By Dean Moses
Game: System Shock
Platform: PS5
Rating: M for Mature
Cost: $39.99
System Shock is said to be the game that started it all. This remake is the immersive shooter that paved way for the beloved sci-fi outing, the BioShock series. Taking place in 2072, a nameless hacker is stuck aboard a space station and must battle his way through all sorts of alien monstrosities and robots in order to destroy the villain pulling the strings behind the intergalactic destruction, Shodan, an artificial intelligence with a destructive force akin to Skynet in the Terminator films.
GamePlay
System Shock is not for the faint of heart. It is a first-person shooter within a technological labyrinth intertwined with puzzles that are key for you getting from one area of the game to another. But be aware that the longer you spend on these puzzles, more monsters spawn and attack you when you least expect it. In order to take down these enemies, you have to use survival instincts to determine if a firearm or explosives would destroy the mutant beasts and robots, or if stealth would be the best option. The hacker must get to the center of the Citadel space station through this maze by listening or doing good old fashioned detective work, listening to audio recordings as you venture through each section with no quest assistance logs.
Graphics
This remake is said to feature all-new HD visuals, updated controls and interface. Originally developed in 1994, this game is boasted to be one of the most influential games ever created and it’s been revamped for PlayStation 5. While much of the game design is still the same, the graphics have vastly been improved, making mutants and robots pop from the screen. Intense fight sequences feel smooth albeit difficult at times. Be prepared to die frequently; however, when this occurs you are revived in the nearest unlocked medical chamber.
Conclusion
System Shock is not the type of game you rush through. It’s built as a maze to force players to explore and use quick survival techniques to determine if they are going to blast their way through a level in hope of surviving. During your first few encounters with the puzzle breakers, gamers may become frustrated with its complexity, but after solving a few of these brain busters, it becomes reminiscent of the hacking done in BioShock.
