Review: System Shock Remake

Developer – Nightdive Studios

Publisher – Prime Matter

Platforms – PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series S|X, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5 (reviewed)

Review copy given by publisher

Did you know that the original System Shock paved the way for many modern immersive sims such as Dishonored and Prey? This iconic 1994 game pioneered first person shooter concepts and laid the foundation for the entire aforementioned genre. The Remake, developed by Nightdive Studios, released back on PC back in 2023, and has finally made its way onto consoles midway through 2024.

At the heart of System Shock lies SHODAN, a malevolent AI goddess who terrorizes you in the original game. In the remake, SHODAN is reborn in high definition thanks to Unreal Engine 4, shedding her sprite-based enemies and screen-eating UI. She unfurls through Citadel Station, a labyrinthine space outpost, unleashing pustules, blisters, mutants, and monsters. Her delusional narcissism and transparently bonkers personality make her a standout villain. The game is set aboard a space station in a cyberpunk version of the year 2072 and you assume the role of a nameless security hacker, infiltrating the giant Citadel space station to thwart SHODAN’s world-ending plans from within.

System Shock, both the original and the remake, features a blend of first-person shooter action and role-playing game mechanics. As an immersive sim, you can tackle situations however you deem fit, either through stealth or with head on combat. System Shock’s design allows for non-linear progress. Emergent gameplay arises from the interaction of systems, choices, and player agency. Combat is nonetheless a significant aspect of System Shock. You’ll engage in battles with various enemies, including mutants, robots, and security personnel. You start off with a measly melee wrench but soon get your hands on weapons that range from traditional firearms to futuristic energy weapons. You can customize your stats, skills, and equipment to enhance your combat effectiveness, hacking abilities, and survival.

Aside from fighting baddies, you’ll also be solving puzzles via hacking terminals and bypassing security systems in order to progress. Plenty of locked doors will stand between you and your objective and it is up to you to find the key or passcode from environmental clues in order to move forward. System Shock’s level design remains true to its roots. The interconnected corridors, rooms, and locked gates create a challenging space to navigate. Audio logs left behind by the now-deceased crew provide clues, and you must piece together the crew’s plans to thwart SHODAN. The overall setting emits pure-grade uncut spaceborne cyberpunk vibes, complete with cyberware, smart guns, and an evil corporation-turned-government. 

The developers truly nailed the atmosphere of the game, as it oozes with style and personality. You will always feel SHODAN watching you while you make every move. Hearing SHODAN’s creepy voice always brings a chill down my spine too. It definitely puts the immersion in the immersive sim. Nightdive Studios upgraded, beautified, and smoothed rough edges while preserving the essence of the original experience. The revamped visuals replace pixelated textures with clanking, three-dimensional automatons.

The System Shock Remake strips away excess, returning to the genre’s core appeal. It focuses on atmosphere, functionality, and emergent gameplay. However, unlike modern titles, it lacks many quality of life features and still clings to somewhat outdated mechanics. The game sometimes lacks clear guidance on objectives as you are encouraged to rely on intuition, but this can lead to confusion and frustration. There is no hand holding and there are no waypoints. For instance, the requirement for an envirosuit upgrade later in the game may not be immediately apparent. The inventory space and management is also kind of a hectic mess, as it’s very limited and navigating it via the user interface is a headache. You’ll constantly need to run to a recycler to empty your bag of useless items.

I had some initial reservations about the PS5 controls considering this game was meant to be played with a keyboard and mouse over a controller. But it isn’t all that bad, as most of the controls are quite intuitive and straightforward. I advise you to toggle hold crouch as the default requires you to hold the Circle button, which is just absurd. The DualSense controller features immersive vibrations but unfortunately no adaptive triggers, but the control scheme is fully rebindable.

Performance on the PlayStation 5 is exemplary, with smooth 120 frames per second gameplay on a VRR supported display. Additionally, it only takes a mere 3 seconds to load in from launch and the game takes up a tiny 4 gigabytes on your console. System Shock is undoubtedly a difficult game, but there are some accessibility options, such as showing tutorials, focusing the camera on puzzles, and auto reloading weapons. You can also toggle Easy, Normal, or Hard on 4 different categories: Combat, Mission, Cyber, and Puzzles. Note you cannot change these mid-game so make sure you select the correct combination before you start. The PS5 version contains 46 trophies for a platinum and should take you around 16-20 hours in a first playthrough.

In the modern era, the System Shock Remake stands as the de facto way to experience the malevolent AI’s reign of terror. With its faithful reimagining, Nightdive Studios pays homage to a game that shaped the immersive sim genre and solidifies SHODAN’s place as one of gaming’s most unforgettable villains. As we explore Citadel Station once again, we find ourselves caught between fear and fascination, just as we did nearly three decades ago.