System Shock 2: 25th Anniversary Remaster Review – Neuromancer

by

To put it simply, System Shock 2 is a trailblazing survival horror game that set the stage for many classics to follow. It’s a masterpiece with exceptional sound design and an atmosphere that keeps you on edge, alternating between eerie silence and subtle dread. Despite its age and certain idiosyncrasies, it remains one of the most influential games ever made, earning its place among the greatest in gaming history, even after multiple playthroughs.

Instead of Nightdive Studios’ remake of the first game deviating significantly from its aesthetic, the System Shock 2: 25th Anniversary Remaster more closely resembles its source material’s look and feel. Rather than creating a new chilling and isolationist horror atmosphere like the Von Braun, it amplifies what was already there, highlighting the elements that made the original game remarkable. This is another impressive achievement by the developer, a high-quality remaster that’s worth experiencing, even though some of the older design choices might occasionally prove frustrating.

The correct usage of firearms isn’t just about being thrifty; it’s about understanding the various zones of the Von Braun. This includes knowing how XERXES, its onboard computer, will react in automated security situations. It also means anticipating The Many, who may attack you, even with ordinary crew members infected and armed with improvised weapons like pipes and shotguns.

Forty-two years have passed since the catastrophic incidents of the initial game. The fear of rogue artificial intelligence achieving consciousness and evaluating their human creators has been alleviated due to the UNN’s efforts. The original TriOptimum no longer exists, but a new proprietor has taken control of its possessions, obtaining the license to construct a faster-than-light vessel, named the Von Braun, for space exploration. However, their journey to Tau Ceti V is disrupted when they are overrun by a malicious life form known as “The Many.” When you emerge from cryosleep, you find that the FTL ship and the UNN’s Rickenbacker have merged with this collective consciousness.

In simpler terms, when you emerge from the cryotube, you don’t just pick up your story at that point. Instead, your tale begins with the character creation phase, where you’ll get a hang of various skills such as handling weapons, moving around, fixing equipment, and managing inventory. After choosing which military group to align with – Marines for basic shooting, Navy for hacking and repair work, or OSA for psychic abilities – you can then proceed on diverse missions, each enriching your military background a bit more.

From a storytelling angle, System Shock 2 may not be the most pulse-pounding compared to its predecessor’s Hacker character and their predicament. However, it successfully establishes a solid foundation for players to role-play as their own characters. Although you remain voiceless throughout and can only convey your fear through the protagonist, this setup serves the game’s purpose satisfactorily.

In every great RPG, each decision offers a unique outcome. For instance, you might choose to boost your Strength for extra inventory space and stronger melee attacks using the wrench. Alternatively, you could invest in Standard Weapons with those Cyber Modules, allowing you to handle a handgun and shotgun, useful against heavily armored enemies like security robots. Repairing tools could also be beneficial since equipment can break, but you won’t truly understand Hacking’s worth until you venture into the Von Braun. I chose the Marines, preferring their firearm-centric (and wrench-wielding) lifestyle, yet even with Replicators exchanging Nanites for ammunition, bullets aren’t limitless.

Understanding when and why to use firearms isn’t just about saving resources; it’s about knowing the various zones on the Von Braun spaceship. This knowledge includes predicting how the ship’s automated security system, XERXES, will react. You must also be aware of the different types of threats you may face, such as infected crew members (referred to as Hybrids) armed with makeshift weapons like pipes and shotguns. The game System Shock 2, developed by Looking Glass Studios, combines elements of a dungeon crawler, set in space, with aspects of puzzle-solving games like Deus Ex. You’ll be searching for keycards and access codes, revisiting previously locked areas to gain entry. Despite the backtracking, the design of the levels keeps the game engaging, as new threats continually emerge, maintaining a dynamic pace and keeping the experience fresh, even when exploring new areas or searching for potential survivors.

In a fresh and understandable rephrasing: “The voices in The Many continue to be as spine-tingling and shiver-inducing as before, adding another impressive aspect to the voice acting and sound effects (apart from that special character). The audio logs also deliver commendable performances, albeit not exceptional. Yet, they excel in creating an atmosphere that effectively leads to the Von Braun’s demise.

I was equally astonished by how swiftly I adapted to the movement, hand-to-hand fights, and shooting mechanics, despite the occasional glitches with hitboxes when battling monkeys with a wrench. The weapon deterioration is somewhat ambivalent for me. I don’t entirely dislike it because there are ways to reduce its impact (and the repair minigame offers an engaging dot-connecting challenge), but finding my shotgun malfunctioning after just seven shots or so in the initial stages was frustrating. Nothing compares to the irritation of hearing “click, click” with ammo loaded in my weapon and a toxic blend of radiation and shotgun-wielding Hybrids ruining my day.

As a passionate gamer, I must say that, despite its humble beginnings, System Shock 2 presents a wealth of opportunities for enhancing my character’s power. Upgrading the operating system to increase bullet damage is just as valuable as an upgrade that offers resistance to radiation and toxins. The realm of Psionics is an entirely separate skillset, offering abilities like Pyrokinesis, Cryokinesis, and even Soma Transference for siphoning health from enemies. There are also numerous ways to boost my character’s stats, such as reducing weapon degradation. Every build can explore this area, but it remains a challenging endeavor for beginners.

As you advance in the game, spending Cyber Modules on stats, abilities, and enhancements will grow progressively costlier, and once decisions are made, they cannot be changed (except for a limited undo feature before finalizing). If you don’t have enough Modules to utilize that snazzy new shotgun you’ve been carrying, it’s crucial to keep advancing to acquire more (and avoid meeting an untimely end). These irreversible choices can be tough if you invest in a build without fully understanding its potential for overcoming the obstacles ahead, making heavy use of the wrench to navigate most encounters. Nevertheless, the gameplay progression remains seamless, gradually boosting your power while preserving the survival horror atmosphere.

Frankly, I can’t express enough my admiration for how System Shock 2 manages horror. A simple encounter with a Hybrid might seem manageable at first, but it becomes terrifying once you miss your attack and they land some hits on you, especially those equipped with grenades. Even when you understand their movesets completely, their presence and cries for liberation from The Many’s control continue to be chilling and heartbreaking.

The eerie voices of The Many continue to be just as chilling, adding another impressive aspect to the voice acting and sound design (not forgetting our favorite character). The audio logs also deliver solid performances, even if they’re not exceptional, they excel at creating a tense atmosphere leading up to the Von Braun’s demise.

To be expected, the 25th Anniversary Remaster of System Shock 2 delivers all the elements that made the original stand out, but with enhanced graphics and a more polished gameplay experience.

It’s clear that System Shock 2 is an exceptional game, but let’s discuss Nightdive Studios’ contributions to it. Apart from offering a vault for viewing concept art and early pitches, they’ve done a commendable job enhancing the environments while preserving the original aesthetic. Textures have been improved, and character models have undergone a significant transformation – the Hybrid no longer appears as emaciated or desiccated as in the original version, but remains sharp. The updated user interface is also easy to read, with enhanced item art making it even clearer.

The game’s performance is perfect even at 1440p resolution and 120 frames per second. While there are only a few options available such as enabling Ambient Occlusion and Bloom, adjusting the gamma, and selecting the video driver, the overall quality and detail of the game are quite impressive. However, I didn’t get much chance to try out co-op play, so if you’re considering playing with others, it might be better to wait for more reviews before jumping in.

Indeed, the remastered version of “System Shock 2: 25th Anniversary Edition” retains all the elements that made the original stand out, but with improved graphics and a more polished gameplay. Even if you haven’t been exposed to games like “Prey” or “Deus Ex”, this remaster offers a fantastic opportunity to witness the evolution of the genre. It’s not just a nostalgic trip, but a genuinely captivating, terrifying, and intellectually stimulating experience on its own merit.

This game was reviewed on PC.

Read More

2025-06-27 16:41