How To Find The Laser Security Override Code In System Shock

Mar 20, 2023

Here's how to find the Laser Security Override Code in System Shock.

SHODAN returns in Nightdrive Studio's System Shock Remake in all her horrifying rogue AI glory, and she has an ominous plan to destroy humanity and Earth. In this retro sci-fi FPS, you must navigate through the maze-like Citadel Space Station to thwart SHODAN's plans. The Laser Security Override Code is essential to destroy the station's mining laser.

Related: System Shock: What Happened To Citadel Station?

System Shock and SHODAN were born in a historic gaming era where players had to seek their objectives and had no objective markers safely guiding them to each level. System Shock throws you straight onto the Citadel Space Station with nothing but your wits, cybernetics, and a map.

Your first objective as the Hacker is to destroy the Mining Laser that is pointed at Earth.

To do this, you must fire the Mining Laser into the Citadel Station's shields. This requires you to find Isotope X-22 and the Mining Laser Security Override Code in Research Level 2.

Acquiring the Laser Security Override Code is the first piece of the puzzle to destroying the Mining Laser, as the code will allow you to activate the Citadel Station's shields.

Before searching Research Level 2 for the Laser Security Override Code, you must activate the elevator on Medical Level 1.

To do this, you must lower SHODAN's hold on the Medical level by destroying Security Cameras and the four CPU Nodes.

Security Cameras are found all over the Medical Level and will make an alarm sound when they've spotted you. The CPU Nodes are found within Alpha Quadrant in the eastern room.

In the Outage Audio Log, Bruford Endicott states that SHODAN has been pulling power from the Research Level, causing power outages in Beta Quadrant. Bruford ordered the engineers to install a circuit breaker in Alpha Quadrant to keep the power running.

Your first objective is to find the circuit breaker in Alpha Quadrant to give you access to the Admin Room and Library Room in Beta Quadrant.

Hoppers and Mobile Laser Hoppers heavily guard Alpha Quadrant.

Ballistic weapons such as the KE-41 minipistol will barely scratch their armor, so use an overcharged shot from the Sparqbeam.

Once you reach Alpha Quadrant, enter the middle door down the corridor of Alpha Quadrant that links to the Central Hub.

You will find four green switches inside the room, three already activated. Activate the second switch to the left to provide power to Beta Quadrant.

Inside the room will be a couple of Hoppers, Mobile Laser Hoppers, and Maintenance Bots (remember that the amount of enemies found on the Citadel Station depends on your combat difficulty.)

We recommend you group them by staying by the room's entrance before throwing an EMP Grenade.

You will find a Power Station in the Circuit Breaker allowing you to recharge your Sparqbeam Sidearm. Use it to kill the enemies and Security-1 Bot outside.

A Security-1 Bot guards the Beta Quadrant corridor, and a Cyborg Drone can be found in the room on the left-hand side of the corridor.

You can pick up the Subject: Exec Level Security Audio Log that provides hints to SHODAN's Mutagenic Virus plan that you will need to stop in the following mission.

The right room in the Beta Quadrant opens to a viewing room with a Mobile Laser Hopper. Inside, there's Minipistol ammo at the front of the room. However, to progress to the Admin Room, follow the corridor east and open the door facing southeast.

Now that Beta Quadrant has power, you can enter the main Beta Quadrant room. Your next objective is to enter the Library and activate the Cyberspace Terminal.

However, you won't be able to do so until you've picked up the Science (SCI) Access Card from the Admin Room.

Ensure that you pick up the Firmware Update #28 Audio Log from the central table in the room and Audio Log within the Admin Room.

There are Elite Cyborg Drones in Research Beta Quadrant and Admin Room.

You can grab the Shotgun and the Engineering Card by unlocking the passage from the Junction Box puzzle in Research Delta Quadrant if you run low on ammunition.

Once you've picked up the yellow Science (SCI) Access Card, you can unlock the Library and reach the Cyberspace Terminal to access the Laser Security Override Code.

In the Library Room, you will find the Always A Maze! Data Stick, Subject: Wormhole Audio Log, Results! Audio Log, and the Target Identifier V1, a cybernetic implant that allows you to read the vital signs of enemies.

At the back of the Library, you can access the Cyberspace Terminal that unlocks the Laser Security Override Code.

This time, the Cyberspace level is a lot harder, as new armored and projectile-flinging enemies will attack you. You can destroy incoming projectiles and change your elevation to dodge enemy attacks.

To help you, you'll be given the I.C.E. Drill V1, a new tool that fires charged projectiles used for taking out cyber enemies and unlocking new areas.

In this instance of Cyberspace, you will have to proceed through a series of rooms before reaching the Laser Security Override Code. Pick up the green health items to restore your connection integrity while navigating through each room.

Only engage enemies if necessary, as sometimes you can escape combat through the speed tunnels; however, Cyber Mines always guard these areas, so fire your Pulser as soon as you enter these tunnels.

Once you've reached the final area, shoot the glowing green centerpiece to unlock the code and destroy all Cyber Bullies.

Use the I.C.E. Drill V1 to take out the purple Cyber Bullies as they are easy targets.

However, always keep track of their projectiles as they can bounce off surfaces into you.

Once you've killed all the cyber enemies, look out for the red glowing path and follow it to where it starts. Use the I.C.E. Drill to activate it. Activating the box will turn the red path green, highlighting the path back to the Cyberspace Terminal.

Back on the Citadel Space Station, you will have triggered a monitor to display a three-digit code that you will use to deactivate the Safety Interlock in the Reactor Level 3 area. This code is random for each save.

You won't be doing it until much later. Make sure to write down or take a screenshot of the code.

You'll want to keep backtracking to a minimum because SHODAN becomes more powerful as your playthrough length increases.

To disable the Safety Interlock, you will need to use the Research Level 2 Elevator found in Gamma Quadrant to descend to Reactor Level R.

However, you can only do this if you've destroyed the CPU Nodes on Research Level 2. Moreover, it would be best if you acquired Isotope X-22 to power the shields before entering the Reactor.

Do not activate the Mining Laser in the Central Hub Area before you have deactivated the Safety Interlock and restored the Citadel Space Station's shields in the Reactor area, as this will result in a game over.

Next: System Shock: Who Is Shodan?

Dragon Age, The Elder Scrolls, and Witcher are some of the most treasured gaming experiences Alex has, but patrolling the Mojave desert with a Lever Action Rifle and a bottle of sunset sarsaparilla takes the Sweetroll. When Alex is not gaming, he can be found playing guitar and hiking, imagining he's part of a fantasy world.