10 Video Games The World Wasn't Ready For
2. System Shock
If you were to picture the FPS genre as a ladder it’s pretty obvious that the first rung of that ladder is the original Doom. The game absolutely changed everything and audiences were keen for more. Whilst many games were doing their best to emulate the style, when Doom II arrived, it overshadowed something that was already turning the genre on its head.
In 1994 LookingGlass released System Shock, a game that did away with Doom’s frenetic nature and instead crafted a slower, more deliberate pace and world. Exploring a derelict space station, the player pieces together what has happened through environmental storytelling and recorded logs. Combat is far less instantly gratifying, demanding more tactical consideration with its limited inventory and imperfect weapons.
Whilst the game reviewed well, it’s generally understood that its cost to make far exceeded the sale numbers. System Shock did manage to garner a sequel, and most importantly some of its greatest strengths went on to live again in BioShock when its creators worked under 2k Games. It was the success of this game that made many gamers aware of its spiritual predecessor and began a new cult status.
Without System Shock weaving narrative storytelling into its gameplay then we wouldn’t have games like Metroid Prime, Prey or even possibly the likes of Deus Ex and Resident Evil.