newtmonkey wrote on Yesterday, 19:10:

System Shock
I have the Nightdive remaster, but read conflicting things about how accurate it is. I know these guys are quite beloved for their remasters... but I also know that they've gone in and changed stuff like level designs, so I just don't trust them, at least not for a first playthrough of a game. So, it's back to the DOS version ("Classic" on Steam).

If you mean "System Shock: Enhanced Edition" it does not change anything about the levels, etc. But; because the only source code Night Dive could ever acquire was the Apple Macintosh port the code is not 100% identical to the MS-DOS release.

"Shockolate" on GitHub is also based on this same source code release, and the only things I've noticed being off about it is the way the enemies behave and some physics idiosyncrasies. Stupidly enough there's no way to fully reset the controls back to how they were by default. There's no way to bind a key to reset your looking angle. I had to modify the source code myself to gut out all the "mouselook" code and make the function that toggled mouselook instead reset the players "eye".

Not a big fan of the "mouselook" code, System Shock's combat is not designed around that at all. You need to beable to use the mouse cursor to aim weapons around independently of your viewing angle.

I think to me neither system shock or the new remake had what it took for me to complete. I think I literally fell off of both at the same point in the game. The point when enemy regeneration, biological hazards, and samey maze like graphics made it so I never knew where i was going or what I was supposed to be doing all while constantly being killed and restarting.

I will say that I think the original system shock was a very good game for it's time and I enjoyed what I played until I gave up. I just don't think the design actually lives up to it intent. If you want to play what system shock wanted to be I would recommend Prey 2017. I always personally felt like Prey 2017 was the promises of system shock fulfilled.

System Shock 2 moved the attempt forward but I think it got released too early devolving into a basic shooter the further along you went. Again a great game for it's time that I enjoy but I think both of these have since been eclipsed. Just play Prey 2017. If your interested in history though by all means explore these titles.

I feel like this might be my Chalemet moment posting this. I agree with him too.