To those who have played the original version and this

[East]

Can you confidently say we could skip the classic SS1? I'm about 178 years old and could never get into it. SS2 is a banger though.

Thanks!

[Alcator]

Please rephrase your question, it's not clear what you mean.

[Shadow]

I'd say yes. This game is pretty much just a modernized version, so if you play this there isn't much point in playing the original.

[(N☆G) Jackal ★JJ★]

Originally posted by Alcator:

Please rephrase your question, it's not clear what you mean.

I am assuming he is wondering if it is like a Half-Life vs Half Life Black Mesa where you can just play Half-Life Black Mesa because it is an overall faithful replacement.

So I guess to answer the OP, I'd say a yes? It seems to be pretty identical to the original and not stray far from the path.

[Trevor Reznik]

Skip the original broski and enjoy this

[Hyperchaotic]

There is no reason to suffer through clunky original
Just play this instead

[Lord Bennington]

If your question is "does the System Shock Remake replace the original"... No, particularly if you are playing SS1: EE.

The remake is solid, I'm really enjoying it so far and differs enough from the original where neither completely eclipses the other.

For example, the original has a faster pace that makes it easier to go back and replay, with lessons you've learned from earlier runs. Additionally, the soundtrack in the original slaps.

[GepardenK]

Originally posted by (N☆G) Jackal ★JJ★:

Originally posted by Alcator:

Please rephrase your question, it's not clear what you mean.

I am assuming he is wondering if it is like a Half-Life vs Half Life Black Mesa where you can just play Half-Life Black Mesa because it is an overall faithful replacement.

So I guess to answer the OP, I'd say a yes? It seems to be pretty identical to the original and not stray far from the path.

It's not quite like HL & Black Mesa.

The original System Shock has a very unique flow due to it's mechwarrior-like cyborg simulator controls. It is also faster paced with more emphasis on forward progression. Whereas the remake is a more standard immsim affair in the vein of SS2 and Deus Ex.

Playing the original for the first time a few years ago was a very special experience that I did not expect to be so unique. While I suspect that people playing the remake for the first time will find a good, but ultimately very familiar, experience that do no hold too many surprises (kind of like playing Prey for the first time).

Don't get me wrong: this remake is very good. But I don't think it is a interchangeable experience with the original by any stretch.

[Driedas]

I too misunderstood the question and started on a diatribe about what SS1 meant back then, but nevermind, long story short: This is an incredible remake, the attention to detail is obvious and appreciated. It really looks like I remember it in my head back in 1994. Nightdive has done an amazing job...
From the point of view of modern audience, I don't see a reason to go back and play SS1 after playing this, however treasured a memory SS1 and the place in my (physical) library the original box and disc holds are.

[(N☆G) Jackal ★JJ★]

Originally posted by GepardenK:

Originally posted by (N☆G) Jackal ★JJ★:

I am assuming he is wondering if it is like a Half-Life vs Half Life Black Mesa where you can just play Half-Life Black Mesa because it is an overall faithful replacement.

So I guess to answer the OP, I'd say a yes? It seems to be pretty identical to the original and not stray far from the path.

It's not quite like HL & Black Mesa.

The original System Shock has a very unique flow due to it's mechwarrior-like cyborg simulator controls. It is also faster paced with more emphasis on forward progression. Whereas the remake is a more standard immsim affair in the vein of SS2 and Deus Ex.

Playing the original for the first time a few years ago was a very special experience that I did not expect to be so unique. While I suspect that people playing the remake for the first time will find a good, but ultimately very familiar, experience that do no hold too many surprises (kind of like playing Prey for the first time)

Well, despite controls feeling different and this being a bit slower pace, if someone is asking if they need to play the original or enhanced edition over this to get the whole story or experience in terms of level design, mechanics, and story telling then it can safely be said this is pretty faithful and there isn't much point going back to the original.

Which is why I would say it is very similar to Half-Life and Half-Life Black Mesa. There is no real point in going back to the original since they are so identical.

If we did the same comparison like you are doing though, Half Life Black Mesa is a really different experience since weapon ammo is nerfed, enemies are buffed, weapons are more accurate, movement is faster, new story telling elements that weren't relayed well in the original, etc etc. So I'd say very similar.

[GepardenK]

Originally posted by (N☆G) Jackal ★JJ★:

So I'd say very similar.

It's not very similar. The experience you get is very different. The playstyle itself is fundamentally different (unlike HL/ Black Messa).

This works in reverse too. If you have only played the original System Shock, then you have very much not experienced the Remake.

[East]

Originally posted by (N☆G) Jackal ★JJ★:

Originally posted by Alcator:

Please rephrase your question, it's not clear what you mean.

I am assuming he is wondering if it is like a Half-Life vs Half Life Black Mesa where you can just play Half-Life Black Mesa because it is an overall faithful replacement.

So I guess to answer the OP, I'd say a yes? It seems to be pretty identical to the original and not stray far from the path.

My bad, yes that is exactly what I meant. Black Mesa vs Half Life 1 basically. :)

[(N☆G) Jackal ★JJ★]

Originally posted by GepardenK:

Originally posted by (N☆G) Jackal ★JJ★:

So I'd say very similar.

It's not very similar. The experience you get is very different. The playstyle itself is fundamentally different (unlike HL/ Black Messa).

This works in reverse too. If you have only played the original System Shock, then you have very much not experienced the Remake.

At this point it is just a matter of subjective opinion.
The points you are bringing up apply to HL and HL:BM as well, so either biased is involved or you aren't really factoring just how much enemies bullet sponged in HL vs HLBM and how insanely inaccurate certain weapons were, how much story telling was added, how mechanics were changed and so much more.

So I am just going to simply disagree with you and move on from this as it seems like this is just going to go nowhere.

[Arnante]

I would say, it's quite helpful to know the original one, just to have a feeling what this remake is about - and if it's just for a hour into the original. For me it made sense. But surely no need to playtrough the origin, except, you really want to.
It's really fun to have the comparison.

[(N☆G) Jackal ★JJ★]

Originally posted by Guns are hype sometimes:

Originally posted by (N☆G) Jackal ★JJ★:

I am assuming he is wondering if it is like a Half-Life vs Half Life Black Mesa where you can just play Half-Life Black Mesa because it is an overall faithful replacement.

So I guess to answer the OP, I'd say a yes? It seems to be pretty identical to the original and not stray far from the path.

My bad, yes that is exactly what I meant. Black Mesa vs Half Life 1 basically. :)

Then yes. (:
It is identical enough to say that you won't need to play the first one to get the whole story and the overall experience.

Yeah, if you play the original you might get a whole different experience by just sheer gameplay I guess but realistically it'd be the same if you never played HL before HLBM and went back to play the original. Largely the same. Nothing really taken away.

[gr3y5had0w]

I liked SS1:EE more than SS2.