I can't believe I still love SS1... - by Saam
Saam on 15/3/2009 at 00:16
After 15 years. 15 long (or not so long) years. I really haven't played many games lately (maybe 2 or 3 a year, tops). And even then, I play games to their finish maybe once every two years. The last one was STALKER, and before that was Metroid Prime 2 on the GameCube. So, I saw my copy of ICE Breaker on my bookshelf as I was cleaning my computer room, and it made me pull out my SS1 CD to give it another whirl. 3 days later, I sit here now in complete awe, yet again.
To still be totally glued to my computer, walking through Citadel Station again after 1.5 decades, says something. It says a lot about the talent and effort that went into making the game, about the way the game makes me feel when I play it. It is simply unmatched after all this time. Some games have come very close to toppling SS1 for the 'best game ever' award (Deus Ex, Metroid Prime 1 to name some), but after my recent excursion to Citadel Station, I know that none have ever succeeded.
And with System Shock still being able to successfully glue me to my seat like no other game has this year or last, fully immerse me into its atmosphere and world; fully being able to allow me to go into the surveillance room on the Security Level and view 5 different cameras so that I can strategically plan my next move on the way up to the Bridge; fully being able to subconsciously tell me 'No, you have to get to the Executive Level and jettison the grove before its too late'; such a game, I'm pretty positive, will never be toppled as being my number one game of all-time. The music, sound effects, level design, cyberspace, the ability to know which walls are 'obsidian slabs' and which are 'molybdenum paneling', simply *everything* is amazing.
Thank you, Looking Glass, once again, for a job superbly done. I am eternally grateful for experiencing System Shock. Here's to the next 15 years.
D'Arcy on 15/3/2009 at 00:36
I agree with you completely, Saam. I'm still absolutely in love with System Shock, and keep playing through it at least once or twice every year. I don't believe that any game will ever replace it as my all time favourite. I don't care if the graphics are outdated, because after a few minutes I don't really pay attention to them anymore, I just feel completely immersed. The music is still some of the best music ever made for a computer game (the Executive and Security levels' music are probably my all time favourites). I may know where most of the enemies are, but I still jump in my chair everytime I listen to some robot gearing up to attack. I still fear every single second spent in Maintenance or Beta Grove. And I still feel a great sense of accomplishment every time I see the 'It's over...' screen.
So I join in your 'thank you' to Looking Glass for such a wonderful game. And I add a 'thank you' to yourself, because we can say that TTLG is, in good part, the result of your love for System Shock :)
Enchantermon on 15/3/2009 at 02:39
Hey, Saam. Good to see you again.
I'm incredibly glad I got to experience the classic that is System Shock. I remember playing it for the first time and cowering in the Maintenance elevator because I was too scared of what was on the other side of that door. I remember having to go through that level to get to the higher decks and dashing through from one elevator to the next jamming my finger down on Shift and praying that I didn't get hit.
I also remember gloriously sniping the fliers on the Security level and falling of the mile-high bridge to my...wait, how the heck am I still alive?!
And the final fight.....I got really irritated every time I failed, but I didn't get irritated at the game like I normally would have, I got irritated at HER. That smug little AI staring at me, laughing at my pitiful attempts to silence her.
And then, that final burst of joy when I finished, like a ray of sunshine bursting forth through a cloudy sky. System Shock was one of the few games that gave me the feeling at the end that I had really accomplished something, and that was definitely worth the pain of getting there.
Congratulations, System Shock, on 15 wonderful years, and thank you, LGS, for such a wonderful game!
And as D'Arcy said, thank you, Saam, for the part you played in starting the dysfunctional family that is TTLG. ;)
sh_b on 16/3/2009 at 12:56
Just wanted to add an oil flask to this lovefire for System Shock 1.
I'm actually playing it for the first time (over 9000 thanks to strangebedfellows.de for SSPortable!) and I am really shocked. I'm not an experienced player but I just can't imagine how do LGS succeed to put all that universe in a DOS game!
Beta Grove is just jettisoned (my bad I already know all the plot 'cause I've read tons of text about SS1 thinking I'm never suppose to play it) and it just came to my mind WHAT have developers actually given us.
I got completely used to controls and grafics only by now but I have the greatest part of the game still undone.
Praise to LGS, praise to TTLG.
theabyss on 16/3/2009 at 18:53
I can't believe I still haven't played SS1! :cool:
After having finished SS2 a couple of times, I think I really need to get my hands on SS1. Well, there is one good thing about the fact that I haven't played it yet. It will be a new experience - like a totally new game to me, without any previous knowledge about the story.
D'Arcy on 16/3/2009 at 19:12
If you already played SS2, then you have at least some knowledge about System Shock's story.
jtr7 on 17/3/2009 at 01:22
Quote Posted by D'Arcy
I agree with you completely, Saam. I'm still absolutely in love with System Shock, and keep playing through it at least once or twice every year. I don't believe that any game will ever replace it as my all time favourite. I don't care if the graphics are outdated, because after a few minutes I don't really pay attention to them anymore, I just feel completely immersed. The music is still some of the best music ever made for a computer game (the Executive and Security levels' music are probably my all time favourites). I may know where most of the enemies are, but I still jump in my chair everytime I listen to some robot gearing up to attack. I still fear every single second spent in Maintenance or Beta Grove. And I still feel a great sense of accomplishment every time I see the 'It's over...' screen.
So I join in your 'thank you' to Looking Glass for such a wonderful game. And I add a 'thank you' to yourself, because we can say that TTLG is, in good part, the result of your love for System Shock :)
Hear hear!:)
MightyMouse on 17/3/2009 at 02:41
Quote Posted by Enchantermon
I remember playing it for the first time and cowering in the Maintenance elevator because I was too scared of what was on the other side of that door. I remember having to go through that level to get to the higher decks and dashing through from one elevator to the next jamming my finger down on Shift and praying that I didn't get hit.
I agree totally. I can still clearly remember trying to work up the courage to cross the deck on level 3.
SS2 is still the only game that has ever come close to the greatness of SS1.
RocketMan on 17/3/2009 at 04:11
I love the game so much I polished the box with Turtle Wax, giving that ugly bastard on the front an eternal glow that will bring me back to citadel in my dreams.
terrannova on 27/3/2009 at 01:50
System Shock is still my number one game of all time. I can go back to it anytime and still be impressed and surprised. The talent put into it is very impressive. This gem will be strong for another 15 years, easy!
