System Shock System Shock 2: 25th Anniversary Remaster by Nightdive Studios

[Lord of Riva]

Is it correct that they did not fix the Multiplayer?

That would be the only reason to purchase this, I fail to see the point. I don't think it looks like shit or anything but that is also true for the original, it looks fine as it is.

 

[KafkaBot]

Damn, this looks spectacularly bad.

I can only hope the remaster allows us to use the classic graphics and improves on things like the AI, otherwise it will just be a meaningless downgrade.

 

[Zboj Lamignat]

What is it with the hybrid models that makes all attempts at "improving" them look like fucking crap? At least the other enemies seems to look ok, the rumbler has a weirdly bulgy head but whatever. I think I saw protocol droid losing part of its head when blasted with a shotgun, nice detail.

 

[Cpt. Dallas]

Man, rough crowd. I think it looks good.

 

[Zlaja]

Man, rough crowd. I think it looks good.

Well, it looks fine, but this ain't worth more than, say, 5 bucks maximum for people who already played the game.

 

[DicLupa]

30 bucks for this is absolutely ridiculous. I was lightly looking forward to this for god knows what reason, but there isn't enough new/improved to justify that price (especially for existing owners), and some of the updates like enemy models are questionable at best.

Between this and the still-broken SS1EE, I feel like it's become a tragedy that Nightdive owns the IP.

 

[Necrensha]

I can't even tell the difference without zooming into the images.

 

[Ash]

What is it with the hybrid models that makes all attempts at "improving" them look like fucking crap? At least the other enemies seems to look ok, the rumbler has a weirdly bulgy head but whatever. I think I saw protocol droid losing part of its head when blasted with a shotgun, nice detail.

Because they are human, and humans almost never look good in early 2000s equivalent 3D graphics. Late 90s heavy abstraction & pixelization, or modern high detail are the only sensible options.
But still, they look OK. I'm excited about updated weapon models (well, the ones that the venerable Tacticool mod missed) as the vanilla ones are inarguably bad in most cases, which is not good when it's something rendered on screen taking up 20% screen space for the entire length of the game. Otherwise I know nothing about this "enhanced" edition and am expecting the worst just like 99% of remakes and remasters. Nightdive added objective markers to Quake 2 and Turok 2. They do it once more and I divorce them of any good will and standing. Have some respect for 90s superior art & entertainment.

 

[Morgoth]

 

[Morgoth]

Yeah no money from me, Nightbutchers.

 

[Spukrian]

Because they are human, and humans almost never look good in early 2000s equivalent 3D graphics. Late 90s heavy abstraction & pixelization, or modern high detail are the only sensible options.

Stylized graphics is a third option, but I don't think it would work for System Shock 2.

 

[JDR13]

Typical edgy grognard comments. No surprise here.

The visuals are a significant improvement over the original. Nothing groundbreaking, but it looks good.

 

[sser]

Visuals are ok. I quite liked the subtle style of the SS1 remake. This looks more in line with the usual remastering of slop gloss and sheen on some models and call it a day.

 

[dutchwench]

Don't really share the pessimist attitude that most people have towards the remake but nah fuck these textures lol.
I don't see how a new texture on/off toggle option would impact the remake's integrity in some way. Seems like a nobrainer to add it just to please both crowds.

 

[Tarkleigh]

The visual changes are very underwhelming, at least in the trailer they make the game look like something from 2003 instead of 1999. Buttons and other user interfaces look a lot better but everything else doesn't seem to gain much. I don't yet see a reason why we should spend money on this, given that System Shock 2 is still perfectly playable and texture mods can achieve similar results.

 

[Ash]

The visual changes are very underwhelming, at least in the trailer they make the game look like something from 2003 instead of 1999.

I'd say more 1999 -> 2001 if that. Some full 3D games were already looking very impressive by 2001, such as Return to Castle Wolfenstien and Metal Gear Solid 2.

I'm talking about models only, to be clear. Because I'm seeing almost zero difference in the environments or rendering method. Those that I do notice don't look technically better, just stylistically changed in most cases.

 

[Nikanuur]

The visual changes are very underwhelming, at least in the trailer they make the game look like something from 2003 instead of 1999. Buttons and other user interfaces look a lot better but everything else doesn't seem to gain much. I don't yet see a reason why we should spend money on this, given that System Shock 2 is still perfectly playable and texture mods can achieve similar results.

We shouldn't. That's the point. I speak out against Nightdive whenever I can. They pretend to be all about "oh, we love old games, and we're here for you," but in reality, there's hardly such sentiment at play if they allow themselves to be part of such inclement profiteering. Zero respect for charging 40 bucks for slapping some textures on an old game, and patching a few bugs or UI shortcomings. I mean, I don't care about the money per se, I have a reasonable income, but the practice itself—so sedge.

I wouldn't have said anything—heck, I'd have even praised their passion—if they'd priced their modding appropriately. Why, some people mod for free, and some are "smarter" and ask for a few bucks for their work. I'm cool with that. Moreover, paid "better mods" could attract a new audience, add credibility to IP revivals, and, last but not least, offer a refreshing new take on old games.

That being said, Nightdive did at least one thing really well—the SS remake. Very thoughtful approach. But that's a whole new level of development. I've replayed the original SS several times since it came out, and I'm usually a sucker for "old before modern" and even I liked it.

 

[HumanTotemPole]

This looks more in line with the usual remastering of slop gloss and sheen on some models and call it a day.

Good way to describe it, all a bit Half-Life HD pack. Inarguable that the new enemy models are higher fidelity but they look airbrushed. They "pop" in a way their predecessors don't.

Original textures for earlier 3d games like this tend to have a lot of implied depth and contrast painted into them. Far better fit for the more basic lighting systems of the time.

 

[randir14]

Some minor comments on the future of SS3, and the possibility of a SS2 remake.

“The situation around System Shock 3 is very complicated,” he said, adding that Nightdive did not yet have a concrete update for fans. “Not as yet, not as yet. I don’t know when it’s going to clarify, but it could potentially be within a year. It could be, or it could take longer. That said, what I can say is that we have visions of what we can do within what we control.

“You’re going to see a remaster of System Shock 2. I’ve been asked twice earlier today why we didn’t do a remake, and I said, ‘are you somehow under the impression that because we do a remaster that we won’t be able to do a remake in the future?’ That might be something that I can either confirm or deny. But there’s going to be content coming out.”

https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/nightdive-offers-hopeful-update-on-system-shock-3s-future/

 

[Taxnomore]

The way I see it they're already working on System Shock 2 remake and need to get a remaster out of the door quickly if they want to milk that.

 

[Nifft Batuff]

Wasn't already Bioshock, the System Shock 2 remake for modern sensibilities?

 

[SomeGuyWithAnOpinion]

One thing I will mention, that I don't think most people will think about, is that this version will also very likely have significantly improved mod support.

For instance, I have asked on the systemshock forums for the ability to disable free saving, so a Dark-Souls bonfires type mod may be possible.

Do not fret. I'm sure all the crap people don't like can be turned off, and that should leave us with a far more moddable, future-proof experience.

 

[Impressive Organ]

Are they gonna make playing a psi build not make you feel like a limpdick fucking gayboy? I just played through with psi and the whole time I wished I was a marine mowing down everything with an assault rifle.

 

[SomeGuyWithAnOpinion]

Are they gonna make playing a psi build not make you feel like a limpdick fucking gayboy? I just played through with psi and the whole time I wished I was a marine mowing down everything with an assault rifle.

Play the RSD mod if you want powerful/good psi

 

[Infinitron]

Stephen Kick and Larry Kuperman visit us to talk about System Shock 2: 25th Anniversary Remaster, working with the community, and the importance of preservation.