This is an unpleasant review to write, but I did not find myself enjoying this game even though I wanted to. First off: I'm a great fan of System Shock 2 and 1 and played the latter a few years ago (although I never managed to finish it). The good part: This game keeps a lot of the same layouts and mechanics as the original version, the devs clearly knew what they were doing and they pulled off a really good remake. The bad: This game just wasn't fun. Not because I'm "too nostalgic" (for a game I've discovered and played 4 years ago), but because it might be too streamlined and feels lifeless. Back when I played the demo, I had the same feeling - it felt like an Unreal Engine demo, like there were still many things missing, but it looked promising. Weirdly enough, the current game is almost the same, and it just doesn't hold my attention like the old game. The original felt like a puzzle from start to finish, trying to figure out what the game wants, overcoming obstacles, discovering new places and enemies, unveiling the lore...but the remake is completely transparent. I know exactly what it wants, every design choice just appears extremely calculated, technical, and not interesting to explore at all. This lack of exploration, of awe and wonders is exacerbated by the fact that the new graphics, music and overall design lack any sort of urgency. The new style is very cold, slow, and the new OST feels incredibly boring and dull. I barely noticed that there was any music at all for over an hour. The combat also feels extremely unresponsive - it's like beating up a sponge. There's a red liquid, sure, there are sound effects, but it lacks any sort of impact. Every time I saw a grunt I wasn't surprised or in combat mode, but instead just sighed and wanted to get it over with. Which I think is ultimately what I felt throughout the game. I just wanted to get it over with. Cause it's not bad, but it's too methodic in its approach and feels more like a chore than a game.
