Syberia Remastered review: A hit of nostalgia that may not land with everyone

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Let me begin by saying I came to this remastered game with fresh eyes. I’d never played the original Syberia and have no prior connection to it – no nostalgia or previous experience. I relied solely on this version as my first introduction to the series. My only point of reference was the recent remaster of Amerzone, which was developed by the same team at Microids Studio Paris. It was a surprise to then find Amerzone subtly referenced as part of a puzzle within Syberia.

It’s been 23 years since the original Syberia came out in 2002, and this remaster shows some clear improvements. The graphics are noticeably better – colors are brighter, environments are sharper, and the characters look less strangely artificial. However, the visual upgrade isn’t groundbreaking. It’s subtle enough that you might not immediately notice the difference at a quick glance, and I’ll discuss this in more detail later. As someone new to the game, I wanted to share this observation for those who may have played it before.

Syberia – Remastered brings back a beloved puzzle-adventure game, but it still feels a bit dated. The controls are awkward, and the animations aren’t very smooth. While the story has some strong points and a good ending, it’s often more bizarre and confusing than truly captivating. There are enjoyable aspects, but I’d only recommend Syberia – Remastered to those who remember and loved the original game.

Chasing Down Hans

The game starts in the French Alps, where you play as Kate Walker, an American lawyer determined to impress her firm. She’s sent to secure a signature from the owner of a European toy factory, paving the way for an American takeover. However, things quickly become complicated when the owner dies, leaving behind hints of a long-lost brother and heir. Kate then teams up with Oscar, a charming automaton train conductor, and embarks on a journey across Europe to locate Hans Voralberg, a brilliant but missing engineer.

Set in a unique version of Europe, Syberia – Remastered features a world where mechanical devices are commonplace. This is immediately apparent through characters like Oscar and the wind-up train that requires special tools at each station. But the world-building extends beyond these obvious elements. For instance, a small robotic figure at a hotel in the French Alps politely tips its hat as you approach, and later, you’ll find and repair a bandstand full of robotic violinists at a university. Throughout the game, there’s a sense that this era of automatons is fading away, creating a feeling that both the story and its locations are relics of the past.

The game is fairly short – I finished it in under ten hours – and takes you to several places connected to the life of Hans Voralberg as you search for him. You’ll explore the university, his workplace, and ultimately, the final locations of his life – which I won’t spoil! The story wraps up nicely, though, and is ultimately very satisfying.

Every place you visit is filled with interesting and unusual characters. You’ll encounter memorable figures like a funny group of men with mustaches running the University, and a unique engineer who just wants to experience the joy of hearing his favorite singer again. Even though the game isn’t flawless, the characters are a real standout feature.

PROS:

  1. Fascinating clockwork world and setting;
  2. creative and engaging puzzles and quests;
  3. plentiful eccentric NPCs to interact with.

CONS:

  1. Can be easy to get lost at times and miss important objects;
  2. cut scenes don’t match up with gameplay visually;
  3. clunky movement.

Lost & Found

While often described as a point-and-click adventure, Syberia – Remastered plays differently, especially on PlayStation 5 where there’s no mouse to use. You can definitely see the influence of those classic games, but it’s a fully 3D experience. You control Kate Walker and are free to explore, though it’s easy to get turned around because important items aren’t always obvious. For instance, I needed sailors to help tow a train, but first I had to open a lock to let their boat through. They threw me the key, refusing to come ashore. I immediately ran to the lock, but it wouldn’t open! It turned out the key hadn’t actually been added to my inventory – it was lying on the ground. I spent a good fifteen minutes trying to find another way to open the lock, and even went back to the sailors for hints, before finally noticing the on-screen prompt indicating the key was right there on the ground.

It’s particularly frustrating when the game doesn’t let you deviate from a specific route. For example, an NPC asked me to tell their robotic nurse they wanted to come in. I immediately went inside to find the nurse, but the conversation didn’t start until I went back outside to find a bell I was supposed to ring. Even after ringing it, I still had to go back inside to talk to the nurse, who had heard the bell but was too scared to come out. This back-and-forth across the game world happens a lot. I often find myself running to a location only to realize I need an item or to complete a task first, forcing me to run back and forth repeatedly.

I keep getting distracted, and that’s easy to do in this game! You can only interact with objects when you’re right next to them. Plus, the environment and what you can interact with change as you play, making it hard to figure out where to go next. I often wished there was a way to scan the area and instantly see everything I could use or examine. Compared to this, older point-and-click games like Amerzone – The Explorer’s Legacy weren’t perfect, but they were better at keeping things organized and preventing you from getting lost or missing important clues. Giving players too much freedom to explore often leads to confusion, frustration, and ultimately, them giving up on the game.

Upgraded Visuals

When a game is remastered, the biggest improvement is usually how it looks. Since I never played the original, it’s hard for me to directly compare. Luckily, there are helpful comparison videos on YouTube. Based on those, this remaster is a clear visual upgrade over the original, but it’s not a complete redesign. The art style remains largely the same – it’s as if the game has simply been cleaned up and made clearer, with brighter colors and sharper details. It’s not a dramatic transformation after twenty years, but it’s definitely the best way to play Syberia today.

One slightly strange thing I noticed was that the character Kate Walker sometimes looked different. In the story scenes, her appearance seemed to revert to how she looked in the original 2002 game, while she looked different when you were actually playing. It wasn’t a major issue, but it was a little jarring every time it happened.

Beyond the visuals, the game’s artistic style perfectly complements the narrative. Each location you visit feels unique, becoming increasingly gloomy, intricate, and hazardous as the train progresses. This mirrors Kate Walker’s personal journey; she becomes more and more invested in the mission, even as friends and family urge her to quit and return home, and as those around her reveal their hidden flaws.

Final Thoughts

Syberia – Remastered is a well-made update to a classic point-and-click adventure game from the early 2000s. While it’s good, a modern audience might have preferred a more significant refresh. The puzzles and gameplay can feel slow, repetitive, and a bit dull by today’s standards. Moving around in the 3D world isn’t always smooth and figuring out what to do next can be frustrating. Luckily, the game isn’t overly long, and the story is worth seeing through to the end, especially for those invested in Kate Walker’s journey. One tip for PlayStation 5 players: turn off the phone sound effect – it’s startling!

While Syberia didn’t fully captivate me, I can still see its strengths and admire its ambition. I especially found its vision of Europe to be original and would love to explore its world and backstory further. Plus, the game features memorable characters that will likely stick with me for a long time.

Honestly, as much as they’ve touched it up, I can’t see many new players getting into this. It feels like a really pretty version of the Syberia I played back in 2002. I think it’s mostly for those of us who loved the original and just want to experience it again with better graphics. It’s tough to see what would draw someone in if they’ve never played Syberia before.

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2025-11-12 12:34