When gamers list hidden gems of the '90s, System Shock usually finds its way onto the list. Though, in many ways, better known for the games it inspired, the original duology is an early entry in the halls of great video game stories. And next year, it's headed to the small screen in a strange form.
System Shock was released in 1994 and its better-known sequel dropped five years later, both from the now-defunct Looking Glass Studios. Since then, a third entry was promised but never delivered, a remaster released in 2015 and a full-scale remake is on its way later this year. After Looking Glass shut down, a trio of former team members formed Irrational Games, best known for developing both Bioshock and Bioshock Infinite.
The System Shock games are first-person immersive sims in which the player takes the role of an unnamed hacker on the corporate-owned outpost Citadel Station. The aesthetic provides a great early example of the well-loved cyberpunk subgenre, full of "used future" designs, criticism of corporate greed, and exploration of artificial intelligence with the series' iconic villain. SHODAN, the omniscient rogue AI who serves as System Shock's terrifying antagonist is one of the best villains in video game history. There is a lot to love about the games, but in truth, when most people think back fondly of System Shock, they're thinking of SHODAN. To see the iconic Citadel and the powerful SHODAN in a fully realized series could be something special, but the delivery method may be a bit unexpected.
Binge is a streaming service based out of Australia which began operations just over a year ago. The service is lesser-known, partially because it's locked to Australia, but savvy users know that anyone with a VPN can access the service. As of this June, Binge had just over 800,000 viewers, a miniscule fraction of the viewership of other services such as Netflix or Hulu. The service currently gets most of its content through a distribution deal with HBO, meaning it currently lacks the original content that is the draw to most streaming empires. This is a problem they have their eyes on fixing in the upcoming year. Binge has announced a couple of video game adaptations, including a series based on Ubisoft's underrated Driver game franchise. Binge is the platform that has partnered with Night Dive Studios, the team behind the upcoming System Shock remake, to bring the cyberpunk series to the screen.
Binge is an untested quantity, they don't have any original content to judge at the moment, so it's hard to know exactly the level of greatness they could bring. Little is known about the series, no cast or crew has been announced and only the release year was made clear. The last official entry in the series was 22 years ago, the average gamer would be more likely to expect a Bioshock series, as those games both sold better and are better remembered today. System Shock is a strange choice in terms of brand recognition, but a fantastic choice in terms of series that can carry a full TV adaptation.
The cyberpunk aesthetic is having a moment right now, System Shock definitely did not create that phenomenon back in the '90s, but it is a great entry in its catalog. Full cyberpunk series have been a bit few and far between, the concept often relegated to games, comics, and the occasional film. With a full series, new fans could be introduced to one of the great horror settings in one of its best iterations. Citadel Station and the second game's UNN Rickenbacker starship are both complex and well-realized. The games focus on exploration, meaning you are able to discover these grim hallways and bloodstained computer terminals at your leisure, but a show's tighter control over the pacing would allow for constant new surprises in a new or classic environment.
A System Shock series would have a clear number one on the list of reasons to tune in, the same number one reason people love the games; SHODAN. The importance of SHODAN to System Shock cannot be overstated, she and the series are inextricable. The AI was voiced in every appearance by Terri Brosius, keyboardist for the band Tribe and frequent collaborator with Looking Glass. SHODAN is her most well-known role, but she also did some voice work for the Thief series as well as writing for both franchises. Brosius is already cast in the upcoming remake and the in-limbo third game, so her involvement in the series is likely. With her direct involvement, the project can be guaranteed at least a little authenticity, and at least one more spectacular performance.
The tragic fate of the System Shock games is that their budgets provided constant snags in production and lead to the lack of a third game. The games all reviewed well and enjoyed fan communities, but none of them sold well enough. The upcoming series will likely be tied in with the remake set to release around the same time. With that in mind, the Binge series could be the first shot at the franchise with a decent budget. Granted, the service creating the show is quite small, but the team creating the games was even smaller.
The System Shock series has the makings of an outstanding limited series if the team has the creativity and the resources to bring it to life. Hopefully, fans will finally get to re-enter this iconic world in a new way when the show comes to Australia in 2022.