System Shock

 PC
User Score
7.7

Generally favorable reviews- based on 110 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 74 out of 110
  2. Mixed: 23 out of 110
  3. Negative: 13 out of 110

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  1. halisdeiru
    Jun 2, 2023
    10
    Extremely faithful remake yet feels new which is amazing. Shodan is great as always, immersive sim design is awesome, attention to detail is really good. Everything i wanted from this game is present. Great job Nightdive.
  2. dunnyone
    Jun 5, 2023
    9
    I'm giving this a 9/10 due to the hacking sections. These are absolutely awful and boring compared to the rest of this brilliant reworking of this 90s classic. I understand what they were going for with the hacking but man, it's such a tedious slog to deal with it every time. The rest of the game is perfect. So addictive and atmospheric. This is how first-person shooters should be.
  3. peterus
    Jun 5, 2023
    8
    It's excellent, very faithful remake. It nails recreating that old gem 10/10. As a game standing on its own, not just a part of gaming history reanimated for current day, it is also very good.
  4. Broyax
    Aug 30, 2023
    0
    Il s’agit d’un remake d’une antiquité de 1994 ! et déjà à l’époque, c’était un jeu qui s’était affirmée d’emblée par sa lourdeur sans commune mesure dans le monde naissant des « doom-like » comme on disait alors…

    Plus que sa technique évidemment limitée (et exigeante, il fallait jouer en VGA pour pas se taper une séance de diapos), le jeu se signalait surtout par sa direction artistique    Il s’agit d’un remake d’une antiquité de 1994 ! et déjà à l’époque, c’était un jeu qui s’était affirmée d’emblée par sa lourdeur sans commune mesure dans le monde naissant des « doom-like » comme on disait alors…

    Plus que sa technique évidemment limitée (et exigeante, il fallait jouer en VGA pour pas se taper une séance de diapos), le jeu se signalait surtout par sa direction artistique de mauvais goût (ou sans aucun goût) ainsi que par une direction artistique sans direction (autre que le mauvais goût permanent).

    Et dire que dans ce ‘remake’, rien n’a changé, c’est toujours aussi mal fait et moche ! ces couleurs affreuses, toutes mélangées n’importe comment, c’est tout simplement… affreux ! et super moche. Techniquement parlant, c’est aussi à la ramasse puisque même les textures restent pixélisées…! (un ‘hommage’ à la vieille bouse à ce qu’il paraît ?).

    La jouabilité n’est pas au mieux, elle non plus, et même logée, hélas ! toujours à la même enseigne. Celle de l’immobilisme : bon retour en 1994 ! c’est donc d’une lourdeur et d’une non-jouabilité exécrable. L’inventaire et d’une manière générale, l’interface, sont une horreur, les commandes sont une horreur (j’ai essayé au C/S et à la manette, c’est toujours pourri), le combat est foireux, sans compter les ennemis qui ré-apparaissent par magie… ou les allers et retours incessants dans cette station de merde !

    Là, franchement, c’est pas un remake… mais un simple remaster à la mords-moi-le-noeud, bâclé qui plus est, volontiers (souvent) buggué et d’une pénibilité non remboursée par la sécu. C’est zéro, ce truc !    … Expand
  5. ricky6
    Aug 21, 2023
    4
    A bad remake, sure it was remarkable in 1993, sorry but now this is really ugly and annoying. I was expecting a lot from bioshock's dad but i got really disappointed.
    I think it's the first time over hundreds of games (of which lot of very old games) i don't finish one.
  6. jendranez
    Jun 5, 2023
    9
    Maybe I’m old. Yes, I am. But this old-school experience is what I was looking for over the last few years. What can I say? It’s a great and difficult game with some annoying mechanics - which I love. Must play for boomers. :D
  7. Coeurl3
    Jun 3, 2023
    9
    This game is a blast from the past, and very addictive. The feeling you get exploring and unlocking shortcuts and listening to the audio logs is pretty creepy but at least on medium difficulty the game doesn’t seem to be that unforgiving. The graphics too are very pleasingly retro, and the gunplay feels tight. In terms of figuring out what to do, especially with the numbers in each nodeThis game is a blast from the past, and very addictive. The feeling you get exploring and unlocking shortcuts and listening to the audio logs is pretty creepy but at least on medium difficulty the game doesn’t seem to be that unforgiving. The graphics too are very pleasingly retro, and the gunplay feels tight. In terms of figuring out what to do, especially with the numbers in each node room etc I did already watch a YouTube video explaining that part, and upon starting I was initially very confused about how to complete the puzzles, so I had to look up a guide for that too. But once you know about those things the game is 10/10.… Expand
  8. Ka1ns
    Jun 2, 2023
    10
    It's by far the best way to experience a classic and understand why it's such a classic. Modern games have taught us that the developers will make sure that we do not get lost in their game and constantly present everything on a silver platter.

    I forgot when was the last time I felt in the game that I was not led by the hand, but really given food for thought and space for experiments.    It's by far the best way to experience a classic and understand why it's such a classic. Modern games have taught us that the developers will make sure that we do not get lost in their game and constantly present everything on a silver platter.

    I forgot when was the last time I felt in the game that I was not led by the hand, but really given food for thought and space for experiments.

    For those who are going to try this remake, I will only say one thing, give the game a chance, let it rock a little, because the first 2 hours of gameplay can be very confusing, but I would call it a period of adaptation to a non-standard gaming experience, which not every modern game can let you experience.    … Expand
  9. MadclownJack
    Jun 22, 2023
    9
    Holy hell, this thing is awesome. I love everything about it. How long before they've remade SS2?
  10. Andrudis
    Jun 9, 2023
    9
    Almost perfect remake of beloved game. Sadly combat feels somewhat dated by modern gaming standards
  11. svonton
    Aug 22, 2023
    9
    Maybe it's not the best option, but I think it's ok to try some classic series via some remakes compared to playing original games that are kind of old and hard to not only look at but also try to run. So the System Shok remake is a great example of this case. I always wanted to try these games, and here is a good opportunity to try some classic games that have become the predecessors ofMaybe it's not the best option, but I think it's ok to try some classic series via some remakes compared to playing original games that are kind of old and hard to not only look at but also try to run. So the System Shok remake is a great example of this case. I always wanted to try these games, and here is a good opportunity to try some classic games that have become the predecessors of many genres, including "immersive shooters." But let's start with the visual part, as for me it's increadably good. I mean, not the amount of poligons or RTX in each of your eyes, but a good-looking pixel-stylish art style with well-placed lightning—all of this makes old-style sci-fi really shine. Another great aspect is the sound part—all this sound of a dead space station infiltrated with mutants and cyborgs and voice-acted journals of crewmembers—and most enjoyable is Shodan's voice. The final plus is the plot of the game: all these journals dive into the atmosphere of this dead space station and turn you into an invistigator of what exactly happened on this station and how you cannot repeat the fate of crew members and survive. The point of contention on my mind is game play that feels kind of outdated nowadays, and it is a double-edged sword. I mean, I understand that it's great to save classic gameplay of the original (in some ways), but from another side, it's kind of hard to understand what exactly game want from you. But anyway, despite this controversy, the game really shines, and I recommend this game for someone who loves space, sci-fi, or retro games.… Expand
  12. Zero_89
    Jun 9, 2023
    8
    Just wow, people at Nightdive did a wonderful job with this remake, really nothing much to say, if you loved the original System Shock you sure are going to love this.
    Ironically, the only real issue that this game has is that it can faithful to a fault, we all know how obtuse the original System Shock was, and honestly I kinda wish they could have gone with the SS2 approach, but that's    Just wow, people at Nightdive did a wonderful job with this remake, really nothing much to say, if you loved the original System Shock you sure are going to love this.
    Ironically, the only real issue that this game has is that it can faithful to a fault, we all know how obtuse the original System Shock was, and honestly I kinda wish they could have gone with the SS2 approach, but that's not the case at all, this game can be outright BRUTAL at times, I'll say that a guide in later levels is basically required, if you don't want to lose your mind that is.
    Eat your hearth out, people that don't use a dual monitor set up.    … Expand
  13. pachuta12
    Jul 10, 2023
    9
    System shock (2023) is a remake from the System shock (1994). [Fast resume: you are a hacker that was hired to deactivate the morals system of an AI in the citadel station (in the space), this AI killed everyone in the station and wants to exterminate all the humans, so you are going to stop her]. The moment you start the game, you will recognize that there is no mission. This is becauseSystem shock (2023) is a remake from the System shock (1994). [Fast resume: you are a hacker that was hired to deactivate the morals system of an AI in the citadel station (in the space), this AI killed everyone in the station and wants to exterminate all the humans, so you are going to stop her]. The moment you start the game, you will recognize that there is no mission. This is because you are the one that has to investigate what to do. The moment you pick up the map and the weapon (at the start), the police is going to ask you to destroy a laser, and they wont tell you anything more. That because you will have to listen to some logs that are in the station to realize how to stop the laser. If you like to play different things, then you will really like this game.… Expand
  14. arostislavna
    May 31, 2023
    10
    A faithful recreation with some minor tweaks to make weapons actually look like they're supposed to. Some quality of life features, and others (& omissions) that were clearly design choices to keep the game tough as nails.

    Like it's predecessors it contains complexities that will make you confused if you are not paying attention. Night Dive did not dumb down the gameplay to appease    A faithful recreation with some minor tweaks to make weapons actually look like they're supposed to. Some quality of life features, and others (& omissions) that were clearly design choices to keep the game tough as nails.

    Like it's predecessors it contains complexities that will make you confused if you are not paying attention. Night Dive did not dumb down the gameplay to appease people who expect the game to play itself, and with that said... System Shock might NOT be for you. You will need to be the judge of that.    … Expand
  15. DakinPJ
    May 31, 2023
    9
    If this is what outdated design is, we need more of it.

    I played the Enhanced Edition of System Shock at the beginning of the year and can say confidently that it was an unmatchable experience. This is not nostalgia talking because I had never played the original before. This game doesn't think you're dumb and I'm glad for it. This remake is the same incredible game! Good job NightDive    If this is what outdated design is, we need more of it.

    I played the Enhanced Edition of System Shock at the beginning of the year and can say confidently that it was an unmatchable experience. This is not nostalgia talking because I had never played the original before. This game doesn't think you're dumb and I'm glad for it.

    This remake is the same incredible game!

    Good job NightDive on this outstanding remake and trusting players to be adult enough to interact diegetically with this intricate world as it was created in 1994.
    It is well optimized and the art direction is gorgeous.

    Bring back 1990s game design!    … Expand
  16. Hoshi212
    May 31, 2023
    10
    Fantastic and faithful remake of a genre defining classic! If you loved the original you will love this one too. All I miss is the option for the OG music.
  17. Jt0429
    May 31, 2023
    8
    Good-
    Interesting visual style; SHODAN is still an all-time great villain; The intense exploration and combat still work incredibly well in modern times.
    Bad- Cyberspace hacking segments are still dumb; Maze-like level design won’t be for everyone. Thoughts- System Shock is one of the most important games in history, kicking off the immersive sim as the genre we know today, and    Good-
    Interesting visual style; SHODAN is still an all-time great villain; The intense exploration and combat still work incredibly well in modern times.

    Bad-
    Cyberspace hacking segments are still dumb; Maze-like level design won’t be for everyone.

    Thoughts-
    System Shock is one of the most important games in history, kicking off the immersive sim as the genre we know today, and also introducing an iconic villain in the form of SHODAN. The remake does an incredible job of bringing System Shock to a modern gaming audience, and while its slavish devotion to being as faithful as possible to the original might have some drawbacks—I still don’t like the maze-like layout of the game’s levels—it still does a great job of being the best way to experience System Shock.    … Expand
  18. Karasique
    Jun 15, 2023
    1
    This is actually a horror game.
    inventory horror, objective horror, backtracking horror, lift horror, scavenger horror
    what else? VR-hacking minigame horror? silly music horror, audio diaries pickup animation horror,
    squarepixeleness horror
  19. Aodecim
    May 31, 2023
    9
    Great entry for player who have never experienced the original. Modernized but has a distinct art style reminiscent of the original. Level design is labyrinthine and hearkens back to the original. Stellar remake.
  20. eynard
    Jun 6, 2023
    10
    Great remake of great game! In System Shock literally everything is good. One of the best games of 2023 for me.
  21. TypInSomething
    Jun 22, 2023
    1
    Now what is a remake?
    Which games do one remake?
    Why remake that game? In simple terms, To remake something is to make a copy of the original by focusing on the things that were wrong at that time and improving or changing those. So do we want a game from 2017 to be remaked. No. Why no? Because from 2017 to 2023 the technology difference is not something to go Aw. But a game from 1999    Now what is a remake?
    Which games do one remake?
    Why remake that game?
    In simple terms, To remake something is to make a copy of the original by focusing on the things that were wrong at that time and improving or changing those.
    So do we want a game from 2017 to be remaked. No. Why no? Because from 2017 to 2023 the technology difference is not something to go Aw. But a game from 1999 did not have good graphics according to today's graphics, did not have the advanced technology, and did not know about different game designs that could fit in the survival horror.
    So now if we don't go Aw in a game remade from 1994 to 2023. Then WTF did you remake?
    No game is 100% perfect. Then why would you not change anything and you call it a remake?
    Just because this game looks good from afar, does not mean it is good. Having the aesthetic from 1994 is one thing, but keeping everything pixelated doesn't make it a remake. Just having modern assets is not the main focus of a remake.
    Back then they did not have good AI. But now all we have is AI. SO why the **** would you not take advantage of that.
    Players should at least have a final goal in hand at any particular time of a game. This game provides none. There are bits of audio files that explain some lore. But lore is not a story. Lore does not provide a final goal or any goal. It's just lore.    … Expand
  22. LeDivinDieu
    May 31, 2023
    10
    Excellent remaster.
    Smooth, mordern and absolutely respectful of the original game.
    Few upgardes for Steamdeck would be nice (inventory...) but its already ok.
    Very well optimized btw
  23. Fuz
    Jun 2, 2023
    10
    This is not a game.
    This is a manual on how you do a remake.
    It's perfect: faithful to the original, but with updated graphics and controls, all done without betray the core of the original game or "adapting for modern sensibilities" (ugh). It's a work done with love and respect. The game in itself is fantastic, it looks phenomenal, has amazing map design, oozes atmosphere, it's got    This is not a game.
    This is a manual on how you do a remake.
    It's perfect: faithful to the original, but with updated graphics and controls, all done without betray the core of the original game or "adapting for modern sensibilities" (ugh). It's a work done with love and respect.
    The game in itself is fantastic, it looks phenomenal, has amazing map design, oozes atmosphere, it's got smart gameplay and just shows how bad game designing has become for our generation.
    It's also highly customizable in its difficulty, and this should be another example for modern developers. You can ease or make harder the combat or the puzzles or all of those things, you can fully customize your experience.
    This game also show how pathetic some gaming "journalists" are. Yeah, there's no handholding - what are you, a toddler?

    Buy it, it's beyond awesome.    … Expand
  24. ClayLamm
    Jun 4, 2023
    10
    All the negative reviews are mad that the game essentially plays the same as it once did, recapturing what games in this era played like while looking stunning. If you are curious about what it played like and want to experience the best version of it possible, here it is.

    If you want a game that plays like it was made today but another game, how hard is that?
  25. Hyperfailure
    Jun 15, 2023
    8
    Having never played the original, I went into the game with an open mind and was not disappointed. The atmosphere of The Citadel was haunting, the enemies creepy and powerful and the ever present feeling of tension as I forged on is unforgettable. The CYBERSPACE sections of the game were neat initially, but quickly became a boring slog, though thankfully they do not show up so often as toHaving never played the original, I went into the game with an open mind and was not disappointed. The atmosphere of The Citadel was haunting, the enemies creepy and powerful and the ever present feeling of tension as I forged on is unforgettable. The CYBERSPACE sections of the game were neat initially, but quickly became a boring slog, though thankfully they do not show up so often as to demerit the game. The gameplay was retro-esque, especially the combat, but worked well for me. The story and characters (which you only communicate with via "email") were all interesting and fleshed out. Except for the ending. The ending sucks an ass's arse.… Expand
  26. ThatGuy00
    May 31, 2023
    10
    A glorious blast from the past and probably the best maze crawler game to date. It's hard, always keeps you on your toes and **** slaps you every time you begin to trust it, and that's exactly how such games should feel and play. It's not a kind of a game where developers holding player's hand all the time and keep him entertained (sorry, if you want *that* kind of experience, go to callA glorious blast from the past and probably the best maze crawler game to date. It's hard, always keeps you on your toes and **** slaps you every time you begin to trust it, and that's exactly how such games should feel and play. It's not a kind of a game where developers holding player's hand all the time and keep him entertained (sorry, if you want *that* kind of experience, go to call of duty). No matter how big your arsenal is or how many resources do you have, you can be beaten down to last clip and 5 hp any time. You are a lab rat in a maze that wants you dead, and all you can do is to survive, adapt and destroy it from within. Such hostile gameplay feels fresh, especially for a game that looks like AAA (ok, maybe it's rather AA,but still). On a technical level the game is still rough here and there. Sometimes it's glitching pixelated textures, sometimes AI acts dumb, but nothing gamebreaking, and lets face it, it's quite rare these days.

    In my opinion the game totally worth the money and time spent. Even if you aren't a big fan of the genre, give it a try anyway. It's a unique classic experience in a modern wrapper, and brings you back to the times where the main priority was the player's experience, not shareholders profits.    … Expand
  27. procyon4
    Jun 7, 2023
    1
    While the graphics are good the rest is an absolute disappointment. Clunky, non intuitive and imprecise controls makes movement and combat a real shore, specially in hyperspace where you get hurt simply by hitting the walls. It is also impossible to quick-save the game in hyperspace so its "do the whole thing all over again" every time you get thrown out. And what about enemy spawningWhile the graphics are good the rest is an absolute disappointment. Clunky, non intuitive and imprecise controls makes movement and combat a real shore, specially in hyperspace where you get hurt simply by hitting the walls. It is also impossible to quick-save the game in hyperspace so its "do the whole thing all over again" every time you get thrown out. And what about enemy spawning re-spawning? What does this have to do with game's enjoyment? Nothing but frustration. I got rid of this lemon and am now playing a game that was designed for the player's enjoyment, not punishment.… Expand
  28. 31Zarathustra
    Jun 1, 2023
    10
    What an absolutely amazing remake! They kept all the great elements from the original and carefully implemented enhancements that paint a new and fresh view of the game. As someone who loved the original, this is all i wanted and more. Thanks Night Dive!
  29. dauletalzhanov
    Jul 6, 2023
    0
    overrated trash. clear a region and then the enemies respawn every 30 seconds or less. cant change the difficulty setting for this. only way to play this is through mods. but at that point, what's the point of playing anymore. i went to a thread listing the best levels. they list the first level as the best one. this game literally gets worse from there. overrated niche
  30. DEEKAY320_
    Jun 1, 2023
    10
    System Shock Remake brilliantly revives the original 1994 game developed by Looking Glass Studios. I must say, having played the original for the first time just last year, my opinion is not affected by any nostalgia. And I must say, the experience was truly incredible. It represents the immersive sim genre at its fullest potential. This game won't hold your hand; it's up to you toSystem Shock Remake brilliantly revives the original 1994 game developed by Looking Glass Studios. I must say, having played the original for the first time just last year, my opinion is not affected by any nostalgia. And I must say, the experience was truly incredible. It represents the immersive sim genre at its fullest potential. This game won't hold your hand; it's up to you to navigate and fight through it. It may not appeal to everyone, but giving it a try is a must, as it is a very influential game and the granddaddy of its entire genre (Thief, Deus Ex, Bioshock, Dishonored, Prey 2017…)

    The biggest drawback by today's standards is probably the original control scheme, which is completely gone in the Remake. The Remake stays very true to the original while adding enhancements that appeal to both longtime fans and newcomers. It's essentially the same game, playing and looking great— in general it is a great upgrade. However, my only criticism lies with the new music. While I understand that the original soundtrack may not work with the new version, it was an important part of the game's identity for me. Maybe in the future we could see some alternative music option.

    Overall, I am highly satisfied with what Nightdive accomplished and I can recommend the Remake.    … Expand
  31. Tigeru
    Jun 9, 2023
    9
    Great game, Citadel is scary as it was and even more somtimes. Shodan still are as mean as my wife so i'm loving it! World needs remake of System Shock 2!
  32. SCharade
    Jun 18, 2023
    9
    9/10 Because music and storytelling are improvable. It is not only a very faithful remake, it is a way to show how a game should be: hard, no hints, immersive, an experience that pushes the player to the limit, that leads him, her, to despair for not being able to advance and has to go tempting a darkness void to achieve the goals. Unforgettable characters in this labyrinthine experience9/10 Because music and storytelling are improvable. It is not only a very faithful remake, it is a way to show how a game should be: hard, no hints, immersive, an experience that pushes the player to the limit, that leads him, her, to despair for not being able to advance and has to go tempting a darkness void to achieve the goals. Unforgettable characters in this labyrinthine experience at Citadel Station.… Expand
  33. Dimocracy
    Jul 6, 2023
    8
    This is an absolute amazing remake, I think. I'm pleased to see this stylized graphic that doesn't chase the modern ultra-realistic image.
  34. dabyd1304
    Jun 4, 2023
    3
    Very poor balanced. A very easy beginning with some awful levels with more enemies than ammo.
  35. JamieTN
    May 31, 2023
    0
    Clunky controls, non-existent hit feedback, terrible ai (ironically) and horrific pixel degradation make this remake look pretty on the surface but go no further than that. All the above was given as feedback during the beta and the devs systematically ignored it all.
    While the graphics are a personal preference the rest has resulted in an objectively worse remake.
    I give it a 0 because    Clunky controls, non-existent hit feedback, terrible ai (ironically) and horrific pixel degradation make this remake look pretty on the surface but go no further than that. All the above was given as feedback during the beta and the devs systematically ignored it all.
    While the graphics are a personal preference the rest has resulted in an objectively worse remake.
    I give it a 0 because that's how much respect the console backers got.    … Expand
  36. Bosso2015
    Jun 1, 2023
    6
    The combat is really bad. The levels are bizarre mazes that make little sense. The puzzles seem worse than the original game (harder to solve, but also more confusing visually).

    I do really like the way it looks, and the controls are much better. I love what they did with cyberspace, but, like the puzzles, enhancing the visuals has again made it more confusing to navigate. It's difficult    The combat is really bad. The levels are bizarre mazes that make little sense. The puzzles seem worse than the original game (harder to solve, but also more confusing visually).

    I do really like the way it looks, and the controls are much better. I love what they did with cyberspace, but, like the puzzles, enhancing the visuals has again made it more confusing to navigate.

    It's difficult to recommend this game to a modern gamer as I honestly think most players will find it frustrating.    … Expand
  37. Babutto
    Jun 2, 2023
    7
    I'll give it a 7 for the following reasons.

    Pros.: - Nice graphics. The game looks legit. - Some nice add-ons - animations of jettisoning, explosion, etc. - Added intro of Hacker's room. To introduce controls and some initial story info - it was clear Hacker was into TriOptimum for a long time and they tracked him down. - Weapons' upgrades. - Elevator music. - Some small nice    I'll give it a 7 for the following reasons.

    Pros.:
    - Nice graphics. The game looks legit.
    - Some nice add-ons - animations of jettisoning, explosion, etc.
    - Added intro of Hacker's room. To introduce controls and some initial story info - it was clear Hacker was into TriOptimum for a long time and they tracked him down.
    - Weapons' upgrades.
    - Elevator music.
    - Some small nice old-school secrets.
    - Puzzles.
    - Difficulty.
    - End music from Hardware (1990) OST.
    - Still can beat without some weapons and upgrades.

    Cons.:
    - The atmosphere is killed. Music is changed, and audio logs are changed too. Yes, you have to be very careful even on the medium settings to beat the game. But the events on Citadel were dreadful.
    - Audio logs lack depth and background noises and effects. Before, you could feel it was something in there, people were fighting, trying to survive. Now, it feels like they are just in the studio.
    - Music is awful. Very bad work of the composer. Similar boring tracks all over. Except for the elevator theme.
    - Could use more scripted animations throughout the game.
    - SHODAN is not threatening. No depth in her character anymore (background noises, glitches, etc. - most of them are gone). This is the most significant downside of the remake. It is NOT HARD to add noises, glitches, etc. It is the job of the sound designers that they screwed up.
    - Bugs. "Dancing" corpses, some audio logs cannot be picked up.

    Basically, they were just lazy to add details. But they added their useless NightDive logo easter eggs, of course.    … Expand
  38. Kunray
    May 31, 2023
    4
    It's your call but for now it's not recommended.
    4/10 this game at that stage.
    Nooo.....
  39. Glic2003
    Jun 2, 2023
    7
    A pretty good remaster of a classic game. But in a modern context, it's hard to recommend. The biggest problem being that, while the graphics were updated, almost nothing about the gameplay was. It's still a confusing mess at times, and the combat is still far from enjoyable.
  40. AnonymousPower
    Jun 1, 2023
    5
    QOL in games has come a long way since the 90s, and this remake misses the opportunity to improve the game in ways that it really should have. For example, how are you supposed to know that you should be noting down random digits that you find in the world or what their significance is? Why is there no clue what random switches do when you press them? These things aren't "dated" design,QOL in games has come a long way since the 90s, and this remake misses the opportunity to improve the game in ways that it really should have. For example, how are you supposed to know that you should be noting down random digits that you find in the world or what their significance is? Why is there no clue what random switches do when you press them? These things aren't "dated" design, they are and always have been *bad* design.

    The cyberspace minigame gets old really fast. I was over it the second time I had to do it.

    Combat feels awful, there's no feedback whenever you hit anything. There's no clue how much damage you are dealing, if you are even dealing any at all.

    It kept me interested for about 10 hours but I really just can't be bothered with this game, it's too much effort.    … Expand
  41. Pickle
    May 31, 2023
    5
    For the most part the most significant changes done in this remake -by Nightdive studios nonetheless-, have to do with the game’s presentation, not so much with the game’s mechanics.

    I guess one could argue there’s some quality-of-life improvements here and there, you don’t have to battle the UI as much as you did in the original, but still, the game just has this overarching feeling of    For the most part the most significant changes done in this remake -by Nightdive studios nonetheless-, have to do with the game’s presentation, not so much with the game’s mechanics.

    I guess one could argue there’s some quality-of-life improvements here and there, you don’t have to battle the UI as much as you did in the original, but still, the game just has this overarching feeling of coarseness to it, where it clearly seems as if it needed a bit more polish in some pretty significant areas.

    Mainly the problem I had with the game was the item pickups and the lack of direction, but to be honest, it was the first issue the one that brought down my experience to a crawl, and inevitably made me quit the game altogether. This is simply a game that isn’t balanced properly, it’s all about exploration and when it works, it’s glorious, you find things naturally, and the game’s completion is rewarding; when it stops working though, it makes the game feel like a chore, and this is something that happens in later levels, that I’m not sure if people will even notice or get to them because of the level design and lack of direction that gradually manifests as you play.

    There’s a sense here where if the first level was created in an intuitive way, the rest of the levels feel as if they needed more polish and attention. There are times where I found myself gaining access to areas that I clearly wasn’t supposed to be in, like one where I had the key-card to get into the room, but not to open the shortcut that would eventually interconnect with the rest of the area; so, I could obtain the upgrade present at this location, but instead of continuing my path, I had to backtrack from where I came. Simply put, this was clearly an issue with the way Nightdive distributed the pathways and items required to progress, providing me with the ability to obtain the latter I required, but not the initial ones I truly needed.

    Eventually I was also running out of health, there were no health stations, not health pickups, nothing; eventually I did find three health pickups but each of them bugged out and prevented me from actually healing, effectively leaving me with too little health in order to progress. This was the moment where I quit.

    The thing about Nightdive is that they’re responsible for some incredible ports, re-releases, and remasters of past games, but it does feel as if in this case, as it was with Blade Runner, they’re just biting a bit more than they can chew. I’m kind of stunned to see this level of quality as well because deep down you can tell all the fundamentals are there, is just that -as you progress-, all the cracks in this start showing, and eventually, the game bursts.    … Expand
  42. RDonnell
    Jun 5, 2023
    1
    This game has no HDR and no Raytracing. And the textures are a weird pixelated retro that does not work and looks awful.
  43. leaveit
    Jun 1, 2023
    5
    The bizarre army of shills that Nightdive have built up over the literal 9-year development of this game are doing a fantastic job of rating it just above the worst-rated of the popular immersive sims (Dark Messiah, Thief 4, etc.), and indeed everything came out much better than I thought it would 5 years ago when the game was already late and going on hiatus. Unfortunately, this will notThe bizarre army of shills that Nightdive have built up over the literal 9-year development of this game are doing a fantastic job of rating it just above the worst-rated of the popular immersive sims (Dark Messiah, Thief 4, etc.), and indeed everything came out much better than I thought it would 5 years ago when the game was already late and going on hiatus. Unfortunately, this will not be quite enough to make the game successful. The credits list at least 50 distinct people involved in the project, and even if they were only contracted for 1/3 of the time, that's easily $6,000,000 on the payroll alone, for which they'd have to make multiple hundreds of thousands of sales on Steam to turn a profit. It seems the game is headed for the, "kind of well-rated, but ultimately unsuccessful" niche of the original, thanks in no small part to its dated interface, graphics, extreme development time, boring soundtrack, floaty combat, various bugs and the studio's willingness to repeatedly alienate even non-hostile subsets of its supporters.

    POSITIVITY TIME: The art is very cool. The pixelated textures are an affectation in my opinion, and don't come at me with "OK zoomer" or whatever since I played the original, DOOM, Marathon et al. multiple years before the CEO of this studio did. But, pixels notwithstanding, the art in the game is among the best fan works of System Shock I've ever seen and is more than a match for the original game.

    The game design is improved in several (albeit obvious) ways. This was truly the whole point of the project in the first place: to go beyond compatibility porting and move into modernizing game mechanics. Yet it still retains a surprising amount of the original game's design - more than you might expect for a relatively inaccessible game like System Shock. For this I have to praise Nightdive's grit knowing that there would probably be bellyaching about manual saves, writing down CPU room codes, time limits, etc. and including that anyway.

    Lastly, polish. It's not perfect, but neither was the original game in this regard. The final product, dollar-for-dollar and adjusted for age, really does feel more professional than the original.

    Overall, this is a SIGNIFICANTLY flawed, EXTREMELY late debut-slash-swan-song from a somewhat witless developer that was probably wise to sell out and let someone else handle their PR. There are diamonds in the rough here, but let's not kid ourselves by saying this is an 8/10 game. If it is then you may as well quit playing video games now.    … Expand
  44. lunchbachs
    Jun 14, 2023
    10
    Wow, a PC shooter that actually feels like it was meant to be played with a mouse and keyboard.

    Play this game and cherish it, because there is a 0% chance you'll ever see something like this made again.
  45. affamily
    Aug 11, 2023
    9
    I havent finished it yet but damn this brought back memories! The negative reviews primarily express frustration over the game maintaining its original gameplay, recapturing the essence of its era, yet with impressive visuals. If you're intrigued by its original gameplay and eager to encounter the most refined version available, this is your chance.
  46. SurTails101
    Jul 14, 2023
    6
    Never played this game before (OG). I liked the vibe of the game so I got it. Put around 13-14 hours into it but I feel the game mechanics dates. Also the whole game feels too claustrophobic. You're like a rat in a maze and there is tons of backtracking. Games have evolved since the first release. Purists/OG nerds will be happy but it's so difficult figuring out what you have to do. Why isNever played this game before (OG). I liked the vibe of the game so I got it. Put around 13-14 hours into it but I feel the game mechanics dates. Also the whole game feels too claustrophobic. You're like a rat in a maze and there is tons of backtracking. Games have evolved since the first release. Purists/OG nerds will be happy but it's so difficult figuring out what you have to do. Why is there not some sort of questing system that at least hints you at what you're supposed to do next? I agree with other reviews saying there is no feedback to the damage you're doing and that just feels odd. Other than that, the vibe of the game is great. The remake graphics work real well. The shooting was hit and miss for me (no pun intended) . Will not be finishing this one. Felt a bit like a chore. Wish I had played it back then: likely my opinion would of had been more positive.… Expand
  47. Traxillion
    Sep 8, 2023
    7
    It is an extremely faithful remake to the point that some points are detracted due to keeping oversights from the first game.

    Cyberspace is less confusing but still annoying and unnecessary as it was implemented. The last boss is very disappointing and anti-climactic, The ending itself is kind of a letdown as it's really basic, and some of the 'story puzzles' are still really convoluted    It is an extremely faithful remake to the point that some points are detracted due to keeping oversights from the first game.

    Cyberspace is less confusing but still annoying and unnecessary as it was implemented. The last boss is very disappointing and anti-climactic, The ending itself is kind of a letdown as it's really basic, and some of the 'story puzzles' are still really convoluted without a guide or a former playthrough.

    Still a very good game overall, I really like the graphics as they fit the aesthetic (trying for photo realism would've been a mistake in my opinion).

    Combat is fun although it gets rather tedious in the last two floors.

    The game also does a really good job of creating a suspenseful atmosphere early on, shame is kinda gets lost around the Executive floor.

    That's also true for the difficulty- I played on the highest difficulty and it was only challenging up to executive, where they decided to give you unlimited resources.    … Expand
  48. PhoneTheo
    Aug 16, 2023
    7
    F un
  49. Alizaxx
    Aug 14, 2023
    10
    Great remake overall, brings back many good memories from the OG System Shock.
  50. Velvetvelvet
    Sep 8, 2023
    10
    7 лет назад мой друг сделал для меня подарок - предзаказ System Shock на Kickstarter. Это одна из его любимых игр, в которую я раньше не играл. Он очень хотел показать мне её, чтобы я испытал тоже, что и он. Я думал, что когда-нибудь мы откупорим бутылочку Джемесона и будем вместе играть на его 80-дюймом телеке. Жизнь распорядилась иначе...

    Перенос за переносом, мировое потрясение, за    7 лет назад мой друг сделал для меня подарок - предзаказ System Shock на Kickstarter. Это одна из его любимых игр, в которую я раньше не играл. Он очень хотел показать мне её, чтобы я испытал тоже, что и он. Я думал, что когда-нибудь мы откупорим бутылочку Джемесона и будем вместе играть на его 80-дюймом телеке. Жизнь распорядилась иначе...

    Перенос за переносом, мировое потрясение, за потрясением... Столько воды утекло. Теперь мы живём с ним в разных странах. И в общем-то и играем вместе. Только через Дискорд и за тысячи километров друг от друга.

    А игра 10 из 10 - разработчики не обманули ожидания, не подвели. Спасибо!    … Expand

Awards & Rankings

29
#29 Most Discussed PC Game of 2023
3
#3 Most Shared PC Game of 2023

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
78

Generally favorable reviews - based on 77 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 56 out of 77
  2. Mixed: 21 out of 77
  3. Negative: 0 out of 77
  1. Generación Xbox
    May 20, 2024
    82
    It is a game that may not be for everyone, but it has that charm that many of its fans will like. It would be unforgivable not to give a chance to one of the games that served as inspiration for other successes.
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  2. LEVEL (Czech Republic)
    Jan 22, 2024
    100
    The developers didn't invent the already invented - they figured out how to bring a cult classic out of cryosleep and offer it to a world that may have forgotten how brilliant it was. [Issue#328]
  3. Riot Pixels
    Sep 30, 2023
    65
    The System Shock remake is a boring shooter. It will not surprise old fans and can hardly attract new players.
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