Editing System Shock (section)

== Reception ==
{{Video game reviews
| CGW = {{rating|4.5|5}}<ref name="cgw2" />
| PCF = 89%<ref name="pcformat">{{cite journal |last=Ramshaw |first=Mark |year=1995 |title=''System Shock'' |journal=[[PC Format]] |at=Pg. 65}}</ref>
| PCGUK = 90%<ref name="pcgameruk">{{cite magazine |last=Buxton |first=Chris |date=October 1994 |title=Remarkable |issue=11 |magazine=[[PC Gamer UK]] |pages=66–67}}</ref>
| PCGUS = 96%<ref name="pcgamerrev">{{cite web |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000309153138/http://www.pcgamer.com/reviews/1024.html |url=http://www.pcgamer.com/reviews/1024.html |title=System Shock |last=McDonald |first=T. Liam |work=[[PC Gamer US]] |date=January 1995 |archive-date=March 9, 2000 |access-date=October 27, 2010}}</ref>
| NGen = {{rating|4|5}}<ref name="nextgen2" />
| rev2 = ''[[Boston Herald]]''
| rev2Score = {{rating|5|5}}<ref name="bostonherald" />
| rev3 = ''[[MacUser]]''
| rev3Score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref name=macuser>{{cite web | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010221150442/http://macuser.zdnet.com/mu_0796/personal/gameroom.html | url=http://macuser.zdnet.com:80/mu_0796/personal/gameroom.html | title=The Game Room | author=LeVitus, Bob | date=July 1997 | work=[[MacUser]] | archive-date=February 21, 2001 | url-status=dead }}</ref>
| award1Pub = ''[[PC Gamer US]]''
| award1 = Best Adventure Game<ref name="pcgamer2">{{cite journal |date=March 1995 |title=The First Annual ''PC Gamer'' Awards |pages=44, 45, 47, 48 |journal=[[PC Gamer]]}}</ref>
| award2 = Best Single-Character Role-Playing Game<ref name=cgm1994awards>{{cite journal | author=Staff | journal=[[Computer Games Magazine]] | title=A Decade of Gaming; Award Winners of 1994 |date=November 2000 | issue=120 | pages=56–58, 60, 62, 66, 68, 70–76 }}</ref>
| award2Pub = ''[[Computer Games Magazine|Computer Games Strategy Plus]]''
| award3 = Action Game of the Year (finalist)<ref name=cgwpremier1995>{{cite magazine | author=Staff | magazine=[[Computer Gaming World]] | title=The ''Computer Gaming World'' 1995 Premier Awards |date=May 1995 | issue=130 | pages=35, 36, 38, 40, 42, 44 }}</ref>
| award3Pub = ''[[Computer Gaming World]]''

}}

The game sold over 170,000 copies.<ref name="desslock">{{cite web |last=Janicki |first=Stefan |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140226053838/http://www.gamespot.com/reviews/system-shock-2-review/1900-2533150/ |url=http://www.gamespot.com/reviews/system-shock-2-review/1900-2533150/ |title=''System Shock 2'' Review |work=[[GameSpot]] |date=August 25, 1999 |archive-date=February 26, 2014 |url-status=dead |access-date=March 13, 2007}}</ref> ''[[Maximum PC]]'' believed that the game did not reach "blockbuster" status, but was successful enough to "keep Looking Glass afloat".<ref name="maximumpc">{{cite journal |journal=[[Maximum PC]] |title=Game Theory |date=August 2000 |pages=31 |author=McDonald, T. Liam}}</ref> [[GameSpy]]'s Bill Hiles said, "Though it sold well, it never reached the frenzied popularity of <nowiki>[</nowiki>[[Doom (series)|''Doom'']]<nowiki>]</nowiki>".<ref name="gamespy4">{{cite web |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050305210437/http://www.gamespy.com/articles/495/495425p1.html |url=http://www.gamespy.com/articles/495/495425p1.html |title=Looking Glass and ''Terra Nova: Strike Force Centauri'' |date=May 1, 2001 |archive-date=March 5, 2005 |last=Hiles |first=Bill |work=[[GameSpy]] |access-date=October 26, 2010}}</ref> Paul Neurath later said that the game "was not a flop", but that it ultimately "lost money" for the company, which he attributed to its steep [[learning curve]].<ref name="neurath">{{cite web |last=Weise |first=Matthew |date=March 4, 2012 |title=Looking Glass Studios Interview Series - Audio Podcast 10 - Paul Neurath |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130329104505/http://gambit.mit.edu/updates/2012/03/looking_glass_studios_intervie_7.php |archive-date=March 29, 2013 |url=http://gambit.mit.edu/updates/2012/03/looking_glass_studios_intervie_7.php |publisher=Singapore-MIT GAMBIT Game Lab}}</ref> ''[[Computer Gaming World]]'' praised the game's scale, physics system, and true 3D environments; the magazine extolled the presentation of Cyberspace as "nothing short of phenomenal". However, the reviewer believed that the game had "little sense of urgency" and "confusing level layouts".<ref name="cgw2" /> ''[[Computer Shopper (US magazine)|Computer Shopper]]'' wrote that, while the game's controls were difficult to master compared to "simple run-and-shoot game[s] like ''Doom''", they were "worth the time and effort". The reviewer noted that the game "grows on you, and it will keep you intrigued for weeks".<ref name="computershopper">{{cite journal |last=Wong |first=Bill |title=''System Shock'' |date=January 1, 1995 |journal=[[Computer Shopper (US magazine)|Computer Shopper]]}}</ref>

The ''[[Boston Herald]]'' noted superficial similarities between ''System Shock'' and ''[[Doom (series)|Doom]]'', but called ''System Shock'' "much more elaborate". The reviewer noted its high system requirements and complex controls; of the latter, he said, "There's no way you can play ''System Shock'' without first studying the manual for at least 20 minutes". The paper believed that the game would "set a new standard for computer games with its combination of action and puzzle-solving".<ref name="bostonherald">{{cite news |date=December 18, 1994 |last=Smith |first=Geoff |title=COMPUTER GAMES; This will 'Shock' your 'System' |at=LIFESTYLE; Pg. 81 |newspaper=[[Boston Herald]]}}</ref> ''[[The Atlanta Journal-Constitution]]'' said that the game "is like a well-prepared hamburger—familiar stuff, but good to the last byte". The reviewer noted the game's "somewhat clumsy control", but said, "That, however, is all I can find to complain about. Graphics and sound are outstanding, and the game is well-paced and riveting".<ref name="journalconstitution">{{cite news |date=November 13, 1994 |title=Personal Technology Personal Computers |last=Warner |first=Jack |at=BUSINESS; Section R; Page 2 |newspaper=[[The Atlanta Journal-Constitution]]}}</ref>

''[[PC Gamer US]]'' wrote, "''System Shock'' smokes. It is the most fully immersive game world I have ever experienced". The reviewer praised the game's story and control system, and believed that "no matter what kind of game you're looking for, you'll find something in ''System Shock'' to delight you". He finished his review by stating that the game "unquestionably raises computer gaming to a new level".<ref name="pcgamerrev" /> ''[[Next Generation Magazine]]'' summarized the game as "a great blend of strategy and action backed up with all the extras".<ref name="nextgen2">{{cite journal |title=''System Shock'' |journal=[[Next Generation Magazine]] |issue=2 |pages=95 |date=February 1995}}</ref> Various sources have ranked [[SHODAN]] as one of the most effective [[antagonist]]s and female characters in the history of video gaming.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gamedaily.com/articles/galleries/the-most-horrific-video-game-bosses/66/?page=3&cp=3 |title=The Most Horrific Video Game Bosses |work=[[GameDaily]] |access-date=December 28, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090816110538/http://www.gamedaily.com/articles/galleries/the-most-horrific-video-game-bosses/66/?page=3&cp=3 |archive-date=August 16, 2009 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>IGN Staff (March 7, 2006). [http://www.ign.com/articles/2006/03/08/top-10-tuesday-most-memorable-villains Top 10 Tuesday: Most Memorable Villains] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100831222621/http://ds.ign.com/articles/694/694434p1.html |date=August 31, 2010 }}. [[IGN]]. Retrieved August 27, 2017.</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last=Halverson |first=Dave |author2=Mike Griffin |author3=Heather Anne Campbell |author4=Matt Cabral |author5=Eric L. Patterson |date=December 2008 |title=Girls of Gaming |journal=[[Play (US magazine)|Play]] |volume=6 |pages=93}}</ref><!--<ref>[http://www.gamespot.com/features/tenspot_villains/page10.html TenSpot: Ten Best Computer Game Villains]. [[GameSpot]]. Retrieved on December 28, 2008</ref><ref>[http://www.gamespot.com/features/tenspot_females/page9.html TenSpot: Ten Best Female Characters]. [[GameSpot]]. Retrieved on December 28, 2008</ref> --><ref>Wright, Rob (February 20, 2007). [http://www.tomshardware.com/picturestory/382-the-50-greatest-female-characters-in-the-history-of-video-games.html The 50 Greatest Female Characters in Video Game History] {{Webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20120912171045/http://www.tomshardware.com/picturestory/382-the-50-greatest-female-characters-in-the-history-of-video-games.html |date=September 12, 2012 }}. [[Tom's Hardware|Tom's Games]]. Retrieved August 27, 2017.</ref> In the years following its release, ''System Shock'' has been inducted into many lists of the best video games of all time, including those by ''PC Gamer'', GameSpy, and ''Computer Gaming World''.<ref name="gamespy" /><ref name="pcgamer">{{cite journal |title=The 50 Best Games Ever |journal=[[PC Gamer]] |date=May 1997}}</ref><ref name="cgw">{{cite magazine |magazine=[[Computer Gaming World]] |title=150 Best (and 50 Worst) Games of All Time |issue=148 |date=November 1996}}</ref>

James V. Trunzo reviewed ''System Shock'' in ''[[White Wolf Inphobia]]'' #55 (May, 1995), rating it a 4 out of 5 and stated that "''System Shock'' gives a new and needed twist to ''Doom''-like adventuring."<ref name="WW55">{{Cite magazine |last=Trunzo |first=James V. |date=May 1995|title=The Silicon Dungeon |magazine= [[White Wolf Inphobia]] |number=55 |page=78-79}}</ref>

In 1998, ''[[PC Gamer]]'' declared it the 6th-best computer game ever released, and the editors called it "one of the finest games ever due to its seductive game design that blended a fantastic storyline with meaningful, suspenseful action in a way that has rarely been equaled".<ref name=pcgtop50>{{cite journal | title=The 50 Best Games Ever | date=October 1998 | volume=5 | number=10 | journal=[[PC Gamer US]] | pages=86, 87, 89, 90, 92, 98, 101, 102, 109, 110, 113, 114, 117, 118, 125, 126, 129, 130 }}</ref>