System Shock was initially released 30 years ago on PC but made its way back in the form of a remake, which was released almost a year ago on PC. We took the time to review it back then, and loved pretty much everything about it. You can check out that review here. But for now, as we circle around to System Shock’s console port, it’s nice to return with some fresh thoughts and opinions, to see just how well it fares on these platforms.
We Meet Again
It became an inspiration for games like Bioshock with its maze-like gameplay, which took players through a space station. It has had a complete graphical overhaul and updated gameplay mechanics, which were definitely needed to put this game in front of gamers in 2024.
The game takes place in the future in the year 2072, set on a space station that is run by a mega-corporation called TriOptimum. When a hacker flips a switch on the AI overlord known as Shodan, it is up to you to put a stop to their plan to destroy humanity. You play as a hacker to interrupt these by solving puzzles and interrupting Shodan’s plans as you unlock the space station and the AI’s evil plans are uncovered.
This iteration admittedly feels a little jankier control-wise than the original release, but I found this only added to the game’s charm. I never would have thought after playing this game many years ago, that it would be given a glossy update and be able to play it on shiny new consoles. To be honest, it looks super clean and runs incredibly well, although they did when the game was released on PC back in 2023. But it’s nice to see this port has been given the time it deserved to feel like it was optimised here.
Get Ready to Hack!
This re-skinned version of the game does a fantastic job of blending the visual styles so it looks fitting for modern-day games but also has a hint of retro style to hark back to its origins. The hard-edged metallic aesthetic of the rooms and floors is infused with neon colours that allow this to have that retro 80’s feel from the original aesthetic. Developer Nightdive Studios are being very deliberate about infusing our memories of how the game looked the first time, to what it would look like now.
In line with the original System Shock, things are generally quite difficult. The puzzles and combat are both more trying than most other games around. To decipher codes, you have to visit different areas of each level and go through audio and text logs to find the code be sure to have somewhere to write it down, as the game doesn’t save it for you or prompt you to take note of it.
This is something I learnt the hard way and had to retrace my steps before noting it down. It may sound frustrating to have to do this, but for me after spending a fair amount of time finding the code, finally unlocking the next level is incredibly gratifying. It doesn’t feel like you have to grind without serving a purpose, and the reward here is served up successfully each time.
The gameplay does take some getting used to. However, the large variety of weapons available helps you stay motivated, from laser guns to shotguns to my personal favourite, the mag rifle that shoots fireballs of energy at enemies for hilarious results. There are mod kit stations around where you can upgrade your weapons. When it comes to actual gunplay, one glaring omission is cover. This game has a lack of cover so shootouts are intense and don’t provide you with a chance to reload without getting hammered on.
There is a robust inventory management system that incorporates weapon mods and resource management that shows just how far ahead this game was on its release. It still works the same here, just presented in a more glossy version.
Final Thoughts
System Shock is considered a classic game for a good reason. While all those reasons are evident in this port and last year’s initial release on PC, you can see how much developer Nightdive Studios loves this game and ensures each detail is meticulously recrafted to still capture the spirit of the original game. If you don’t have that same connection to the original title, the game still serves as a fascinating look at where this genre started and how much it has evolved in the last 30 years.
FOUR AND A HALF STARS (OUT OF FIVE)
Highlights: Superb visuals; Engaging combat; Puzzle and shooter combat still feels fresh
Lowlights: No additional content; Generating codes with no autosave option
Developer: Nightdive Studios
Publisher: Prime Matter
Platforms: PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Windows PC
Available: Now
Review conducted on PlayStation 5, with a code provided by the publisher.
