I missed out on the original System Shock 2, the 1999 title being a bit before my time, but its influence on the horror game genre cannot be understated. It stands as one of the earliest instances of the survival horror gameplay loop and almost certainly one of the first to introduce a sci-fi, spacefaring setting, featuring body horror and rogue-AI concepts that would certainly go on to inspire the likes of Dead Space. With the System Shock 2: 25th Anniversary Remaster, I was given the chance to go back and experience a grandfather of a horror gaming niche. While the game certainly shows its age, this modern remaster makes it easier to enjoy for new audiences and nostalgic returners alike.
In case the title wasn’t enough to give it away, System Shock 2: 25th Anniversary Remaster is a remaster of the classic 1999 horror title made in honor of the game’s 25-year anniversary.
For those unfamiliar, System Shock 2 is a survival horror game set onboard a faster-than-light-speed-capable colony ship in the far reaches of space. After something goes wrong and awakens you from cryosleep, our protagonist (a member of one of three military branches) must fight through an insidious plot hatched by rogue AI and a biomass hivemind that have decimated the rest of your ship’s crew.
As a newcomer to the series, something I immediately found interesting was how System Shock 2 handles character creation. After an extensive (and optional) training sequence, players are given the choice to join one of three military branches and then select how they will spend the four in-universe years before the events of the game serving with the military. This immersive character creation gives players a way to choose how they will play the System Shock 2: 25th Anniversary Remaster, with a variety of skills affecting how you interact with the environment and what weapons you can use. It’s a very old-school but still timeless means of ensuring you can play the game your way and have a different experience, and it becomes especially impactful with perhaps the biggest change introduced in the System Shock 2: 25th Anniversary Remaster.
More than just improved graphics—with new character models and textures throughout the game giving it a sort of nostalgically original and yet enhanced look—the System Shock 2: 25th Anniversary Remaster also features a major new addition: co-op multiplayer. If you’re a returning fan and enjoyed playing the game alone, you will almost certainly enjoy it even more with friends, especially as you introduce new players to the franchise and watch in real time as they experience the horror of System Shock 2.
I’ll wrap up the most positive section of this review by saying that the System Shock 2: 25th Anniversary Remaster does a pretty great job of remastering the textures and models of its monsters. While I’m sure many of us would love to see the game fully remade, this remaster is almost as good. The game’s fantastic use of body horror is conveyed much better through the modern texture work, really conveying fleshy monstrosities and wiggling worms. The game should also be given credit for its incredible use of sci-fi, robotic horror; it isn’t easy to sell the idea of killer robots in a way that doesn’t read as campy or silly, and System Shock 2 managed to do it well way back in 1999.
Onto the less positive aspect, if you’re picking up the System Shock 2: 25th Anniversary Remaster, you should manage your expectations. Mainly, players should be aware that this is a remaster, not a remake, with much of the core game untouched besides visual changes.
This is especially important when it comes to the gameplay. As far as I am aware, besides the inclusion of multiplayer, there have been little to no changes to the classic System Shock 2 gameplay in this remaster. You’re going to notice this, as the gameplay feels noticeably dated. All of the charm and quirks of the original 1999 title are present in the System Shock 2: 25th Anniversary Remaster‘s gameplay, whether you liked them or not.
Most noticeably, this affects the game’s combat, which can feel awkwardly sluggish and—there really is no better way to say it—dated. Gunplay is clunky and unsatisfying, melee has awkward hitboxes, and there is no dodging or blocking to prevent you from being eviscerated by the chunky hits of enemies as they get in your face. I am not holding this against the game; it is, after all, a remaster of a game made in 1999. However, it is important for the consumer to understand that they are purchasing a game that is 26 years behind the curve as far as mechanical development goes.
That doesn’t mean the game isn’t worth buying, of course, especially for nostalgic fans of the original; the System Shock 2: 25th Anniversary Remaster is like a museum piece, a living part of horror gaming history, and an excellent way for fans and newcomers alike to experience the classic 1999 game. I’ll keep my fingers crossed for a full remake, though.
The Final Word
The System Shock 2: 25th Anniversary Remaster is a faithful update to a horror classic, keeping its old-school spirit intact with upgraded visuals and new co-op multiplayer. But make no mistake—this is still a remaster, not a remake. The dated combat and clunky systems are all here, for better or worse. It’s a must-play for horror fans and genre history buffs; just don’t expect something modern.
Try Hard Guides was provided a Steam code for this PC review of System Shock 2: 25th Anniversary Remaster. Find more detailed looks at popular and upcoming titles on our Game Reviews page! System Shock 2: 25th Anniversary Remaster is available on Steam, Epic Games, GoG, PlayStation, and Xbox.
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