Your fruitful searches eventually lead you to a dead body, after which the real horror starts.īy far Observer’s most entertaining mechanic is Dream Eating: players jack into a body’s brain implant to access their memories. Scanning rooms with both modes reveals a string of clues, namely blood, drugs, and fancy doodads. Lazarski has two vision modes: one highlighting biological evidence, and the other, electrical. Inside, you can indulge in all the horror staples, like swinging open cupboards and examining random knick-knacks. You start your search by knocking on doors, letting yourself in whenever possible. Behind every door is a mystery - one easily solved through the power of life-threatening implants. The claustrophobic hallways of the complex are lined with countless rooms. Those quick buildups of pulsing, mechanical growls have me diving for the light switch every time. The distorted cacophony of industrial noises complements the visuals a little too well. Despite some hiccups with the voice lines, Observer: System Redux continues to excel in the audio department. An equally talented cast joins him in lending their voices to the complex’s denizens. His portrayal of Daniel Lazarski is iconic, though his laid-back delivery proved itself to be a hit-or-miss. The walls have earsīloober Team’s foray into cyberpunk is perhaps best known for spotlighting the late, great Rutger Hauer. His struggles to separate his augmentation-amplified hallucinations from reality quickly transform a dilapidated apartment complex into his own personal hell.Īt least the rent’s affordable.
This case-cracking cheat code comes at a price, which Lazarski soon learns. Detectives, better known as observers, solve all manner of crimes using their special visual augmentations. Only this time, a down-on-his-luck Lazarski is pursuing a personal case. Every tweak serves the atmosphere and delivery of the story in a big way.Įven in a world devastated by plagues, wars, and mega-corporations, detective Daniel Lazarski still finds plenty of work. Updated textures and particle effects also help to sell the rundown world of Fifth Polish Republic. The complex’s sublevel, for example, is now completely drowned in darkness to better suit the narrative. Most notable are the lighting improvements, courtesy of HDR and ray tracing support. Observer: System Redux gives those standout features a facelift, while simultaneously addressing the gameplay shortcomings of its younger self. Observer’s trippy, glitchy presentation and mind-bending storyline scarcely made up for its frustrating mechanics.
The enhanced version capitalizes on the original’s strengths and reinforces its weak spots, creating an airtight experience guaranteed to impress. But the next-gen overhaul goes beyond just visuals, reworking different facets of the gameplay and introducing new content. Observer: System Redux brings 2017’s cyberpunk horror spectacle even further into the future with a host of graphical improvements. The future may be bleak, but that doesn’t mean it can’t be pretty.