1994 classic System Shock is returning with a faithful remake, and we went hands-on with it at Gamescom.
Even if you’ve never played System Shock, you’ve probably played something that was inspired by it. The 1994 classic has been hailed as an influential masterpiece that helped pave the way for emergent shooters like Bioshock. So, how do you go about remaking a game that’s been iterated on to the extent that this game has been? By staying true to the source.
I went hands-on with System Shock’s upcoming remake at Gamescom and was happy to see how developer Nightdive Studios is approaching the project. Rather than completely changing the original game by adding a lot of modern design sensibilities, the studio is creating a faithful remake that preserves the original experience while offering enough technical shine to make it feel brand new. It’s a fascinating fusion that feels like the right fit for such an important job.
In System Shock, players control a hacker who has to fight their way through a space vessel. It’s a maze-like 3D environment that calls back to level design that was popularized by games like Doom. What made the original game special was its emphasis on emergent gameplay, as players could move through the ship in a non-linear fashion. The story could be unearthed similarly, as players got bits and pieces through documents lying around the ship — something that would go on to become a staple of many big-budget games.
