System Shock (2023) Reviews
Nightdive's System Shock remake is a strange game, and whether it will appeal to you may largely depend on your nostalgia for the era of gaming from which it came. This remake still shows its age, despite the considerable and impressive paint job, lighting, and updated controls. If you don't mind the sometimes murderous level of difficulty, tons of backtracking, and minimal handholding, System Shock may be a compelling piece of gaming history that is worth checking out.
The atmospheric visual overhaul marks the best part of this exhausting and dated remake, while the villainous AI SHODAN remains a timeless antagonist.
I appreciate System Shock for laying the groundwork for future immersive titles, but it definitely feels dated now, and the few changes made in the remake are a mixed bag that don’t do enough to fix its problems, while also adding new ones of their own.
For fans of the original System Shock, this remake delivers a faithful recreation of that game. But for newcomers, it's arguably a little too faithful to the original and ends up feeling outdated.
All things considered, the System Shock Remake is a bit of a tough sell. Fans of the original will no doubt be curious to see how this version has turned out. Though for the neutral crowd, it may leave them wanting.
The original System Shock was a classic but also a niche game that never achieved commercial success; this remake highlights the niche aspect but will forgo the classic label. It may entice players who want to see how this updated version looks and plays, and while there’s some considerable tension to be had while going down narrow and dim lit corridors, the fun of being lost in maze after maze wears out quickly, especially when you’re doing the umpteenth scan through the map looking for whatever card or switch you have missed. At this rate, SHODAN is likely going to conquer both Citadel Station and Earth, as frustrating her plans is precisely that – frustrating.
However commendable Nightdive’s efforts to preserve the spirit of the original may be, it doesn’t take much frustrated wandering before questioning whether their modernization efforts have gone far enough.
An oddly pitched remake that has its moments but adds very little to the original beyond a visual upgrade
Given its development problems, the fact that System Shock is a functional, stable game is a mini-miracle, but by sticking so rigidly to the original's ancient design it will appeal more to series fans than newcomers.
System Shock is less of a modern means through which to experience the best of the original but a separate beast, one far clumsier but in much nicer lipstick.
System Shock is the remake fans have been waiting since 2015 and it succeeds in bringing back all that 90s PC gaming experience. Including the outdated feel in an era flooded with greater and more attractive games.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
If you are interested in where certain games got their inspiration from, then System Shock is a sort of polished re-enactment of the past.
System Shock Remake lacks the polish we've come to expect from modern remakes, but it is definitely the best version of a cult classic. It feels a bit old, but the creepy atmosphere and mysterious story make players want to explore it. You'd think a game about AI would have better NPC's, though!
Review in Dutch | Read full review
The System Shock remake is a faithful re-imagining of the original 1994 title. The remake offers updated graphics, gameplay, and control. What holds the game back is how committed it is to be a faithful remake, which ultimately makes it alienating for new players and fans of the immersive sim genre. But if you're a fan of the System Shock franchise, then the remake is the definitive way to play System Shock.
The System Shock remake gives a new aesthetic to one of the most influential games ever and proves it remains important with minimal changes.
System Shock remake offers a great facelift on almost every front but leaves a lot to be desired when it comes to enemy AI and sound design.
While I won’t call the System Shock remake an instant classic or on par with other recent remakes such as Resident Evil 4 or Dead Space, it is a decent effort to bring a revered sci-fi title to a new audience.
System Shock is an upgraded classic with dated elements that needs quality of life improvements, yet despite everything is still a fun treat for immersive sim fans.
The graphics won’t blow you away and it won’t be making too many “best graphics of the year” lists. But it’s a loving tribute and beautifully recreated edition of a much-beloved classic. There’s a lot to like in this remake, and if this is the building block for what’s to come in the franchise, there are plenty of reasons to be optimistic.
The System Shock remake is the best way to play the PC classic, making it an enjoyable first-person experience for the modern age. However, it still clings to some somewhat outdated mechanics that will frustrate newcomers.