System Shock through the ages: remake, Enhanced Edition and original visuals compared

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System Shock through the ages: remake, Enhanced Edition and original visuals comparedPostcards from Citadel Station, past and present

Postcards from Citadel Station, past and present

Image credit:Prime Matter / Nightdive Studios / Origin Systems / Rock Paper Shotgun

A collage showing the humanoid mutant enemy in the System Shock remake, System Shock Enhanced Edition, and the original System Shock.

You didn’t hear it from me, butgames look different now to how they did in 1994. Mmm. Nonetheless, Nightdive Studio’sSystem Shock remakestays resolutely faithful to the Looking Glass original even when giving it a modern 3D makeover, with a retro flourish in its intentionally pixellated textures.

System Shock Remake Out Now for PC | Nightdive StudiosWatch on YouTube

System Shock Remake Out Now for PC | Nightdive Studios

Cover image for YouTube video

These shots are all from early in the game, so if the System Shock remake is likely to be your introduction to SHODAN and her spacefaring army of chrome-faced meat men, don’t worry about major spoilers. That’s definitely a consequence of my concern for your enjoyment, and has nothing to do with the original’s pre-mouselook controls giving me a stress headache.

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A drone flies through a sci-fi citscape in the System Shock remake intro.

Ships fly through a sci-fi cityscape in System Shock Enhanced Edition.

Ships fly through a sci-fi cityscape in System Shock Classic.

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Whereas System Shock and its Enhanced Edition begin with a period-appropriate cutscene collage, the remake steps into first-person immediately, with a drone’s-eye tour of your hacker’s space city before switching to the black hat himself. I approve of the change – there’s a pleasing taste ofPrey’s fakeout helicopter ride in how the opening credits are served as in-world billboards.

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A holographic executive proposes a deal to the captive player in the System Shock remake.

A captive hacker works on removing SHODAN’s ethical restraints in System Shock Enhanced Edition.

A captive hacker works on removing SHODAN’s ethical restraints in System Shock Classic.

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Likewise, the remake keeps your perspective to set up the hows and whys of your presence on Citadel Station – as well as its state when you wake up. I am digging that holographic cuboid monitor in the older versions, mind.

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The medical bay in the System Shock remake.

The medical bay in System Shock Enhanced Edition.

The medical bay in System Shock Classic.

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A humanoid mutant attacks in the System Shock remake.

A humanoid mutant attacks in System Shock Enhanced Edition.

A humanoid mutant attacks in System Shock Classic.

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A rewiring puzzle in the System Shock remake.

A rewiring puzzle in System Shock Enhanced Edition.

A rewiring puzzle in System Shock Classic.

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Puzzles have had a relatively substantial remaking. What previously involved clicking on some 2D plus symbols while staring at a wall panel is now a more tactile, fully manipulable rewiring job, while staring at a wall panel.

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The glowing cyberspace in the System Shock remake.

Cyberspace as seen in System Shock Enhanced Edition, with a distinct wireframe look.

Cyberspace as seen in System Shock Classic, with a distinct wireframe look.

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Cyberspace! This is another area where Nightdive ran with the concept a bit, replacing the wireframe aesthetic with something altogether more solid and VR-ish. It arguably loses some the original’s eerie quality in the process, though.

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SHODAN’s medical deck CPU core room in the System Shock remake.

SHODAN’s medical deck CPU core room in System Shock Enhanced Edition.

Shodan’s medical deck CPU core room in System Shock Classic.

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This particular room, a key stop on your way through Citadel Station’s medical deck, is opened up significantly in the remake. Perhaps better reflecting its importance to the new owner, or just to make room for the addition of that cute little janitor-bot. Steam venting from the four cores also adds a nice dash of sci-fi atmosphere, not that System Shock was lacking in it previously.

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A dark hallway in the research labs in the System Shock remake.

A dark hallway in the research labs in System Shock Enhanced Edition.

A dark hallway in the research labs in SSystem Shock Classic.

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Onwards now to the research labs, which manage to feel even more cramped and horrible than the med deck. There’s some lovely colour-contrasting lighting here in the remake, though the original and Enhanced Edition’s darker imagining still holds up for nerviness.

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A Security-1 robot enemy in the System Shock remake.

A Security-1 robot enemy in System Shock Enhanced Edition.

A Security-1 robot enemy in System Shock Classic.

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Finally, let’s check in with one of the less organic foes, a Security-1 robot. I’m not sure about theROG Allylight rings on his newly remade chassis, but otherwise it’s a decently threatening design based on a bot that’s actually quite small and unimposing in the original.

Thus concludes this time-travelling tour. The System Shock remake is out now on PC, having overcome aseriesof lengthydelays.