System Shock

aka: Alien Commander
Moby ID: 681
DOS Specs
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Description official descriptions

The year is 2072. A hacker from a Saturn colony breaks into computer system of TriOptimum Corporation and gets arrested. He is taken to the Citadel Station, where Edward Diego, a TriOptimum executive, offers to drop all charges against the hacker, as well as grant him a valuable neural implant, if he agrees to hack into SHODAN (Sentient Hyper-Optimized Data Access Network) , the artificial intelligence that controls the station. The hacker removes the AI's ethical constraints and undergoes the promised implant surgery, after which he is put into a six-month healing coma.

The hacker awakens into a horrifying reality: with her ethical restrictions removed, SHODAN took control over the station, reprogrammed all robots and machines to suit her needs, and disposed of the crew members by either transforming them into mutants and cyborgs, or killing them outright. Rebecca Lansing, a TriOptimum counter-terrorism consultant, contacts the hacker and informs him of an even more terrifying possible future: SHODAN's plan involves using the station's mining lasers to annihilate all life on Earth. The hacker must explore and traverse the desolate corridors and rooms of the large space station, fighting SHODAN's minions on his way to thwart her maniacal design.

System Shock is a first-person shooter with puzzle-solving and light role-playing elements. The gameplay incorporates gradual exploration of the Citadel's ten levels, interaction with the environment, problem-solving, fulfilling objectives, and combat.

On his way the hacker encounters numerous enemies - robots, cyborgs and mutants, all of which can be fought back with a variety of weapons. Some of the weapons use ammo, while other have infinite ammo and instead draw on electric energy. Some weapons are more effective on certain foes - e.g. the dart gun only works on organic enemies, while the magpulse is best used against robots. Once killed, the enemies can be searched for ammo and other items. The player can also find items in crates, cabinets, corpses or just lying around on the ground.

Apart from weapons and ammo, the player can find patches (such as medical patches, which replenish the hero's health; berserk patches, which temporarily increase his strength but cause hallucinations; detox patches, which remove the harmful effects of radiation and biohazard; etc.), grenades of various kinds (EMP grenades are effective against robots, gas grenades are good for mutants, land mines can be used to set traps, etc.), battery packs for replenishing electricity, first aid kits for restoring health, and others.

Thanks to the hacker's implant he is able to install various pieces of hardware into his body, such as a booster which makes him go faster, or a head lantern to bright up dark areas. As the player progresses in the game, higher versions of existing hardware are found, which are more effective and useful. However, most hardware uses up electric energy while it is active.

At some places in the game, the player has to find a wall-mounted "cyberjack" to go into cyberspace in order to find helpful data, remotely open doors or unlock sealed areas, or give himself clearance to access off-limits areas. Cyberspace is represented as a 3-D wireframe place, where the protagonist floats around freely in three dimensions, shoots hostile cyber-guards with phasers, and collects files represented as colorful cubes.

The story of System Shock is mostly told through e-mail messages the protagonist received, and electronic diaries (logs) left by various characters (as well as SHODAN herself), which are scattered around the space station. The game features separate adjustable difficulty settings for combat, mission objectives and puzzles. The CD version of the game includes full speech for e-mails and logs, as well as higher-resolution, more detailed graphics.

Spellings

  • システムショック - Japanese spelling
  • 시스텡쇼크 - Korean spelling

Groups +

Screenshots

Promos

Credits (DOS version)

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Reviews

Critics

Average score: 89% (based on 23 ratings)

Players

Average score: 4.0 out of 5 (based on 194 ratings with 22 reviews)

Lots of fun here

The Good
The 3-D RPG/Adventure genre is growing, but Looking Glass has pretty much pioneered the genre. A nice touch added in this game was the ability to squat and lean around corners.

The cyberspace part was also interesting, as its visuals broke up the game nicely.

**The Bad**
It was too slow, and I was let down by the uncreative use of "software upgrades" (i.e. now it does 2x the damage, instead of something cool.)

**The Bottom Line**
A great game if you have 80 hours to kill and like sci-fi.

DOS · by Tony Van (2803) · 2000

A classic that set the standard for all other first person adventures

The Good
The feelings of total immersion, like you were part of the crew.

The Bad
Sometimes it was difficult to calculate how far on you were on platforms, etc.

The Bottom Line
A classic everyone should try out. Will be talked about for years to come. You can still find it. Get it while you can!

DOS · by flynn (2) · 2000

A great game by Game God , by Warren Spector

The Good
System Shock produced by Game God , Warren Spector. Is one of the most chilling if unsettling game expereinces. When it's by a Game God you know a game is good. As for the likes of System Shock, the storyline and graphics. Are what make System Shock work so well. The storyline is pure genuines of Science Fiction. And the graphics have to show you the story the Game Designer is trying to convey to the gamer. From SHODAN's evil plans for the world.After taking over the Citadel space station. And isn't ironic that you caused it all. By your greed for freedom from the law. I guess Edward Diego, of the corporation, system you broke into. Was playing you for a fool.

The Bad
Well, mostly people I have talked to. Like the game , System Shock. Some as for the not so Hardcore gamers. Didn't understand if the game was FPS, CRPG or such. Basically if you have played anything from a Hardcore gamers prospective. You know the game is a challenge, that leaves you with a smile after playing it. As for some not so familiar with Game Designs and such. Well, you have to be one, a Game Designer to understand the Designers vision for a game. And yes I am a Game Designer, of a soon to be established, game studio.

The Bottom Line
Try it and the Sequel, System Shock 2. Both are classics in Game Design. It is like a good graphic novel or movie. With all the good parts. Rolled into one that takes you by the shirt. Like the bully who wants your lunch money or always has the girl. And drops you into the mud puddle hard, with never ending laughter.

DOS · by David Trombley (2) · 2003

[ View all 22 player reviews ]

Discussion

Subject By Date
Video review DJP Mom (11333) Oct 21, 2010
Finally completed Unicorn Lynx (181780) Oct 18, 2008
Voices? Unicorn Lynx (181780) Apr 3, 2008

Trivia

CD version

The CD-ROM version adds SVGA modes, full speech for e-mails and logs, slightly improved intro/end sequences and a few other adjustments and additions.

Ending (Spoiler!)

If you engage the mining laser BEFORE activating the station's shields, then you'll destroy earth! And guess what? Shodan sends you an e-mail thanking you and inviting you to a celebration! The e-mail also includes a nice picture of a city being incinerated, but unfortunately the game restarts afterwards, so no robo-party.

Engine

System Shock's engine was derived from that of Ultima Underworld, from 1992. Nonetheless it was more advanced that that of Doom or Duke Nukem 3D, featuring sloped surfaces, variable gravity, realistic physics, '2.75d' environments (with limited 'sector-on-sector', but otherwise 3D), functional camera viewscreens, weapon recoil, leaning and several other clever things.

References to the game

  • During the end-game sequence, you hack into another corporate computer to grab some data. The data is info on some powered battle armor, which made its way into Terra Nova: Strike Force Centauri..
  • In the end sequence, the hacker breaks in the corporate network of a corp. called 'Tetracorp'. In System Shock 2, the name tetracorp is printed on a generic two-state switch. Kinda rough change of business..
  • It is hinted in the Wing Commander and Crusader games that they are set in the same universe as System Shock. For example, an article in a "newspaper" from the Crusader: No Remorse box mentions an artificial intelligence and the Citadel station.

References

  • The Hacker's employee number, 2-4601, is a reference to the inmate number of Jean Valjean, the protagonist in the novel Les Misérables.
  • There is a reference to the movie Soylent Green in the game (although it's spelled slightly different). In level 3, Maintenance, there is a relay panel in the northern section called "Soylant Green Filtration".

Sequel

There were rumours of a possible sequel, soon after System Shock's release, but fans had to wait five years for System Shock 2.

Awards

  • Computer Gaming World
    • November 1996 (15th anniversary issue) - #98 on the “150 Best Games of All Time” list
  • GameSpy
    • 2001 – #24 Top Game of All Time
  • GameStar (Germany)
    • Issue 12/1999 - #15 in the "100 Most Important PC Games of the Nineties" ranking
  • PC Gamer
    • April 2000 - #43 in the "All-Time Top 50 Games Poll"
  • Power Play
    • Issue 02/1995 – Best Action-Adventure in 1994

Information also contributed by Adam Baratz, Ashley Pomeroy, dasfatso, DreamWeaver, PCGamer77, Stefan Pieratzki and Zovni

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  • MobyGames ID: 681
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Contributors to this Entry

Game added by xroox.

PC-98, Macintosh added by Terok Nor.

Additional contributors: Patrick Bregger, Rik Hideto, MrFlibble, firefang9212, somato.

Game added January 6, 2000. Last modified February 19, 2024.