(Image credit: Nightdive Studios)
Three decades have passed since Arcane Studios founder, Raphaël Colantonio, first engaged with the original sci-fi FPS System Shock as a playtester. Today, he finds himself stepping away from the 2023 System Shock remake due to its challenging gameplay.
Rewind to the early 90s—Colantonio was at EA, contributing to the quality assurance of the original System Shock. He reflects on this period as a defining chapter in his professional life. “I was already hooked [on video games] when I had the chance to playtest System Shock back then, and it felt like destiny,” he expressed to the Quad Damage Podcast. “I could not believe what was happening to me.”
Colantonio confirmed attempting to play the remake by Nightdive Studios. “A little bit, yeah. I tried the one that came out a year or two ago. I got stuck in cyberspace, unfortunately. That gameplay was too hard, so I was frustrated by it. But the rest was really cool until then.”
Both the original and the remake feature segments in cyberspace, often considered overly confusing and challenging, deeming them difficult sections of the game. These parts represent a digital realm where global communications and data storage occur, presenting players with intricate, maze-like 3D environments necessary for main objectives and precious rewards. Players must also contend with resilient enemies reminiscent of past gaming challenges.
Understanding and empathy follow Colantonio’s decision to halt his progress at this painstaking stage. The best horror games await those eager to brave an unsettling atmosphere this evening.