Faisal Ghaffar 
Back in 1994, System Shock had launched a number of first-person shooter concepts that have now become fundamental and have played a key role in the immersive sim genre. This 2023 remake from NightdiveStudios proves to be quite masterful, as they have updated an already fantastic game with modern conveniences that gamers can enjoy for decades.
The story
A lone hacker has now become trapped in a hell that he also helped make. Far from home, he is on a space station and has to fight horrible killer robots and mutants for taking down SHODAN. This is a massive artificial intelligence and one of the greatest gaming villains of all time. Even though it is a shooter, the game is more about exploring the space station than the combat that you eventually engage in.
The degraded situation is because of the hacker and the neural implant, which have disabled the ethical limitations of AI SHODAN. Therefore, the AI has chopped everyone into pieces and they have been put together as disgusting cyborgs. SHODAN has also developed her own version of a world-ending mutant virus as well as freaky mutants and now interested in taking over Earth.
The villain
This makes SHODAN quite different from the other villains because she is very unnerving in a delightful way. Typically, artificial evil intelligences come off as calculating and cold super geniuses, but this does not apply to SHODAN at all. Instead, it is immediately clear that this AI is fully bonkers because she is delusional enough to believe that is a god. Keeping that in mind, she is obsessed with herself as well as her plans, which are mostly bad.
So, how do you take down this villain? Players have to destroy SHODAN from the inside out, just like a parasite. This means that you have to figure out her plans and then put a stop to them. One of the best things about System Shock is that it takes the old school approach where you have to complete levels that have been designed as mazes.
There are locked gates, interconnecting rooms and corridors and this design has managed to stay strong even after thirty years.
The setting and style
The System Shock vibes are great and you will enjoy exploring the amazing style and setting of the game. It has everything from smart and cool guns, cyberwareand an evil corporation that has now become the government. The effects and visuals have been revamped and they look great. The new sound and music are also a great addition and they all remind you that an old version of the game has been revamped.
If you want to escape the space station called Citadel, you have to shoot, bash, blow up and burn a lot of monsters. Fighting is an essential part of the exploration and there are different types of enemies to be dealt with. Combat is where you will see a lot of changes, as enemies have become more intelligent and faster. This means brute force is not always the answer, as you have to use tricks and strategies.
The Verdict
The best thing about System Shock is that it allows you to experience the workings of SHODAN and not just enjoy the ride. The modern gameplay and excellent graphics make it a fun game for all.
