STORY
You are a hacker.  You have attempted to hack into the TriOptimum Corporation Network, and gain unauthorized access to protected files concerning the Space Station Citadel.  Unfortunately, your hacking attempts have been detected, and your location is soon tracked.  Before you know it, TriOptimum guards are at your door, ready to apprehend you.  Edward Diego (an executive at TriOptimum Corporation) sees your potential, and is eager to make a deal with you.  He will drop all charges against you, if you hack into SHODAN, the artificial intelligence that controls Citadel Station.  You will also gain a military grade neuro interface if you are successful.  Naturally, you agree to this offer, and Edward Diego gives you Level 1 access to SHODAN.  You receive your neuro implant, and undergo a 6-month healing coma. 

The game starts when you awake from your coma.  But somehow, things are not quite how you remember them.  You find an audio log (as well as some other goodies) hidden in a cupboard.  The log is from Rebecca Lansing, who is a TriOptimum counter terrorism consultant based on Earth.  She tells you that they have detected a disruption on Citadel Station, and that a mining beam is preparing to fire at Earth.  Since you are the only contact between Earth and Citadel Station, it is up to you to find out what is going on.  You soon discover that when you hacked into SHODAN 6 months ago, you removed all of her ethical restraints.  Now she has re-examined her priorities, and drawn her own conclusions about humanity! 

As you explore the Station, you find audio logs that were left behind by residents, and you gradually piece together the story of what has happened in the last 6 months.  You realise that SHODAN has gone insane.  She wants to rule the world, and frequently refers to herself as a God.  She has infected a lot of people on Citadel Station with a mutation virus, turning them into fierce mutants, and she has created a lot of robots and cyborgs to carry out her bidding.  But mutants and cyborgs are not all you have to watch out for.  Some rooms are filled with radiation, and this can damage your health greatly.  Luckily, you can heal yourself with detox patches and medkits.  A good Envirosuit will help as well!!!  You decide that you must stop SHODAN at all costs.  Logs scattered throughout the Station contain various thoughts and ideas in order to defeat SHODAN, and it is up to you to carry out those ideas, and put an end to SHODAN's evil plans once and for all.  The final battle where you come face-to-face with SHODAN in cyberspace is tough, but you can't give up.  The fate of humanity depends on you! 

GAMEPLAY
If you have never played System Shock 1, then you are in for a real treat.  System Shock Portable is based on the System Shock game (cd enhanced version) by Looking Glass, and plays exactly like the original.  It has basically been 'rebuilt' by Strange Bedfellows.  The main difference is that this version runs on modern machines. 

System Shock appeals to a wide variety of gamers, as you can customize things to your own liking.  The game has 4 main categories - Combat, Mission, Puzzle, Cyber - and each of these categories has an option to change the setting from 0 (easiest) to 3 (hardest).  Combat is how tough the enemies are.  Mission is the plot and story elements that you learn through audio logs.  Puzzle is the various puzzle elements such as unlocking doors.  Cyber is how you get through cyberspace.  If you like adventure, story-based games, you can set Combat and Cyber to 0, and Mission and Puzzle higher.  If you prefer tough shoot-em-up games, then set Combat and Cyber to 3, and Mission and Puzzle to 0.  Or you can have any combination of the above.  If you want an ultimate challenge, change Mission to the hardest setting.  You have to complete the whole game in a set time then, so the race is on.  I've never tried that though, so I'm not sure how much time you get. 

The game itself uses a 1st-person perspective, meaning that you see things through the eyes of the hacker.  Your character is controlled by using both keyboard and mouse, and you can choose to have the hint system turned on or off.  You can look up, look down, and you can even crouch, crawl, and jump.  There is an Automap system, which I found invaluable.  The game is huge, and finding my way through all those rooms and corridors would be completely impossible without it.  You can even mark important places on the map (for example, energy stations), so it's easy to find them again when you need to.  Control can be tricky at first, until you get the hang of it, and then it becomes second nature.  A detailed description of control is given in the SS1 Reference Card.  In summary, arrow keys and Space Bar are used for movement and jumping.  Mouse is used for controlling your weapon. 

 Summary of Controls
 Move forward \\ back - Up arrow key \\ down arrow key
 Turn left \\ right -            Left arrow key \\ right arrow key
 Jump   -                       Spacebar
 Climb ladders -            Spacebar & Up arrow key
 Aim weapon  -             Move mouse
 Use weapon  -             Click mouse

GRAPHICS

The graphics are incredibly rich and detailed.  The entire game is in 3D, and you can really imagine yourself there, trapped on the space station with an insane AI!  Everything from flickering lights, to sparking cable wires, to enemies approaching you just oozes atmosphere.  As you pick up audio logs, a small picture of that person is shown as you listen to it.  Cyberspace is shown as basic grid-frame rooms, which you have to navigate through.  Candy wrappers, and beverage cans litter the floor, which indicate that the Space station was home to a lot of people.  Bodies lying around can be searched.  The whole thing is awesome to see. 

MUSIC AND SOUND EFFECTS
SHODAN's cold, cybernetic voice as she warns you to stop meddling with her plans have to be heard to be believed.  And the blood-curdling screams of mutants as they die are truly spine-chilling.  Audio logs are fully voiced, which adds a lot of realism to the game.  It makes you really get emotionally attached to these people as you hear their desperate attempts to stay alive.  Even the sound of doors opening \\ closing, or the cameras exploding when you shoot them is effective.

Music is also very impressive.  It changes frequently, depending on which room or which situation you are in.  Sometimes the music is very tense, when you are in a dangerous situation.  In comparison, 'elevator music', as you travel between levels is very soothing.  There is a good variety of music, and it helps to draw you into the game. 

TECHNICAL NOTE

I use Windows Vista, and I played the game via the integrated DosBox emulation.  I found that very occasionally, the game would crash.  I'm not sure if this was down to Vista, or down to the remake itself.  No matter, it didn't happen very often, and as long as you save frequently, it really shouldn't be a problem.  A few crashes are well worth it to be able to play this fantastic game.  The game is a large download, and this may put off some dial-up users.  I urge you to give it a try anyway.  It really is worth it.  Graphics are eerily effective, and very scary. 

SUMMARY
This is an awesome game that I highly recommend.  The story just grabs you, and won't let go.  It is sad as you learn what has been happening on Citadel Station the last 6 months.  You really feel sad for the people.  Now can you defeat SHODAN?  Or will SHODAN succeed with her plans to destroy humanity?  It is a brilliant idea that you can customize the game to your preferences, as it appeals to a wide selection of gamers.  Controls can be tricky at first, as you have to use both mouse and keyboard.  Once you get the hang of them, things will be a lot easier.  Sound effects really send a shiver down my spine.  The game is a large download, and very occasionally it may crash.  But that is not enough to stop you playing System Shock Portable.  So get downloading now, and stop SHODAN.