Lets clear out the obvious first: Cyberpunk 2077 has been delayed into December (and hopefully no further), which leaves a hole that you could pilot a hovercar through. If you had an urge for a cyberthriller and felt lost without one, then voila – Observer: System Redux is here and ready to plug itself into your eye sockets. Observer: System Redux is out now on Xbox Series X|S, PS5 and PC via Steam.
Released in 2017 to moderate fanfare, it’s getting a second pop at the cherry with Observer: System Redux. This is a narrative-heavy adventure game that casts you as the titular observer, able to sidle into the memories of the dead to isolate evidence. That evidence can then be used in finding their killers. This is all set against a backdrop of a world ravaged by war, and further crippled by a deadly nanophage.
Our review of the original was hugely positive, loving the story and world, and only taking issue with some of the more gruesome moments and technical hitches. Hopefully some of the latter have been resolved for the System Redux launch today. It looks positive, as Bloober Team, the developers, have been at pains to involve the fan community in shoring up the game.
Personally, I never got to play the original, so it’s all hype for this one. The Blade Runner connection is enough, with a rain-drenched dystopia featuring the late, great Rutger Hauer being a major attraction.
“Our award-winning cyberpunk thriller, Observer, is back with augmented visuals, next-gen gameplay, and new story, all woven together as Observer: System Redux,” said Bloober Team CEO, Piotr Babieno. “Our cyberpunk psychological horror story takes full advantage of next-gen technology. Working together with the team at Anshar Studios, we’ve incorporated the power of next-gen at every opportunity—faster loading ssd drives virtually eliminate the need for loading screens and other breaks in immersion, and visual improvements let us bring this world to life in detail.” “The poem used in our launch trailer was one of Rutger’s favorites and guided his work while in his role as Dan,” continued Babieno. “Including this line from The Time of Your Life was one last way for us to pay tribute to our friend.”
Observer: System Redux is out now on Xbox Series X|S and will cost you £24.99. It’s also out on PS5 upon console launch and PC via Steam.
Game Description:
The year is 2084. In a dark cyberpunk world shattered by plagues and wars, become a neural police detective and hack into the jagged minds of others. Make use of anything they felt, thought, or remembered to solve the case and catch the elusive killer.
