System Shock remake is headed to consoles on both PlayStation and Xbox. The remake initially launched on PC back in May 2023. System Shock Classic first launched back in 1994 and got a sequel in 1999. In 2015, Nightdive Studios launched an enhanced version of the first game. There wasn’t much of a difference from its 1994 release, however, it had better optimization. But now, fans of the game get to re-experience the first System Shock that was remade from the ground up.
System Shock Console Release Date – May 21, 2024
System Shock remake will launch on consoles on May 21, 2024, for the PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S. While the remake already looks beautiful on PC, fans should look forward to playing it on the PS5 and Xbox Series X|S. The next-gen consoles are prominent for running games at higher frames and quality graphics.
The classic System Shock already came out on consoles, specifically the PS5 and Xbox X|S. But it was the enhanced version of the sequel. Both the enhanced and classic versions of the first game were only released on PC. With that said, this is technically the first time the first game is coming out on console, just in its remake form.
Trailer
The System Shock remake trailer for consoles showed viewers a glimpse of the challenges players need to overcome. It starts off with the player getting all the details they need to know for their upcoming adventure. On top of setting the tone, the trailer showed off graphical upgrades made to the game since its 1994 and 2015 release dates. System Shock looks more modern and passes off as a game that recently came out. Aside from the graphics, the trailer also featured many of the game’s enemies that players need to defeat as they progress.
Story
System Shock takes place in the year 2072 set in cyberpunk space. Players assume the role of a security hacker who attempts to foil the plans of the evil artificial intelligence known as SHODAN. The game starts with the player, the security hacker, getting caught red-handed trying to access files regarding Citadel Station. From there, players will be sent to one of the Citadel’s executives, Edward Diego, to explain themselves for hacking into the system.
Diego then offers to drop all charges in exchange for a favor that only the player can accomplish. Players then run off to an adventure to stop SHODAN and steal from it. Edward has his eyes set on an experimental mutagenic virus. The executive plans on selling it in the black market as a biological weapon.
Gameplay
When coming up with a remake of a classic title, one of the things fans are curious about is if there’s anything new to the overall gameplay.
Cinematics
System Shock remake is a huge leap from its original version from the mid-90s. For starters, the cinematics alone are a huge improvement. Nightdive didn’t simply recreate the cinematic scenes from the 1994 classic, they created an entirely immersive experience wherein players get to witness the point of view of the character they’re playing as.
One primary example would be the intro of the game alone. In the classic game, System Shock starts with a cutscene and explains how players will get into a predicament. In the remake, players get to explore their environment and live through the events that will eventually lead them to the beginning of their journey.
Overhauled Graphics
Given the gap between the classic and the remake, all of the character models and environment designs are more immersive. Back then, the game utilized sprites and low-resolution textures. Now, everything is in 3D and players can now tell if an enemy is about to attack or not. The developers also added special animations for various attacks each enemy is about to make. Gone are the days when players need to figure out how to fight certain hostiles.
The details of the fights look more realistic in the remake as well. Each weapon will have a corresponding animation to the enemies’ death. Their heads either get cut off, their upper bodies blow up, or they simply become limp and die falling on the ground.
Now with new and improved graphics, the overall gameplay experience should be easier. Back then, players needed to deal with poorly rendered texture in the environment making it difficult to distinguish where they needed to go next. The environment seemed linear and never-ending as they explored the spacecraft. In the remake, while Nightdive maintained a bit of the game’s retro vibe, the environment looks more detailed, making it easier to figure out the maze-like surroundings.
In terms of the overall gameplay, System Shock remake is essentially the same game. The developers deliberately stayed true to the game’s core gameplay mechanics and focused mainly on making it look aesthetically pleasing. There are a few added features, but nothing groundbreaking.
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