Better Keybindings

If you are used to play FPS games, you probably find System Shock quite confusing because of its key binds. Once you know the keys, you should get used to it, but it's probably a good idea to make the keybindings more intuitive instead. This guide aims to give keybindings that are more similar to modern shooter games.

Introduction

This guide will contain tables for key binds, and I used a code.

If you see this character (*), it means that the key was either added or modified.

Example:

Action	Key
*Crouch	C

In System Shock, the default key for crouching is F. Since I modified the key to C, I added a * character before "Crouch".

If an action is not in the table, it means that it's either unused by default or that you should clear the said key.

RealSpace

Action	Key/Button
*Stand Up	T
*Crouch	C
Lie Prone	V
Walk Forward	W
Walk Backwards	S
Sidestep Left	A
Sidestep Right	D
Jump	Space
*Negate Leaning	Z
*Lean Left	Q
*Lean Right	E
Speed	Left Shift
*Use Patch	F
*Select Patch	Ctrl + F

CyberSpace

Action	Key/Button
*Thrust	W
Climb Left	NumPad 7
Climb Right	NumPad 9
Dive Left	NumPad 1
Dive Right	NumPad 3
*Roll Left	Q
*Roll Right	E
*Use Misc Software	F
*Select Misc Software	Ctrl + F

Weapons

Action	Key/Button
Fire Weapon	Enter
*Reload Weapon	R
*Replace Ammo	Ctrl + R
*Arm Grenade	G
*Select Grenade	Ctrl + G
Next Weapon	MouseWheelDown
Previous Weapon	MouseWheelUp

The "Fire Weapon" key is Enter. Don't change it! It automatically links itself with the mouse button. However, in the next section, you will learn that right click is used for firing by default (oops, spoiler alert). Instead of reloading with the mouse, there is a "Reload Weapon" key (TooComplicated by default). The key called "Replace Ammo" should in fact be named "Select Ammo." It allows you to change the type of ammo depending on the gun.

You can also use grenades. Arm a grenade, and throw it with the "Fire Weapon" key/button.

Case in point.

Neural

Action	Key/Button
Primary Click	Mouse Left
Secondary Click	Mouse Right
*Toggle Freelook	X
*Quick Pickup	Tab
*View Map	M
*Toggle On-Line Help	H
Abort Current Audiolog	Delete

The "Primary Click" is the button used for selection with the mouse (Left Mouse by default, which makes sense). However, the "Secondary Click" is the button used for firing a weapon (Right Mouse by default). This is a really strange conception of how an FPS game should be played, but ok. I decided to leave those two buttons as they are because this way the RMB (Right Mouse Button) is used only for firing instead of LMB whereas if they were swapped, RMB would be used for selecting everything instead of LMB. Anyway, you can swap them if you want, but I don't recommend it.

By the way, changing the key for firing to LMB won't work, because you will fire every time you select something.

IMPORTANT
---------------------
The "Toggle Freelook" allows you to switch between "Wanna select a few button on the screen" mode and "Wanna shoot that ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ robot in front of me" mode (E by default).
[/important]

Icons

Leave it be. It's already fine as it is.

MFD

Clear it out. Clear it all out. It only prevents some precious keys from being used in the last section.

Keypads

Leave it be.

Game

Action	Key/Button
*Load Game	F2
*Save Game	F1
Pause	P
*Toggle Music	F3
Toggle Main Menu	Escape

The saving and loading key are fine by default (Ctrl + S/L), but it might be more intuitive for speedrunners or Half-Life players to use F1 and F2 instead.

Oh, and also, each level will only have one music (technically two, but the second one is always the same). Thus, you may get tired of it and just pull off the plug from you toaster. To prevent that, just use the "Toggle Music" key (Ctrl + M by default).

There are two keys called "Lower Gamma" and "Raise Gamma" (F11 and F12 by default). Clear them out. The second one will prevent you from taking a screenshot (or opening the overlay if you changed your overlay key on Steam to F12).

How to enable Steam Overlay

1. Open the Menu, and go to Options >Video > Resolution.
2. Turn on "Windowed" and "Borderless".

Done! Now you can use the overlay. However...

It's probably not a problem. Probably... but your screen will keep flickering when on the Overlay. I don't know if it can be fixed, so tell me if there is a solution and what it is.

Conclusion/Comments

I have beaten the game several months ago, and I might come back later to see if anything is missing in the guide. Tell me if there is anything wrong in the guide.

Thanks, and have fun!

[blackjacksike]

You'd have to ask on the forums. It's been too long since I've played, but I think I do remember seeing something like that.

[Dvayne Reaze]

When you get close to walls they get round on edges a bit

[blackjacksike]

It's been a long time since I've played. Could you describe these distortions?

[Dvayne Reaze]

I fixed save problems. Any way to fix distortion of walls when you get close to them?

[Dvayne Reaze]

when I get close to walls they get distorted in corners. Also I can't save for some reason. I create save and it does not save

[blackjacksike]

F

[oghie1kenobi]

Currently at Maintenance, lighting and Inviso-Mutants are a bit frustrating but these controls are excellent! now when i play other FPS games i always forget i don't have to toggle with X haha... if only playing Deus Ex in 2025 was this easy to configure... fuck!

[blackjacksike]

In the Neural section of my guide, I said that "E" was the default key for toggling mouse look. If you followed my guide, it should be the "X" key.

[Dvayne Reaze]

How to have regular mouse look? I mean the problem is I can't look left and right with mouse like in doom ports. It's annoying

[blackjacksike]

Bienvenue!