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System Shock

92%Game Brain Score
graphics, story
grinding, stability
92% User Score Based on 16,320 reviews

Platforms

PCPCXboxXboxXbox Series X|SXbox Series X|SPlaystation 5Playstation 5Playstation 4Playstation 4WindowsWindowsPlayStationPlayStationCloudCloudXbox OneXbox OneNVIDIA GeForce NOWNVIDIA GeForce NOW
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About

"System Shock is a first-person remake of the 1994 classic, featuring a battle against the psychotic AI, SHODAN, who has taken over Citadel Station and plans to do the same to Earth. Explore the space station, combat mutants and cyborgs to stop SHODAN, and save humanity. Experience improved visuals, controls, and interface in this thrilling survival adventure."

Genres & Tags
Play Modes
System Shock screenshot
System Shock screenshot
System Shock screenshot
System Shock screenshot
System Shock screenshot
System Shock screenshot
System Shock screenshot
System Shock screenshot
System Shock screenshot
System Shock screenshot
System Shock screenshot
+12

92%
Audience ScoreBased on 16,320 reviews
graphics1.1k positive mentions
grinding410 negative mentions
  • The story is compelling and immersive, with a strong antagonist in Shodan that enhances the narrative experience.
  • The game successfully modernizes the graphics while maintaining the retro aesthetic, creating an atmospheric and visually appealing environment.
  • The absence of microtransactions and a complete experience at launch is highly praised, making it a refreshing alternative in the gaming industry.
  • The lack of quest markers and logs can lead to confusion and frustrating backtracking, detracting from the overall experience.
  • Gameplay mechanics feel outdated and tedious, with cumbersome inventory management and repetitive combat that can frustrate players.
  • The game suffers from technical issues, including bugs and performance inconsistencies, which can disrupt immersion and gameplay.
  • graphics
    2,974 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of the "System Shock" remake have received mixed reviews, with many praising the unique blend of retro pixelation and modern visual effects that evoke nostalgia while enhancing the overall aesthetic. Players appreciate the atmospheric lighting and detailed environments, although some criticize the pixelated textures for being overly busy or difficult to navigate. Overall, the visuals are seen as a successful modernization of the original's style, appealing to both new players and fans of the classic game.

    • “However, to me, what really pushes this remake over the top is how the developers interpreted the aesthetic of the original.”
    • “The art style is an amazing blend of modern but still captures the look and feel of the original.”
    • “The updated graphics breathe new life into the iconic environments and characters, while maintaining the retro-futuristic aesthetic that defined the original game.”
    • “Really wanted to play this but I can't because the movements are jittery (even with adjusted graphics and motion blur turned off), and it makes me 'sea-sick,' and gives me a headache to boot.”
    • “The graphics feel... weird.”
    • “The graphics are not good for 2023, ui and controls could be far better.”
  • story
    2,808 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The story of *System Shock* (2023) is primarily conveyed through audio logs and environmental storytelling, immersing players in a narrative centered around a rogue AI, Shodan, and the chaos it unleashes on a space station. While some players appreciate the depth and engagement of piecing together the plot through exploration, others find the lack of quest markers and logs frustrating, leading to confusion and backtracking. Overall, the storytelling is praised for its atmospheric and immersive qualities, though it may feel sparse or basic compared to modern standards.

    • “The story is compelling and the method in which it is told has been made almost a standard for story-driven isolated experiences ever since.”
    • “The story pushes you forward and Shodan is one of the best antagonists out there.”
    • “The story is great and more or less the same as the original, in addition to new cut scenes that give further context for the original game's story.”
    • “There is no quest marker, no way-points, not even a quest log.”
    • “You can find audio logs and journals, but all they do is give hints on how to get upgrades or door codes; there's no lore or deeper backstory, it's a generic sci-fi story about an AI that wants to kill humanity.”
    • “The story and characters are underwhelming, barely having any impact and just feeling like another generic sci-fi horror story with a spooky AI that wants to kill all humans, something I've seen so many times I'm convinced there isn't an original spin to be put on the idea anymore.”
  • gameplay
    2,748 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay of the System Shock remake has received mixed reviews, with many praising its faithful recreation of the original's mechanics while also modernizing certain aspects for contemporary audiences. Players appreciate the engaging exploration, resource management, and puzzle-solving elements, but some criticize the outdated mechanics, such as the recycling system and inventory management, which can feel tedious. Overall, while the game maintains a nostalgic charm, it also presents challenges that may frustrate newcomers and those accustomed to more streamlined gameplay experiences.

    • “Once you get the hang of the mechanics, you'll enjoy one of the most tense, fascinating, and memorable experiences, and you'll end up wanting more.”
    • “The remake brings much-needed quality-of-life and gameplay improvements while still keeping that original touch.”
    • “In an age where most games are filled with exposition and tutorial levels, this game is a refreshing return to the classic PC gaming formula where the mechanics are just intuitive enough to where you can figure out most things pretty quickly.”
    • “There's no easy way to track objectives beyond going into the media section of your HUD and re-reading all of the logs found during exploration, and the game isn't afraid of punishing you if you don't care to understand the basic mechanics.”
    • “Unfortunately, the mechanics are very stripped down (you walk and you shoot. That is all.) and the enemies you are engaging in the finale are all flying enemies from the cyberspace segments while all of your weapons are slow projectile-based affairs.”
    • “The recycling mechanic seems tacked on and is mostly just padding; go pilfer an entire room or level for garbage to turn into money for mods instead of just finding mods and then moving on with the game.”
  • music
    1,648 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the System Shock remake has received mixed reviews, with many players noting a significant departure from the original's iconic soundtrack. While some appreciate the new ambient and atmospheric compositions that enhance immersion, others lament the lack of memorable tracks and the subdued nature of the music, which often feels absent during exploration. Overall, the soundtrack is seen as a downgrade by fans of the original, with calls for an option to toggle the classic music or for mods to restore it.

    • “The music is an absolute masterpiece in immersion and emotional response; no other OST in my life has gotten so stuck in my head for no reason. Sometimes when I wake up, I still hear that endless loop in medical, that sensation of loneliness and that something has gone horribly wrong is just unforgettable.”
    • “The soundtrack is a banger, flipping between haunting ambiance to classic System Shock electro music in combat.”
    • “The atmosphere in the game is intense and atmospheric, with a haunting soundtrack that perfectly complements it.”
    • “Unfortunately the soundtrack of the original did not make it into the remake.”
    • “The music went from distinct and unique to generic horror ambient.”
    • “The only downside for me was the absence of the old soundtrack.”
  • atmosphere
    1,374 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The atmosphere in the System Shock remake is widely praised for its immersive and oppressive qualities, effectively capturing the essence of the original while enhancing it with modern graphics and sound design. Players appreciate the game's ability to evoke feelings of dread and isolation as they navigate the claustrophobic corridors of Citadel Station, with many noting the successful integration of atmospheric audio and visual elements that contribute to a tense gameplay experience. Despite some criticisms regarding the soundtrack and certain gameplay mechanics, the overall consensus is that the atmosphere is a standout feature, making the game a must-play for fans of atmospheric horror and immersive sims.

    • “The atmosphere alone is enough to warrant a playthrough.”
    • “After finally completing my first playthrough, I can tell you with confidence, this is one of the most immersive, unique, and actually thrilling games I've played. The atmosphere of Citadel Station sneaks under your skin; you are always alert, you are in the belly of the beast and it's dark, cold, and cruel in there.”
    • “The developers have painstakingly recreated the immense and oppressive atmosphere of the original, ensuring that every flickering light and distant sound adds to the sense of isolation and impending danger.”
    • “The game wants to have a 'alone in space, stuck with mutant zombies' atmosphere but it doesn't really work.”
    • “All of those are still minor problems and they don't worry me much (just frustrate me a little), but my biggest problem with the remake is the atmosphere… it's simply lacking and can't compare with the original.”
    • “The atmosphere is not the same: this version seems a lot easier to play, like it was meant to please the masses.”
  • optimization
    458 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The optimization of the System Shock remake has received mixed feedback from players. While many praise its solid performance, smooth framerate, and efficient use of Unreal Engine, others report issues such as stuttering, crashes, and inconsistent performance across different hardware setups. Overall, the game is generally considered well-optimized for a variety of systems, but some players have experienced technical hiccups that detract from the experience.

    • “The use of Unreal Engine and great optimization make this game a smooth-running experience.”
    • “This faithful and loving recreation of a near 30-year-old game is visually stunning, extremely well optimized (the game is only 8GB in total), and more than worth the money.”
    • “Nightdive did an amazing job releasing a game that's optimized - rare in 2023 - and keeps the spirit of the original alive.”
    • “Very disappointing remake, the game has stuttering when traversing the world, breaking immersion, and so many immersion-breaking bugs such as broken animations.”
    • “Well, the performance of this remake is *horribly* optimized.”
    • “The optimization is just poor, which is really disappointing for Night Dive.”
  • grinding
    424 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The grinding aspect of the game has been widely criticized for its tediousness, with players expressing frustration over repetitive combat, cumbersome inventory management, and excessive backtracking. Many reviews highlight the outdated mechanics and convoluted objectives that contribute to a sense of monotony, making the overall experience feel like a slog rather than an engaging challenge. While some players appreciate the nostalgia factor, the consensus is that the game suffers from a lack of quality-of-life improvements, leading to a frustrating and unenjoyable grind.

    • “I felt like it wasn't too tedious and actually took a few tries to complete them and they actually made you think.”
    • “The new additions such as vending machines and a 'recycle everything not nailed down' economy I enjoyed more than I thought I would have (it's not too grindy), although mutually exclusive upgrades would have been welcome.”
    • “Grindy (60 - 100 hours)”
    • “The whole experience feels tedious and dated, with constant frustrations such as...”
    • “Tedious, frustrating, endless-backtracking, obtuse, inventory-management-hell, mess!”
    • “I feel like most of the positive reviews are due to nostalgia, so if you're like me and never played the original, you'll just end up disappointed with lackluster combat and a tedious level of exploration.”
  • stability
    258 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Overall, the game's stability is a mixed bag, with many players reporting minor glitches and bugs that can disrupt gameplay, such as issues with achievements, ragdoll physics, and occasional freezes. However, a significant number of users also noted that the game runs smoothly and performs well, with some describing it as mostly bug-free compared to other recent releases. While the experience can be marred by these technical issues, many players still find the game enjoyable and immersive.

    • “The game runs great, I have not noticed a single dip in performance on ultra settings at 4K 120fps.”
    • “Overall the game is really polished, looks good, and runs great.”
    • “It is an utter joy to play, looks amazing for an indie game, and for me at least was practically bug free.”
    • “You have to do so much backtracking that returning to buggy enemy bodies over and over took me out of the game.”
    • “What a buggy bloody mess this is: from returning to your game and finding out that major events you needed to complete are reset and you can no longer progress as you can't interact with them, to not being able to continue the game at all as the game doesn't remember where it saves anything.”
    • “It is plagued with bugs, ranging from visual glitches to savegame-breaking issues that halt progress.”
  • replayability
    112 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's replayability is a mixed bag, with some players praising its multiple ways to complete objectives and satisfying combat, while others criticize the lack of character-building elements and limited new game modes. Although many find it enjoyable enough to revisit, the absence of features like alternate endings and challenge achievements detracts from its overall replay value. Overall, it offers decent replayability, especially for those who appreciate experimentation and varied playstyles, but it may not hold the same appeal for everyone.

    • “And of course - there's a lot of ways to beat the game, so it has a pretty big replay value.”
    • “The length of the game will be very long your first playthrough, but once you know where to go and learn where important upgrades are, with satisfying combat where you can learn how to beat an enemy, you can breeze through the objectives leading to satisfying replayability experiences.”
    • “Great replayability with its difficulty slider, randomized encounters with Shodan deploying more monstrosities as you clear a level, an amazing villain, and a great horrific atmosphere.”
    • “If I have to say something negative about this game, it's that the credits cannot be skipped and its replayability is not that good.”
    • “Replayability is limited, as there is no new game plus or other modes, and there also aren't many challenge achievements to pursue.”
    • “Also, unlike a lot of games that came later in the genre, there's not much replayability here as there's no character building to experiment with.”
  • humor
    102 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in the game is characterized by a blend of dark and twisted elements, primarily through the villain Shodan, whose oppressive nature is juxtaposed with moments of comedic dialogue and absurd situations. Players find amusement in the game's bugs and glitches, which often lead to unexpectedly funny scenarios, while Shodan's interactions provide a mix of intimidation and humor, making her a compelling and entertaining antagonist. Overall, the game successfully balances tension with humor, creating a unique experience that keeps players engaged and amused.

    • “Shodan is also a very unnerving and interesting villain whose god complex is both terrifying and funny to watch as you thwart her plans.”
    • “The atmosphere is great, Shodan is mostly terrifying but also hilarious at times, mostly just with the ways she tries to kill you.”
    • “It was funny playing through and experiencing these strange moments, like the music cutting out suddenly a moment after combat stops, or a devious trap being turned into a total joke by simply stepping back out of the room or throwing a grenade or two, or the ending being pretty abrupt and anti-climactic... but that's System Shock!”
  • emotional
    72 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The emotional impact of the game is profound, with players expressing a range of feelings from nostalgia and joy to frustration and dread. The music and atmosphere create a deeply immersive experience that evokes memories of childhood gaming, while moments of tension and challenging gameplay can lead to emotional exhaustion. Overall, the game successfully resonates with players, making them feel alive and engaged, despite some frustrations with gameplay mechanics.

    • “The music is an absolute masterpiece in immersion and emotional response; no other OST in my life has gotten so stuck in my head for no reason. Sometimes when I wake up, I still hear that endless loop in medical, that sensation of loneliness and that something has gone horribly wrong and you have no idea what is just unforgettable.”
    • “I haven't finished it because it requires me to have a certain emotional 'readiness' to return to it.”
    • “You devs have devoted time and torment to perfecting your respectful reproduction and making it even more emotionally impactful than the original, without damaging anything of the original.”
  • monetization
    40 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The monetization model of this game is highly praised, as it features no microtransactions, DLC, or other exploitative practices common in modern AAA titles. Priced at $40, it offers a complete experience without the frustrations of additional costs, making it a refreshing alternative in an industry often criticized for cash grabs. Players appreciate the game's respect for its source material and the absence of unnecessary monetization elements, contributing to its overall positive reception.

    • “It's already one of the best games of the year just due to the fact it's well optimized and has no microtransactions.”
    • “Its 40 bucks with no awful monetization; this one's a no-brainer if you want to get into System Shock.”
    • “Finally, a good game without tons of DLCs, not in early access, without microtransactions, and in working condition on day one.”
    • “When I first saw one of the first (if not the first) of Nightdive's remakes, and how it went (and for how long), I had been afraid that this was going to be just another cash grab.”
    • “In that overabundance of big game releases this year, I decided to play this instead of the numerous empty, microtransaction-filled, and somewhat brainless AAA projects... and I'm just glad I did.”
    • “The only thing it's missing, for me, is a $15 a month subscription and in-game purchases.”
  • character development
    12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Character development in the game is largely limited to upgrading weapons and cybernetic mods, with no RPG-style attributes or classes available, which some players prefer. However, many reviewers feel that the lack of dialogue from the main character and missed opportunities for deeper development detracts from the overall experience. While the game's level design, character design, music, and voice acting are praised, the character designs, particularly for mutants, are seen as generic and lacking depth compared to concept art.

    • “The level design, character design, music, and voice acting is phenomenal.”
    • “I feel SS2 is the same, but better in many ways (level design, character development).”
    • “There were so many opportunities for character development that are missed because the hacker literally says nothing the entire game.”
    • “This game has no character development options or classes, unlike the sequel SS2.”
    • “Character development is limited to finding items such as weapons and cybernetic mods and upgrading them.”

Buy System Shock

18h Median play time
19h Average play time
6-30h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 78 analyzed playthroughs

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