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View Full Version : Sleeper of the Week: Shadowrun (Genesis)



maxlords
08-11-2005, 01:13 PM
Jack in. Hack the ICE. Get the cash. Shadowrun is the ultimate futuristic RPG. A lot of people talk about how good the SNES version of Shadowrun is. I’m here to say that the Genesis one is easily as good if not better. The plot is simple. Find out who killed your brother. Along the way you’ll get involved in gang wars, corporate espionage, and explore magic as well. Shadowrun runs the gamut from the mundane to the truly bizarre. Learn to blackmail your friends for fun and profit! Kill some thugs! It’s a lot like an early Grand Theft Auto….though I enjoy it far more.

In Shadowrun, you choose one of three main character types, specializing in magic, computer skills, or physical prowess. To progress in the game, you must first learn to surivive the streets of Seattle in which the game takes place. Gangs shoot at you, people assault you, cops chase you. Find your way into a local watering hole and get someone to hook you up with some cash. Since you’re low on it, jobs of dubious legality won’t pay well, but you’ll soon work your way up the ladder and become a full-fledged thug! You can buy a multitude of armaments, computer accessories, and magical items as well to help you on your way. Once you have the skills, break into various corporate office buildings and computer systems and steal what you need. Liberate execs who fear for their lives, steal secrets and sell them to the highest bidder, it’s all up to you. Shadowrun is very open-ended, allowing you to tailor your character and preferences to how you want to play the game. There’s an ending to be sure, but most of the game is left up to you how to accomplish what you need to do.

Graphically, Shadowrun is a bit old-school. Even for the Genesis, it’s not all that impressive looking. Parts of the game are reminiscent of old top-down shooters like Ikari Warriors but with a bit more polish. Hacking computers looks a lot like a battle sequence in Phantasy Star II. But overall, the game has a lot of ambiance and detail that make it surprisingly immersive. Hacking is very unique too, with a very cyberpunk feel to it. If you’ve ever read any William Gibson or Bruce Sterling, you’ll know what I mean, but it’s kind of hard to explain. This of course make sense because FASA Corp. (the makers of Shadowrun and Battletech) loosely based the game off of another pen and paper role playing game by the name of Cyberpunk. Shadowrun is also a pen and paper RPG, and has had several incarnations over the years. The music isn’t stunning…I found it to be kind of sub-par, but it has a nice techno flavor to it.

Control-wise, Shadowrun is very straightforward. Point and shoot stuff, but you can have your character in different postures depending on the situation, and you will run out of ammo. Hacking is more menu-driven, and magic is action-based but tends to be area effective. In addition, you can also hire a team of runners to help you out on those particularly big or bloody jobs. Be careful who you pick for your crew though, as some of them are not as good as others. You get what you pay for! Overall, Shadowrun has something for everyone in it. Expect action, story, some RPG-ish qualities, and a fairly long quest. It’s a damn good game and a lot of people missed this one thinking it was the same as the SNES one. For a completely different name by the same title, you’ll be surprised!

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shoes23
08-11-2005, 01:35 PM
My absolute favorite game! Great pick! The atmosphere is perfect...gameplay is perfect...everything about it is perfect. I used to sit for hours and hack into cyberspace, steal files, and then sell them. If anyone was a fan of Neuromancer or the pen and paper Shadowrun you NEED to play this game.

Cryomancer
08-11-2005, 04:06 PM
Check out my blog for an awesome background made from this game's title screen. :D

Slimedog
08-11-2005, 04:53 PM
Deckers rule!!! I love this game and have thought for years that its due for an update. We get a new BattleTech game every year, why no Shadowrun love?

Oobgarm
08-12-2005, 11:58 AM
Been meaning to check this one out, as I LOVE the SNES version.

How does it compare?

Oobgarm
08-12-2005, 11:58 AM
Been meaning to check this one out, as I LOVE the SNES version.

How does it compare?

Slimedog
08-12-2005, 12:22 PM
Been meaning to check this one out, as I LOVE the SNES version.

How does it compare?

They are totally different. GEN has more action and open-ended gameplay, SNES has a stronger story and better graphics. I prefer the the GEN version, but only because I'm a big fan of hacking and its handled much better in the GEN version.

Slimedog
08-12-2005, 12:22 PM
Been meaning to check this one out, as I LOVE the SNES version.

How does it compare?

They are totally different. GEN has more action and open-ended gameplay, SNES has a stronger story and better graphics. I prefer the the GEN version, but only because I'm a big fan of hacking and its handled much better in the GEN version.

davepesc
08-12-2005, 12:41 PM
This is one of my all-timers on the Gen. I never did finish it, though. Maybe I'll have to start over.

davepesc
08-12-2005, 12:41 PM
This is one of my all-timers on the Gen. I never did finish it, though. Maybe I'll have to start over.

-hellvin-
08-12-2005, 04:53 PM
Absolutely stellar game. I was lucky enough to pick up a complete copy for 6 bucks at a nearby pawn shop and I've never finished it. Perhaps I'll have to throw it in the genesis soon ;D. I really hope they do release a Shadowrun game on the 360, and hopefully do it right.

-hellvin-
08-12-2005, 04:53 PM
Absolutely stellar game. I was lucky enough to pick up a complete copy for 6 bucks at a nearby pawn shop and I've never finished it. Perhaps I'll have to throw it in the genesis soon ;D. I really hope they do release a Shadowrun game on the 360, and hopefully do it right.

Lothars
08-12-2005, 07:04 PM
I've never played the genesis version so im sorry if they are to much different, But I love the super nintendo version,

Great Game, I would recommend anyone that hasn't played it to give it a try, it's alot of fun.

Lothars
08-12-2005, 07:04 PM
I've never played the genesis version so im sorry if they are to much different, But I love the super nintendo version,

Great Game, I would recommend anyone that hasn't played it to give it a try, it's alot of fun.

evildead2099
08-13-2005, 12:10 AM
Great game. I'm surprised that it didn't get an MA-17 rating, though.

grimbal
08-13-2005, 12:12 AM
I love this game, it is my personal favorite for the Genesis.

I totally agree with Slimedog. I've finished the game but then started over just for the hacking portion.

Hacking into the high security red databases, stealing data, then selling to Rosco (I think that's his name). Then using the money to buy better decks and software.

I also enjoyed the infiltration missions but boy they could be tough.

maxlords
08-13-2005, 01:51 AM
Yeah, my favorite was hacking computers too :D That's so the best part IMO. But the infiltration and rescue runs were really fun too. Anyone who hasn't tried it owes it to themselves to pick it up...you can get one for under $25 complete easily.

Blanka789
08-13-2005, 11:59 AM
One of the Genesis' best games, not completely unlike the SNES version, but it still deserves a look.

Jagasian
08-13-2005, 01:30 PM
I am a huge fan of the SNES version, and played it first, when it was a new game. I remember one of the unique things about Shadowrun for the 16-bit systems is that they weren't mearly two ports of the same game. Instead, they are completely different games, and only share the Shadowrun name and theme. Everything else is different. The SNES game is more linear, less interactive, and has a stronger story... while the Genesis version is more non-linear, more interactive, and has a weaker story. Many people have said that the Genesis version is more like a true RPG because you have more choice in what you can do in the game.

Let me put it this way. I bought a Genesis 4 years ago, just to be able to play Shadowrun.

kainemaxwell
08-07-2011, 01:11 PM
thinking of giving this a shot.