Not to mention that, in an earlier sale on GoG, I also got a complimentary bonus copy of “System Shock 2” – so I was eager to take a look at the original game first.Īlthough “System Shock: Enhanced Edition” is probably also available on other platforms too, the GoG version of this game comes with a few extras ( like a downloadable soundtrack, downloadable manuals, a copy of the original 1994 version of the game etc…).Īnyway, let’s take a look at “System Shock: Enhanced Edition”: The idea of a retro cyberpunk game from the early-mid 1990s intrigued me enough that I picked up a DRM-free copy for about two quid during a sale on GoG last year. That said, I have a lot to say about what I have seen of “System Shock: Enhanced Edition”. It’s more than a “first impressions” article and less than a full review ( hence the “mini review” title that I only usually use for collections of fan-made “Doom II” levels etc.). So, I thought that I’d point out that this mini review only covers my impressions of perhaps the first 20-40% of the game at most. It is a remarkable rendition that is worthy of the System Shock name.Although this is slightly more than just a “first impressions” review of “System Shock: Enhanced Edition”, I should probably start by saying that, although I have played a moderate amount of this game, I haven’t finished it at the time of writing.ĭue to the game’s sheer length and complexity, there probably wouldn’t be any reviews here for months if I finished it before writing.

Everything people know and love from the original can be found in the Enhanced Edition but with a bit more polish. Nightdive ironed out all the issues surrounding its controls while enhancing all the textures, lighting, and menu screens.

It maintains its retro feel while bringing it into the new generation. On the other hand, System Shock: Enhanced Edition is an absolutely amazing upgrade of the sci-fi classic. It might not be an issue for people familiar with System Shock's classic control scheme, but it is a tremendous obstacle to overcome for new players. The layout is completely different from what's standard nowadays and is an absolute nightmare to figure out. The only thing holding it back is the outdated controls. Everything from the story to the detailed control panels sticks out as something special.

Going back and playing the first System Shock with all the original controls after years of playing modern games is extremely difficult.

System shock 1 review