Trending
I must admit that I didn't know System Shock even existed until the first time I played Bioshock. Bioshock was an amazing game, and it holds a special place in my heart. For that fact alone, I gave System Shock a chance back in 2007, and I must admit I didn't like it a bit, probably because even then, the game was too old, let alone now.
However, when I found out that System Shock will be treated to a full remake, I was curious to give this, for its time, amazing game a chance, if for nothing, then to find out what all the fuss around this game was about.
To be completely honest, I'm glad I did, because the classic design and gameplay mechanics from the original, mixed with improved visuals and presentation in general, make System Shock a curious experience that you don't see every day in gaming, even though I must warn you—it isn't for everyone.
Story
In System Shock, you play as a hacker who was caught snooping and put in prison on a space station controlled by a murderous AI called SHODAN. This AI controls an army of robots and mutants that will make your life on the station a living hell. They will do everything in their power to stop you from escaping, and your primary goal will be just that.
The premise of the story is not that sophisticated, to be honest, and it will be entirely up to you to discover what is going on at the station and why all hell broke loose.
When I say it will be up to you, I mean you can understand and follow the story if you wish, meaning you can explore and find hidden logs that will paint a picture of the events on the station. However, if you do not want to do that, you can just follow your main objective, which is to get the hell out of that scary and dangerous place.
So, the quality and depth of the story are controlled entirely by yourself, but I must note that discovering, reading, and listening to these optional logs will lead you to some discoveries that will take you completely by surprise, and for that fact alone, finding them is well worth it.
As the game progresses, the story gradually unfolds, but for the sake of spoilers, I won't venture any further into this territory. All you need to know is that System Shock has some aces up its sleeve when it comes to storytelling that will make your journey throughout the station a very interesting and tense ride.
Gameplay
First of all, in order for you to understand the very essence of System Shock, I must call some things by their real names. This game is labelled as a remake of the 30-year-old original. Well, to be honest, I won't call it a remake per se, because this game is more like a remastered version than a remake. Let me explain.
When you remake a game, you do everything from scratch: a different design, and different mechanics that are closer to the time when a remake is released, but in the case of System Shock, everything is kept from the original. The visuals are improved, yes, but not on the scale you might have wished for them to be.
Everything plays and feels like you're playing a game that is three decades old, and with the use of some modern tools, you manage to upscale the graphics and enjoy some nostalgia. I am not saying this is a bad thing; on the contrary, it is very commendable. What I'm trying to say is that if you're calling a game a remake, then you should remake it the way it's supposed to be remade. Anyway, this is just my observation and my thoughts alone, and it will not affect the overall rating.
Speaking of the game's mechanics, I must say they simply didn't click for me, to say the least. For example, the movements of the enemies are so sluggish and unreal. If you hit them with a melee weapon or shoot them with a gun, it feels like you missed them, and they still fall. Many players will say that's just the way it's supposed to happen because the game kept the sense of the original, but I say it isn't nostalgia kicking; this is simply poor development, and no other person can convince me otherwise.
I played the game on the PlayStation 5, and the aiming mechanics, for example, are completely unoptimized for this console, I must note. Well, almost everything is just too reminiscent of the old games that I found completely unenjoyable. But again, maybe that's my impression alone; maybe it will click with you; I don't know.
If you love these kinds of games, then System Shock might just be the game for you, but I must warn you that this game is nothing like modern shooters or any games you used to play nowadays. There are no on-screen indicators or anything that can tell you where to go and what to do; you'll have to discover this on your own. The only help is the map, which is very confusing, and the mini-map that will help you navigate through levels.
The game doesn't explain anything. For example, in the first level, I had to find my way out, and I tried everything, peeked in every corner, and still nothing, only to discover that I had to solve a hacking puzzle to gain access to another level, but there were no indicators or anything that would tell me what to do exactly.
Sometimes, you'll have to find logs that hide the door codes to progress, sometimes solve puzzles, and sometimes be creative in other ways, but still, the game doesn't tell you any of that. For some players, those mechanics might be commendable; for others, not so much. All I can say is that you should be warned that System Shock is definitely not the game for everyone.
In its essence, System Shock is an FPS horror-survival game. Regarding weapons, like in many other games of this genre, you start with a melee weapon, and as the game progresses, new weapons become available. You'll use pistols, SMGs, laser rifles, and many futuristic weapons that are, sometimes, very fun to use.
The stars of the show in System Shock are, without doubt, puzzles and hacking sequences that set the foundation for games like Bioshock, Prey, and many others. Those sequences are very well-designed, interesting, and enjoyable, I must say, and they represent the best part of the game, at least for me.
The level design is too complicated for my taste, and if you decide to give this game a chance, prepare to get lost a lot. Better still, prepare a notebook and a pen to take notes, because there will be instances where the design is so complicated that you'll have to take notes on codes, places, shapes, and much more to be able to leave that location.
All in all, if you're a fan of exploration and maze-like environments, then System Shock is a game for you; if you're not, then I don't know what to say. Prepare to be frustrated beyond measure.
Graphics and Sounds
Graphically speaking, System Shock is a game that kept the essence of the original and improved upon it in terms of better textures, higher resolution support, and improved character design, while everything else is pretty much the same.
You'll see what I'm talking about once you zoom in on the camera and see the polygons and in-game textures—everything looks so dated that you have the impression you're playing a game that came out during the last century. Of course, this was the intention of the developers: to bring us the experience we felt playing the original game with the addition of modern settings and visuals; only those modernizations are barely visible, to be completely frank.
To put it simply, graphically, System Shock is a nostalgia trip that targets a bit older gamers to evoke memories of bygone gaming eras. Will it be sufficient to attract new players? Let's just say I'm a bit sceptical, but who knows, maybe someone sees something beautiful in it.
Obviously, on PlayStation 5, and I believe on all other platforms, System Shock runs with zero problems. Everything feels smooth and locked on 60 FPS, without the settings for improved fidelity or resolution. I haven't come across a single issue playing the game, which is, of course, a very good thing given the states in which the games come out nowadays.
Regarding sounds, the situation is pretty much the same. The developers decided to keep the original sounds used in the original game, which, of course, adds to the atmosphere and overall experience.
The sounds of weapons, mutants, robots, and everything else are kept from the original. Given that System Shock is a horror game in a way, I must admit that some sounds, especially the soundtrack, can evoke a feeling of anxiety and fear, and in this regard, the developers hit the mark big time.
Conclusion
Whether it's through gameplay, visuals, sound presentation, or level design, System Shock tries to bring us back into some old gaming times playing on the nostalgia card. While that might play well for some senior players, I believe that the younger audience will find very little, not to say nothing, that will keep them hooked on this game.
It is indeed a decent game, but its mechanics and presentation in general are simply stuck in some long-forgotten times, and it is highly questionable how the players will accept it. I know it doesn't play well for me, even if I'm a very experienced gamer with a gaming career that started even before the original game was released.
The Good
Interesting and tense storytelling- Well-designed puzzles and hacking sequences
- Smooth performance
- Evocative and atmospheric sound design
The Bad
Feels more like a remaster than a full remake- Confusing and complex level design
- Graphics and textures appear dated despite improvements
- May not appeal to younger audiences or fans of modern shooters
