System Shock

[Anonymous No.5217495]

I'm going to be playing through the first two System Shock games. Anything I should know going in?

[Anonymous No.5217519]

the high-res remake is made for 20-year-olds riding the bandwagon of retro-enthusiasm.

[Anonymous No.5217548]

>>5217495
Play 'em vanilla. Enjoy

[Anonymous No.5217551]

>>5217495
Good luck OP. Never played the first, and probably won't, but the I played the 2nd game for the first time a couple of months ago and it was a blast.

[Anonymous No.5217578]

You'll need to rebind the keys to controls that are comfortable to you, as they were made before WASD became standard.

SS1 - I prefer it without mouselook, but others disagree. It's more an adventure game than a FPS, so treat it like that. The map's note system is awesome. Use it and write down clues everywhere. FYI you need to destroy security cams and nodes. The game doesn't really spell this out.

SS2 - put points into hacking, maintenance and repair (same thing? can't remember).

[Anonymous No.5217596]

>>5217495
System Shock 1 is amazing and incredibly ahead of its time unfortunately the controls and interface are incredibly dated. The version on Steam and GOG includes a fan-made mouselook mod but it ain't perfect - esp. picking up items and putting them in your inventory. It's also clear that the enemy AI was built around the clunky controls so the game becomes quite a bit easier. Also turn off the mouselook in the cyberspace sequences. Great game though. The actual game underneath is a good decade ahead of its time.

System Shock 2 is brilliant but it's clear that development was a bit rushed at the end. The last levels (and the ending cutscene - Jesus Christ) are noticeably less well designed than the earlier levels. The other problem is the RPG system, it's kinda broken. Many people love SS2 but have never completed it because of it. You'll either fuck yourself over and have to reload a way earlier save or, worse, restart the whole game, or you'll end up being way overpowered by the endgame. Best build is starting off in the Navy and make sure to put points into weapon maintenance and hacking. It's possible to finish the whole game without psi abilities but they're fun to use. Invisibility is probably the most useful ability but you probably won't be able to get it until late in the game. Also, the default controls are weird but there's actually a normal control scheme programmed into the game - just go into the options menu and look for Standard FPS under control presets.

Finally neither of these games are FPSs. They come from the lineage of Ultima Underworld (a game which predated Wolfenstein 3D by a month). If you try to play them like a standard FPS you're gonna have a bad time. If you get that they're survival horror, metroidvania-ish, RPG-influenced immersive sims you will have a way better time.

[Anonymous No.5218313]

In SSh2 the shotgun mutants always have 1 shell in their (broken) shotgun. Make sure to take it each time you kill one, it makes a difference in the long run.

[Anonymous No.5218440]

>>5217596
SS1 isn't a RPG by any means, just a particularly absurdly complex FPS with a weird interface and movement. Takes quite some time to get used to it, even the modernized version with mouse look, and many simply can't and give up shortly afterwards.

Now, SS2 IS a RPG, and one of the most complex ones around. Brainlets with short attention spans, beware, this is not the game for you. For first-timers, I would recommend to ignore Psionics altogether, as it's quite complex, and you will be trying to get the hang on all the other, also very complex, systems, and learning to juggle between them will already be a significant challenge you have to overcome in order to go through this game. Leave dealing with Psi to a second playthrough.

[Anonymous No.5219585]

>>5218440
It's why I said RPG influenced. You're right. SS1 is not an RPG however it is the followup to Ultima Underworld which was an RPG and it does share a lot of that games dna. It's not an RPG though - but it isn't a FPS. It's a bit of a weird one. Great game though

[Anonymous No.5219676]

>>5217495
I can only comment on the second one:

- The wrench is going to be your best friend for a LONG time. Get used to hit-and-run attacks with it against everything you can.
- On that note, you're best served by insuring that no matter WHAT branch you enter at the beginning, one of your assignments(2 at most) get you 2 points in Agility by the start of the actual game. The difference is phenomenal.
- Hacking and maintenance are pretty important; repair less so. For offense, don't waste points in anything but Standard weapons.

[Anonymous No.5219763]

>wanting advice and knowledge on games before so much as booting them up
gb2/v/

[Anonymous No.5220156]

>>5219676
Use the agility implant when you find it too. High agility makes the controls 10X smoother and more responsive. You can get Doom 2-quality movement speed if you upgrade it enough.

[Anonymous No.5220229]

skip SS1 with its clunky controls (yes, even with mouselook) and godawful mazelike leveldesign

[Anonymous No.5221896]

>>5220229
horrible post ignore this guy

[Anonymous No.5221939]

daily reminder only absolute fucking retards can't adjust to system shock's controls in 5 minutes of play

[Anonymous No.5222371]

>>5217495
Be prepared to get lost. A lot.

[Anonymous No.5223262]

>>5217495
SHTUP is a quality vanilla mod.

Pretty much any built you go for will be viable, just put a few points into research at some point. Also for some reason Normal weapons ends up being borderline OP by the end.

System shock 1 is an excellent game, especially for it's age. Just expect backtracking later on.

Both will kick your ass, but save your hand grenades in SS1 for when you first smash SHODAN's nodes. She will send a literal army of cyborgs after you, once you have just gotten the handgun and if you know anything you'll be spamming that thing dry and using frags to try to cull that horde.

>>5222371
This, but in a good way.

>>5221939
This but 10 minutes and with Ultima Underworld.