Cybrid Corporation

Lore & Background

The game takes place on board a starship in a cyberpunk depiction of 2114. The player assumes the role of a soldier trying to stem the outbreak of a genetic infection that has devastated the ship. The backstory involves the demise of Citadel Station in System Shock, where a virus killed the station's population and a malevolent AI named SHODAN controlled the station. TriOptimum went bankrupt after the scandal, and the United Nations Nominate was established.

In 2100, a Russian oligarch named Anatoly Korenchkin bought TriOptimum's assets and restored the company. In 2114, TriOptimum created an experimental FTL starship, the Von Braun, on its maiden voyage, followed by a UNN vessel, the Rickenbacker. The ships responded to a distress signal from Tau Ceti V, where a rescue team discovered strange eggs that infected them with a psychic hive mind called 'the Many.' The parasites spread to both ships. The soldier awakens with amnesia in a cryo-tube on the medical deck and is guided by Dr. Janice Polito.

Reader's Guide

The player chooses a career in a branch of the Unified National Nominate. The Marine begins with bonuses to weaponry, the Navy officer is skilled in repairing and hacking, and the OSA agent gets a starting set of psionic powers. The player can upgrade skills using cyber-modules, spend nanites at vending machines, and use Quantum Bio-Reconstruction Machines to reconstitute upon death for 10 nanites. Hacking involves a minigame connecting three green nodes in a row. Weapons include melee weapons, pistols, shotguns, and alien weapons; non-melee weapons degrade and can be repaired. Ammunition types are effective against specific enemies. Research function allows collecting enemy organs and combining with chemicals to improve damage. Psionic powers can be learned by OSA agents.

Did You Know?

• System Shock 2 was originally intended to be a standalone title before being changed into a sequel when Electronic Arts signed on as publisher.
• The game received critical acclaim but failed to meet commercial sales expectations.
• Irrational Games released a spiritual successor, BioShock, in 2007.
• Nightdive Studios secured the rights to the game and franchise in 2013 and released a 25th anniversary remaster in 2025.
• OtherSide Entertainment acquired rights to produce System Shock 3 in 2015, but as of 2020 the rights have been transferred to Tencent.