“And what are you, compared to my magnificence? …Join me human, and we can rule together.” These were some of the last words that the A.I. villain SHODAN spoke before she was turned to nothing but a deleted file, or so we thought. System Shock 2 is arguably one of the most influential and important sci-fi games of all time. With its in-depth and hateful villain along with intense story and messages, it became a cult classic and still stands up in this day and age, despite the 1999 graphics having aged quite a bit. After the ending of System Shock 2 (here, but spoilers for the ending if you haven’t played it), it left the idea that a third installment could be plausible, but nothing ever came, until 20 years later when developers OtherSide Entertainment showed up with an in-engine trailer for none other that System Shock 3. And it does not disappoint:
SHODAN is returning, and she does not seem to be messing around this time. In fact, voice actress Terri Brosius is returning for the rather spooky role.
System Shock 3 was first announced nearly 4 years ago. It came with no information except for two things: SHODAN would be making a grand return, and that the man, the myth, the legend, Warren Spector (he produced the first System Shock) would also be coming in and working on the project. He spoke in an interview of certain things about SHODAN and her return in System Shock 3, namely that it would in fact be picking up where the second game left off. And that’s very possible that this addition would have an open-ended conclusion.
Now that the in-engine trailer was released, here’s what has been confirmed about System Shock 3 that isn’t already known: it’s being made in Unity, and it looks gorgeous. The biggest thing to be noted about the 1999 cult classic and the updated third installment is showing how much that time has really made SHODAN look.
What’s her secret? Being an A.I. construct might help with her never aging self, but the way she moves now is just as uncanny and terrifying as it was 20 years ago. Other things to note from the trailer: the creature that attacks the camera at the beginning. It’s reminiscent of the monsters in the first System Shock, but it’s a question of what are they, or possibly who they might have been. The other new addition is the machine that slams into a window, no doubt attempting to attack whoever the player ends up being (another Hacker?), or as just a way to scare them.
Currently, there is still no release date for System Shock 3, but it’s coming. It’s finally here, and after 20 years of waiting, whenever it comes out it’ll be worth the wait.