Often the most successful games on Kickstarter are born out of a deep-rooted sense of nostalgia.
It’s worth pointing out at this juncture that we’re looking at success in the binary sense of the project being funded, rather than whether the game itself was any good – not looking at anyone in particular, Mighty No. 9 – but Pillars of Eternity, Wasteland 2, Elite: Dangerous, Torment: Tides of Numenera, Yooka Laylee… it’s a lengthy list of games with roots firmly set in the classics section of gaming’s great library.
Now it’s System Shock’s turn, and the internet is bloody excited; myself included.
Blimey, it’s doing well, isn’t it?
Being developed by Nightdive Studios, who have already brought enhanced editions of the original System Shock and System Shock 2 to a wider, modern audience, what was originally slated as a remaster has fledged into a fully-formed System Shock reboot.
As if the team hadn’t already proved their pedigree, they’ve also made a killer signing: Chris Avellone. Formerly of Interplay and Obsidian – with credits including Icewind Dale and Fallout: New Vegas – Avellone has become something of a Kickstarter champion in recent years, having been involved in Wasteland 2, Pillars of Eternity, Torment: Tides of Numenera and Divinity: Original Sin 2. He’s also a big fan of the original System Shock, so it makes sense that Nightdive Studios were keen to get him involved for the System Shock reboot.
What else? Well, this wouldn’t be a Kickstarter project without absurd reward levels for starters. This includes $5000 for a top-spec Razer Blade gaming laptop with custom System Shock reboot laser-printed design, and various ways you can get yourself into the game. If you’re not familiar with the story of System Shock, things generally don’t end well for the folks on Citadel Station; so if you fancy seeing yourself as a dismembered corpse or a shambling monster, those rewards should be right up your street.
Oh, and the dreaded stretch goals, of course… moving swiftly on!
The absolute best bit about the System Shock reboot Kickstarter project, however, is that there’s actually a short pre-alpha demo available to download and get a taste for the game. What’s even better is that everyone can access it for free – it’s not a backer reward – so you can actually see if you like the game before getting involved (a courtesy that isn’t extended to most Kickstarter backers).
I don’t see why you wouldn’t, though. I played it earlier and it’s quite brilliant. I got literal shivers when I picked up that pipe, knowing what lay before me.
WELCOME BACK TO CITADEL STATION. WE HOPE YOUR SOMNOLENT HEALING STAGE WENT WELL. WE HOPE YOU HAVE A PLEASANT STAY ON CITADEL STATION.
