System Shock Review (INukeDogs)
Warts and all, I really loved this game. So much so that I ran it max difficulty with the 10 hour time limit (which, once you know what you're doing, is extremely generous).
SHODAN is just mesmerizing. It's hard to think of a more vindictive villain. One who absolutely loathes you and your kind, and relishes every iota of pain that can be inflicted on a perceived inferior species.
The enemies are all extremely memorable. With the art style as a whole going for this great, stylized look that makes the game instantly unique and memorable.
The fact that control is almost never taken from you. The constant exhilarating momentum. Makes it so easy to just lose yourself playing the game. It made even the 3 second, boss camera zoom in jarring, as the pacing is forever dictated by the player the second you wake up on citadel station.
Major flaws prevent me from recommending it to, well, just about anyone.
The percentage of players who make it to the final room (not beating the final boss, i'll get there), is around 14%. The absolute lack of important documents being highlighted, a notification that there is something you need to do on the floor, or even just a vague objective marker that highlights a broad area, is almost unforgivable. Wandering around lost, not even knowing what you're suppose to be doing, is not fun. It's bad design. Something this remake should have corrected- but for some reason decided not to do so.
Completion rate of 14% of people for the final room is a weird statement. Why not just say complete the game? Well that means taking into account the final boss. The completion rate of people beating the cortex reaver in the final room, then proceeding to beat the final boss, drops to 4%. People who persevered through such a jank and obtuse game, just flat out gave up on that final boss. It is abysmal. It is possibly the worst finale I have ever seen in a game. I would have preferred a shut off lever in an otherwise empty room, than this boss. It truly, cannot be overstated, how bad that final boss is.
Amazing game. Loved it. Don't recommend.