I’ve gotten into Shadowrun lately and besides the buggy shit it can sometimes be it’s actually a good game.
The bugs seem pretty random to me, most of the time I don’t encounter them but when I do they stick around like that creepy guy on your porch who spends his time staring at the security camera making you wonder who’s watching who. And then it’s all back to normal
Shadowrun is a turn-based RPG which is set in setting where Magical beings such as Elves, Orks, Trolls etc. live in “harmony” on earth in a technologically advanced future, it also incorporates some neo-noir elements
The games don’t seem to have any particular order in which you’re expected to play them. Although if you explore enough you can see references to events from other games but nothing major and certainly no spoilers
[b]
1. Shadowrun Returns -
Steam - http://store.steampowered.com/app/234650/Shadowrun_Returns/
GOG - https://www.gog.com/game/shadowrun_returns
-[/b] Storyline is linear and gameplay is simplistic and occasionally frustrating
The story itself is cliched but not bad by any account, it’s linear in that you seldom make any actual choices. But it’s very much enjoyable and hence i’d recommend it. The world is decently detailed and the characters are interesting.
2. Shadowrun Dragonfall (DC) -
Steam - http://store.steampowered.com/app/300550/Shadowrun_Dragonfall__Directors_Cut/
GOG - https://www.gog.com/game/shadowrun_dragonfall_directors_cut
Now this is complete overhaul of the original game. They improved the save system, improved the gameplay and most importantly added actual depth to the storyline.
-The plot is well thought out and it has many interesting characters and your choices do matter the storyline and the way your team’s skills progress. Aside from your team-mates who are all awesome the game has many NPCs. Not every NPC you come across is central to the plot but they usually have a tale to tell which you can piece together through your conversations thereby adding detail to the world. You can almost enjoy every conversation in the game.
-Gameplay-wise this is the most superior amongst the three since you can play as mage/conjurer, rigger/decker etc. There’s a lot more build diversity here
-The detailing is extremely well done to the point that an in-game version of the forums called Shadowlands BBS gets new threads after almost every mission, these threads usually have strangers commenting on things. For example there’s a mission where you have to level a building (no spoilers) and when you succeed, a thread pops up with people speculating regarding what might have caused it. It’s not very major but it’s really good, showing the developer’s attention to detail
Aside from speculation threads, some threads also serve to deliver the consequence of the choices you made on certain
missions, reading them is fun and is also recommended in the event one wants to avoid mistakes on subsequent playthroughs
Lastly, there exist threads that don’t add to anything and simply exist to add detail to the world. And even these are awesome
Shadowland BBS threads are seldom long and are very fun to read
3. Shadowrun Hong Kong -
Steam - http://store.steampowered.com/app/346940/Shadowrun_Hong_Kong__Extended_Edition/
GOG - https://www.gog.com/game/shadowrun_hong_kong_extended_edition
-The gameplay is slightly different. Unlike the previous two games you can avoid combat all-together by talking your out of situations. Matrix segments have changed significantly. It is also weaker than Dragonfall as your teammates can make do with pure mage, pure adepts, pure deckers or pure riggers
Each NPC (including merchants) have backgrounds. It’s pretty detailed, to the point it can be annoying at times to read through the wall of text. This really affects the overall pacing of the game.
It also has a Shadowland BBS but some threads were too long so I simply skipped those. A few threads were well done despite being long as fuck, in that these threads had one of the town’s NPCs in it. And later on you can confront him regarding whatever stuff he posted on Shadowland BBS. It was good
Your Team-mates are awesome, other story characters are somewhat interesting as well. Some NPCs are interesting while others have really long dialogues so odds are you might not give two shits about them.
Plot as a whole is good and well executed but it is imo inferior to Dragonfall by a long shot.
The biggest plus point is that the games aren’t too big which is good if you’re looking for a good game but don’t want to spend too much time on it. And if you want to buy only one then i’d recommend Dragonfall since it has the best pacing, well balanced gameplay and the best plot
