The journey of Kate Walker begins once more in this polished revival of a 2002 PC classic, and from the first moments it feels intimately familiar yet freshly realised. The narrative thrust remains the same: a New York lawyer sent to the French Alps to oversee a factory sale who ends up swept into a strange odyssey across snow-covered landscapes in the company of automaton Oscar and inventor Hans Voralberg. That core story retains its emotional weight – Kate’s sense of displacement, wonder and gradual transformation are still convincingly presented. We played it on a PlayStation 5.
Visually, this remaster is largely a triumph. The environments have been rebuilt in true 3D and the art direction honours the original’s steampunk/clockpunk aesthetic while bringing in sharper textures, improved lighting and more detailed sets. The performance is solid, though players might detect slight outline artefacts or pop-in here and there. The result is a version of the world of Syberia that looks richer and more present without losing the contemplative atmosphere that made the original memorable.
Gameplay and puzzle design reflect both the strengths and the limitations of the original framework. On the plus side, there are a handful of entirely new puzzles designed in the spirit of the old, which refreshes the experience without betraying it. The control scheme on PS5 feels reasonably adapted to the DualSense pad: object focus and selection have been refined, and the UI navigates more smoothly. That said, some of the stepping and camera framing still evoke the genre’s older bones: fixed-camera angles, predictable transitions and occasional invisible walls or collision oddities remind players of what this style once was. Those elements may feel quaint to some players, or even frustrating if they expect full modern fluidity and don’t have nostalgia for the era in which Syberia was first released.
The audio and narrative presentation largely succeed. The original soundtrack and voice work are retained, which is a win for immersion and legacy fans alike. Kate’s interactions with supporting characters still carry an emotional core, especially as the journey expands beyond its initial setting. Where the remaster falls short is less in concept than execution: lip-sync mismatches, some rough animation sequences and a handful of camera quirks detract from the polish. These quirks don’t wreck the experience, but they do temper the illusion and shouldn’t be an issue in a 2025 remaster.
The pacing remains deliberately unhurried – very much by design. This is not a game for fast reflexes or action-heavy sequences. The remaster slightly tightens transitions between areas and improves interface responsiveness, but the overall tone remains one of quiet observation and exploration. That works beautifully for players willing to lean into that rhythm. On the flip side, if you’re expecting a modern kind of pace you may find the tempo slow and occasionally undemanding.
In terms of value and modern appeal, the remaster sits in a middle ground. For newcomers it offers a more accessible gateway into an iconic adventure; the upgraded visuals and interface make it easier to recommend than the original in raw form. But for long-time fans, the changes may feel somewhat conservative. Some mysteries of the original are simplified, and the game retains many of its era-specific design quirks. The end result is a respectful update rather than a full reinvention – which will be a feature for some, a limitation for others.
Overall, Syberia – Remastered is a worthy revisit. It honours the spirit of its source while delivering meaningful enhancements, but it stops short of being a definitive modernisation. If your expectations are aligned with a thoughtful, atmospheric adventure rather than a flashy remake, this is a fine choice. If you seek full contemporary redesign in every dimension, you may end up wanting more.
Score: 7.3/10
Press Play Media 