System Shock: Enhanced Edition

Starting off completely unaware of where you are or how you arrived, you are soon thrust into a harsh and dangerous world where everything is out to get you and nothing can be completely believed. It was into this world that I entered soon after release and the world gripped me, introducing great environmental sound effects, ramping up the tension while providing a complete 3D world, which was rare on this scale back when it was released. As you explore you find logs of what happened aboard, linking events to who you are and what your real mission is upon the vessel. Acting much like one of the original sandbox games, it lets you explore the vessel as you wish, including a complete 3D cyberspace element with its own upgrade system delivered via downloadable modules within the cyber space environment. The combination of atmospheric sound effects, constant threats that repopulate the levels you're on and the over-your-shoulder watcher of an insidious A.I helped make this the game that gained a phenomenal cult following. If you enjoy great story, atmosphere and some true real horror then you owe it to yourself to get this game. When you're ready you can jump into the nightmare that is System Shock 2, a great follow-up to this true gaming classic.

There are so many things one can say about System Shock that it's difficult to know where to start. At its core it is a first person immersive simulation that combines RPG elements with a player inventory and some solid shooting / melee combat against a variety of terrifying enemies. The thing is, it isn't JUST this. It's Looking Glass product. It's an immersive simulation. It has unpredictable and labyrinthine levels to explore, fascinating back-story that isn't thrown in your face every five minutes, and it encourages careful resource management in a dangerous, malignant environment that exists entirely to end you. You are one man against many horrors, and System Shock MAKES you adjust to its rules, to its design, to its systems and world. It is a textbook example of "deep design gameplay" that involves more than simple shooting, more than simple clicking. It will challenge your spacial perception, your hand-eye coordination and your decision making. System Shock is an object lesson in everything that is great about gaming as a medium. Though its setup and scenario may not be the most original in gaming, it is applied to a deep, clever, immersive and frightening experience that you will never, ever forget. P.S.: Autechre - Oversteps & Move Of Ten for an alternative soundtrack works wonders.

Reviewing from original DOS version, not GOG's release. One of the greatest games of its era. A huge, immersive sci-fi adventure full of tension and unpredictable twists. Not to be missed. This isn't Doom's arcade action. There are plenty of hectic fights and surprise traps, but the emphasis is on carefully managing your encounters and inventory rather than slugging it out in the open. System Shock forces you to think your way through. I can't do justice to everything this game offers, so I'll touch on some of the high points. Citadel Station is enormous, with many different routes available at all times. Every level of the station has a clear purpose. Careful exploration is always rewarding, and there's a great sense of place. Shodan earns her reputation as one of gaming's top villains. Her plans are ruthless, she's always two or three steps ahead of you, and her famous voice taunts you with perfect timing. Enemies are fantastically diverse. Random spawns. The story is great. There's always an urgent problem to deal with as well as Shodan's long-term goals. Extensive voice logs reveal the horrors that befell the station. It's an overused gimmick now, but it fits well with System Shock's setting. The game is RPG-like without feeling like an RPG. You aren't dumping numbers into arbitrary stats or picking skills from a chart. Upgrades come in the form of better equipment and software, increasing immersion. You can turbo-boost down a hallway with your rear view cameras active, overcharge your laser rifle, activate your shield, take a reflex-boosting drug, open fire on several enemies, drop a mine, then duck behind a corner and draw your energy sword to finish them off. You fly around in 3 dimensions in abstract cyberspace levels. They aren't the game's strong point but they are a nice change of pace. The original controls were as clunky as Ultima Underworld's. Hopefully the Enhanced Edition improves on them. You can install mini-Wing Commander in your HUD!

Just as Dune 2 started the RTS genre, so did System Shock kick off the hybrid FPS RPG. It was the precursor to Deus Ex, Half Life and of course Bioshock among others. For its time, it featured incredibly complex environments that could be interacted with in detail, a complex plot coupled with one of the most memorable villains of all time and great character advancement. It is marred somewhat by an overly complex interface and controls, with occasional "lego brick hell" moments caused by the low definition engine, but is still an incredibly engaging game. Still one of my all time favourites; Shodan can never be dethroned!