System Shock 2: 25th Anniversary Remaster Review

by

Occasionally, it seems surprising to me that I find myself occupying the position of editor-in-chief at RPG Site. Growing up during the ’90s, my gaming roots were deeply embedded in late DOS games and the PC CD-ROM era. The game that I recall playing personally when I was around five years old was Jazz Jackrabbit. My childhood gaming experiences were dominated by other PC classics from that time such as Wolfenstein 3D, DOOM, Heretic, Hexen, King’s Quest (and other Sierra games), Tyrian, Age of Empires, Commander Keen, and many Maxis titles. I grew up primarily on sidescrollers, shooters, adventure games, and simulation games. It wasn’t until I received a PlayStation 2 that I discovered the genre we commonly refer to as role-playing games, which I quickly became fond of.

While System Shock and especially its sequel, System Shock 2, might have been games I could have grown up with due to their release platform and reputation, it seems they eluded me somehow during my adolescence. Admittedly, these games weren’t as widely played at the time compared to others mentioned, and likely, their complexity was beyond my grasp as a pre-teen. However, System Shock 2 has always felt like a classic PC game that I unintentionally missed out on until now.

For decades, I’ve listened to tales of System Shock 2’s brilliance and its impact on games like Bioshock and Prey, as well as sparking numerous other immersive simulation or horror-influenced titles. A remaster has essentially been in development for years, making this release feel particularly significant. At long last, we have the System Shock 2: 25th Anniversary Remaster, a chance to fill in a gap in my gaming knowledge.

Experiencing System Shock 2 for the first time carries a sense of familiarity despite it being a new encounter. The game’s low-poly models, rudimentary textures, idiosyncratic UI, color scheme, control system, and sound effects all resonate with what I anticipate from a late ’90s title. This remastered version, typical of Nightdive’s work, avoids overhauling the original with excessive visual enhancements, unnecessary textures, lighting, or waypoints. Instead, it maintains its authenticity and refrains from imitating a contemporary game. Rather than being a full remake like System Shock (2023), this version prioritizes fidelity to the original, as Nightdive views their work more as preservation rather than transformation.

According to Larry Kuperman, Nightdive Studios aims to re-capture the essence of classic games from the past in their projects. However, they also strive to make these games easy for new players to pick up and understand, ensuring a seamless and intuitive gaming experience for modern audiences.

40 years following the events of the initial game, I find myself immersed in the heart-pounding storyline of System Shock 2. This time around, I’m aboard a state-of-the-art faster-than-light vessel christened as the Von Braun. Upon receiving a distress signal from a nearby celestial body, my team and I make a fateful discovery – a bizarre assortment of alien eggs. Unbeknownst to us at the time, this encounter would eventually jolt me awake from cryostasis on the ship, now a chilling haunt inhabited by zombified crewmembers infected with some unknown malady, and other grotesque, parasitic abominations.

System Shock 2 seamlessly blends elements from multiple game categories such as first-person shooter, survival horror, and role-playing games (RPGs). Throughout the game, you’ll notice that the RPG aspects are represented by various skills and abilities that you can improve upon. These include physical attributes like Strength, Endurance, and Agility, which influence typical gameplay elements in expected ways. You’ll also find technical skills like hacking, repairing, and customizing equipment. In terms of weapon proficiency, there are standard, energy, heavy, and exotic types to master. Lastly, you have a wide variety of Psy abilities at your disposal, encompassing capabilities such as damaging energy attacks, stealth, and even the ability to duplicate items.

As a gaming enthusiast, I’ve journeyed through System Shock 2’s revamped version twice. In my first playthrough, I opted for the gun-heavy approach, while the second time around, I delved deeper into the game’s tech-infused magical abilities known as Psy powers. Unlike some games where you level up with experience points, System Shock 2 rewards exploration with cybermodules that can be invested in a variety of enhancements tailored to your preference. Embracing the essence of role-playing, I was free to select skills or attributes that resonated with me, or complemented my character’s style, though it may not offer the deepest customization.

As I dive back into the world of System Shock, some aspects may seem familiar to modern gamers like myself – elements such as unraveling a story predominantly through audio logs, exploring an open-ended environment, managing resources for ammo, health, and buffs, capturing the game’s overall atmosphere, and navigating light puzzles or exploration clues to progress. While System Shock wasn’t the pioneer of these design choices, it’s evident that they’ve become more widespread in gaming over the years. Replaying this classic is like stepping into a time machine, offering a fascinating glimpse into the evolution of game design, a common trait in many remasters today.

As a dedicated fan, I can’t help but marvel at the extraordinary atmosphere that System Shock has masterfully crafted. The spine-tingling sound design is a perfect blend of eerie tones and pulsating techno beats, amplified by the ominous audio logs and the chilling commands of SHODAN, always ready to issue her threats. There may not be hordes of enemies to engage in combat, but their presence and danger levels are just enough to keep me alert and my weapon at the ready.

To put it simply, I personally don’t gravitate towards horror video games; they’re not my go-to choice. However, System Shock 2, despite having elements of horror, is not overwhelmingly scary to me. In fact, I believe one can appreciate and enjoy System Shock 2 without a particular fondness for horror. Although it’s built with horror elements, its aged enemy models and gore may not be as realistic or intense, which might make it more approachable for some players. Just a heads up, there are spider-like creatures in the game for those who prefer to know that in advance.

System Shock 2 has some aspects that can be a tad bothersome, given its roots in the late ’90s. For instance, there’s a weapon-deterioration feature, which means you either need to locate resources for repairs or frequently acquire new weapons as options become available. Additionally, the later stages of System Shock 2 seem underdeveloped compared to the rest of the game, serving more like a straightforward path leading to the end rather than fitting with the overall structure. Unlike most games, System Shock 2 doesn’t typically feature boss battles, so it might not be surprising that the final boss is less engaging, coming across as an expected addition primarily to unlock the game’s credits.

While I don’t typically subscribe to the idea of games becoming outdated, it’s essential to acknowledge that System Shock 2 might feel less refined compared to something contemporary like Bioshock. The gameplay in System Shock 2 is more methodical and thoughtful, with players needing to carefully allocate modules and manage resources. It’s not uncommon for some gamers to perceive System Shock 2 as outdated due to its slower pace and visual aesthetic that reflects its ’90s origins. However, I won’t contest the opinion that it’s a shortcoming of the game because these characteristics are exactly what I anticipated from it.

Regarding additional features, nothing new in terms of content has been included in the remaster. Instead, gamepad controls have been incorporated to prepare for its console launch. Yet, as someone who grew up playing this game on PC with keyboard and mouse (kb/m), I’ve always found it superior that way. I can’t comment extensively on how well the game performs with a controller.

One intriguing aspect of the remaster is that it offers cooperative multiplayer, a feature that was technically included in the initial release of System Shock 2 but functioned poorly. More recently, Nightdive Studios has shared insights into the extensive work involved in reverse-engineering the game code to smoothly integrate this feature into the remaster.

During the pre-release testing of the remastered game, I had limited time to explore its multiplayer aspect. I joined forces with Mikhail, a fellow RPG Site writer who was also testing the game on Steam Deck, primarily to check how straightforward it would be to embark on a cooperative journey. Despite being located in the United States and Mikhail being in India, we encountered no issues setting up our connection and initiating the game.

A few key points are worth noting: there appears to be only one difficulty level in multiplayer; the host is responsible for managing a single save file throughout the playthrough; cross-platform compatibility is mentioned as a feature; and the number of players (2, 3, or 4) must be decided at the outset, although we didn’t get to thoroughly investigate this.

Although I can’t definitively compare the balance between multiplayer and single-player aspects such as enemy distribution and item economy, I must say that the game functions well. It has piqued my interest enough to consider giving this remastered version as a gift to friends, so we can all experience a complete cooperative playthrough together in the future.

Experiencing the remastered version of System Shock 2 brought back memories from my 90s PC gaming days, making me realize how much I’d been missing out on. With my background, it was almost destined for me to appreciate this game. Although I can’t truly understand what playing the original System Shock 2 at the turn of the millennium would have felt like, this remaster seems to capture the essence perfectly. By preserving a cherished classic, updating it for modern audiences, and enhancing its technical playability, it hits the mark just right. Now, I find myself among those eagerly awaiting news about a potential System Shock 3.

Read More

2025-06-26 15:26