System Shock

SHODAN once again displays all its charm, this time on PS5 and Xbox Series, by the grace of a Nightdive that once again demonstrates the love and respect it feels for the original System Shock. Played on PS5 the result is outstanding with no bugs, performance drops or any other error.

System Shock is a masterful remake of an absolute classic. While much of the old essence is left largely unchanged, such as the intricate level design and the chilling atmosphere, the game has been enhanced subtly to highlight its strengths and adapt to a modern audience. System Shock shows that old and new can sometimes go hand in hand and blend together to a timeless masterpiece.

System Shock is a great immersive sim, even many years after its original release. This faithful remake is the best way to play it on modern platforms. It now remains to be seen how long we should wait for its sequel.

System Shock is an incredible remake of a cult classic game that gives the original the facelift it needed to become relevant and present in today’s gaming conversation.

System Shock proves that it is like wine and has improved with time. Although it is already 30 years old, its mechanics have not aged poorly. In fact, the visual modernization has made the title more appealing for modern consoles.

System Shock is one of the most influential games ever made, and Nightdive Studios’ stunning recreation of the 30-year-old title makes it an important experience for returning players and newcomers alike, if only to understand how the genre got to where it is today.

As someone who really likes the original, this new take on System Shock doesn't stray too far from the source. Nightdive have updated the visuals and made things just a little more friendly for new players. Visually, it's very atmospheric and polished. The interface can initially be tricky to read but combat feels punchy and can be tactical. The conveniences are welcome but it still has one foot in the clunky possibility space of 90's PC gaming. Rather than entirely sand off the things that appeal to me about System Shock, it refines them in a way I really admire.

While this type of game has obviously been done better and bigger in the decades since, old school gamers will love stepping back into this world. Modern players may find it interesting but not vital.

System Shock on PS5 is a great opportunity for console players to experience Nightdive Studios excellent remake of a classic.

Nightdive Studios revitalized the iconic System Shock, maintaining its classic charm with updated visuals and gameplay refinements. It faithfully blends old-school simplicity with modern lighting effects and detailed enemy models. Despite some menu navigation challenges on consoles, the game offers a solid 60 FPS experience. The latest updates enhance the final battle mechanics and introduce a playable female hacker, reinforcing its legacy as a foundational immersive sim.

While the changes to the ending and some quality-of-life improvements do great work in improving this remake, System Shock still brings with it the thirty years of baggage that the original game did. Despite its resounding influence and its impact on a genre it arguably helped to carve out, the System Shock remake does best with what it has to offer an experience that's authentic to the original game, for better or for worse.

At the very least, anyone who has lost themselves in Deus Ex, Dishonored, Bioshock, Prey and many other titles that have cribbed heavily from the blueprint laid out here owe it to themselves to see where it all began.

System Shock is a title that fans or those who have never tried the original game and like the genre but will find it a bit rudimentary will love. Those who know how to see beyond will have a challenging game, it inherits some shortcomings that the 1994 game has and they stuck quite closely to some of its playable bases.

System Shock is a classic and Nightdive Studio have not gotten in the way of bringing it to modern hardware. With punishing gameplay, relenting atmosphere and an all-timer villain with SHODAN, it’s an incredible remake. The console experience isn’t the best but it doesn’t totally dampen the grandfather of immersive sims.

A gaming pill best swallowed with a heaped spoonful of nostalgia, this is good but not great. In space, no-one can hear you scream ‘Where do I go now?’ [Issue#42, p.92]

On one hand, I am happy I finally got the chance to play System Shock, but the experience I had was mixed overall. While the storytelling, world-building, and environments were interesting and engaging, its gunplay, awkward UI, and unbalanced difficulty make the game hard to recommend outside of those who have already experienced it before. This remake retains a lot of old-school design choices but dresses them up in a new 3D outer shell, meaning it’s still the same game from 1994, for better or worse. Those who love challenging gameplay and don’t mind some stiff gunplay will find a lot to like here, but for first-timers, this game is not newcomer-friendly, and you’re better off tracking down a copy of Prey or BioShock which do a better job of being more inviting story-driven shooter experiences.