At 18 years old, I was getting stuck into PC gaming, but there was one rather important problem. My computer wasn’t exactly a powerhouse. While other gamers were enjoying the latest releases, I was often left wondering whether my machine would actually manage to run them without bursting into flames. SiN was one of those games that really tested the limits of my hardware, and I certainly struggled to get the experience I wanted from it.
Fast forward to 2026, and Nightdive Studios, along with Atari, have brought us SiN Reloaded, a remastered version of Ritual Entertainment’s 1998 shooter. Having recently revisited another blast from the past with Alien Breed 35th Anniversary Collection, I seem to be on a bit of a nostalgia trip at the moment. Apparently, turning 46 means spending your spare time revisiting games from your youth and wondering where all those years went!
Get the assault chopper ready!
Thankfully, this time around, my PC isn’t wheezing away in the corner trying to keep up. With updated visuals, modernised controls and the inclusion of the Wages of SiN expansion, there is plenty here to tempt old-school gamers back into the action. But does this classic still have enough bite nearly three decades later?
Gameplay
For those unfamiliar with SiN, you play as Colonel John R. Blade, a security specialist taking on the rather unpleasant Dr Elexis Sinclaire and her SinTEK corporation. She has been busy creating genetically altered mutants, and naturally, it’s up to you to put a stop to her plans. It’s a wonderfully over-the-top setup, giving you an excuse to grab a weapon and start making a mess of things.
At its heart, SiN Reloaded is a classic first-person shooter, but it offers considerably more than simply running down corridors and shooting anything that moves. There is a surprising amount of interaction with the environment, from hacking computer terminals to operating security cameras and using vehicles. You can even find yourself behind the controls of a forklift, patrol boat or helicopter. Because apparently, saving the world isn’t enough unless you can do a bit of industrial lifting along the way.
One of the things that made the original stand out was its willingness to let you interact with the world around you. Enemies could drop their weapons when shot, and damage could vary depending on where you hit them. These touches helped make combat feel more involved than some of the straightforward shooters of the era.
There are also branching paths and decisions that can influence how certain sections play out. It gives the adventure a little more personality and encourages you to pay attention rather than blindly charging forward with your finger permanently attached to the trigger.
Of course, this is still a game from the late nineties, and there are moments when its age becomes apparent. Enemy encounters and level design don’t always have the fluidity or sophistication of modern shooters, and some sections can feel a little clunky compared with what we’re used to today. However, that is part of the charm, and the updated controls make returning to the action considerably more comfortable.
The arsenal is suitably entertaining, with plenty of firepower to help deal with SinTEK’s increasingly bizarre creations. Shooting remains satisfying, and there is a lovely sense of old-school simplicity about the whole experience. No complicated skill trees, endless crafting menus or an inventory that requires a degree in spreadsheet management. Just you, your weapons and a whole lot of trouble.
As well as the single-player campaign, there is the option to host or join a multiplayer game with up to 8 players via LAN or the internet. Sadly, at the time of reviewing, there were no servers to test this out on.
Graphics & Audio
One of the biggest draws of SiN Reloaded is seeing how Nightdive has brought the original game into the modern era. Powered by the KEX Engine, the remaster introduces updated textures and models, improved maps, higher resolutions and modern display options. You can also switch between the remastered presentation and the original SiN Gold visuals, which is a brilliant touch for anyone who wants to appreciate just how much has changed.
The improved visuals make the environments clearer and give the characters and enemies a welcome facelift without completely losing the original game’s identity. You can play at resolutions up to 4K, with support for high frame rates, so today’s hardware can finally give the game the breathing room it deserves.
And yes, there is something deeply satisfying about running a game that once gave your teenage PC a nervous breakdown and watching it breeze along on modern hardware. If only my younger self could see it now. He’d probably be more interested in the graphics card than the game itself.
Naturally, this isn’t going to compete with the latest Unreal Engine blockbusters. Some character animations, environmental details and older design choices still show their age. However, this is a remaster rather than a complete remake, and I think retaining the original personality is important. There is little point in polishing a classic until it loses everything that made it memorable in the first place.
The audio also helps preserve that late nineties atmosphere. The soundtrack has received attention, with higher-resolution Zak Belika music tracks included, while the familiar sound effects and voice work help bring the action to life. The weapons have the sort of punchy presentation that suits an old-school shooter, and the music adds energy to the combat without needing to reinvent the wheel.
It’s a reminder that games don’t always need cinematic orchestras and enormous sound budgets to be entertaining. Sometimes a good soundtrack, a ridiculous arsenal and a room full of mutants are more than enough.
Longevity
There is a decent amount of content here for anyone wanting to revisit the world of SiN. Alongside the main campaign, SiN Reloaded includes Wages of SiN, the additional mission pack that expands the experience with another villain, more mutants and further opportunities to cause considerable damage.
Having both campaigns available makes this more appealing than a straightforward graphical upgrade. There is plenty to work through, and the different encounters and environmental interactions help keep the action varied. Those branching paths also give you a reason to revisit certain sections and see whether a different approach changes the experience.
New achievements provide another reason to keep playing, particularly for those of us who like having something extra to chase after completing a campaign.
However, longevity will depend on what you’re looking for. If you want a huge open world that occupies the next hundred hours of your life, this isn’t it. It’s a more focused, old-school shooter, and I think that’s precisely what makes it appealing. You can jump in, blast through a few levels and enjoy yourself without committing the next six months to another gaming obsession.
For returning fans, the nostalgia alone will provide much of the appeal. For newcomers, it offers an interesting glimpse into a period when developers were experimenting with interaction and level design in ways that helped shape the shooters we play today.
Final Thoughts
SiN Reloaded is a welcome return for a shooter that deserves to be remembered. Nightdive Studio and Atari have done a good job of making the original experience more accessible on modern PCs while retaining the character and chaotic fun that made it stand out in 1998.
It isn’t perfect. Some elements feel dated, and the underlying gameplay occasionally reminds you that nearly 30 years have passed. But the updated visuals, modern controls and inclusion of Wages of SiN make this a worthwhile package for fans of classic PC shooters.
For me, though, there is something a little more personal about this one. At 18, I was struggling to get the original running properly on a PC that simply wasn’t powerful enough. At 46, I can finally revisit it without spending half my evening adjusting settings and wondering whether my computer is about to give up the ghost.
Much like my recent trip back to Alien Breed, this is another reminder of just how much gaming has changed and how much fun those older titles can still provide. The difference is that this time, my hardware isn’t the enemy.
If you grew up playing PC shooters in the nineties, SiN Reloaded is well worth a look. And if you missed it the first time around, you’ve now got the chance to discover a piece of gaming history without needing to blow your wages on a new processor.
Now, if someone could just remaster my reflexes from 1998, we’d really be onto something!
I give SiN Reloaded the Thumb Culture Gold Award!
Disclaimer: A code was received in order to write this review.
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