8 Best Hardware Attachments In System Shock

Here are the best hardware attachments that will give you an edge in System Shock.

Well, this is a sticky situation; you got caught hacking into Trioptimum's corporate network, were consequently arrested and hauled over to Citadel Station, and coerced into cutting a deal with Edward Diego. Sure, you got a fancy new neural cybernetic interface out of it, but now you're stuck with the station's artificial intelligence, SHODAN, who's gone rogue.

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Sure, it wasn't your idea to disable SHODAN's ethical constraints, but regardless, the fact of the matter is you're stuck in this mess now, and you're going to need all the upgrades you can get. Here are the best hardware attachments that will give you an edge in System Shock.

Minimaps, at least for most games, tend to be both expected and taken for granted by most players. In System Shock, although the game holds your hand in getting one, a minimap isn't a given. Instead, you have to find the Navigation and Mapping Unit V1, and slot it into the side of your head.

Thankfully, this upgrade is one of the first early hardware attachments you'll find. With so many expansive floors on Citadel Station, this game would feel like a labyrinth without a minimap. If you find the V2 and V3 versions of this attachment, you'll see extra useful information, like enemy locations and other hazards.

With so much to explore, it follows that there's a lot to loot on Citadel Station. Although some areas are well-lit, making it easy to find weapons, character-enhancing consumables, ammo, upgrades, and miscellaneous items, other areas are quite dark.

With a Head-Mounted Vision Unit V1, you'll be granted a little bit of extra light where you're looking for a low energy cost. With the V2 and V3 versions, the light will be brighter at each stage, but end up draining more energy.

The Bio-Scan hardware attachment, more formally called the Biological Systems Monitor V1, will basically be an immersion-enhancing UI element when you first obtain it. Once slotted in, you'll see a heart rate pulsing, hopefully, at the top left of your screen.

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The V2 version of the Bio-Scan is much more useful. Not only will you be able to see current patch effects so that you don't accidentally waste any precious consumables, but you also won't have to pay for the attachment's energy upkeep anymore.

Although it's not completely necessary, if you don't enjoy having enemies creep up on you and getting a free hit in, or you're tired of constantly watching your back, the Sensaround Radar Unit is a good solution.

Once obtained, your inventory panel can be transformed into a real-time, rearview mirror. Although the V1 version updates slowly and isn't the most reliable, the V2 version updates much faster. If you get your hands on the V3 version, you'll get a 360-degree view, although that might take some getting used to.

The Target Identifier hardware attachment is a bread-and-butter upgrade that will never cost energy, regardless of the version you have. When first obtained, you'll see how far away a target enemy is from you, and be provided an ID.

At V2, you'll learn of the target's damage and current attitude, such as cautious or hostile. At V3, you'll be able to see how damaged an enemy is. At V4, the final upgrade to the target identifier, you'll have complete target information and an auto-lock feature.

Aside from how fun they sound and how goofy they look, the Turbo Motion Boots can help you avoid potentially deadly situations. From dashing around a corner to dodge a ranged attack, to dancing around a group of enemies trying to corner you, an on-demand speed boost is a great option to have.

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Remarkably, the V1 version of the boots won't even cost you any energy, providing a 150 percent max speed boost. At V2, although it will cost energy in this mode, you can switch to turbo to reach a 200 percent max speed boost.

It's hard to argue about or deny the efficacy and value of a hardware attachment that can negate a certain percentage of damage. With the Energy Shield, the energy cost you pay is well worth it, as it can save your life, and reduce your use of health-recovering consumables.

At V1, you will absorb 20 percent of all damage, while at V2, that absorption increases to 40 percent along with a ten-point health buffer. At V3, you'll absorb 15 hit points and 75 percent of all damage. Lastly, at V4, you'll absorb the same percentage of damage, but have an additional buffer of 30 hit points.

The Environmental Protection Pack is a particularly impressive hardware attachment simply from the protective stats it provides. As a passive effect, it switches on and off automatically, depending on if you're inside or outside a zone that causes either biological or radiation damage.

When active, it drains energy proportionate to how much damage is being absorbed. At V1, the pack offers 83 percent biological damage absorption. At V2, you get 85 percent biological damage absorption and 83 percent radiation damage absorption. At V3, you get a small percent boost to absorption for both damage types.

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Jack is a freelance writer who developed a love for reading, writing, and apt, tactful language at a young age. Although he originally pursued a degree in computer science, he ended up following his heart, achieving a BA in Communications from Southern New Hampshire University. Whether professionally or recreationally, Jack enjoys writing and learning about topics relating to nature, science, technology, and of course, video games. Games that hold a special place in his heart are Pokemon Emerald, TES: Oblivion, and Age of Mythology.