While most people know of BioShock, fewer know that the "shock" part of the name was a reference to the earlier games, System Shock and System Shock 2. System Shock 2 is a well-known cult classic, but the original title has always been the "also ran" of the series, overshadowed by its two bigger brothers. It too was a genre-defining game, and it's no surprise that fans have wanted the chance to play it again. System Shock is a remake of System Shock 1, but rather than the full-on remakes you see from something like Resident Evil 2, it's trying its very best to adhere to the style and gameplay of the original, just modernized.

Like the original title, System Shock has a basic story in which you are a hacker in the distant future who is caught doing something illegal. In exchange for your freedom (and a cool neural implant), you take on a mission to hack the AI, SHODAN. Unfortunately, things go very wrong, and when you wake up from your healing sleep after the implant is installed, you find that the space station is a total mess filled with strange monsters and stranger people. It's up to you to find a way to survive.

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The core gameplay will feel familiar to people who've already tried other games in the Shock pseudo-series. You wake up in a creepy abandoned place with little to your name, but you have some unusual powers and a hefty metal object. The demo only takes place in the early part of the game, but if it's true to the original (and it seems like it will be), you can expect to get a host of new weapons and neat abilities so you have a fighting chance at survival.

One thing to be clear about System Shock is that it is trying to feel like an old game. The actual gameplay, graphics aside, feels like it could have stepped out from a mid-'90s game. Don't expect this to be a modern reimagining of the title. While it has its share of updates, they're largely quality of life things. All of the oddities of the original seem to be intact or feel the same, with some minor changes.  The game has full mouse support, and that alone is a game-changer.

This also extends to the visual style. Yes, it's updated, but it's updated in a way that captures the aesthetic of the original. Everything is angular and square, the environment is full of bright colorful buttons, giant keypads, and clearly marked healing pods. It instantly struck a nostalgic bone with me, although I admit to appreciating System Shock's sequel more than the original.  It looks like a high-definition version of a 1990s game, and while that may not work for everyone, it is close to what I'd expect. However, the game's color palette was shockingly dark even by System Shock standards, and I hope it gets brightened more in the final release.

From the demo, it's difficult to get a clear sense of how much is new and old. It contains only a short part of a game, and it's one of the introductory parts, where the enemies are shambling creatures and your weapons are basic. That similar to the original game, and it's clear the pre-alpha's goal is to showcase the dedication to nostalgia and show off what's new. In that regard, the demo is incredibly successful, and perhaps that is what the developers were hoping for.  We'll have to see when System Shock comes out (hopefully) next year.