System Shock 2: 25th Anniversary Remastered Review. A Good Remaster of the Classics for Fans of the Series

On June 26, 2025, the remaster of the classic System Shock 2 was released. The original game was revolutionary for its time. But has it lost its merits by today? Our review is dedicated to the answer to this question.

The release of the original System Shock took place in 1994. It offered very complex gameplay, in which it was important to take into account the type of opponents and use appropriate ammunition against them, choose what to carry with you in a limited inventory, explore the world and gradually discover new areas. In addition, you had to leave ordinary reality and travel through cyberspace. It is also worth noting the excellent plot, which was presented through the environment and notes. And all this was at a time when the first Doom seemed like the pinnacle of technological progress.

Making a quality sequel is no easier than developing a new project. It is important to improve the strengths of the first part, eliminate the shortcomings and preserve the concept of the game. Moreover, in the case of System Shock 2, the studios Irrational Games and Looking Glass had to transfer the original concept to new technologies. But they coped with this task. It should be noted that the main designer and scriptwriter of the game was Ken Levine, who would later release its spiritual successor. We are talking, of course, about BioShock.

System Shock 3 is currently in development. Warren Spector, producer of the first part and game director of Deus Ex, has been brought in to work on the project. We dedicated a separate article to the latter project.

The game takes place in 2114 on the starship Von Brown, which is escorting the cruiser Rickenbacker. During the flight, the crew responded to a distress signal and discovered living organisms that were mistaken for aliens, and took them on board. However, this was a mistake, because the parasites quickly took control of people. Moreover, they are controlled by a certain collective mind. To defeat it, the main character needs to enlist the support of the heroine, familiar from the first part. But not everything is so simple with her, because she plans to use the capabilities of the spaceship for her own purposes. Be prepared for sudden plot twists and unexpected revelations.

As in other representatives of the immersive sim direction, you will receive information from text descriptions on deck panels and in diaries, from seemingly insignificant details and random events that competently complement the picture of the world.

If we consider System Shock 2 from the point of view of the fantasy genres, then we have a hybrid of cyberpunk and biopunk. Such a combination is still rare in the gaming industry.

In 1999, some journalists called System Shock 2 the scariest game in history. Perhaps this is an exaggeration, but the project can really cause fear. The atmosphere of a dying ship, creepy monsters, artificial intelligence that is gradually going crazy and seems to be trying to finish off the will of those who are still trying to resist. And when poetry evenings are arranged for the long-dead crew, one involuntarily recalls the cartoon "There Will Come Soft Rains" based on the story of the same name by Ray Bradbury, where robots continue to faithfully serve their deceased owners.

It is important to note that all these features of survival horror games work to create a dense atmosphere that goes well with the gameplay and plot. As a result, we get a complex and integral work.

In the second part of System Shock, we were offered a full-fledged role-playing system with the ability to choose a character class. The gameplay for a paratrooper, a psionic and a hacker really differs from each other. To understand all the intricacies, it is suggested to go through a detailed training mode. And this is a rare case when a tutorial can help even experienced players.

The development of your character directly depends on the class. In special terminals, you can pump up the main characteristics, unlock active skills and passive perks. In addition, with the help of disposable items, access to skills that you have not developed opens. Thus, even a purebred warrior will be able to carry out a full-fledged hack.

But if shooting and hacking already seemare familiar, then psionics are really surprising. In addition to the obvious combat skills using fire and ice, we can note the hypnosis of opponents, temporary increase in characteristics, decrease in anxiety, invulnerability to poisons and invisibility. Of course, with this approach, you will have to invest a huge number of cybernetic modules in pumping. In addition, when using these skills, psionic energy is quickly spent. However, playing for such a character changes the gameplay and makes you think outside the box.

You will have to fight a lot. The main character's enemies are heavy robots, kamikaze androids, cyborgs and mutants. Special attention should be paid to the experimental monkeys, who have developed telekinetic abilities and pose a serious danger to the player. Of course, among the enemies there are also annelids, the very creatures that were discovered on one of the planets and brought on board the ship. Moreover, they were able to give birth to other, even more terrible creatures. For example, ramblers, huge monsters that resemble a giant pile of flesh. One of the distinctive features of the first part has been preserved — during shootouts, it is important to take into account the type of enemy and use a certain weapon and type of ammunition against him. At least if you play as a soldier.

The need to re-visit the same locations is considered bad form today. However, in System Shock 2, everything is not so critical. Gradually, we will gain access to new equipment, for example, a protective suit that will allow us to penetrate new, previously inaccessible locations. Something similar is found in metroidvanias. It is also worth noting that already familiar places will be perceived differently when you learn important information about the events taking place.

But no matter how amazing System Shock 2 was, in the 26 years since its release, its graphics have become outdated. Therefore, modern players need a high-quality reissue that will improve the graphics. Nightdive Studios has taken on this work.

We are talking about a team that has been releasing remasters and remakes of classics for many years. They re-released the Turok trilogy, the first two parts of Quake and Doom, Blood, Rise of the Triad, the first System Shock and other shooters. Among the quests, we can note the legendary Blade Runner and I Have No Mouth, and I Must Scream.

It is noteworthy that the idea to found this studio came to Stephen Kick exactly when he tried to launch the disc version of System Shock 2 on modern systems. In addition, in 2012 there was no legal way to purchase the game in online stores. Then he took up this issue. Together with his wife, the enthusiast organized the Nightdive studio and contacted the copyright holders. As a result, the game was released on GOG and Steam in 2013. And 12 years later, it was time for a full-fledged remaster.

The author of these lines generally supports the idea of ​​reissuing the classics. This way, masterpieces of past years become available on current consoles and modern PCs. But if a small graphic correction is enough for Days Gone or The Last of Us Part Two, then games from the 90s need a full-fledged remake, as in the case of Final Fantasy 7.

And System Shock 2 only received a remaster. Despite the improved textures, at first glance you can feel that this is a game that is more than 20 years old. The characteristic angular scenery, simple character faces and environment models remain. The closest analogue is Half-Life: Source, which differs little from the original.

The problem is that the second System Shock needs modern technology. A remake could reveal its potential for modern players, because such complex and comprehensive projects are practically not released now. In addition, I would like to see the concept of Irrational Games and Looking Glass with modern game design.

At the same time, it is worth admitting that the reissue copes with its main task. You can easily complete it on modern computer hardware, as well as on the portable Steam Deck. Console versions are also planned, however, at the time of writing this article, they have not yet been released.

In the case of the System Shock 2 remaster, the main thing is to spend a couple of hours mastering the basic rules. This time should be enough for you to get involved and get used to all the features of the game.

It all depends on what you expect from this project.If you've long wanted to get acquainted with the legendary representative of the immersive sim genre, feel free to take it, because we definitely won't get a better reissue in the coming years. Connoisseurs of complex RPGs and shooters with non-trivial gameplay can also pay attention to the remaster.

And if for you games are entertainment in the evening after a hard day, then it's better to look for another option, for example, Doom: The Dark Ages. Just like in 1999, the second System Shock will force you to carefully think through every action, read notes and try to put together a picture of what's happening in your head. In addition, it's worth considering the unfriendly game design, because of which it is sometimes unclear what to do next.

Have you played the original System Shock 2? Are you planning to launch a remaster? Share your opinions in the comments!