System Shock 1 - Sound Effects Meaning

A compilation of sounds heard among the space station citadel and what they mean - Hopefully the first video online to talk about these weird sounds.

[@somsnosa2363]

You have no idea how much I love this. Always noticed those "noises" but only sci-fi was a bit obvious for the cyborgs. Thank you!

[@dysterotl]

I listened to the ost before playing and oh man, I actually thought i was losing my mind hearing these noises

[@njwizieck3049]

Sometimes the game does the sci-fi noise near Diego’s layer. Sometimes it plays the reverse. No idea why.

[@Gameprojordan]

Because Diego is a cyborg and his lair is also covered in that weird biomass so it's considered a dangerous zone. My guess is only one or the other is able to play at a time, so sometimes one song will play over the other and vice versa

[@maximus4765]

This is the kind of idea that sould be really cool in a post-1990s game but it was too early to be really noticeable

[@papayer]

This game really was ahead of its time, holy fuck.

[@Kelis98]

I always wanted to know the specifics this is neat.
Would be cool to get examples from each level as well as cyberspace

[@Gameprojordan]

In cyberspace when you enter a room it plays a fast paced action song, when you're traveling through the tunnel systems between each room the music changes to a calmer more mysterious song

[@maciejdudzik1600]

Hello! Thanks for the video :D - it's very informative and clears some mysteries... but how about that sad-sounding, trumpet-like tune that appears when you are at the bottom of radiation pit on the medical level or when fighting the boss(?) in level 6 (it is ofter preceded by that reversed notes )? :)

[@MelindaSordinoIsLiterallyMe]

You forgot the low health medical-like note Changes

[@cbeasy1995]

You're completely right, I missed that. I was more focused on the soundscape changes when I made this video.

[@MelindaSordinoIsLiterallyMe]

@@cbeasy1995 still great Video though, only noticed the Environmental danger stuff 😂

[@FloatyBones77]

What are you referring to?

[@MelindaSordinoIsLiterallyMe]

@@FloatyBones77 If you have Low health, the red cross is flickering and whatever music is played gets changed to include tones sounding like the Hospital level Theme. Try it Out, its actually really obvious

[@papayer]

​@@MelindaSordinoIsLiterallyMe It doesn't change the music, it just adds a low health beeping into the beat of the current track.

[@laughercake3156]

though the reversing cymbals were a glitch at first, good to know they're intentional

[@blackidna]

I noticed the change of sound in the music and to me it felt like the iMUSE from LucasArts, where the melody changes with the area you visit.
I feel bad for Greg LoPiccolo, doing all this work only to have players ignore it completely.
So he could have his revenge techno on SShock2.

[@atlev]

Omg thank you. This stuff would have been fine if it synced to the damn song temple lol.

[@massproducedeva_]

and here i am turning the soundtrack off because it sounds like jank... man, I am missing out.

[@Gameprojordan]

Then you enter a radioactive zone and the music turns into a jet engine noise, sounds like you're getting cooked alive by the radiation

[@massproducedeva_]

@@Gameprojordan Holy shit, you got any of that wagon wheel cheese, bro?

[@cockholecleaner6287]

Finally i can understand these sounds. Thank you! Outstanding sound design even for present days