about this game!
I don't remember SS1 running this well and has mouselook! :D
Seriously the controls were SHIT back then. Ultima Underworld level of SHIT.
And Doom was around so who cares lol.
+Mr Skellow I personally like to support night dive studios and gog for making games like this accessible. And $10 is nothing
+silents429 I was told by gog that the game had both cd and dos version
*****
Didn't know there was a CD version.
Oh well, I already played SS2 so don't know if SS1 is worth my time despite the fixes.
***** Are you sure? I haven't downloaded it yet but according to these guys the downloader includes a dos version. www.gog.com/forum/system_shock_series/systemshock_enhanced_dos/page1
*****
But still it's kinda like a prototype of 2 from what I've seen.
I maybe be better off playing Bioshock 1. Haven't got around to playing that.
I actually started playing this game yesterday and final got to the second floor after about a hour or so. You really do have to get used to the controls but once you got them down the game should get a little easier. By the time i got to the second floor I had an abundance of ammo and medi patches thanks to the re-spawning enemies.
This game was so ahead of its time.. this version makes it pretty playable with the modern control scheme. Addicting game play and spooky atmosphere.
Picked this up two days ago during a GoG weekly sale, so glad i did. This is one game where i'm not ashamed to look at the strategy guide for when i got stuck a couple of times. XD
Just a note: this re-release version has a wide-screen mode. It's a 480p one though, so it's up to the user whether that's a "better" choice than the 1024x768 resolution.
What comes to the overall gameplay, overall SS1 was a lot more like 3D dungeon crawler "RPG" than a first-person shooter. There's even some Metroidvania elements in it. The sequel took a lot more shooter-y approach. I still love the sequel, but besides the overall themes and plot, comparing SS1 and 2 is almost apples & oranges. Really recommend giving both a shot though!
WOW Gman that was fast... I just saw the game yesterday and I haven't even bought it yet, now thanks to your review I know that I actually have to get this game...
I can't wait for the System Shock remake
5:32 I thought my videocard is starting to have some issues :)
+Gggmanlives Im sure if you heard the news but Nightdive Studios is rebuilding the first System Shock in a full 3D remake. I recommend you check out the kickstarter and Steam page.
I always wondered what all the hype was for this game, and I'm talking about after playing original Bioshock.
Just make sure you enable V-sync if you want to beat the whole game, just a way to cap your fps as a certain section of the game is unbeatable if you have a good rig. Funny how an enemy's "attack" speed was based off fps.
The control scheme of System Shock: Enhanced Edition at first is a clusterfuck, however once you look at what the controls actually are and play through the game they actually feel natural or at least they did for me. Also that strategy guide is a godsend without it I would never have figured out where to go during certain sequences.
The mutants faces just make me smile, they look like little gingerbread men or something
Great review as usual. Picking this up on GOG.
This version is mostly derived from the MAC OS port, most Mac Ports of DOS games tended to be more improved such as Flashback and Wolfenstein 3D, it's cool that they used this version over remaking the PC version
Holy $#/^ that UI takes up half the screen! Good thing that trend didn't last. Nice review btw.
Does anyone ever actually use that riot gun? So little ammo, and rubber rounds never seemed so handy.
You nailed SS1. Level 7 is a fucking nightmare to play.
Remember to use peeking around the corners and walls, that's pretty much the only way to do more damage than you receive from powerful enemies. If you step out of cover you get shot almost immediately.
I still can't forget atmosphere of the groves.
SS1 remake in the works right now with cryengine and SS3 is also in production.
***** sorry i was looking into several remakes. ss1 is of course unity :)
And Arkane's Prey which is said to be a spiritual successor type of project to SS.
I'm playing this now and I'm thoroughly enjoying every incredible moment. I think it holds up perfectly fine.
5:40 - lol, these are hallucinations?! I thought the game was just malfunctioning, so I've deleted it... O.o
Understandable, considering you're never told that stuff like that happens
@@sandwichboy1268 Actually you can use the item window to inspect each patch to see what they do, including their negative side effects, but I only found that out halfway through my first playthrough
The final level has no conversion chamber.
I'm so glad they remastering both of these System Shock 1 is being remastered is well a System Shock 2 I'm really excited to play these in a higher frame rate, and I really hope they come out with a System Shock 3 hopefully they can get people interested in it again a new generation we'll see
Would you recommend this or SS2 to play first?
Chronologically, SS1 does take place before SS2 (~50 years prior), though you absolutely don't need to have played the first to understand the second.
It's important to note that SS1 and SS2 don't play quite the same. System Shock 1 is basically just a cool 1st-Person Metroidvania. The sequel has much stronger horror vibes, has a skill tree /RPG system, and is just a more 'hardcore' game in general. If you don't like one, that doesn't mean you won't like the other.
Looking forward to some cool game reviews for the upcoming Halloween season
+The Pickles I've got a horror game I think I'm gonna review for Halloween :)
When I saw that this review got uploaded, Billy Idol was singing these lyrics in my head: "Like a shock to the system / I feel good, well alright/ Like a shock to the system/ I say yeah, ain't it irie."
the new controls sceme is "meh" if u play this game for years. But as long as it helps new people to gain access to the game easier, then I'm fine with that. Cuz you didn't mentioned it, I will. The classic edition is included too and it doesn't feature the new control sceme. So I honor NDS for giving experienced sshock players the game they know an love.
Do you intend to ever review Ultima Underworld? I know it's not a shooter, but it is a first person game ;) Anyways, great review as always.
+matternicuss I have no plans for it atm.
Will you have a look at the Unreal Tournament 4 pre-alpha? Quite the treat!
Great video. :) Loved the original system shock at the time. Though looking at it now, not so sure. But awesome review.
Great review and finally an old game again (ok its a re-release). Still love this game and bought the gog version instantly. Of course I am familiar with SS, Realms of the Haunting and Underworld so for me this game doesn't feel dated (even the classic version on gog). The mechanics works just fine. I think the problem is that we nowadays just to spoiled for this and wants everything be playable with a single button press.
Thanks to you, I am a proud owner of System Shock 2. Now, thanks to you agian, I will pick this up next paycheck :) thanks Bruv, you brought me the joy of classic games
+Austin Williams Btw who is Sunny Jim? Is he your Camera man or your producer that sends you messages in the recording booth when he gets lost?
+Austin Williams
I think it's his pet kangaroo.
Fullscreen MODE is also a feature nobody seems to figure it out its not disimaler for system shock 2 ya know ? you can use your inventory too maybe its a little better than 2's (not being snarky please dont take it that way)
For me comparing the first System Shock with the sequel is a bit like comparing Heretic with Hexen. The first is more of a straightforward shooter where you end up using most of the weapons, items, etc you get in a run while the second is a more rpg experience, with a subset of weapons to use based on the type of character you choose to play with (of course SS2 is far more complicated rpg, Hexen was probably the first FPS to introduce some rough rpg elements so it's not surprising that outcome was not so good, even if some people still like that).
I like Heretic more than Hexen for that fast paced action and "use of all the inventory" thing as i like SS1 more than SS2. Even so i love Hexen and SS2 too for their own "different mindset". The problem with rpg fps games is that is quite hard to balance all the elements and i still have to find some game that is very polished in that aspect. Many times they tone down the difficulty to solve the issue or maintain some broken situation with some player choices (too powerful gear or too hard enemies for example).
Hey! +Gggmanlives
What about taking a look at Cyclones from 1994 made by raven.
Its a fps with some great mechanics.
You probaly dont get alot, if any requests about reviewing it.
It deserves to get some light shed over itself.
The game doesnt have a single proper review on youtube, and even when searching the web there isnt alot of stuff written about the game.
So many people have missed out on it in my opinion.
At the very least have a look on it and tell me if you ever will consider doing a review?..
I dunno why, but I really love the remastered control scheme and interface (not from remastered version but System Shock Portable). I'd hate if they would change that in the remake.
Quite curious! All vids I've seen showing a runthrough the game show the screen with that annoying frame that covers the most of it. I've never played the game with that on. There's a way to remove it the same way there's a way to remove cockpits from your HUD when playing some spacial combat game so that you have a wider field of view.
Same, I don't understand why on earth people play with the giant claustrophobic HUD when the other one is so much better.
Incredible for 1994, really ahead of its time.
Good work mate! I played SS2 back in the day but never finished it. difficult game.
I'll wait for the full remake.
Great review. Hope the GOG version gets patched soon, or I can work out some wizardry of my own, as after I picked it up the game just crashes about 5-7 seconds after launch. Then again, maybe I should just replay the sequel.
you should review metroid prime
Great that you reviewed a game which in my opinion is underrated compare to its sequel.
Can't wait for the System Shock remake that comes out next year.
System Shock 2 and Deus Ex are unarguably the best PC games ever made.
Steven Lornie Yeah.
Games I like = underrated gems
Games I don't like = overrated pap
You sound like a bitter old man who can't accept that other people have different opinions/tastes. Perhaps you should find another hobby, because gaming is definitely not for you anymore.
Steven Lornie ''I have nothing to be bitter about with exception of maybe watching gaming going down the tubes due a generation of morons.''
Yes, you are definitely a jaded, bitter old man.
Go find another hobby.
+Master Hiei So true :)
NOLF is my best PC game ever. Still waiting for a digital re-release but seems like we'll never see Cate Archer again :(.
I beat this game about a year or so ago and it's good but you hit on most of the issues I have with this game, in particular the obscure and labyrinthine level design. It's way too easy to lose your bearings and get lost or not know what to do next. Even worse, the game makes you go from one part of the level, hit a switch, then some door on another part of the level or worse, another floor opens up. WTF! It's already too labyrinthine, there was no need to force backtracking to levels you already been to. That was a huge mistake especially since the low resolution graphics makes everything look the same.
My other major complaint is the cyber space sections suck. They just suck, the wireframe polygons make it hard to even tell what's a wall and what's a passage way.
It's still a fun game, but it aged very poorly.
+EnigmaHood "Obscure and labyrinthine level design"?! Jesus christ, no wonder games these days are so easy. The moment a game challenges a player's spacial awareness they give up! Talk about casuals!! System Shock is very easy to navigate if you have even a modicum of spacial awareness. If you want truly labyrinthine - and poorly designed - levels from the 90s, best direct your ire to the early Terminator games by Bethesda. System Shock 1 and 2 have brilliant, deep, exploration-encouraging level design and gamplay and very very few games can match them on that score.
***** Spouting ad hominems is a good way for people not to take you seriously. I didn't give up, I beat the game. But obviously a lot of people thought the game had labyrinthine level design including the video maker so it ain't just me.
I don't think you know what spacial awareness means because spacial awareness has zilch to do with the obscure and cryptic level design. No game should require a player to hit a switch that opens a door that they can't see, let alone a door on a different floor. That's just stupid, and was obviously done intentionally to sell strategy guides which were a insidious way to nickle and dime gamers at the time.
This game doesn't completely suck, but with idiot fanboys like you, I almost want to bash it just to spite vindictive morons like yourself.
Lassi Kinnunen You're basically just admitting that the backtracking is padding to artificially extend the length of the game. That is never a legitimate way to make a game longer.
I never said the game is too complex, I said the cyberspace missions suck. Complexity is completely irrelevant to the fact that they intrinsically suck. You come off as a troll trying to have an elitist attitude and belittle other people's skill or intelligence.
After 20 years, Night dive studios are remastering and re-imagining the original system shock. The will keep the new game true to the classic experience, keeping all the things you loved, while updating the user interface and graphics to use a modern day engine (unity).
they switched to unreal 4 and ditched unity....which is truly magnificent. i love what they did.
The Unreal 4 stuff honestly looks generic.
(Not sure if you already know this because of other reviews on the same topic)
Would you believe System Shock was out for a long time as an abandonware clone, "System Shock Portable" with all the mods needed for a noobie to use, then it was shot down by new copyright holders? I frankly didn't expect this version to get released - I thought it would be killed off and no one would ever talk about it again. I actually still have SSP on my laptop and I'm uncertain if I should get this new version.
+Machiner6 If you read around the GOG forums and the System Shock fan website, most of the consensus is that the Enhanced Edition is a little better. Should be noted that the fan community also assisted in this release, the original unmodified game is included as a separate download, and that there are a ton of extra goodies with the GOG version.
*****
Yeah, that's one of the perks roping me in aside from the extra goodies. SSP runs straight off DosBox which can cause serious lag when going to the main menu or map, and sometimes it randomly crashes, and I couldn't get the game itself to go above 640 x 400 without lagging.
+Machiner6 Well, SSP couldn't "exist" anymore, once the game lost its "abandonware" status.
Anyway, they could still transform it in a mod\patch in theory.
I bought this on steam like 3 years ago because I love Bioshock and I heard this was its predecessor...still in the medbay but damn that tune is catchy!
Good job on the review bulletspongelives, very informative
This game man .. in my top 5 of all time games. Right up there with star control 2. Just better than system shock 2 and i think most who argue otherwise have not even played this.
I really cannot wait for the remake of this game
I absolutely love this game. Never played it until Enhanced Edition, although I did get the original working on Dosbox ages ago. The control scheme put me off though.
The only thing I don't like is the Cyberspace sections. They're kinda gimmicky to me, and the store page and manual and boxart all hype it up to be this amazing thing, but it really is just Descent but bland and way more simple. That and having the final boss take place in Cyberspace was disappointing, considering the actual game itself can be quite challenging. The lead up to SHODAN was actually a lot harder than fighting her.
That being said, this game is an absolute must. I would say it's just as influential and ahead of its time as Half-Life 2. It just didn't get the credit it truly deserved.
I love the enemy sprites, U finfd them much scarier than the polygon counterparts.
CAN'T WAIT FOR THE HD REMAKE FROM NIGHTDIVE STUDIOS!
Definitely glad they updated the enhanced version so it has WAY more options now than it used to have. I'm playing it and it isn't locked to 1024x768 anymore. I can set it to any resolution I want and it works great. Also there's a bunch of customization options too so that's great. I changed a couple things in the controls, but otherwise it makes sense relatively quickly.
I actually got a physical collector's box of the Enhanced Edition recently and it is fantastic. Definitely glad I ordered it. Great to see a PC classic on my shelf. :)
I find your reviews vastly entertaining.
Played the original System Shock for over 20 years now...just played it again 2 weeks ago. Any seasoned player KNOWS to Hide, reload and re-up health in the Elevator!
7:00 That's exactly where I am now with *System Shock 2* - stuck in an area with endlessly respawning zombies that literally pile up into large heaps of dozens in the corridors - just crazy maddening :/
have you beaten it?
@@XTNDEADPLAY Yeah I have now, it was one of those parts where you're supposed to run away instead of fight....I figured it out........Eventually :/
Great game btw, worthy of the respect it gets. :)
You can put on widescreen in the actual game video options. They put a new video resolution, it's 854x480 :)
+ficha13 I meant I wanted 1920x1080.
Oh, ok got it :) I'm guessing they just couldn't implement it god knows what technical problems it caused when they tried to do it. Again, just making assumptions :)
ficha13
Yeah I suppose the engine is designed around that 4x3 ratio using the HUD and all that. Would've been nice though, but even at 1024x768 it looks pretty good I think.
I agree, i can't believe how smooth it works now, it's easier, faster and more fun to play
Better get ready, kickstarter for System shock remaster starts june 29th
It's on sale on GOG for $1.49 right now.
Ah so this is the outcome of the recent stir in the ownership rights and pulling of content off community sites. I was hoping for an announcement of an actual reboot or something but this is nice too.
I'll have to give the game another go, I was really enjoying it when I played it last but got stuck on the level with all the lights out. I only had one light goggles and was just getting creamed by the enemies there as I stumbled around blind :x