Thanks to a brand-new trailer, fans have gotten a fresh look at the upcomingSystem Shock,the long-awaited remake of the cult classic first seen in 1994. First announced back in 2015, theSystem Shockremake has endured not just its own franchise’s tumultuous history but also its own challenges during development, even at one point getting placed on hold by Nightdive Studios to ensure the project stayed true to its original vision.
Part ofSystem Shock’slegacy ties it to the equally belovedBioShock,as after allBioShockbegan life as a spiritual successortoSystem Shock.This is why comparisons between the two series are so frequently made among critics and players alike. With this being the case,System Shocknow stands inBioShock’sshadow and will likely need to demonstrate it is as worthy of recognition asBioShockhas become. However, from what’s been shown so far and what players know about the originalSystem Shock, the upcoming remake could very well be a far darker and greater game thanBioShock.
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What System Shock and BioShock Share
Beyond just their namesake,System ShockandBioShockshare plenty in terms of game design and overall narratives. For instance, both games follow protagonists who wind up as tools for the game’s antagonists. Many players will recognize this from the iconic"A man chooses, a slave obeys" scene withBioShock’s Andrew Ryandelivering arguably one of the biggest twists seen in gaming. Similarly, inSystem Shock, a captured hacker has been brought before the treacherous Edward Diego and tasked with hacking into SHODAN to steal data on an experimental mutagenic virus to sell as a weapon.
Aside from a similar premise of exploring a ruined, overrun setting that’s seemingly isolated and cut-off from the rest of the world, there’s a significant portion of game design and mechanics that are comparable.BioShock’sPlasmids(and later Vigors) giving the player inhuman powers through genetic modification draws its inspiration from the original premise ofSystem Shockand its neural interface that could be upgraded and augmented throughout the game. Similarly,BioShock’s"Splicers" who were victims of Plasmid abuse can be easily contrasted against the mutants and cyborgs populating theSystem ShockCitadel following SHODAN’s rebellion. Overall, there are a lot the two games and their series share, which means that the upcoming remake ofSystem Shockwill need to go above and beyond to reassert itself.
How System Shock Could Be Darker
System Shockmay thrive by telling a far darker story thanBioShock.As a spiritual successor,BioShockhad the advantage of being able to takeSystem Shock’sgood parts and improve where it had maybe lapsed. As a result,System Shockcould deliver a far more unfiltered narrative than what fans saw inBioShock. For instance, an easy point to make would be contrasting being stuck in space on the Citadel orunder the sea in Rapture, with the natural conclusion being trapped in space with a rogue AI hellbent on either assimilating or exterminating the player is a far worse fate. Additionally,BioShockultimately focuses on political ideology and the challenges of ethics within capitalism, while System Shock goes in a much different direction.
While both games dealt with issues of corporate greed and human progress gone wrong,System Shocktook a much darker tone by tapping into transhumanism. Further additions to thebody horror genre likeScornandResident Evilprovide insight into transhuman life gone wrong that directly challenges the player, andSystem Shockcan imitate that by forcing players to fight formerly human creatures led by an AI gone mad. This premise gravitates to a darker, visceral kind of horror thatBioShockavoided, favoring to be more of a psychological thriller with elements of violence and gruesomeness. With the remake’s expected improvements in graphical fidelity and design, as well as Nightdive Studios' chance to refine the original scope and story ofSystem Shock, the game could deliver the most immersive, chilling experience of witnessing humanity’s own technology transform it into something wholly inhuman.
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