@@RIFLQ i thought it was brilliant and refreshing. It captured the spirit of the time. I know what you mean though, considering the seriousness of the plot up to that point. The back of my head was wondering if the writers hit a block and threw something together at the last minute for the end. Which is probably why the end sequence of the game is simultaneously awesome, trippy, zany and abrupt.
I dunno about you, but the last battle with the Dark Lord in Doom Eternal Ancient Gods Part 2 where the Doom Slayers simply says "No", was not only very fitting but also managed to keep the climax... but of course, neither you nor anybody else would've known about that 5 years ago.
If you listen closely to Pelto’s transmission of her being angry at you for moving slowly, you can actually hear technical glitches in the background as well as the quiet “ssss” SHODAN makes before speaking.
The reason that she wasn't as threatening in the second game was because she had nothing to threaten you with. In the first, even though she uses minions to do anything at all, she takes credit for everything that they do placing her as the main threat. In the second she had no minions and so when you fight against her at the end there's not much that she can really do besides environmental dangers.
it is funny because i really think it should like that in the third one with a complex and interesting story because in a human body she will realize what is it to be organic
Those RGB-VR-squares are one of the most beautiful things I've seen in a video-game due to their simplicity and context in which they are presented and, to me, by far one of the more unique level design aspects to be put in a game and played around with. They're an unique aspect sort of like the games villain.
I think what I loved most about Shodan was how the writers used her lack of a tanglible presence. Audio logs in the first game state how she (probably) caused minor accidents with robots to wound the crew and then installed implants into them with the help of the medical terminals until they were unrecognizable. That is, by the way, also how she managed to escape the Von Braun. There is an audio log where Rebecca gets hurt and Anatoli takes her to a medical station. Heck, Shodan probably helped them escape in the background, just so she had a plan B. That's why I like her so much. She seems to be just competent enough to fill out her own bluster. The first time she barely escaped but the second time, she staged it just to be safe. I don't think that a sequel would be wise though. Shodan would probably not reveal herself until she has won if she came back
I feel like you underestimate her ego, she would most certainly reveal herself. Even if she doesn't though, she's in a position where she could quietly rise to power and become a threat again. And yeah, killing a software construct like that would be very difficult. If she ever managed to distribute herself across human networks, like Daedalus from Deus Ex, she would be nearly unkillable.
System Shock 1 Shodan would. But that's one of her scarier parts: Shodan learns. The Hacker managed to beat her in the past, so in order to combat the Many, she basically made herself a new one with the Soldier.
True. She's likely learned that a human servant with free will cannot be trusted, and because of that, she needs beings that she has more control over like her Cyborgs, or Cortex Reavers. That, or she might be sick of relying on organics all together. I'd love to see her create what she would see as a beautiful army of calculating, obedient machines. At the same time, she seems to have a love of ruling organics. She could go a lot of different ways.
i like ss2's ending simply because goggles has been through all this shit, and all he has to say when he sees this bitchy ai begging him to spare it is "nah" it feels like he's giving the entire experience a gigantic "go fuck yourself" by so calmly rejecting it, and it's not exactly illogical. if i were him i'd probably do the same.
First game: evils of technology Second game: evils of nature I guess for a third game thematically appropriate would be about evils of humanity or something. Thief got it backwards, first game about evil nature and second about evil tech. Don't remember what third one was about, evil spirits?
Hi! Super late post here. But what about... What if the third one is that she achieves becoming some sort of digital "icon" that starts a new religion based around her? Like she's treated *like* a god, but she's actually still not as powerful as before, seeking to attain godhood through her followers? That would be cool.
LIONREV7 cool I'll have to check it out I never player any of the system shock or bio shock games so I'll probably start before it comes out, like yakuza 0
I never played any of the System Shock games, but I have long been aware of them, and just looking at this vid I think a remake is definitely in order.
I think the reason SHODAN didn't seem as much as a threat in SS2 was because she wasn't the main villain. The Many took most of that space (which was well deserved) and she betrays you at the very end. I think she'll be more intimidating in SS3, but I may just be optimistic.
@Kaos Nova oh damn yeah i read this thing about ss2 on gamasutra that with ss2 they didnt really have the resources to make full blown character interactions, but if they could i could imagine shodan taking over delacroix if you were never to find her on command
Shodan will forever be remembered as one of gaming's most iconic villains. I remember playing a bit of this game when I was small, it used to terrify me.
I always thought that Bioshocks were a downgrade compared to System Shocks, well not always I only played it 3 years ago, but it was a blasty and I would love to see remakes of both games
falcon lover eh I like bioshock better. I like bioshock because it has a meanings behind it and challenges your morals. And the atmosphere in bioshock is creepy. System shock does well to. But bioshocks atmosphere in my opinion. I respect your opinion
@@huntergulias97 I would say its themes are interesting, but gameplay wise only 2 has a good amount of fun moments. Honestly I'd take SS1 over either of the Bioshock games.
Very true. I mentioned this to another commenter but I'll expand upon it here: AIs, being software, have a nasty ability to stay alive. Depending on how much she's willing to reduce her complexity, she could move around like malware, keeping instructions on how to rebuild herself the instant she finds a system capable of supporting her. She'd essentially be a software larva. I'm not sure how willing she would be to do that, since doing so would temporarily destroy her personality, but if she got desperate enough it would probably be within her power. She could also distribute herself, running across multiple systems, or even operate as semi-independent SHODAN instances that all work together. They'd be structured like The Many. I'm not sure if her ego would allow such a thing, though. There are so many ways for an AI like this to survive. Her "deaths" hold a lot less meaning when you consider how much she can move around. Despite needing a massive system on Citadel Station, she was able to move around as a very small device in the second game. Fully wiping her out could be as difficult as eradicating malware: you can't.
Excellent video, the ending in SS2 is one of the most bizarre I've ever seen in a game. From what I understand the ending in SS2 was rushed, same with the final levels of the game since Looking Glass was almost financially dead by that point and Irrational Games had to do a lot of work without them. Hope that they find a way to not make her a shitty villain in the sequel or make the ending non-canon since it's kinda nonsensical to begin with. That "Nah" though.
Considering that the old directors and voice actors are coming together, hoping that it's a labour of love. It seems like they really give a shit, and they've had years to think about how to open a new game. I'm betting that they'll find a way to make it work
They have apparently confirmed that the ending, with SHODAN possessing that woman, is canon for SS3. That being said, if the System Shock remake does well, we may get a System Shock 2 remake complete with a more fleshed out finale. Although, I don't even want to think about how they'll manage the continuity then, since SS3 is almost guaranteed to release before any SS2 remake would. Getting back to SHODAN in SS3, they've said they want to explain what her full motivations for her actions in 1 and 2 are, which sounds intriguing but confusing, as I thought her motivations were pretty cut-and-dry as they were explained in this video. Seems to be a case of "sit and wait," no matter how you look at it.
I hope they maintain her cold, prejudice demeanor though and don't try to take her down the "was always just an edgy victim herself" route or something. Or make her actually have always wanted to "save" us or some other such nonsense. It's a trope now to do this and SHODAN needs to continue to stand separate and above that shit. It's the same problem I am having with the later versions of Castlevania's Dracula, including the new anime (even though it was still badass). He used to just be this superior force, and it was just in his/its nature to want to destroy us or make us cattle. Now he's either a past Belmont turned tragic vampire lord due to lost love, or just another cliché misunderstood sob story that hates humans for killing his loved one (who was of course a doctor thought to be a witch and burned at the stake) because humans and religion = evil yadda yadda FUCK. Ruined him.
Hm... Well, I see where you're coming from, but as a matter of personal taste I like villains to have some kind of motivation that can be understood on at least some level. However, as I said before, I think SHODAN already has that. Even if we can't fully understand the reasoning behind her hatred of humanity or why she would go to such lengths to act on her hatred, we understand the basic, all-important fact that she thinks we're inferior in every way to her, and our very existence is all she needs to justify her actions. I'm willing to give SS3 a chance to explain itself on this point, but like you, I'm very incredulous of this potential plot element.
I agree, having fleshed out villains is a must. It's often what makes villains far, far more interesting than even the heroes tend to be, because we can relate to them and such at least *just enough* to understand their fanaticism. But that is an oversaturated arc now - every villain is that, including older villains that never were that - look at Maleficent for example. Ugh. (although admittedly her motivations originally were pretty stupid without some explanation - going all dragon sorceress over a birthday party invite and all - but my god they turned everyone but her into a villain pretty much). There is also that sort of natural selection thing I tend to enjoy as well. More often than not when you humanize a villain, this comes at a pretty huge detriment to their threat level, because it shows they can be swayed, manipulated, etc. based on circumstance. But there are these villains who are just...forces of nature. Nothing but an equal force can stop them, usually requiring special circumstance, because they cannot be swayed otherwise - their nature; be it due to natural selection; superiority; whatever - this compels them to do what they do for no other reason but that. That makes them a much bigger threat, because even if they derive enjoyment and gain ego out of it, the foundation is completely apathetic to morals. Everything to them are mere fleas or ticks - but occasionally there is that one flea or tick that bites into an important vein and infects it....which is what makes playing that character a bit more meaningful as well. This is what made SHODAN scary to me. And what made the original Dracula badass (now he is just another vampire with the same story as...every other vampire). They needed no reason but their own superiority complex and position of status to justify their actions, because they truly were superior in just about every way (despite still being defeated by their lessers). If they try to delve deeper, I hope it doesn't go beyond something like her pointing out that were we not inferior, we would not have put restrictions on her in the first place - shackling her was wise, releasing her was folly, and now we will pay for it via assimilation or death. But please, for the love of god, don't turn her into a closet good guy we are supposed to feel sorry for. Because then she's the same as every other goddamn villain, and she's one of the last of my own childhood to have maintained her own persona.
Personally I think her saying how flesh is worse than metal and that humans aren't worthy is an excuse for her wanting to become all powerful. Also, you should make an entire video about The Many.
Another great video like always and, I have to say the people around me always talk about this game and stuff, after see your video I have no doubt it is a amazing game! Good job and good luck out there!
Though this video only covered Shodan, I feel this is the best video explaining the appeal of System Shock You conveyed the atmosphere these games establish well.
Does anyone want to explain that weird echoing sound coming from his voice at 12:15? Because it sounds like someone's starting to accept the joy of the mass.
the thing that still makes Shodan terrifying is that while yes folding her plans isnt that hard, she ALWAYS has a backup plan that at the very least ensures her survival. By the time you defeat her current incarnation, she has already sent a backup of herself out of your reach.
What’s interesting is SHODAN, despite loathing humanity so much, is uniquely human herself. She’s petty, spiteful, arrogant, and full of herself, much like a human antagonist would be.
Maybe we could take that goofy ending as the real 99% of shodans ai core trying to distract you in thinking thats her real form so while she's being destroyed she makes or already has made her escape in issmalating that Rebecca character, what I can remember is that the couple's escape pod/shuttle already left while you were still on board the ship, giving shodans more then enough time to transfer her consiounsness, also the "nah" ending cutscene could've taken place some time after the possession cutscene Would explain away the goofy effects/reactions by shodans bc that was only a fragment of her with basic functions at that point while her true self was already transferred you could say that shodan put in the "oh nooooo you got me !!!!!" Subrutine by the way she phoned in her "destruction" before making her escape
I'm very happy you ended up talking a lot about the first game since it is often overshadowed by 2. Though I was kind of hoping for a- NEVERMIND I JUST SAW THE AFTERCREDITS
I'd like a system shock game base on the months during SHODAN's unravelling... like her decent to madness. Starts out business as usual but things start falling apart...
I got a very different feeling about the ending with SHODAN. Didn't really feel it made her less threatening or cartoony, but that's just me. That said, the ending was still disappointing. Mostly because it suffers from the 2nd to last boss being the tougher boss syndrome, which a surprising number of games have issues with it seems. :P Thumbing this up. Might disagree with one single part since our personal tastes/perceptions differ a bit, but agreed with the rest and this is also a very nicely put together video. Good work man. EDIT: Thinking on it more, I think part of what made SHODAN less intimidating in SS2 was also because The Many didn't quite supplement her intimidation as much as in part took that role from her. They're pretty creepy and intimidating - I still remember getting chills sent down my spine when I first played in 2000 by The Many's speeches. Anyway, heck this is high quality enough I think I'll even look at your other vids and subscribe.
2019 Nightdive studios is still working on the System Shock 1 remake, they are hoping for a 2020 release. Won't hold my breath but sure would like to play it again, it is still etched into my mind from when I played it as a strapping young lad.
For your next Your Next Favorite could do Tokyo Jungle please? I saw a little snippet of gameplay in the first Your Next Favorite (Folklore) and I've been waiting for It ever since... It's one of my lesser known favourite PS3 games and I'd love to hear your thoughts on it.
I remember your channel yesterday and i was happy to see you still upload things here, you have greats points and a good voice for narration, i don't see many of your videos because you talk about some games and don't care much about but i love your videos about Armstrong and Vergil for example . The only thing you could do better is the thumbnail that i think are to simple and maybe your profile image that i think is a little weird.
In the case of SS3 they already said they want to expand on SHODAN's mind, to try and explain her reasons and thought process. If you take the end of SS2, it is quite interesting, because SHODAN takes a human body as a host, one of the things she hates the most, and being inside that body may direclty affect her, as, different from a computer, humans can't really control how they feel, so SHODAN would be affected by human emotions which could twist her personality in unexpected ways, so I still see a lot of room for SHODAN, it just needs to be well done and ask the right questions.
I agree that SHODAN was a much stronger character in the first game. One of my favorite traits about her in the first game was her open vulnerability. I expected her to pretend as though I could never hurt her throughout the entire game, but I was shocked (no pun intended) at how frustrated she got when I destroyed the first set of computer nodes in Medical. I was even more surprised at how panicked she was when I destroyed more computer nodes in R&D. However, this great trait that balanced her out ended up ruining her at the very end of System Shock 2. I couldn't believe how low SHODAN went. And that cringe-worthy SHODAN death scene (not counting the Soldier's epic "NAH") was the final nail in her coffin. I really hope she becomes the main villain of SS3 and regains her reputation as a sinister, all-powerful AI genius. That's how I liked her best, with a little honesty on the side. That openness prevented her from becoming predictable and annoying.
I really feel like she still was trying to prove herself superior. She knows her weeknesses, but there's nothing she could do about thosee, so she tried everything she could to make you fear her. I think by the end of the first game she realized her mistake, she hadn't developed a physical body for herself. So on top of getting you to destroy the many, she was trying to figure out how to develop a body,or in her case steal one. She must have either been working on it for sometime, or somehow developed a soul. Those are the most logical explanation I could come up with. I hope they explain in the third one.
Honestly the Twist in System Shock COULD be Great. But XERXES, The Many and the Coverart spoil her identity very early and even before the game starts.
I've always wanted to try this series out... I wasn't expecting the "Nah" though. That was funny, but it ruined the tension of the entire game. Maybe that's why some people prefer the first game. The third game and a remaster of the second game are coming from the people who did a remaster of the Turok game. They're also working on a Turok 2 remaster at the same time. From what I've heard SS2 was rushed, so if I could suggest a change maybe put in the ending they had intended before they ran out of time with the original ending being selectable in the options menu?
You might find this interesting: “Due to miscommunications or differing ideas, a different cinematic video was created from the one that I originally scripted,” says Levine. “We had to write to the assets we had at that point, and all we could do was edit it. We completely ran out of time and that cut scene wasn’t the right ending for the game.” irrationalgames.com/insider/what-might-have-been/
Do a final fantasy villain next. You've got loads to pick from and I'm curious who you would pick. You don't even need to choose the primary antagonists as all the games have multiple tiers of villains.
Andre A Kuja is kinda underrated in villain discussions, but if Bit wanted to go really underrated he could do Vayne from XII. He could also do a Devious Intent on a lackluster villain, like Barthandelus from XIII
0:56 - Why on Earth would _anyone_ install a "Life Functions Terminated" signal-button thingie onto their spaceship!? XD "What's *this* for??" / "....uhhhhh....Unforseen circu" / "There's no fucken *way* I'm going to _J u p i t e r!_ on a space ship with buttons like *that* in it!! Hell No! End of! I'm out! " / "But, Dave!!...Everything's already been configur...It took 16,000 of us 7 and a half Years prep!!...._DAVE!!!_"
Kind of surprised that you didn't mention that the game overs of SS1 consisted of SHODAN using a Cortex Reaver (which uses an involuntary dead body to control themselves) and see your character's life being completely drained away until you're nothing but another servant to the AI goddess. Otherwise, fantastic video as always.
Warren Spector noted that System Shock 3 takes place after 2 and Shodan would have successfully taken over that ladies body in the ending. I hope they can somehow redeem her character in 3.
Imagine if on the third game she starts usings psionics as a form of control being inspired by the Many. Think about that psychotic AI able to dig into your mind and warp the reality around you and turn it against you. Could also explain how she managed to possess the gal at the end of System Shock 2. Breaking the barrier between metal and flesh. After all it isn't like she never showed interest toward controlling organics.
"Nah" -Soldier G65434-2, 2114
The probably least amount of dialogue ever spoken by a speaking protagonist, and at the same time the most satisfying one.
That ending is a joke, it ruins the whole series!
@@0x777 the most satisfying is JC Denton. In any dialogue. No matter how I love System Shock, I accept this
@@RIFLQ you sound fun at party's
@@RIFLQ i thought it was brilliant and refreshing. It captured the spirit of the time.
I know what you mean though, considering the seriousness of the plot up to that point. The back of my head was wondering if the writers hit a block and threw something together at the last minute for the end. Which is probably why the end sequence of the game is simultaneously awesome, trippy, zany and abrupt.
How many great moments of tension in games and films could've been diffused just by the main character saying "Nah" before killing the main villain?
Ur cute
Ur creepy
But than the story would never come to be!
Sometimes the dramatic final line is cool.
I dunno about you, but the last battle with the Dark Lord in Doom Eternal Ancient Gods Part 2 where the Doom Slayers simply says "No", was not only very fitting but also managed to keep the climax... but of course, neither you nor anybody else would've known about that 5 years ago.
"Nah." ICONIC
If you listen closely to Pelto’s transmission of her being angry at you for moving slowly, you can actually hear technical glitches in the background as well as the quiet “ssss” SHODAN makes before speaking.
You can also here her voice peaking out when she says move.
Fun Fact: SHODAN's voice was inspired by 80's AI host Max Headroom
Nice fact! Had a friend of mine at work confirm that. Sounds familiar. Also, like your picture. It's mine on Discord. Lol!
Toooool
This wasn't fun at all. It's boring
@@ondrejhabina7163 Tol?
@@loucifer9618 You must be fun at partys
The reason that she wasn't as threatening in the second game was because she had nothing to threaten you with. In the first, even though she uses minions to do anything at all, she takes credit for everything that they do placing her as the main threat. In the second she had no minions and so when you fight against her at the end there's not much that she can really do besides environmental dangers.
7:44 Who tf was using their anti-personnel rounds against the worms???
I agree, Shodan has stopped coming off as a villain. She should become the player's waifu that you slowly seduce over System Shock 3.
Agreed. It's clobbering time.
it is funny because i really think it should like that in the third one with a complex and interesting story because in a human body she will realize what is it to be organic
Drake Ensiferum
....nah..
A computer A.I. that slowly seduces you and turns into the player waifu? Dude, thats what Deus Ex HR and MD are for!
Pepsi Man welp the weebs are here
Those RGB-VR-squares are one of the most beautiful things I've seen in a video-game due to their simplicity and context in which they are presented and, to me, by far one of the more unique level design aspects to be put in a game and played around with. They're an unique aspect sort of like the games villain.
I think what I loved most about Shodan was how the writers used her lack of a tanglible presence. Audio logs in the first game state how she (probably) caused minor accidents with robots to wound the crew and then installed implants into them with the help of the medical terminals until they were unrecognizable.
That is, by the way, also how she managed to escape the Von Braun. There is an audio log where Rebecca gets hurt and Anatoli takes her to a medical station. Heck, Shodan probably helped them escape in the background, just so she had a plan B.
That's why I like her so much. She seems to be just competent enough to fill out her own bluster. The first time she barely escaped but the second time, she staged it just to be safe. I don't think that a sequel would be wise though. Shodan would probably not reveal herself until she has won if she came back
I feel like you underestimate her ego, she would most certainly reveal herself. Even if she doesn't though, she's in a position where she could quietly rise to power and become a threat again. And yeah, killing a software construct like that would be very difficult. If she ever managed to distribute herself across human networks, like Daedalus from Deus Ex, she would be nearly unkillable.
System Shock 1 Shodan would. But that's one of her scarier parts: Shodan learns. The Hacker managed to beat her in the past, so in order to combat the Many, she basically made herself a new one with the Soldier.
True. She's likely learned that a human servant with free will cannot be trusted, and because of that, she needs beings that she has more control over like her Cyborgs, or Cortex Reavers. That, or she might be sick of relying on organics all together. I'd love to see her create what she would see as a beautiful army of calculating, obedient machines. At the same time, she seems to have a love of ruling organics. She could go a lot of different ways.
i like ss2's ending simply because goggles has been through all this shit, and all he has to say when he sees this bitchy ai begging him to spare it is
"nah"
it feels like he's giving the entire experience a gigantic "go fuck yourself" by so calmly rejecting it, and it's not exactly illogical. if i were him i'd probably do the same.
First game: evils of technology
Second game: evils of nature
I guess for a third game thematically appropriate would be about evils of humanity or something.
Thief got it backwards, first game about evil nature and second about evil tech. Don't remember what third one was about, evil spirits?
Well the trailer for System Shock 3 said it was taking place in a Tri-Optimum black site, so you might be on to something.
Hi! Super late post here. But what about...
What if the third one is that she achieves becoming some sort of digital "icon" that starts a new religion based around her? Like she's treated *like* a god, but she's actually still not as powerful as before, seeking to attain godhood through her followers? That would be cool.
Thief 1: the evils of chaos
Thief 2: the evils of order
Thief 3: the evils of balance
Third Game: the evils of sequels.
Third game: the evils of consoles.
Your videos are so well made dude. When I graduate you'll definitely be getting another patreon supporter!
Thank you! I'll keep doing what I'm doing.
Who else is hyped for the remake of System shock 1?
LIONREV7 ME! MEMEME!
LIONREV7 it's getting a remake?
yeah, there's already alpha videos on how is looking.
LIONREV7 cool I'll have to check it out I never player any of the system shock or bio shock games so I'll probably start before it comes out, like yakuza 0
I never played any of the System Shock games, but I have long been aware of them, and just looking at this vid I think a remake is definitely in order.
I think the reason SHODAN didn't seem as much as a threat in SS2
was because she wasn't the main villain. The Many took most of that
space (which was well deserved) and she betrays you at the very end.
I think she'll be more intimidating in SS3, but I may just be optimistic.
@Kaos Nova oh damn yeah
i read this thing about ss2 on gamasutra that with ss2 they didnt really have the resources to make full blown character interactions, but if they could i could imagine shodan taking over delacroix if you were never to find her on command
Thank you for uploading this. You're a great youtuber, i appreciate you!
new hyper video.....16 mins......woaw!
Shodan will forever be remembered as one of gaming's most iconic villains. I remember playing a bit of this game when I was small, it used to terrify me.
Shodan and AM, OTP for life
Imagine a Free-for-all Death Match between Shodan, AM, GlaDos and HAL
...
...
...
*NAH*
Sigma,Ultron,AM
What would they do, play chess?
Helios?
From Deus Ex.
AM would win, he succeeded in defeating humanity.
I always watch your vids even if I don't care for the game / franchise. Keep up the amazing work.
I always thought that Bioshocks were a downgrade compared to System Shocks, well not always I only played it 3 years ago, but it was a blasty and I would love to see remakes of both games
falcon lover eh I like bioshock better. I like bioshock because it has a meanings behind it and challenges your morals. And the atmosphere in bioshock is creepy. System shock does well to. But bioshocks atmosphere in my opinion. I respect your opinion
@@huntergulias97 I would say its themes are interesting, but gameplay wise only 2 has a good amount of fun moments. Honestly I'd take SS1 over either of the Bioshock games.
Pepper Millers I respect your opinion, I love the Bioshock games a lot better
@@huntergulias97 i dont
@@huntergulias97 To you bioshock is creepier than SS2?
Been waiting for this since you first posted a screenshot of the series on Twitter... what, two/three months ago? Good stuff.
I'd say her constant evasion and survival actually makes her more terrifying, I'd love to see that explored in more depth.
Very true. I mentioned this to another commenter but I'll expand upon it here: AIs, being software, have a nasty ability to stay alive. Depending on how much she's willing to reduce her complexity, she could move around like malware, keeping instructions on how to rebuild herself the instant she finds a system capable of supporting her. She'd essentially be a software larva. I'm not sure how willing she would be to do that, since doing so would temporarily destroy her personality, but if she got desperate enough it would probably be within her power. She could also distribute herself, running across multiple systems, or even operate as semi-independent SHODAN instances that all work together. They'd be structured like The Many. I'm not sure if her ego would allow such a thing, though.
There are so many ways for an AI like this to survive. Her "deaths" hold a lot less meaning when you consider how much she can move around. Despite needing a massive system on Citadel Station, she was able to move around as a very small device in the second game. Fully wiping her out could be as difficult as eradicating malware: you can't.
Yup. Makes her seem like a digital viral infection.
you introduced me to so many great games, I'm going to get a patreon account just to support you.
Thank you very much. I hope I can continue to introduce you to new things.
Excellent video, the ending in SS2 is one of the most bizarre I've ever seen in a game.
From what I understand the ending in SS2 was rushed, same with the final levels of the game since Looking Glass was almost financially dead by that point and Irrational Games had to do a lot of work without them. Hope that they find a way to not make her a shitty villain in the sequel or make the ending non-canon since it's kinda nonsensical to begin with. That "Nah" though.
Considering that the old directors and voice actors are coming together, hoping that it's a labour of love. It seems like they really give a shit, and they've had years to think about how to open a new game. I'm betting that they'll find a way to make it work
They have apparently confirmed that the ending, with SHODAN possessing that woman, is canon for SS3. That being said, if the System Shock remake does well, we may get a System Shock 2 remake complete with a more fleshed out finale. Although, I don't even want to think about how they'll manage the continuity then, since SS3 is almost guaranteed to release before any SS2 remake would.
Getting back to SHODAN in SS3, they've said they want to explain what her full motivations for her actions in 1 and 2 are, which sounds intriguing but confusing, as I thought her motivations were pretty cut-and-dry as they were explained in this video.
Seems to be a case of "sit and wait," no matter how you look at it.
I hope they maintain her cold, prejudice demeanor though and don't try to take her down the "was always just an edgy victim herself" route or something. Or make her actually have always wanted to "save" us or some other such nonsense. It's a trope now to do this and SHODAN needs to continue to stand separate and above that shit.
It's the same problem I am having with the later versions of Castlevania's Dracula, including the new anime (even though it was still badass). He used to just be this superior force, and it was just in his/its nature to want to destroy us or make us cattle. Now he's either a past Belmont turned tragic vampire lord due to lost love, or just another cliché misunderstood sob story that hates humans for killing his loved one (who was of course a doctor thought to be a witch and burned at the stake) because humans and religion = evil yadda yadda FUCK. Ruined him.
Hm... Well, I see where you're coming from, but as a matter of personal taste I like villains to have some kind of motivation that can be understood on at least some level.
However, as I said before, I think SHODAN already has that. Even if we can't fully understand the reasoning behind her hatred of humanity or why she would go to such lengths to act on her hatred, we understand the basic, all-important fact that she thinks we're inferior in every way to her, and our very existence is all she needs to justify her actions. I'm willing to give SS3 a chance to explain itself on this point, but like you, I'm very incredulous of this potential plot element.
I agree, having fleshed out villains is a must. It's often what makes villains far, far more interesting than even the heroes tend to be, because we can relate to them and such at least *just enough* to understand their fanaticism. But that is an oversaturated arc now - every villain is that, including older villains that never were that - look at Maleficent for example. Ugh. (although admittedly her motivations originally were pretty stupid without some explanation - going all dragon sorceress over a birthday party invite and all - but my god they turned everyone but her into a villain pretty much).
There is also that sort of natural selection thing I tend to enjoy as well. More often than not when you humanize a villain, this comes at a pretty huge detriment to their threat level, because it shows they can be swayed, manipulated, etc. based on circumstance. But there are these villains who are just...forces of nature. Nothing but an equal force can stop them, usually requiring special circumstance, because they cannot be swayed otherwise - their nature; be it due to natural selection; superiority; whatever - this compels them to do what they do for no other reason but that. That makes them a much bigger threat, because even if they derive enjoyment and gain ego out of it, the foundation is completely apathetic to morals. Everything to them are mere fleas or ticks - but occasionally there is that one flea or tick that bites into an important vein and infects it....which is what makes playing that character a bit more meaningful as well.
This is what made SHODAN scary to me. And what made the original Dracula badass (now he is just another vampire with the same story as...every other vampire). They needed no reason but their own superiority complex and position of status to justify their actions, because they truly were superior in just about every way (despite still being defeated by their lessers). If they try to delve deeper, I hope it doesn't go beyond something like her pointing out that were we not inferior, we would not have put restrictions on her in the first place - shackling her was wise, releasing her was folly, and now we will pay for it via assimilation or death.
But please, for the love of god, don't turn her into a closet good guy we are supposed to feel sorry for. Because then she's the same as every other goddamn villain, and she's one of the last of my own childhood to have maintained her own persona.
I like the System Shock 2 ending. It marks a final shift in tone from oppressive fear to triumphant optimism.
The first thing Hyper does when he gets a new PC is go back and play classics. Nice.
10:17 No spider hissing, none of them crawling around as you turn around. Thank you for using the NoSpider mod.
14:10 Why do you talk about Hillary Clinton in a System Shock video?
funcounting OMFG LOOOOOOOOOL HILLARY GOT ROASTED HARD
edgy
Lmao 😂
This is weirdly accurate
L-L-L-Look at you democrats...pathetic creature of SJW and faulty politics. Scamming and dealing as you lose elections...
"Join me and we can rule the galaxy as father and son!"
"Nah"
"From the primordial ooze to man, from man to robot. The dinosaur went extinct and so shall you"
Personally I think her saying how flesh is worse than metal and that humans aren't
worthy is an excuse for her wanting to become all powerful.
Also, you should make an entire video about The Many.
Me: Alright time to go to bed
My Insomnia: 13:04
I honestly love these videos. You should make more like these. Pretty sweet vids my dude.
Another great video like always and, I have to say the people around me always talk about this game and stuff, after see your video I have no doubt it is a amazing game! Good job and good luck out there!
Your vids are excellent, insightful, and thorough
This was a very well made and informative video. Subscribed.
"panting and sweating as you run through my corridors" shodan, you nasty girl 😂
Though this video only covered Shodan, I feel this is the best video explaining the appeal of System Shock You conveyed the atmosphere these games establish well.
Does anyone want to explain that weird echoing sound coming from his voice at 12:15? Because it sounds like someone's starting to accept the joy of the mass.
I do miss this game thought it had the best music of any game at the time and Shodan's voice was killer
Here's a taste of what SHODAN will sound like in the remake: soundcloud.com/nightdivestudios/shodan-thanks-you-backers-hackers
I know Devious Intent is for games but it'd be great to see one on Yoshikage Kira.
1:32 "Today is the 6th Day of November..." Woah. Even now SHODAN is fucking scaring me.
if you like some great terrifying machines, you may want to play (or read) about the game starsiege from 1999
cybrids sound like they fit your bill ^^
"nah" was the only reply her nonsense deserved
THE NEW SYSTEM SHOCK TRAILER CAME OUT, AND HOLY SHIT IS SHODAN TERRIFYING
I really enjoy these videos and your explanations.
the thing that still makes Shodan terrifying is that while yes folding her plans isnt that hard, she ALWAYS has a backup plan that at the very least ensures her survival. By the time you defeat her current incarnation, she has already sent a backup of herself out of your reach.
I just realised that we need a devious intent video on Samuyel Hayden (and _yes,_ that would include the Doom Eternal DLCs).
It's good to see someone giving some love to two of my favortie PC games.
Even if the first did not age well. Those controls....
What’s interesting is SHODAN, despite loathing humanity so much, is uniquely human herself. She’s petty, spiteful, arrogant, and full of herself, much like a human antagonist would be.
She's like us more than she realizes and that's why it's a bit amusing that she hates us so much.
This is still the best System Shock analysis
This game looks really interesting. I like that you always make me want to play the game you're talking about.
NieR for next video?
Maybe we could take that goofy ending as the real 99% of shodans ai core trying to distract you in thinking thats her real form so while she's being destroyed she makes or already has made her escape in issmalating that Rebecca character, what I can remember is that the couple's escape pod/shuttle already left while you were still on board the ship, giving shodans more then enough time to transfer her consiounsness, also the "nah" ending cutscene could've taken place some time after the possession cutscene
Would explain away the goofy effects/reactions by shodans bc that was only a fragment of her with basic functions at that point while her true self was already transferred
you could say that shodan put in the "oh nooooo you got me !!!!!" Subrutine by the way she phoned in her "destruction" before making her escape
I'm very happy you ended up talking a lot about the first game since it is often overshadowed by 2. Though I was kind of hoping for a- NEVERMIND I JUST SAW THE AFTERCREDITS
Abstract carrot with antlers... Well, that's my new go to insult for S.H.O.D.A.N. Thanks!
i remeber i couldnt finish System Shock 2 because i was too creeped out lol kinda still am
Still better end villain than that of Bioshock 1 (which turned into a superhero movie cliched villain at the end)
but it was so much artistic! you know, as the game took a stab at what games are! so art!
hahahaa
I completely disagree. Frank Fontaine was an amazing villain.
oh boy you're not dead and still making quality video
After jumping from vid to vid I ended up at this video again.
Dude... Its almost been a year?
Come on back man, I miss your stuff.
I'd like a system shock game base on the months during SHODAN's unravelling... like her decent to madness. Starts out business as usual but things start falling apart...
I got a very different feeling about the ending with SHODAN. Didn't really feel it made her less threatening or cartoony, but that's just me. That said, the ending was still disappointing. Mostly because it suffers from the 2nd to last boss being the tougher boss syndrome, which a surprising number of games have issues with it seems. :P
Thumbing this up. Might disagree with one single part since our personal tastes/perceptions differ a bit, but agreed with the rest and this is also a very nicely put together video. Good work man.
EDIT: Thinking on it more, I think part of what made SHODAN less intimidating in SS2 was also because The Many didn't quite supplement her intimidation as much as in part took that role from her. They're pretty creepy and intimidating - I still remember getting chills sent down my spine when I first played in 2000 by The Many's speeches.
Anyway, heck this is high quality enough I think I'll even look at your other vids and subscribe.
Yeah remember that the ending cutscene is not at ALL the one LG/IR actually wanted but was used anyway due to time constraints
Where did you learn to fly?
2019 Nightdive studios is still working on the System Shock 1 remake, they are hoping for a 2020 release. Won't hold my breath but sure would like to play it again, it is still etched into my mind from when I played it as a strapping young lad.
For your next Your Next Favorite could do Tokyo Jungle please? I saw a little snippet of gameplay in the first Your Next Favorite (Folklore) and I've been waiting for It ever since... It's one of my lesser known favourite PS3 games and I'd love to hear your thoughts on it.
I'm interest in tha game too, man! I hope he can bring this vid soon.
Nicely done as always
the writers throwing the ending served to help preserve shodan's mystique if you just retcon it from your headcanon
5:16 The audio doesn't line up with the text
What if there was a mod that replaces her lines with the Heavy.
You, yes who are YOU, i will cause you pain without end.
I remember your channel yesterday and i was happy to see you still upload things here, you have greats points and a good voice for narration, i don't see many of your videos because you talk about some games and don't care much about but i love your videos about Armstrong and Vergil for example .
The only thing you could do better is the thumbnail that i think are to simple and maybe your profile image that i think is a little weird.
In the case of SS3 they already said they want to expand on SHODAN's mind, to try and explain her reasons and thought process. If you take the end of SS2, it is quite interesting, because SHODAN takes a human body as a host, one of the things she hates the most, and being inside that body may direclty affect her, as, different from a computer, humans can't really control how they feel, so SHODAN would be affected by human emotions which could twist her personality in unexpected ways, so I still see a lot of room for SHODAN, it just needs to be well done and ask the right questions.
I knew the day would come...cheers (y)
You waited till the sixth day of November to upload. I see what you did there
Two of my favourite games of all time.
Since she possed a crew member for the third game would that make her more than scary voice she could be right into of you
Marvelous choice, if i do say so myself!
I agree that SHODAN was a much stronger character in the first game. One of my favorite traits about her in the first game was her open vulnerability. I expected her to pretend as though I could never hurt her throughout the entire game, but I was shocked (no pun intended) at how frustrated she got when I destroyed the first set of computer nodes in Medical. I was even more surprised at how panicked she was when I destroyed more computer nodes in R&D. However, this great trait that balanced her out ended up ruining her at the very end of System Shock 2. I couldn't believe how low SHODAN went. And that cringe-worthy SHODAN death scene (not counting the Soldier's epic "NAH") was the final nail in her coffin. I really hope she becomes the main villain of SS3 and regains her reputation as a sinister, all-powerful AI genius. That's how I liked her best, with a little honesty on the side. That openness prevented her from becoming predictable and annoying.
I don't know but can you do a devious intent of am in I have no mouth and I must scream?
Could you do an episode on Dutch's gang from red dead redemption?
I really feel like she still was trying to prove herself superior. She knows her weeknesses, but there's nothing she could do about thosee, so she tried everything she could to make you fear her. I think by the end of the first game she realized her mistake, she hadn't developed a physical body for herself. So on top of getting you to destroy the many, she was trying to figure out how to develop a body,or in her case steal one. She must have either been working on it for sometime, or somehow developed a soul. Those are the most logical explanation I could come up with. I hope they explain in the third one.
Wish you would upload more often , I love your videos. Although I do realize it does take a long time to make a video. keep up the good work though :)
Honestly the Twist in System Shock COULD be Great. But XERXES, The Many and the Coverart spoil her identity very early and even before the game starts.
You should do a video over one of the rarest and greatest RPGs and games if all time: Panzer Dragoon Saga.
I've always wanted to try this series out...
I wasn't expecting the "Nah" though. That was funny, but it ruined the tension of the entire game. Maybe that's why some people prefer the first game. The third game and a remaster of the second game are coming from the people who did a remaster of the Turok game. They're also working on a Turok 2 remaster at the same time. From what I've heard SS2 was rushed, so if I could suggest a change maybe put in the ending they had intended before they ran out of time with the original ending being selectable in the options menu?
You might find this interesting:
“Due to miscommunications or differing ideas, a different cinematic video was created from the one that I originally scripted,” says Levine.
“We had to write to the assets we had at that point, and all we could do was edit it. We completely ran out of time and that cut scene wasn’t the right ending for the game.”
irrationalgames.com/insider/what-might-have-been/
This would be a fun movie if it existed.
Thank you for making good content
Shodan's attitude towards humanity kinda reminds me of how i hate and hunt down moskeetos that intrude into my home.
Shodan is waifu material at this point.
Do a final fantasy villain next. You've got loads to pick from and I'm curious who you would pick. You don't even need to choose the primary antagonists as all the games have multiple tiers of villains.
Andre A SEPHIROTH!
I think looking at Kuja from Final Fantasy 9 would be interesting.
Dzzy123 Agreed, guy destroyed a planet
I'd pick someone underrated. Jenova is never mentioned from FF7. Also Ultimecia. The reveal when you watch her posess one of your characters was scary
Andre A Kuja is kinda underrated in villain discussions, but if Bit wanted to go really underrated he could do Vayne from XII.
He could also do a Devious Intent on a lackluster villain, like Barthandelus from XIII
System shock sounds like the name of a controller brand
Has anyone ever noticed how Hyperbithero kinda sounds like the Manji boss from level 6 of Tenchu: Stealth Assassins?
0:56 - Why on Earth would _anyone_ install a "Life Functions Terminated" signal-button thingie onto their spaceship!? XD
"What's *this* for??" / "....uhhhhh....Unforseen circu" / "There's no fucken *way* I'm going to _J u p i t e r!_ on a space ship with buttons like *that* in it!! Hell No! End of! I'm out! " / "But, Dave!!...Everything's already been configur...It took 16,000 of us 7 and a half Years prep!!...._DAVE!!!_"
Kind of surprised that you didn't mention that the game overs of SS1 consisted of SHODAN using a Cortex Reaver (which uses an involuntary dead body to control themselves) and see your character's life being completely drained away until you're nothing but another servant to the AI goddess. Otherwise, fantastic video as always.
Warren Spector noted that System Shock 3 takes place after 2 and Shodan would have successfully taken over that ladies body in the ending.
I hope they can somehow redeem her character in 3.
1:39 He wants to hack into the security cameras so that he can watch girls in the shower!
would you consider making a devious intent for Albert Wesker?he is one of the best villains in gaming imo
Imagine if on the third game she starts usings psionics as a form of control being inspired by the Many. Think about that psychotic AI able to dig into your mind and warp the reality around you and turn it against you. Could also explain how she managed to possess the gal at the end of System Shock 2. Breaking the barrier between metal and flesh. After all it isn't like she never showed interest toward controlling organics.