More and more a wonder... - by RocketMan
RocketMan on 4/9/2006 at 03:19
By now such an observation may seem inconsequential but every time I play system shock I am amazed and this most recent run caught my attention more than ever. The tremendous attention to detail and the implementation of colour schemes and decals all over the ship is so impactful on the gameplay. Particularly towards the end, couple this with the music and the clever use of architecture, it makes me feel like I'm there.
When I've got my headphones on and all I can see is the screen, I go into a sort of trance. Maybe its because there are no healing machines on the last 2 decks or maybe its because the lighting and the degrees of freedom are so varied that the game demands your constant fixation. Even mid-game I found myself noting the subtle change in the tone of the game when I entered an exec's quarters and found temporary solice. I catch myself walking up to the window and watching the stars for a while.
If you think about how far the technology was pushed to achieve an effect you see rarely even today, its amazing. I've got such an appreciation for the work LGS poured into this simulation. That's what i've started to think of it as really. Right down to the animated textures of the little blinking lights on relay panels and such, everything's alive and has an effect. And the environment evolves so seamlessly with the urgency and feel of the game.
Eh... you can laugh at me if you want. I'm a sucker for achievment I guess.
Bloodrez on 4/9/2006 at 05:30
laugh? I think everyone who's played this game feels the same way, this game is really immersive, and I just got on Hydroponics!
TheNightTerror on 4/9/2006 at 05:37
Uh . . . I thought he was talking about System Shock 1? :confused:
D'Arcy on 4/9/2006 at 08:38
I'm just playing through System Shock again. Probably my 200th run or something, I've already lost count. And each time I play it, I find out that my love for the game hasn't faded. As I was playing yesterday, and wandering through the Engineering maze, I found myself wondering how is it that even though I have maybe 100 games at hand, with great sound and visuals, I still want to play a game made twelve years ago, and it still keeps me on the edge of my seat, making me jump everytime I hear an enemy cyborg preparing its weapons for attack.
I'm hoping that Bioshock can give me the same kind of feeling...
Bjossi on 4/9/2006 at 13:03
I feel the same way with SS2, something about the game makes it so fun and immersive, even though I know basicly everything possible to know about it, I still enjoy playing it again and again. :D
RocketMan on 4/9/2006 at 16:39
See this is what happens when a bunch of designers get caught up in the game and instead of being driven by the market, budget or time, they start become engrossed in the idea of creating something grand. Then it becomes a mutual effort to compliment each other's skills to really go above and beyond the staples of what makes a game a game and to add that extra transparent layer of care that allows all the elements of the game to play off each other
Sulphur on 4/9/2006 at 18:09
Quote Posted by RocketMan
See this is what happens when a bunch of designers get caught up in the game and instead of being driven by the market, budget or time, they start become engrossed in the idea of creating something grand. Then it becomes a mutual effort to compliment each other's skills to really go above and beyond the staples of what makes a game a game and to add that extra transparent layer of care that allows all the elements of the game to play off each other
I second that!
I remember a review from a loooonng time ago about it - the reviewer was agog at the amount of detail in the game. 'You can even
lean around corners!' was his reaction to it. It had a story. It had one of the most famous villains in videogame history. It was brilliantly satisfying to play. Heck, just changing ammo or connecting wiring to get an elevator working was - and still is - a joy. Hell, they even gave you pong as one of the software modules. That still makes me grin - harkens back to the good Ol' Commander Keen days. I still can't wrap my head around the fact that no one actually played this, back in the day.
D'Arcy on 4/9/2006 at 20:55
Quote Posted by Sulphur
I still can't wrap my head around the fact that no one actually played this, back in the day.
Fortunately, I bought Shock shortly after coming out (the floppy version, the enhanced CD version only came out a few months afterwards), and played it like crazy back then :cheeky:
Shevers on 4/9/2006 at 21:59
Right now what I appreciate most about SS2 is the sheer depth of equipment, weaponary, and everything else lying around letting you play the way you think seems best. The odd argument that crops about around here to the effect of "The laser rapier's awesome!", "The skorpian's better!", "You can't beat the Magpulse!" is testament to that.
Quote Posted by D'Arcy
Fortunately, I bought Shock shortly after coming out (the floppy version, the enhanced CD version only came out a few months afterwards), and played it like crazy back then :cheeky:
I have a hard time picturing a pre-Shock D'Arcy. It's like you were created to play Shock...
D'Arcy on 4/9/2006 at 23:36
Before Shock there was only Championship Manager. Fortunately, there still is :cheeky:
