Not only a cult classic cyberpunk adventure, but System Shock by Looking Glass is one of the finest MS-DOS games period. Hope you have a pleasant stay on Citadel Station. Buy the Enhanced Edition on GOG! www.gog.com/game/system_shock_...
imagine if they were still around to make a new eye of the beholder game or lands of lore (like the original) but yeah they ruined a lot of great game companies
Gord Lord I just want another Wing Commander Privateer. good God, that game gave you more freedom than No Mans Sky, and it was released more than 20 years ago!
Same, I beat it just yesterday after only having vague knowledge about it as "that one game with the clunky UI that supposedly inspired pretty much every first person immersive sim after it", and I've gotta say, it might just be the best game ever made.
Same. I would attempt to play it all those years ago on and off and always ended putting it off, and last year occurred to me to finish it with the aid of a guide on steam. Went head over heels for it so badly I replayed it 2 more times in one sitting. Phenomenal game.
What an immersive game this was. I used cower in the shadows, afraid to move, IN A GAME. There were times when I could only play 30 mins in one go, then I had to go downstairs to mingle with my family and let my nerves unwind. Then you slowly grow. You learn to fight better, you get upgrades, you find better weapons, you start putting the pieces together, you find places that are actually beautiful or even relaxing, your confidence and sense of purpose grows, as does your familiarity and sense of ownership of your surroundings. It might be hard to get a sense of all that, playing the game now, 23 years later. But at the time this game was utterly revolutionary and sadly also very esoteric and underrated. In my 30+ years of gaming there have only been 1 or 2 other games that had such an impact on my person and life experience.
The game is honestly a gauntlent for the first 2 or so levels on your first ever playthrough. I had no idea about the health station or revive stations on level 1, and didn't figure out the revive station until I completely finished level 2. Up until then I was constantly low HP with almost no medpacks or stims. Had to save scum to oblivion before every single battle since I was literally 1-2 shots away from dying lol
Same. I bought Nightdive's enhanced edition a year or so ago thinking "time to finally see what this cult classic is all about". I got up to L3 multiple times and then stopped playing because I was just too tensed up, but I finally sat down and played through all of it this month, and I just might consider it the best game ever made. It takes immersion to a whole new level compared to any other game I've played. Outer Wilds is the only one that comes close, but the tension of combat and the thrilling cyberpunk story that ties into every single aspect of gameplay in System Shock elevates it even higher.
"System Shock is more like an advanced adventure game." Yeah, that's an important point which is rather difficult to explain to people accustomed to traditional FPSes. I put System Shock in a very under-represented genre I titled 'exploration FPS', along with Metroid Prime, Azrael's Tear and Realm of the Haunting. And, hopefully, the upcoming Routine.
@@noaha6185 Whoa, 8 years already. Lots of things have happened in the world of immersive sims and genre-blending FPS games in that time. Anyway, Routine was vaporware for a while and has been reannounced just last year ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-6HDYMaUUnUQ.html. Very curious to see what will come out of it.
Closest we have so far is System Shock Portable, which tweaks and adds some really useful stuff. Not an entire UI overhaul, but does add more traditional FPS controls.
This has to be one of your first LGR videos. Lol. He legitimately got paid for doing some Duke Nukem voice work. Off the top of my head I can’t remember which title it was for.
Just the fact that you have to wonder through a labyrinthy world, figuring out what to do next, often backtracking to find upgrades or objectives, was pretty one-of-a-kind for its time. (Unless you count Super Metroid which came out the same year.)
Like Joz, I wouldn't agree with that either. Some games of this period are pretty simple by design (don't over-design, or, "keep it simple, stupid"), but games that rival and surpass this game's complexity are abundant these days.
Err no. It has its place from a historical perspective but this game is old and outdated as shit even 20 years ago. SS2 barely hold up now. It's serviceable but you can tell it came out in that uncertain time where mouses were still kinda an optional interface device.
"Look at you, INSECT." I knew Shodan before Glados. As someone who enjoyed but didnt understand the computer, I grew up being terrified and yet fascinated by her.
+Andrew Singleton I thought Bioshock was supposed to the new System Shock.. I guess nobody agreed. S'fine by me as long as it's fun and reflects what made SS2 awesome.
PrimevalTimes No, it was simplistic. Like, bad. System shock 2 allows for multiple playthroughs, with near-endless variety, while Bioshock offers the opposite,
+Tom White Bioshock and SS2 scratch two different kind of itches. I don't think they're similar enough for people to compare them so critically to each other. Also, dat Psygnosis logo. RIP Colony Wars/WipEout. :(
Rewatching this classic LGR because of the new System Shock remake trailer. It's seriously shaping up to be one of the best and most faithful remakes I've ever seen. What all remakes should strive to be. I hope they don't make me regret saying this.
Nope, I'm playing the original version of the game here. System Shock Portable is a mod though, so you may have to configure it a little better it sounds like.
I was like 9 when I first played this game...and I had NO idea a game could look like that. It was dark, crazy paced, and super fun. I hadn't ever played an FPS besides DOOM back then, and the gameplay in System Shock was much better with the puzzles.
The System Shock Enhanced Edition is great and they recently updated it with the source code. That means native 4K resolutions, stable running, and other improvements. I’ve never played it or its sequel before and I’m about halfway through but it’s a great game with amazing atmosphere.
6 лет назад
GOG version with mouse looks is amazing and makes it fully playable today. From historical context, this is probably the best game ever. 10/10 game. So innovative, atmospheric, great story, great music, you can be RAMBO/thief kind of... re-play factor very high. Great memories.
I love System Shock, including the mazelike structure. It's actually by design, in order to increase immersion: Citadel Station was explicitly designed as an actual functional structure rather than easily remembered game levels. Places like research centres and offices do have a repetitive structure that can get you lost. Early Doom games have the opposite approach, again by design: id designed Doom to be easy to navigate, meaning that every section of a level is different, which also leads to completely abstract environments that would not function as anything. Play through Doom or Doom II and ignore the level names. Ask yourself: what is this room that I'm in supposed to be for?
LucasGodzilla I actually liked the original a bit more in terms of Setting and the more Mazelike layout of the first but the second is enjoyable and interesting and I did enjoy the module system it could use quite a few improvements
My earliest memory of System Shock is when dad went down to the computer store for the midnight release (because those were a thing back in '94). He came home around 0100hrs and started playing it on speakers... with his study right next to my bedroom. First, the spooky noises scared me awake, and then I went in there wanting to play, once I realized it was only one of Dad's spooky games.
One of the best games I've ever played. And this despite the fact that I went through it a couple of years ago. Just a head spinning from the realization of how many innovative ideas put into the 1994 game !!! Indeed, only graphics are outdated in the game, but the gameplay is as interesting as many new products. Thanks for the video and hello from 2019!
I watched this review many years ago. It caused me to play System Shock, which I completely loved. A year later I got into doing audio mods for XCOM2. I wanted to port the SS soundtrack, but not just the "static" versions...I wanted proper interactive music. So I wrote a whole new, very powerful, music modding system. I was able to put that, and its full documentation, on my resume as a technical writer in the software industry. In fact, I brought a snippet of that documentation to my interview. Now I'm at the same company working as a C++ developer. Again, having a fully released software project was a key element on my resume. So, in an indirect way, I owe my career to this review.
The only negative criticism I've ever heard from this game is the graphics(subjective) and the controls(understandable) but the latter issue has been greatly improved with the enhanced edition.
I really enjoy your style of narration and your voice! PS: I'd love to see you review the original Unreal from Epic Megagames (as they called themselves back then).
Dear LGR , Loving your MS-DOS and Homecomputer Reviews at all!!! Great awesome stuff here! once again with system shock... ! Germany say thanks a lot to you!!!! P.S: a Strike Commander, Terminal Velocity or a Screamer Review wouldt be nice too :D
Dude, check the demo! It's super short and crazy linear, but it's so good! It's not just any old remake, as far as I can tell, it's 1:1 to the starter area!
I was just about to mention the kickstarter. They've raised 1.3 million, so looks like LGR isn't the only huge fan. Never heard of system shock till LGR. gotta say, it's intriguing.
Great review! I really do enjoy how in depth you go with the reviews, plus you're voice is just really awesome to listen to. I do love your laid back style, but a great deal of depth as well. Also, do you plan on reviewing System Shock 2?
I remember growing up with System Shock 2 and it still to this day beeing my favorite game of all time. Yet my father kept pestering me to play System Shock 1, and so I did. The sad yet amazing part is that in my opinion like Bioshock is a simplified version of System Shock 2, so is System Shock 2 to System Shock 1. When I played it I had the feeling of Duke Nukem 3D which I liked but I didnt expect much of the Game. Boy oh boy after i finished it, it almost saddened me that it had to end. It is by far the very best game of all fucking time in my books at least and its sad to see that todays games dont even fucking try to be remotely as good or deep, the closest try beeing Mass Effect in that compartment. Both Games keep up so damn well on beeing Masterpieces but the first one just does it all even better in ever aspect. And for anyone wanting to try it, there is a System Shock Portable version findable, its small in size and it comes with a few mods mainly for the controls that can be turned on or off, for example enabling controls with the mouse for looking around and so on.
One of my friends was instrumental in introducing me to awesome computer games and fantasy RPGs and I can't hear the words Ultima Underworld without thinking of her. We grew apart at high school but her dad always had the latest machines so I always at least tried to stay on her good side. Every time I play a first person RPG like Skyrim I raise a glass (of Pepsi Max) to her. But this looks awesome in itself and IIRC there's a remake out there right now (2023).
What I always found awesome about the story was that the system shocks, also took place in the same universe as the Crusader games, and Wing Commander!
Actually sorry, my bad. It looks like it was confirmed by the creators, of at least crusader, that most things were just easter eggs. Such as the newspaper in crusader mentioning shodan and citidal station, and the guards that arrest the hacker in system shock looking suspiciously like the silencers.
Wow I was about to request or ask you if you are going to talk about this game. But I guess I don't need to. Thanks for making this video. I can finally share this with others.
I used to repair industrial machinery. Everytime i bypassed some casual securitysystem to do some troubelshooting or diagnostics, The System Shock theme playd in the back of my head. Playing this game on my 486 is some of the more memorable time of my youth. Escapeism i guess... awesome game. BTW. the mp3 of the themesong is still on my playlist. remember to salt the fries...
I would love an HD remake of this game, mostly because I think the controls are wonky and with the atmosphere and amazing scifi architecture it would be amazing when paired up with some dynamic shadows.
XΣRXΣS You are in for some good news if you haven't seen it already. Check out the System Shock remake Kickstarter and its demo. They give out monthly updates on the project if you are interested.
Trying it out already. I think it's good, but I'm a total newcomer so I can't really compare. It reminds me of a first person Resident Evil 4, with the inventory and stuff, and Arkane's Prey. It doesn't strike me as very "immersive sim" though. Not much physics stuff like Bioshock and Prey had.
Great review. One of the games I missed back in the day. I did read about the scary, immersive nature of it based on the AI talking to you. Some games really scare you when you play them in a dark room...
This is one of the best games I ever played. I installed System Shock Portable and setup a couple macros real quick on my G502 mouse. It was damn great!
I still can't play System Shock 2 because the game scares me so damn much with it's creepy ambience and sounds. Even with it's original blocky 3d graphics, it scares the shit out of me unlike any other game.
I know right? I recently bought it on steam and the part where you first encounter the hybrids scared the shit out of me. You just open the door and they come running full pelt and screaming at you. And I screamed back, let me tell you.
I tried many times to play this game but each time the inteface put me off, so I tried System Shock 2 instead. That was three years ago, and now it's one of my favorite games ever. Probably going to try this one out this summer.
_A long time ago, on an intel 486 DX2 far far away..._ At age 10 (1995) I found the System Shock shareware demo very intriguing with its awesome looking environment, but at the same time utterly bewildering. I recall feeling very lost and unsure of what exactly I was supposed to be doing outside of smacking robots, creepy looking zombie-like dudes, and everything else with the lead pipe. At that age, I highly doubt that I was looking for a game that demanded so more out of the player in games like Doom or Duke3D. It never clicked for me unfortunately.
I think this could have been bigger if it was more Doom-ish. Doom was the hottest stuff back in the days and System Shock just didn't catch on. Just like Shenmue was beaten by GTA3.
System Shock 1 had the poor fortune of being developed before, but released after, Doom. Which is why System Shock 2 was more Doom like in its controls.
***** Err. I'm gonna have to oppose. System shock had a pioneeric feel, great idea for its time, and was way ahead of the technology they had in video games...not so much now. It really hasn't aged well, and although the graphics in SS2 made all of the people look like cardboard cutout stickfigures, the gameplay, storyline, and characters made it stand out from the rest still, to this day.
I just tried SS2 with some mods that really improve character and environment textures. In my eyes sequel was poorly designed, having all these new features crammed together (classes that are not real classes, unbalanced skills, weapon degradation). As for plot, the one in original SS was so much better, because it made player feel like he was accomplishing something on every step - SS2 is pretty much one big fetch quest about finding cards, repairing doors and so on.
I played System Shock just a little while ago and I was SHOCKED at how much better it was than it's sequel, or even it's modern interpretations.. it's just oozing charisma and possibility, and the atmosphere is incredible. Some games age worse than others, SS1 has an aura of not just staying relevant, but actually getting better the older it is.
***** "RPG system is bad, since you have to level up correctly, otherwise you will get stuck and can not finish the game" If anything, I found it too lax. Whatever upgrade you choose will either give you more resources or make some type of resources useful or more efficient. You could try and make some pants on head-retarded build, but playing normally you would be naturally driven to open some options for yourself. The weapon placement suggests ways to branch out, energy pistol and grenade launcher are introduced early on. One has virtually limitless ammo, the other is extremely potent and versatile weapon that will carry you all the way to the end. Besides, medsec, engineering and even most of hydroponics are beatable with a wrench on impossible and no points in strength or agility, and respawning enemies mean that you could grind some credits and hypos, not that you'd ever need to.
***** The only thing you must upgrade is research, but you get the modules for it immediately when the need for it becomes apparent. Do explain how other skills are absolutely required for completion. Why would you be driven to fight with a wrench upon collecting hundreds of modules as a part of the story is beyond me. "if choose to be pro in exotic weapons - you're screwed" Pretty sure that's not the case, unless you are talking about upgrading skills before getting the access to the weapons, supported by said skills, at which point making a pants on head-retarded build is exactly what you are doing.
Clint! Love your videos, I've been a subscriber for about a year but I think I've pretty much watched all of your stuff. Have you ever thought about doing a Lucas Arts/SCUMM Engine special? Lots of fun, incredibly memorable games for a lot of people. Keep up the good work :)
tom mor I've played it, you aren't missing a whole lot. No dis respect to this guy but I think he might be a little bias because I couldn't get use to this game at all. The controls where just awful. Even back in the day a lot of people didn't like this game. If they where to rerelease it though, I think they should remake it so it plays more like System Shock 2.
One of the most memorable games I remember playing. I also remember how it was used to try and sell the 486 DX 40 say it was the best PC for playing it. Way ahead of its time.
