I've always tried playing the game but could never get into it properly. The remaster does a lot in the way of making the game more modern and accessable while keeping the core functions of the game intact. Players with nostalgia will find it better than those that never played it before. That said multiple games has improved on the formula and ease of this type of genre. - Deus ex allowed the use of all weapons and tool restrictions but you needed to spend your skill points to improve weapon and tool functionality. - Bioshock (the actual spiritual successor) removed nearly all restrictions making it more of a shooter. - Prey 2017 restricts skills but re-invigorates the core elements with skill upgrades having a dramatic improvement effect while allowing the use of all weapons. If you can accept that System shock 2 was a fore runner for the genre with all the gameplay querks of being first and a look from the 90s just upgraded to HD then it is worth a look.
Killing Time was one of the standout titles for the 3DO with its FMV characters in the gameworld. The PC port changed its levels. The remake is based on the PC port with elements from the 3DO. The enemies in the game are bazaar with clowns, ghostly heads, maids, standing ants which feels completely out of place until you start to decipher the story about what happened on the island. There is a lot of back tracking with key collecting but there are so many different coloured keys and trying to find the way forward can be very frustrating. Missing a switch can stop you for a good while.
When the trailer first got shown 2 years ago I was excited to see what the competitor that pre-dated resident evil could do. The demo while not great also helped to make me look forward to the game. On release day I saw the reviews were not that favourable but maybe it is something I could enjoy. I went in with lower expectations and after finishing Carnby and Emily's story I cant help but feel disappointed. The game is very linear in scope. You will often be unable to trail off into the unbeaten path with doors that were previously opened being locked to force you into the right direction. The enemy variety is low while the enemies themselves arent memorable at all. The tention that the game tries to create quickly comes to an end as you figure out the best way to deal with every situation, not very good for something that should be survival horror. The puzzle solving in the game also isnt that great with some solutions becoming unattainable after a save and reload or solutions being obscure. It also does not help that the game has multiple interactible objects that are just empty. The story feels disconnected. On the technical side the game stutters a lot. Getting stuck in geometry does happen. Motion blur in v1.03 is on on every startup. I hoped that the game would get better and even that each character would have a different route but apart from 1 sub chapter its pretty much the same.
Played the game on Steam and just had to buy it again. I always wanted to play System Shock but sadly by the time I had the hardware for it I couldn't find the game and I could never really get into the game because of the old design. While Bioshock was considered a spiritual successor I would give the real crown to Prey (in now way connected to Prey from 2006) with its character leveling systems and space setting. The exploration of the space station becomes easier over time as you level into your chosen perks. New paths become available depending on your skill sets and later on you will be revisiting previous areas. The game atmosphere is one of unease and uncertainty despite the beautiful looking decor. There are 2 endings but multiple paths in achieving them. Beware because you do not know if the object you are looking at is a mimic. Beware because you do not know if the object you are looking at is a mimic.
