System Shock

While I never played the original game, as I found it too old and clunky when I tried to some 20 years after it came out, I am, a huge fan of System Shock 2 and have played it several times. This game has some very good reviews, mostly it seems from people who’d played it before. For me the earlier levels lacked suspense and tension due to complex maps combined with the sense of what you’re supposed to be doing too vague. You’re given several objectives early on and it’s not clear how you’re supposed to address them, especially as you’re offered access to multiple levels early on. I realise people say you have to think and write things down, and I’ve no objection to that, but there comes a point when any attempt to feel really part of the story gives way to a frustration at the complexity of simply navigating your way around some of the maps without much clue as to exactly what you’re supposed to be doing. Plus the sound design isn’t as menacing as System Shock 2 which, even without the music (which I always turn off) has some really menacing sounds throughout which really get under your skin. When it’s good though it is very enjoyable, with a good story, range of levels, puzzles, enemies and guns, although in the latter case you can only carry so many at one time (something which meant I was without quite an important one in the latter stages of the game). It also contains some aspects I really dislike in games, including radiation poisoning and also too many boss fights, which I find irritating at the best of times. To try to enjoy it more I did end up using a walkthrough at times, just to get me on to the next phase and navigate the more annoying parts. I actually didn’t bother finishing it once I realised I was just in a realm of the final boss fights. But if those things don’t bother you so much and perhaps you play with settings on level 1 it will be a good game. I just hope these guys don’t touch System Shock 2, it’s a classic as it is.

The admin card in the executive level is not present, and I can't progress in the game because of that. Thanks devs.

After the installation and playing the game - nothing than a black screen....nographic settings, no options, re-install 3 times did not help. Disappointment.

Looks like a nice game at first but the game freezes randomly with "Fatal error!". Would be great to try to downgrade the version and see if that helps but that doesn't seem to be an option in GOG.