Attempting a full "Shock" series run, is it worth getting SS1 to work?

[Callate]

I remember it being quite enthralling at the time, but I doubt the graphics and interface have aged well. I did appreciate the pseudo-VR hacking, though; I still hold that, clunky as it may have been, it was a big step up from the "minesweeper lite" hack mechanics of SS2.

 

[Albino Boo]

SS1 does not really add to SS2. The have a few plot elements in common, but playing the first one doesn't give you any extra knowledge.

Well, there's a certain big reveal in the middle of SS2 which will have a lot more impact on you if you've played the first one.

Seriously, that's like the biggest "oh shit!" moment in games for me.

To tell you the truth I played SS2 in 99 without playing SS1 first and the reval had an impact. I went back and got SS1 afterwards but the controls were too fiddly to make it work.

 

[Bonecrusher]

Playing System Shock series is way more worth than playing Bioshock series, especially Bioshock Infinite.