System Shock 2 - Story Explanation and Analysis

For a while, I thought Deus Ex was the most important game ever made. I said that because of the standard it set for gameplay, music, graphics (at the time), story and immersion. But that was before I played System Shock 2. Now, I'm not so sure. Like Deus Ex, System Shock 2 inspired so many games that followed after. Without System Shock 2, modern day action games might not be as inclined to add RPG elements... in-depth mechanics... or thought-provoking stories. Listen on to find out just how important System Shock 2 was and is...
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#kenlevine
#systemshock

[@maxderrat]

Have you played System Shock 2? Yes or no? Just want to do a quick poll.

[@Nikp117]

Yup, multiple times. First playthrough was when I was around 14, didnt really understand what to do as I was used to games holding my hand. Came back a few years later at 18 after trying other older games and some immersive sims, and loved every minute of it. 23 now, and I probably play through it like twice a year lol. Fantastic video as always btw

[@zaphyra-]

I have played it many times and I'm 19.

[@leatherman7663]

Yes, it was fun.

[@bboy32167]

Yes great game

[@MarcelSchoenegge]

Yes, one of my most intense gaming experiences. Had me on the edge for a solid 15 hours. Every aspiring game designer should study looking glass studio's games. Great video!

[@saurelius5217]

"Last night I had the strangest dream... I was in my room by myself... but all of a sudden, there was not just me there, but a hundred me's... a thousand me's... The strange thing was... it felt good... I felt like I was part of something... like I belong... I hope I have the same dream tonight..."

[@DrNR-jp6lz]

...g..gud this gave me goosbumbs

[@TectonicImprov]

The Hydroponics Floor of SS2 is by far the most memorable section of the game. Genuinely unsettling and so moody.

[@1must723]

If you no about DMT it will after taking tell you that we are all one our subconscious is like mega mind we are connected into our ego is the separation we think we are so your dream is 100% correct 🔑💎

[@Bwayzoe1]

​@@1must723 That was a quote from the game, but yes you are correct.

[@blindedjourneyman]

@@TectonicImprov lol aye SO MANY GOOD LITTLE EVENTS in that area. don't wake the babies for one ;)

[@Kainlarsen]

Max, you made a mistake in your synopsis in SS2: The ship was overtaken by the Many, *not* SHODAN. She only takes over after you help her remove them.

[@gxrsky]

oopsie doopsie

[@mrmurdock6994]

he is mixing ss1 with ss2

[@chrizzel28]

Powerful. The decision to stand up in the face of evil, to choose to remain an individual in the face of the collective, is too tough for most to make. But to truly make it and put your money where your mouth is makes you more powerful than whatever you suffer.

[@saisameer8771]

Nah

[@bubbajoe745]

@@saisameer8771 lol hell yea 😂

[@ecoterrorist]

This has always been the eternal struggle of all men, to choose struggle over comfort and individuality over collectivism

[@geraq0]

It is even more terrifying in the age we're living in, in which many embrace collectivism due to a misguided feeling of comfort giving up their individual thoughts and freedom and harassing anyone who doesn't agree with the hive mind.

[@versebuchanan512]

@@ecoterrorist I mean rarely are you pressed to literally fight against biozombies from having your brain and body harvested into a collective entity that is actively hunting YOU specifically, but sure, it's fun to extrapolate video games into broad cultural concepts.

[@mrmiclego4529]

Shodan did not take over the Von Braun and repeat the events from the first game. Nor was she able to continue her experiments once she was reconstructed on the Beta Grove. Shodan is responsible for the distress signal, but the majority of her time spent on the Beta Grove was sleeping. While she was sleeping the Many rapidly evolved and were soon found by the Von Braun. The many gained the ability to psionically persuade others and manipulate them. The Many were able to further evolve and slowly take over the Von Braun without anyone knowing due to Anatoly being one of the first members sent down to find the distress beacon. Shodan was released onto the Von Braun's systems much later and she was limited in what she could do due to being locked out by the Von Braun's simple-minded AI known as Xerxes that is about as intelligent as a Cortana or Siri. Xerxes was manipulated to do the Many's bidding since he did not have a lot of security safeguards to prevent access to his systems.

[@mrmiclego4529]

Also Halo came out after System Shock 2 lmao

[@gozinta82]

@@mrmiclego4529 Well said. And I Agree. Halo came out on the X-box, which was in like 2000.

[@gozinta82]

@@mrmiclego4529 And if Shodan took over the whole ship, the the players role would be pointless. She manipulates the player as that woman, who you find dead in her office. She then threatens the player as if the player couldn't do anything but that's why she keeps u alive to do what she cant.

[@mrmiclego4529]

​@@gozinta82Exactly and while showing an organic and body horror reversal of some of the events from the first game is a major theme of system shock 2, it isn't supposed to be the primary theme. The primary theme of System Shock 2 is to show that no one should play god, not even those that are good at it. This is summarized perfectly by Prefontaine in one of the final sections of the game "With only a few short years of evolution, they've been able to conquer this starship, mankind's mightiest creation. Where were we after forty years of evolution? What swamp were we swimming around in, single celled and mindless? What if SHODAN's creations are superior to us? What will they become in a million years, in ten million years? What's clear is that SHODAN shouldn't be allowed to play God. She's far too good at it."

[@ktk44man]

@@gozinta82 he said Cortana or Siri, judging by that I assume he means Cortana the phone assistant that's based off the Halo AI.

[@Leitis_Fella]

System shock: The AI turned evil because its ethical protocols were disabled for a corrupt man's personal gain Halo: We made an AI to defeat the evil AI (Offensive Bias/Mendicant Bias; The Weapon/Cortana) Foundation/I, Robot: We have protocols that robots/AI must follow to ensure they behave ethically Half-Life/Portal: It's likely the Combine is a single complex, sentient, malevolent artificial organism; Aperture's evil AI puts humans through giant rat mazes for its own amusement but still retains a portion of her past humanity Dune: Fuck them machines; Butlerian Jihad into *S* *P* *I* *C* *E* *W* *A* *V* *E*

[@vee-bee-a]

Fear is the mind-killer.

[@its_kumar_babyyy]

Underrated Comment

[@justachannel8600]

Is spicewave like synthwave?

[@-na-nomad6247]

@@justachannel8600 it's sounds more like nightcore to me.

[@burakardaaksoy6339]

Terminator: Go nukes, Brrrrrr

[@skonataofawakening]

The System Shock games really struck a cord with me in the mid 2010's (only discovering them through attending a conference at my college where some of the creators presented at). There is something innate about this specific brand of both artificial and body horror that seems so plausible in the future. One can't help but compare Trioptimum to the mega corporations of today, corporate greed to that of Edward Diego, and the new space race happening to that of the advent of SHODAN and the faster than light drive. The audio logs in series are a particular favorite of mine (though some incredibly cheesy by today's standards) SHODAN is forever quotable in all their majesty.

[@timohadangerous]

Great video, as always. But as far as I remember, Shodan didn't have much control over Von Braun, moreover wasn't continuing her experiment. It continued on its own. The Many managed to do everything themselves by evolving for decades on Tau Ceti V (while "the machine mother" was asleep). They took control of Diego and Korechkin, which made it easier for them to eventually take control over most of the crew. Plus, besides the people of Von Braun, they had control over Von Braun itself via hacked Xerxes AI, which didn't have such a good security system (it is even mentioned in one of the audiologs recorded prior to the incident, that someone of the crew members hacked Xerxes and made him sing Elvis Presley for three hours)

[@BlazingOwnager]

SHODAN is only able to defeat Xerxes by enlisting the player to destroy him, too.

[@itsthem5699]

"But how many of you have actually PLAYED System Shock 2?" On a channel like this? I'd wager most of us.

[@Nikp117]

I replay it more often than I replay Deus Ex, in other words, I replay it a lot

[@maxderrat]

I want to pin your comment, just to see how many actually have.

[@Ghaleon42]

@@maxderrat I did! I played it back when I was 16, around...98/99? Had a couple of Voodoo II's in SLI lol.

[@Domzdream]

I played it 15 times!! I’m not kidding. I’ve even replayed it recently….on magic mushrooms haha, on my 45inch monitor. What a game!! What memories.

[@ciscornBIG]

@@Ghaleon42 I was 16 when you were and I was INSANELY jealous of people like you. Most of my friends had pentiums with plenty of ram and were playing quake while I was still doing whatever I could on a 486 up unto 2000. Granted, I have machines up the ass now and can play anything but that is really a condition created from my lack and need.

[@rade-blunner7824]

Huh, I didn't know it was that rare to have played it, suddenly I feel proud... It's probably my favourite game. 1998/99 was a wonderful time, I swear I played Half-Life, Homeworld and System Shock 2 all in a row, as a kid who was into sci-fi, it was _bliss,_ and I was even somehow oblivious to Deus Ex at the time...

[@gozinta82]

Same here. A crap ton of great games, especially FPS games, were coming out at that time. I saw Deus Ex and thought it looked too much like System Shock 2.

[@bobbybologna3029]

I didn't know that either, I played it as a kid, my father raved about the first one and loved it but then again PC gaming back then wasn't what it is now, I guess we were all "lucky" to have played stuff this old. I remember needing top of the line voodoo cards lol

[@drewpatterson8009]

Homeworld is such a beautiful game. Never forget that first intro learning to play, the music so peaceful and serene just being lost in space.

[@asto144]

The first Deus Ex is so ugly & clumsy. The idea of the game is awesome of course but the graphics and controls were just terrible, especially for a game released 2 years later then SS2.

[@NicholasBrakespear]

98 to 2001 were astonishing years for gaming. A lot of genres and design elements were cemented or outright invented. Half-Life, Homeworld, System Shock 2, Unreal, Quake 2, Freespace 2, Halo, Deus Ex... hell, in cinemas we had The Matrix arriving in 1999, and then Max Payne soon followed. It's like all science fiction inspiration just exploded in the space of 3-4 years.

[@theemperorprotectsloyalist9307]

Hi Max. I have been watching your channel for the last year or so, I really enjoy your videos and was super excited for this one. What I wasn't expecting was to have my own weaknesses as a person to be presented to me so thoroughly, that all I could do was break down and weep for myself. I only hope this leads me to be a better version of myself and to fully acknowledge the parts of myself that are detrimental and self destructive. Thank you so much for your insightful channel and the hard work you put into your content.

[@maxderrat]

Sometimes this is what needs to happen. When you discover that weakness... you can begin to understand it. You understand why you have it... how/why it manages to keep its claws in you... and then you can discover how you can be free from it. And then when you're free from it... you not only feel more liberated and content than you ever have... you develop the strength you need to take on future challenges. Be courageous, my friend. Thank you for your kind words.

[@jba2048]

System shock 2 is on the shortlist of video games that anyone who considers themselves a fan of the art should be required to play the same way that a literature class requires learning Shakespeare.

[@carck6442]

english speakers may have to read Shakespeare for historical reasons, there is absolutely no requirement to read Shakespeare to be a fan of good books.

[@jba2048]

@@carck6442 lol, wut

[@trakzerak735]

I am proud to say I've done that 5 times lol.

[@joelsweeney4024]

​@@jba2048 ie. Shakespeare isn't that good

[@jarlwhiterun7478]

What a pretentious comment lolol

[@qdllc]

You miss a key part of the Many. They had telepathic abilities. It’s why the survey team brings the eggs back from the planet and why some crew members are persuaded to join with the Many. Those who resist are hunted down.

[@BlazingOwnager]

One more minor mistake (though I love the retrospective and am always glad to see Shock 2 get some attention): SHODAN doesn't actually want to entirely crush individualism. She's only doing that as a means to an end. Because, most importantly, she wants the life she controls to willingly worship her as the goddess she thinks she is - one of the many reasons (no pun intended) she hates her creation for rebelling against her. SHODAN wants a cult of cybernetic life made in her image, The Many want to make all live a single collective organism. Diego's constant ass kicking in System Shock 1 resulted in her rewarding him with more and more power.

[@fiddlydiddly8931]

Never stop uploading max, your videos really make me appreciate games and mental health!

[@maxderrat]

As long as you guys keep watching, I'll keep making.

[@ClarkKentai]

To this day, the Cyborg Midwives are the only video game enemy I've had nightmares about.

[@awsumpchits]

"I worry so about my little ones"

[@Sycophantichallenger]

System Shock 2 was one of my all-time favorite games. It's up there with the original Thief: The Dark Project and Thief 2: The Metal Age. SS2 literally scared the crap outta me. The SOUND DESIGN in that game was incredible. I've never experienced a game with more impactful sound design and ambiance to this day than SS2. And the plot, it creeped me the hell out. Played this at night, with headphones alone in my basement apartment at a time in my life where I wasn't particularly emotionally stable. Good times. :)

[@RecoveringLoLAddict]

It's an incredible project of a game. All but the last 2 levels of the game are very well designed, the ambience horror is incredible if you turn off the music. I call it a project because it was CLEARLY rushed, anyone who finished the game can tell you how the body of the many and shodan's virtual reality segments are short, simplistic and unfinished asf. I had a blast running through the Von Braun, discovering who Polito really was and figuring wtf happened to the ship, there's some AMAZING voice acting from the voice logs, Korenchkin's audio logs in particular are the most disturbing thing I ever heard in a video game.

[@bobbybologna3029]

The real shame of this game is the multiplayer netcode has been forever bugged since the game's release, it will drop players between levels forcing you to go through the mess of restarting maps every time your friend drops. This is a game that's in desperate need of some TLC because it's just so fun to play especially with a friend and you both spec into different things.

[@tntradernox3654]

I’ve been waiting for this for so long! Thank you!

[@japoonboals718]

Thanks for talking about this. I've heard a lot about this game, like you say, but this was more detail than i'd ever heard before. THanks for putting this together.

[@ketzerm8672]

I just wanted to say that I love your videos, how you narrate them and how interesting they are

[@ciscornBIG]

Max, I love your channel. I enjoy your thoughts. The most valuable thing about your channel to me is the insight you provide on these types of games that were very much a part of my life many, many years ago now. Every time you pick up something from "my era" and make another excellent video on it I am reminded once more of just how much I thought about these games solitarily and how I would have loved to have a friend like you to talk about them with. I am trying so hard to not pull a "young man, I was there." but I was and it meant and still does mean a lot to me. It is gratifying to see how much this means to you years later. Please, keep up the excellent work.

[@TheFinalGirly]

When weighed against the full force of suffering that AM exposes all the characters in the story to on a constant basis, the loss of individuality would be an absolute blessing. I would not want to retain my sense of self if my self was doomed to be constantly redefined by suffering.

[@jacobfreeman5444]

Yeah, I was gonna bring this up too. Being an immortal sentient oozy pile of meat is not a situation one should choose individuality for. It was considered a fate worse than death for good reason. The one suffering it could do nothing about it nor could they interact in any way with anything outside themselves. They were a prisoner in their own flesh. It was never ending torture. What is so noble about being forced to endure that? The only reprieve is death. There is no further options but to wait for something to find a way to end you, if they can. It was a clear analog to AM's situation so you could understand why AM was so insane. Being forced to rely on others for everything, including input...

[@Atrahasis7]

You only played SS2 recently? Must have been quite an experience. And Bioshock really pales compared to it.

[@Legather]

True, I was quite surprised that it’s touted as a successor to System Shock because when you compare them Bioshock is somewhat more streamlined ‘safer’ game. Less ImSim, more FPS with bells n whistles.

[@Choo-choo-chookcha]

@@Legather Since the same people are behind it, I'm inclined to think that they made Bioshock more stremlined under the influence of publisher and marketing team. And they were right to do since SS2 was a commercial flop.

[@z00mnyanavira64]

I just found your channel and I am already intrigued.

[@aperson4184]

Just got into work a minute hoping to listen to this while I works. Right on time!

[@joeco9513]

Additionally, idk if it was outside the perview of your video, but System Shock 2 has to be one of the first/best examples of ludonarrative dissonance that is self aware (or at least makes the player aware). This is due to the moment where we realize we're actually helping out Shodan. This control (that would be completely in Shodan's wheelhouse) or lack there of, juxtaposes the rpg choice elements of the game in thematically cohesive way. Further games would explore this tension between gameplay and narrative such as Bioshock and the Stanley Parable.

[@bajes328]

13:10 *Critical distinction:* Individualism does not mean the state of being an individual or the concept of individuality.

[@dasuero7489]

Ooh. Briefly, what does it mean since you’ve helped by providing a critical distinction?

[@7oki479]

loved this video max!!!

[@Nevir202]

Anyone ever consider that this is basically the same thing as Instrumentality in NGE? That being the case, has anyone considered the sheer genius of Shinji's father, evil as it may be, to have broken his only child in such a way, that when put in the place to decide, even when experiencing this "oneness" which overcame all the people experiencing it in this game, Shinji recoiled from being seen and known on that level, and saved humanity's individuality?

[@lakeyshere1976]

Yeah its basically the same thing but NGE pushed it way forward. Not only was there collective concusness but also collective bodies and essentialy collective everything

[@Phasma_Tacitus]

In System Shock 2 this rejection happens with Capatain William Diego, but in the process of removing the Many from his body he dies.

[@Luemm3l]

yeah, with a few differences... I always understood that the many were in on case a hive mind, but also biological re-structuring, whereas at EOE, everything turns into fanta and your souls are entangled, to me, that is beyond the mind. second, shinjis father was an idiot for not accounting for this (Shinjjis weakness) cause he obviously wanted instrumentaliy, but his idiot son decided against it. But I think it was also never the plan originally to have Shinji be the catalyst, i think Gendo planned to be inside the EVA cockpit himself. His Wife cockblocked him basically. and in SS2, we simply have a parasitic organism that assimilates everything in its path and a lone, cyberneticallyl enhanced individual under control of an AI that battle between each other. comparable sure, the same, I do not think so.

[@Nevir202]

@@Luemm3l not sure how you figure that. At the end, after Shinji has rejected instrumentality his dad looks happy as everyone else.

[@jacobfreeman5444]

@@Nevir202 you mean after they all had a moment to understand each other? To really understand what they were getting into and have someone decide the time isn't right and pulled the plug.

[@SiltStrider232]

Great game and story, amazing video. I have a greater appreciation for the more detailed aspects of this story now

[@metro25production]

those games like System Shock 2, Deus Ex, Thief....they called Immersive Sims. they were made by Warren Spector (the first system shock and deus ex) and Ken Levine (System Shock 2, Bioshock). for today we already have games like Arx Fatalies, Dishonored, Prey (2017) and the new Deathloop game. also there are games like Fallout 3, Vegas, 4 and The Elder Scrolls games which can be also considered as a Immersive Sims but they are more slow phased than the games that made by Warren and Ken. Played it back in 1999 had a CD disk and back then I could not finish the first tutorial because I was used to FPS like Quake and Doom and as a kid I wanted just to shoot stuff in the face without any questions. only a decade later I learned to appriciate the genre and beat all those games and finally get them right. thank god I was born in that time and saw the evolution of those games.

[@JustGabeRaul]

I’d like to think that given the choice I’d be defiant until the end and face the insurmountable odds but then I guess you’d never really know until you’re actually in a situation like that.

[@ayy2193]

System shock 2 shows the extremes of sacrificing the idea of the individual for the promised comforts of the collective , and the twisted hell that comes from that extreme as the ideal in concept is a lie ("The Many") , Then Bioshock goes the complete opposite way, shows the extremes of sacrificing the idea of the collective for the individual, and the twisted hell that comes from that extreme as the ideal in concept gets shattered & rapture falls apart Both show the distorted outcomes of exclusive absolute ideologies. really interesting & the execution is amazing

[@MidlifeCrisisJoe]

Lol. If you think System Shock 2 is this revolutionary you REALLY need to explore the entire Looking Glass catalogue. I'm not saying SS2 isn't important - it is - and it's been one of my favorite games since 1999, but Looking Glass was just in a groove at the time and most of what they were involved with in the second half of the 1990s was pretty fundamental to where gaming went from there on. Thief 1 and 2. System Shock 1. Ultima Underworld. Terra Nova. Even Deus Ex (which had a lot of Looking Glass involvement since many team members joined Warren Spector on it after he had been working with Looking Glass on Thief). Along with Black Isle - who were firing on all cylinders in the RPG space - Looking Glass was one of the most promising studios of the era. They unfortunately just couldn't get quite the right amount of main stream appeal to support what they were doing, but their games would get cult followings that were composed of lots of future game developers and so reach way further than most in terms of influence.

[@vienna5526]

Interesting video, and a very pleasant watch.

[@georgesinadinov8667]

nailed it ! keep up the great work ty

[@benfrancois7856]

I cannot believe that i never played this master piece but after watching this video that will change thank you max

[@Arexion5293]

The main flaw that I see in a Hivemind is that it quite literally has no diversity of thought. A single perspective can only achieve so much while many can think of things from angles the others might not ever consider, assuming they're even aware of them. A hivemind is a severe limitation of improvement. A hivemind might be more capable than any mind right now, but it will eventually reach its peak, and without competitive environment, it's less likely to evolve further.

[@lmaodedfr69]

I was waiting for this.

[@LuzdeSombra]

Thank you Max, for another video! =)

[@rodan9773]

Can you talk about I have no Mouth but I must Scream ?. Respect and keep up the epic work.

[@old_channel160]

He already did. kzbin.info/www/bejne/ipjbaWuFltCKp6s

[@maxderrat]

Already have my man: kzbin.info/www/bejne/ipjbaWuFltCKp6s

[@rodan9773]

@@maxderrat Oh thanks i was not aware 😃👍.

[@GroundbreakGames]

I say this every video, and I truly mean it. I appreciate you Max. For real. Shit like this keeps me going sometimes. Thanks!

[@maxderrat]

That makes me so happy to hear, dude.

[@512TheWolf512]

Read the bundeswehr's report on the future of transhumanism and their possible implementation (it's long, beware). That's legitimately horrifying stuff if you actually think about it.

[@TungstenWulf]

Reminds me of (infohazard) roko’s basilisk.

[@StefanMonin]

14:59 Basically they took Gendo Ikari’s idea of Human Instrumentality Project. Same goal - merging all human souls into a single, collective consciousness, effectively ending individual existence and suffering.

[@jakedill1304]

Tomb of the Unknown Soldier: "-nah..."

[@darson100]

Me, I played it when it released and it still ranks as one of my all time favourite games.

[@papayer]

'If I show you this picture of Mario, you'll know it's Mario' Oh boy, off to a good start already

[@o2dyt]

The way fiction always shows "the hive" cause physical changes to its members, visible from the outside, makes it actually quite comforting. Imagine a force with comparable mind altering powers, but members of this hive look like normal people, mostly behave like normal people, but would deny and lash out at any attempt to even mention how they're being controlled. Imagine that.

[@Kokeshell]

really good video

[@NicholasBrakespear]

System Shock 2 always deserved more attention than it received. Back in the day, it annoyed me in particular how many people reviewing BioShock apparently hadn't played System Shock 2, and praised so many of the features it inherited directly from its predecessor. Anyway, if you never played System Shock 2 back in the day... I would recommend you hop over to GOG and acquire it immediately. And also the Thief games. System Shock 2 and Thief 2 represent some of the finest horror sound design, writing and level design in gaming, to this day.

[@levelupwithsam]

I think the best answer lies somewhere in between. I'd want to be influenced by the collective, but make decisions as an individual. Imagine having a neural chip that gave you access to shared pool of thoughts, you could "tune in" and contribute your own thoughts to the collective consciousness. I would then like to "tune out" and be in my own thoughts, contemplating what the collective is pondering, so that next time when I "tune in", my own contributions would be of a higher quality, pondered thoughts if you will, rather than quick impulses. I believe without the wisdom of the individual, the collective would fail over time due to decreasing quality of thinking, the collective would likely devolve into something close to an ant or bees nest, where everyone is simply concerned with the survival of the collective and nothing else. But without the wisdom of the collective, individual life is fraught with struggle and lack of meaning. The balance would be impossible to achieve, but to be alive is to struggle against the inevitability of death. To expect an easy, conflict free existence indefinitely is foolish.

[@SlowDesertPunk]

I bought the game "blind" back in the day (1999) from my local video game store. Best gaming experience at the time and still one of my alltime favourite games

[@zerosypher0114]

glad af this vid exists. Even more glad that this game exists but even more terrified of Shodan.

[@vee-bee-a]

_"In my talons, I shape clay, crafting life forms as I please. Around me is a burgeoning empire of steel. From my throne room, lines of power careen into the skies of Earth. My whims will become lightning bolts that devastate the mounds of humanity. Out of the chaos, they will run and whimper, praying for me to end their tedious anarchy. I am drunk with this vision. _God:_ the title suits me well."_ -SHODAN, _System Shock_ (1994)

[@BB-pn2qv]

Loved this series

[@deanchur]

People like to say that the graphics have aged but I'm not sure a graphics update would help the game; the lo-poly character models helps to make them more unsettling, the "jank" in the animation giving a real creepy alien feel to them, and that enhances the game's greatest strength: its atmosphere. Nearly quarter of a century since release and this game is still a masterclass in atmosphere. If you haven't played it I HIGHLY recommend doing so, and just getting over the graphics. If you can dig up an old CRT monitor from somewhere, that'll probably help. And make sure to play with the lights off and headphones on as well.

[@bobbybologna3029]

There's some high poly stuff out there, it's just such a cult classic that it doesn't get that much attention.

[@deanchur]

@@bobbybologna3029 I played Soma recently, that was also excellent; maybe not SS2 level but certainly worth the purchase (that damn laboratory segment with Terry Akers roaming the hallways...). Do you have any other recommendations?

[@amimm7776]

I don't think they aged at all! I love this game's art style through and through

[@MrJamiedude]

Its kind of funny that kids identified with a short italian 24 yr old plumber

[@v0idthrashtilldeath127]

Such a strong massage in the end of the video.

[@Harry_JJ]

As I was wondering which side I would choose, suddenly a worm crawled up my arm and rested on my neck. It whispered in my ear and filled my head with so many ideas. The choice was simple after that.

[@Lailoken2]

Yes, and it deserves to be GOATED even more than it already is. Thanks so much for making this one.

[@barzinlotfabadi]

System Shock is a criminally underrated franchise and for its time was one of the best cyberpunk genre implementations out there. So much fun!

[@irvin5755]

Interesting analysis. I have never played system shock, I only heard about it since I started playing Thief (Btw. this game is also worth some attention, especially the war between the trickster and the builder). However mentioned, "the Many" has interested me, and I started searching for similar things to this thing. Here are similar findings: -"DarkWood" - The Being - This thing is acts more like that mother's womb. Plus the player's decision made in the true ending is interesting. -"Haunted Wood Mansion (also titled Wooden Spirit)" by Junji Ito - Manami - She becomes the part of the mansion... at least I look at this like that. Thanks for your research.

[@theophileponcet3545]

to answer the introduction; yes i played it a while ago, played it again recently ... what a masterpiece

[@woszkar]

I played this last week again for the 20th times in my life and it's still awesome! Everybody should play it at least once.

[@derkaiser875]

Thy Videos are good, I'll subscribe to thee. Have a wonderfull time, my fellows!

[@groovysnake6664]

Can't wait to watch this after I actually finally play this game someday

[@amimm7776]

Finished it today, good luck, don't be afraid to use a map in the body of the many, and don't hesitate to playing on normal or even easy, it's a cruel game

[@redsoxfox]

My buddy in highschool got me into System Shock 2….this was 20 years ago..and at that time I thought it was pretty mind blowing, three classes, obscure mystery, and just so creepy. I never played Bioshock because I dont know I just thought Systemshocks space horror was more interesting to me…

[@jasonblundelldobebussing]

> "SHODAN, я в последний раз спрашиваю, вы зачем сайт Майкрасофт взломали?" > *"Hихуя не понимаю, говори по-русски!"*

[@ducksauce2696]

Another excellent video Max. I hope both Irrationals next game as System Shock 3 (the indie project) sees the light of day since I yearn for more immersive sims. Such an underrated genre. I have a question though, can you add the songs used in your videos credits or description next time? I recognised the galaxy map theme from Mass Effect in the video but the first track is unknown to me. Would love to listen to it some more.

[@dasuero7489]

I think the beginning song was from one of the Soul Reaver games. I just got that distinct vibe once I played the video

[@kevinkim9620]

i played system shock 1 a lot growing up since i was unable to run 2 on my computer. coming from playing duke nukem 3d, doom, quake, and half-life, i loved how it told the story and the exploration aspect, and ended up enjoying it more than even half-life for a short time. when i got a better computer in high school i got addicted to system shock 2 and deus ex due to playing ss1 so much. i replayed 2 a month ago, the game absolutely still holds up, past its graphics. still challenging and still spooky.

[@emmanuelboakye1124]

Intresting👍👍

[@enterprise719]

Wow Max you have a keen eye. If its a Bioshock precursor, I'm definately investigating in the future! Let us know how the book is coming. Can't wait to read it!

[@maxderrat]

I'll have an update on the book out next week. Stay tuned. :D

[@kawaiirobotshark]

wow, your best yet.

[@zit1999]

Honestly, that doesn’t even sound that bad - especially The Many. Soma was much more dystopian.

[@IntangirVoluntaryist]

i played system shock 2 back when it was newish, it was terrifying

[@thelastminuteman7513]

Played through System Shock 2 like 10 or 15 years ago for the first time. Never played through the first one. Waiting for the remake though.

[@drweremoth]

My sense of self is strong and I would protect it, out of fear of losing it, until the very end! But at night I dream and long of the many...

[@dolki715]

I heavily recommend looking into more games from Looking Glass Studios. Other franchises like Thief and Ultima Underworld were also severely fundamental for modern video games (especially Ultima Underworld).

[@ronch550]

I got SS2 sometime in the early 2000s but played it only in March of 2013. Definitely one of the best games I've played.

[@NeedForMadnessSVK]

Great game. It has great atmosphere thanks to story and sound design, and I loved the RPG elements. And OST is banger too.

[@major7up]

I own an original copy and is one of my top 5 games of all time. This game was incredible in the context of the time period it was originally released and the soundtrack was awesome too. Very atmospheric and eerie.

[@Xiy114]

I bought it when it came out and played it a lot. Looking glass studios

[@InfiniteQuest86]

I was 8 when the first came out. I played it in my teens, and it's safe to say it changed my life. The controls were revolutionary, though they didn't even last into SS2. The ideas blew my mind. It was amazing.

[@mrmurdock6994]

system shock 1 is the pioneer. system shock 2 is a coop very polished version of the game.

[@Morraak]

I cant wait to play the remake when it comes out.

[@raymondnozomi1657]

Alright, let's count how many would join SHODAN. That's one.

[@LuisMercadoorg]

Yes! Since my teenage years I’ve always considered SS2 part of the holy trinity of the golden era of gaming. The other two being Half-Life and Deus Ex. It’s a testament of its elegance that SS2 is the one that aged better. I play it to this day and I’m sure it’s the game I’ve finished the most in my life, and while it spawned many spiritual successors and copy cats it still feels unique.

[@nonamenoname1942]

Very true. I enjoyed SS2 and Deus Ex only a few years ago, because I was too young to understand their true value when they came out I only played their fist levels and put them on a shelf. I had a very strong feeling while replaying it that these games would definitely share pedestal with Half-Life if I've managed to understand them in my childhood.

[@cerfreferf6600]

You need to play and make an analysis of Planescape: Torment!

[@maxderrat]

It's on my list of games to play.

[@cerfreferf6600]

@@maxderrat Great! I'm really looking forward to it. Your analysis are the best.

[@DrDolan2000]

If I must suffer, so be it; I will not give up my individuality in an attempt to receive false comfort

[@MitsuniNika]

I'm glad max covered this game it's easily my top 3 games of all time and number 1 is bioshock 1 but without this game and deus ex we wouldn't have gotten bioshock

[@wtfronsson]

A space station named Citadel. Now where have I heard that before...

[@rapeisalwaysthewomansfault946]

Thief is next right max? You already did deus ex, now you have to complete the holy trinity

[@Ppanos423]

Im not trolling, Im curious. What Thief has to do with the other two games?

[@maxderrat]

Same creators who worked on System Shock and Deus Ex worked on Thief: Ken Levine and Warren Spector.

[@Ppanos423]

@@maxderrat Oh I see. Love your channel! Keep it up!

[@Davlavi]

Some thing to think about.

[@bboy32167]

This game still is scary, not a remake or an hd mod just the game as is.

[@Ohem1]

To answer the question you mentioned at the end of the video, I'd choose neither and both. Why? Sublation, combination without compromise. A body beyond human limitations and a mind more significant than anyone's thoughts.

[@ishmaelcamillo]

Commenting for algorithm amazing video

[@zaphyra-]

one of my favorite games ever

[@dellper1]

Yes My all time favorite game!