This is juxtaposed by the laptop sitting on the kitchen counter, quietly breaking through firewalls to steal designs for military-grade cybernetic implants. A small apartment, strewn with mess, gives an immediate impression of our character as someone with little tact, and even less drive. This comes back in full form with visual level design too – from the rustic industrial corridors of the Reactor level to the indulgent opulence of Executive to the unblinking lights and cold mechanised steel of The Bridge, every area of the game feels unique but connected.ĭesign extends beyond the graphical components though – environmental storytelling is apparent in even this initial instance of gameplay. There’s a gorgeous use of high-fidelity pixel art, straddling the line between the ’90s origins of the series and modern games, which is perfect for the setting. Even under the light of a distant sunset, there’s an unmistakable air of restlessness. The camera, from the perspective of a flying vehicle or drone, drifts with calculated laziness through an ecumenopolis of brutalist steel and blinking neon. Earth is an interplanetary species, and capitalism has achieved its logical extreme of an all consuming mega-corporate juggernaut, in this instance called TriOptimum. The opening moments introduce us to a world more recognisable than ever in the modern, saturated market of cyberpunk and corporate dystopia stories.
This is the first fresh breath this franchise has seen in quite some time, and the original, while a cult classic, never quite reached the prestigious heights of some other games in the same era. Through the lens of both the past and present, System Shock portrays a fascinating dystopian future of grit and spectacle, all within a unique identity. The 2023 remake of System Shock is an experience that shows its nineties roots, while walking a fine balance with contemporary game design.
0 kommentar(er)
