System Shock Demo

Just like with every other art form out there, there are certain classics that will always be remembered and revered, regardless of what happens or how the trends evolve. Hence, it’s tough to talk about the RTS genre as a whole and not mention Command & Conquer or StarCraft, just like it’s difficult to analyze the action-RPG genre without inevitably saying something about Diablo.

System Shock is a remaster of the original game developed by Looking Glass Studios that aims to keep everything as it was, except the graphics and the interface, although the latter has been improved, not changed. The game is developed by Night Dive Studio, which is the same studio responsible for System Shock Enhanced Edition, the one that featured the same engine with a few upgraded components to run on modern computers.

In essence, the goal of this remake is to allow a new generation of gamers to enjoy System Shock without having to deal with outdated graphics, software troubles and interface annoyances. Other than that, the game is a loyal copy of the Looking Glass classic, which includes the story, the gameplay mechanics and everything else that made it so successful back in the day.

One of the most important elements in the original game was the freedom to tackle each obstacle as you saw fit, depending on how you equipped your character. Hence, stealth was a viable and even encouraged possibility, but all-out action was also part of the deal. Whether you want to stay in the shadows and sneak around enemies or blow them up with grenades and shotguns, the choice is entirely yours, which is something most modern games seem to have forgotten.

The other great element that made System Shock a force to be reckoned with was the atmosphere, because everything was designed to make you feel uneasy. This remake aims for the same thing, except that the graphics are heavily improved, which helps a lot with immersion. Even if the game uses Unity as its graphics engine, the environments look great, as do the post-processing effects added on top. More work is needed in the animation department, but you must remember that this is but a Pre-Alpha version at the moment, so it’s far from complete.

In the end, there are few things that could end up damaging this reboot’s quality, and one of them is money. Hence, if you want to see System Shock in brand new clothes and relive the memorable experience without struggling with crappy textures and low resolutions, you can help the developers by kicking in a few bucks for the game’s Kickstarter campaign.