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Title: SYSTEM SHOCK released
ElectricPrism 30 May 2023
It finally has happened.

https://store.steampowered.com/app/482400/System_Shock/
Julius 30 May 2023
Awesome... *clicks* 40€ though :(

Seems a bit steep for a retro shooter and my nostalgia for the original isn't that strong to get it at that price point. Maybe at 50% off.
denyasis 30 May 2023
I'm excited about this. I loved SS2, but struggled to play the original (the standard for controls had changed too much).

Even as an old game when I first played it decades ago, it had nailed the creepy, trying to survive atmosphere in ways no other game had really matched since.

I'll wait for reviews, but this might be a rare purchase for me!!
Shmerl 30 May 2023
I didn't really follow all the updates, but didn't they plan to release the native Linux version? I remember their demo had one.
denyasis 31 May 2023
I think they dropped Linux when they switched engines away from Unity to walhat ever they ended up using (unreal?)

I just watched the promo videos. They are leaning hard into the nostalgia, but it looks very faithful to the original. Even the game over scene (so creepy).

I did enjoy this bit

MATURE CONTENT DESCRIPTION
The developers describe the content like this:

System Shock contains scenes of violence and gore toward humanoid enemies. System Shock also has spider-like enemies that users with arachnophobia may find disturbing.
Because that is by far the least disturbing part of the game, lol.

Last edited by denyasis on 31 May 2023 at 12:06 am UTC
Shmerl 31 May 2023
Gotcha. It works fine in Wine+dxvk/vkd3d-proton (got GOG version key as a backer).

Some nice cyberpunk design to it:

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denyasis 31 May 2023
Quoting: ShmerlGotcha. It works fine in Wine+dxvk/vkd3d-proton (got GOG version key as a backer).

Some nice cyberpunk design to it:

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Good to know it runs well! I do really like art style, too!
Liam Dawe 31 May 2023
Sadly nothing from me on it, their publisher did not reply to my key request.
Shmerl 31 May 2023
Quoting: Liam DaweSadly nothing from me on it, their publisher did not reply to my key request.
If you are a backer, you can get it through Backerit account. If you don't have one, you can access it through https://system-shock.backerkit.com

Or you mean like a review key?

Last edited by Shmerl on 31 May 2023 at 3:25 pm UTC
Liam Dawe 31 May 2023
That's for Kickstarter backers, I am not a backer, I am press.
Shmerl 31 May 2023
Got it. Yeah, they are probably pretty loaded now dealing with the release.
damarrin 1 Jun 2023
Quoting: Liam DaweThat's for Kickstarter backers, I am not a backer, I am press.
Must be nice, getting your money for nothing and games for free. :wink:

Months, or was it years?, ago I promised myself I wouldn't buy it. I loved it back in the day and played it tons. I got so many new games to play, I don't need to get this. As soon as I learn it's out, who's pressing that buy button?

It runs well on SD, thankfully.
Shmerl 5 Jun 2023
Got to Research level. I haven't really played the original but I suppose the story implies there are no other survivors on the station, not counting mutants and cyborgs.
denyasis 5 Jun 2023
Quoting: ShmerlGot to Research level. I haven't really played the original but I suppose the story implies there are no other survivors on the station, not counting mutants and cyborgs.
Yes...
Spoiler, click me
In the original intro, Diego erases everything about you from SHODAN's memory after you hack SHODAN for him. The main reason you weren't converted into a cyborg while in your post surgical coma was that SHODAN literally didn't know you existed. SHODAN in the original send you an email basically whining that she doesn't know who you are.

And

Spoiler, click me
I think the only "living people" in the original are the woman on the security team on earth feeding you info and Diego (sort of). And you only see/interact with Diego and I would not call him a "survivor"

I take it, the game is good then? I loved SS2 and really liked SS1, I feel like this game is right up my alley (I don't think I've ever bought a game at release time). But the reviews seem pretty positive and it looks like it runs well on Linux!
Shmerl 5 Jun 2023
Yeah, the game is pretty good so far. I still find that pixelated aesthetic on close up textures to be unnecessary, and I've seen them saying they used it to resemble the original game more, but I don't mind it since it's not really extreme and doesn't detract from the immersion much.

Spoiler, click me
Here too, at the end of the Medical level SHODAN talks to the main character saying that she doesn't know who you are, so that fits your point of the Hacker avoiding being turned into a cyborg becasue of that.

And yeah, haven't met Diego besides the intro, but Rebecca was the only human so far who spoke to the Hacker (remotely). The rest are just recordings and logs which describe past unfolding events. Which adds to the general horror atmosphere.

Last edited by Shmerl on 5 Jun 2023 at 10:03 pm UTC
Shmerl 19 Jun 2023
Ugh, that one cyberspace level in Research is impossible.
damarrin 19 Jun 2023
It's possible. Took me a good 10 tries, mind.

I missed the message at the end, though, so I don't really know what it did. Luckily, there's a log that talks about it. I just love how the game doesn't hold your hand.
Shmerl 25 Jun 2023
Any tips how to handle that last area? Even starting with full health bar, I can't weed out those defense programs fast enough.
Shmerl 26 Jun 2023
OK, I think I figured just holding mouse button in cyberspace produces good fire rate - before I was trying to mash it and the rate wasn't good, lol :)

Now I managed to finish it easier and got some safety override code.

Last edited by Shmerl on 26 Jun 2023 at 1:41 am UTC
denyasis 16 Jul 2023
Just bought it as a splurge and started it. I just did the tutorial and intro thing. I really like the art on it. It feels very good .

Quoting: ShmerlHere too, at the end of the Medical level SHODAN talks to the main character saying that she doesn't know who you are, so that fits your point of the Hacker avoiding being turned into a cyborg becasue of that.
I just realized, with it being a different game and all, the original intro has a little more exposition as to what happened. It's also told from SHODAN's perspective. One of my favorite story intros, btw....

[https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=9tKIJUxSyaU&pp=ygUSU3lzdGVtIHNob2NrIGludHJv](https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=9tKIJUxSyaU&pp=ygUSU3lzdGVtIHNob2NrIGludHJv)

Even 30 years later, it's a good intro to watch!
Fun fact, if you like the older games from origin, you might recognize the Tri-op security forces are wearing the armor from the Crusader series. I think at the time it was assumed they are from the same universe/time line.

Now I'm gonna go die horribly a lot. I'm really bad with shooters!!!
Shmerl 16 Jul 2023
Quoting: denyasisI just realized, with it being a different game and all, the original intro has a little more exposition as to what happened. It's also told from SHODAN's perspective. One of my favorite story intros, btw....

[https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=9tKIJUxSyaU&pp=ygUSU3lzdGVtIHNob2NrIGludHJv](https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=9tKIJUxSyaU&pp=ygUSU3lzdGVtIHNob2NrIGludHJv)

Even 30 years later, it's a good intro to watch!
Thanks for the pointer! It does add some details about the story indeed.
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