System Shock review – you versus a murderous AI in revived sci-fi horror classic

PC; Prime Matter/Nightdive Studios
Lovingly remade, this game is no longer the trailblazer it once was, but there is an enduring majesty to the design of its space-station setting

Originally released in 1994, System Shock is best known through the games it inspired. Its blend of first-person shooting, sci-fi roleplay, and survival horror made it a touchstone for Deus Ex, BioShock, Dead Space and Prey. But it never enjoyed the success of its descendants; it lives in the shadow of its children.

The greatest accomplishment a remake could achieve, then, would be to afford System Shock the credit it deserves. Nightdive Studios' remake does this, but not in ways you might expect. The things that made System Shock so radical back in 1994 are not necessarily what make it great to play today, and for everything the remake improves, its smartest decisions are found in what it doesn't change.