System Shock 2021

[PiLhEaD]

I've been playing the demo thanks to GOG (other suppliers are available), and am enjoying it. It's good fun to have '1994 graphics and gameplay' brought up to date in what seems to be a loving and faithful way.

The intensity of the demo suits my reaction times (these days), I'm enjoying the narrative-lead gameplay, and the (not really that tricky) puzzles along the way.

I remember playing this game first time and 'that moment' [if you played it before I think you'll remember too] and am looking forward to the full release. I don't remember the original in detail, but the 2021 remake seems to have the same creepy and unnerving vibe as before.

My only minor quibble is that it feels claustrophobic and a bit linear, with corridor-room-repeat - which may get tiresome if the playing area is a huge as it seems. But then, it is set aboard a space station with a strong narrative in '1994'. (Oh... and the chracter badly needs a torch/flashlight!)

Overall my finger is hovering over the pre-order button, even if nostalgia ain't what it used to be.

Has anyone else had a look?

Just be aware the demo has some bugs (none horrible) and also placeholder gameplay and gaphics (or so they say).

 

[Jezzah]

Definitely one of the games series I remember fondly from my early years of PC gaming. I'm not sure any reboot of the series can rekindle that old feeling of playing the series. Been a lot of gaming water under that old bridge

I'm giving it the benefit of the doubt though, happy to try it out on full release reviews pending.

 

[Arioch]

I've been playing the demo thanks to GOG (other suppliers are available), and am enjoying it. It's good fun to have '1994 graphics and gameplay' brought up to date in what seems to be a loving and faithful way.

The intensity of the demo suits my reaction times (these days), I'm enjoying the narrative-lead gameplay, and the (not really that tricky) puzzles along the way.

I remember playing this game first time and 'that moment' [if you played it before I think you'll remember too] and am looking forward to the full release. I don't remember the original in detail, but the 2021 remake seems to have the same creepy and unnerving vibe as before.

My only minor quibble is that it feels claustrophobic and a bit linear, with corridor-room-repeat - which may get tiresome if the playing area is a huge as it seems. But then, it is set aboard a space station with a strong narrative in '1994'. (Oh... and the chracter badly needs a torch/flashlight!)

Overall my finger is hovering over the pre-order button, even if nostalgia ain't what it used to be.

Has anyone else had a look?

Just be aware the demo has some bugs (none horrible) and also placeholder gameplay and gaphics (or so they say).

I donated to the Kickstarter and I’m happy it’s eventually reaching release (albeit several years late).

I bought the original game twice (the CD-ROM version introduced awesome voice logs!) and I’ve re-completed it a few times over the years - the current “enhanced” original is a very good version, with “proper” mouse-look controls. Awesome game that’s worth playing if you’re a fan of the sequel - the ending of SS2 makes a lot more sense if you’ve played SS1.

Torch & night vision are upgrades that you get in the original, so you should be alright in the full game

 

[Arioch]

Also (Edit function still not working!) - most of the game is a fairly claustrophobic experience but there are some more-open spaces in later sections of Citadel Station - the garden levels, executive areas and hangar spaces are all pretty large

 

[PiLhEaD]

Definitely one of the games series I remember fondly from my early years of PC gaming. I'm not sure any reboot of the series can rekindle that old feeling of playing the series. Been a lot of gaming water under that old bridge....

Indeed. It's going to be interesting to see how well a game originally designed around the limitations of 1994 PCs fares against those being produced today. I suppose a good comparator might be Alien Isolation, but alas I never played that, so can't say!

...Torch & night vision are upgrades that you get in the original, so you should be alright in the full game

Phew! (And thanks and well done for backing it!)

 

[Surefoot]

Indeed. It's going to be interesting to see how well a game originally designed around the limitations of 1994 PCs fares against those being produced today. I suppose a good comparator might be Alien Isolation, but alas I never played that, so can't say!

Dead Space (1&2) was pretty much System Shock 3, at one point it was planned that way, until they could not acquire the license. The first Dead Space is almost a complete copy of System Shock 2. These would be the modern follow-ups to the series i guess, at least in proper inheritance order.
Shame that SS3 fell through again....

 

[Jezzah]

DeadSpace the first game was a fantastic game and a great in spirit system shock sort of game. The sequels seemed to lose something along the way a little but were still good games.

I think an alien isolation type of atmosphere, vibe and implementation with maybe toning down the helpless gameplay just a little would fit nicely into a system shock game.

 

[Surefoot]

DeadSpace the first game was a fantastic game and a great in spirit system shock sort of game. The sequels seemed to lose something along the way a little but were still good games.

Agreed. DS1 was a masterpiece just because it was an almost pure remake of SS2, which was itself one of the top games of all times. Had great pleasure finishing that one. DS2 was really good too honestly, it had really intense, amazing moments (I remember when that giant creature rips a wall of the station off and just punched me across multiple rooms... i felt that !), and yeah the scenario was less "tight" than DS1 indeed.

I think an alien isolation type of atmosphere, vibe and implementation with maybe toning down the helpless gameplay just a little would fit nicely into a system shock game.

Yeah probably.. I think a few indie games are trying to recapture that atmosphere. Of course SOMA is the first one that comes to mind, it's not a System Shock kind of game of course, as Dead Space pretty much covered the whole System Shock aspect, but the very intense and dark atmosphere is there, as long with a rogue AI and nanomachine controlled zombies, and really fantastic scenario (it's still one of the top games in the sci-fi/horror genre IMHO).

 

[Captain Willard]

Looked at this thread and jumped on steam and purchased DS1. After spending a few hours trying to get it to launch. Uninstalled it and asked for a refund. BUMMER. Looked pretty sweet.

 

[Jezzah]

That's really weird. Ran perfectly for me at launch and as recently as a year ago for me.

A shame it didnt work for you, it's great.

 

[Navigare Necesse Est]

Deadspace was nothing like System Shock.
One was a cyberpunk adventure in space the orher a cheap bag o f tasteless tricks for nether thrills.

 

[KillaALF]

Deadspace was nothing like System Shock.
One was a cyberpunk adventure in space the orher a cheap bag o f tasteless tricks for nether thrills.

Agreed. If I had to name a game that carried on the tradition of the Shocks it would be Prey (2017), but certainly not Dead Space.

 

[Arioch]

Agreed. If I had to name a game that carried on the tradition of the Shocks it would be Prey (2017), but certainly not Dead Space.

Bioshock was another spiritual successor to the original SysShocks - but I’ll also give a nod to Doom3 (2004).

I replayed it a couple of years ago using the VR mod and I was surprised by how Shock-y it felt - creeping through sci-fi corridors while listening to voice logs. It’s just been announced for PSVR as an official release - well worth revisiting in my opinion.

 

[Navigare Necesse Est]

Bioshock was another spiritual successor to the original SysShocks - but I’ll also give a nod to Doom3 (2004).

I replayed it a couple of years ago using the VR mod and I was surprised by how Shock-y it felt - creeping through sci-fi corridors while listening to voice logs. It’s just been announced for PSVR as an official release - well worth revisiting in my opinion.

Gameplay-wise, but the atmo was so different beecause of the setting. Bioshock is a very American game. SS had a more universal appeal. And the soundtrack csrried it a lot (SS1).
The controls were utter crap tho.

 

[[PS4] Filthymick420]

the info is out there that the game that would have been system shock 3 instead was made dead space. You dont have to like it but it's the truth

 

[Arioch]

Gameplay-wise, but the atmo was so different beecause of the setting. Bioshock is a very American game. SS had a more universal appeal. And the soundtrack csrried it a lot (SS1).
The controls were utter crap tho.

Aye, the controls were more like the Ultima Underworld / early Elder Scrolls games, having to put the mouse pointer in a particular place for it to change into a directional arrow. Allowed virtually all movement to be mouse driven, but a bit of a faff. I much preferred the Enhanced Edition mouselook + WASD.

I don’t know what the music will be like in the new version, but I love the old soundtrack and sound effects - there’s one noise that always sounds like “YoRebelYouRebel” whenever I hear it

As for Dead Space - Visceral Games wanted to make SS3 but changed direction right at the start of the project to try and get a slice of Resident Evil 4’s pie. Aside from being set onboard a vessel in space, I doubt much of the original SS3 intentions remained.

 

[Surefoot]

As for Dead Space - Visceral Games wanted to make SS3 but changed direction right at the start of the project to try and get a slice of Resident Evil 4’s pie. Aside from being set onboard a vessel in space, I doubt much of the original SS3 intentions remained.

It's SS2 almost shot by shot. Even the twists are the same. So yeah it's a System Shock. Played both when they were released and am fan of both.
Bioshock has a similar gameplay foundation but is a really totally different setting.

 

[Arioch]

It's SS2 almost shot by shot. Even the twists are the same. So yeah it's a System Shock. Played both when they were released and am fan of both.
Bioshock has a similar gameplay foundation but is a really totally different setting.

I also played both SShocks + Dead Space on release and they are excellent games - but if you told me when I was playing DS that it was supposed to be SS3, I’d have raised an eyebrow

SysShock as far as I’m concerned is first-person. A third-person game about blowing bits off Giger-esque creatures? Top game, but not something I’d lump in with the Shocks.

 

[Navigare Necesse Est]

If I would compare SS1 I'd pick Alien Isolation. I managed to grip the tension and atmo quite well. Still different but still very good. The tethered alien makes it a bit predictable. I untethered it in subsequent PTs - it is easier but the non-mechanistic behaviour adds to the atmo, imo.

 

[Arioch]

If I would compare SS1 I'd pick Alien Isolation. I managed to grip the tension and atmo quite well. Still different but still very good. The tethered alien makes it a bit predictable. I untethered it in subsequent PTs - it is easier but the non-mechanistic behaviour adds to the atmo, imo.

I also put in the untethered mod for when I did my VR playthrough - like you say, it’s easier overall but a proper knicker-gripper once the beast does turn up