‘System Shock’ Remake Releases Update Video To Backers
The proposed remake of System Shock, the 1994 predecessor to underwater thriller Bioshock, has been in the pipeline for some time. After leaving us hanging after revealing their switch from Unity to Unreal Engine 4, now the team at Nightdive Studios have released a Kickstarter backer video showcasing what we can expect from the remake, as well as an update on the game’s progress.
The original game was developed by Looking Glass Studios and shares many of the same features with its watery younger sibling. A first-person action role-playing game, the player spends much of their time wandering alone through corridors and bashing things with a blunt object. The setting, however, couldn’t be more different. System Shock is a decidedly cyberpunk story, taking place on a deserted space station where the player must make their way through hostile robots and cyborgs. The remake looks to keep true to this setting, with its horror stemming from the ungodly mash-up of man and machine.
The backer video is nearly nine minutes long, showing off the glossy new environment of the world. As the player wanders around they are treated to audio logs from the developers, explaining where they are in the production. This is a neat little nod to the prevalence of audio logs in System Shock, and definitely imbues the new footage with the spirit of the older games.
The video also gives us a look at concept art, level design, combat and an FAQ, as well as an update on where the game is in production.
It’s clear that the team wish to allay any fears about big changes to level design, but stress that they are trying to keep away from the game being too linear. Lead level designer James Henley enthuses that there are many ways around a problem and a multitude of resources that you can use to survive:
“I’m talking about open world here. I’m talking about having options, and a sense of agency.”
Keeping the balance between familiar and fresh is a challenge for anyone working on a sequel or remake, and the team at Nightdive seem to be treating this with care. Many fans of the series are excited for the release in 2018 and the game has a lot to live up to, but from what we can see so far, it looks promising. This will also be a nice chance for younger gamers who didn’t get to play the original to experience this world for the first time.