It was only a month or so ago that we looked at the System Shock 2 Remaster on the original Switch. Where that added some quality-of-life features and some HD filters it was still pretty much the same game. This remake of System Shock is a much more fully rounded reimagining from the ground up and a very different beast.
We’ll admit to not having played the original game before,
or indeed, the System Shock remake on any other systems. In that respect we can’t
comment on how this looks and runs compared to a PS5, but then you would
imagine it doesn’t look as pretty by the very nature of the console. We are
also aware that upon initial release the game was reported to have numerous
problems regarding its framerate and some graphical quirks. Even up to a few
weeks ago there were plenty of videos out there showing quite considerable
stutters.
However, from what we can tell, a large amount of these
issues seem to have been solved. We’ve not put the game through a framerate checker,
but it is fair to say nothing as dramatic as what has been circulating around
has happened during play. Apart from some very brief stutters when loading, the
game seems to run in a much more stable way. It is certainly playable and at no
point did something happen performance wise that effected gameplay and much of
the time we played it in handheld mode.
The only bug we did encounter is the widely reported textures
issue. Basically, the first time you load up the game it doesn’t load in all
the textures, so you are left with a mix of HD assets and pixelated mush. Details
such as numbers on keypads and text for instance are just a pixelated mess. After
reloading a save though the issue has never repeated itself.
Now the game appears to be in a stable and playable state it
certainly makes it easier to see what the fuss is about. You are a hacker
placed onto the Citadel orbital station and charged with bringing down the Ai
security system that has started to take control. Failure to do so will see the
stations mining lasers used to destroy all of earths capital cities as the Ai
SHODAN tries to establish itself as a god. The game plays out as a mix of first
person shooting and adventure and there are light RPG elements in place as well
which allow you to augment your character and take different approaches to playing.
The real strength of System Shock is the setting and
atmosphere. The station is a winding mass of labyrinthian tunnels and hatches.
Some of which twist and turn into huge areas, meaning you aren’t simply moving
from small room to room. It’s easy to get lost or wander into areas you aren’t
prepared for but that’s kind of the point of the thing. You do have map to help
you and there is a certain amount of logical progression from gathering
keycards and activating bridges and doors. We certainly didn’t find ourselves
with no clue where to go as there was always somewhere new to explore.
It's certainly not a fast paced game and you’ll find edging
around slowly and quietly to be a much more successful approach to exploration.
The station is filled with mutated monsters and security cameras, and you take
heavy damage from combat, so it is always vital to be properly prepared for what’s
around the corner. Weapons and ammunition can be hard to come by as well so
there is always the tension of potentially being overwhelmed by what lies
ahead. System Shock certainly hasn’t left its survival horror routes behind.
The story mostly unfolds through audio logs from the crew
that you pick up while exploring. As well as giving passwords and combination
codes, they also highlight the desperation of the few surviving crew as the
fast decent of the station is brought to light. You can certainly see how the
DNA of the game went on to heavily influence the Bioshock series. There is also
a host of junk and all manner of other items to pick up as well so it pays to
search every area, even it does mean spending some time organising your
inventory and converting junk into the in-game currency.
Overall, the System Shock remake is an incredibly tense and
effective survival horror game. The performance may not be up to the PC or PS5
versions but its certainly running in a good enough state to enjoy now on the
Switch 2. It kept us captivated and engaged throughout and there was nothing performance
wise that broke that immersion. If you are a fan then it seems safe to get this
now, it’s an experience unlike any other.
Overall 8/10
