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BaD#4: Shadowrun Returns First Impressions
Published on February 6, 2015 1:59 AM
Part of the Series - Blog a Day (BaD) 2015
3 minute read
2146 Views

You probably already know about Shadowrun Returns, one of the more iconic successful Kickstarter projects and part of others that iniciated the crowdfunding boom that's been going on lately with video games.

Developed by Harebrained Schemes, the game is set in the universe of the tabletop game of the same name. In Returns, you get the campaign The Dead Man's Switch, which follows your player character as you investigates the murder of your old work buddy Sam Watts, who was one of the victims of a Jack the Ripper-like killer that is lurking about in Seattle. This is the only story in the game, because one of the main component Shadowrun Returns is user creation, leting players develop campaigns from scratch with users tools that come with the game.

I'm gonna say this right from the start: I'm REALLY loving this game. First things first, i'm starting to love Cyberpunk and the game not only has that, but combines it with the archetypical Fantasy, making for one of the most creative and favorite settings i've seen in a while. It just feel so unique. The Dead Man's Switch story is very nice from the 4 hours i've clocked. The writing is solid and consistent, with interesting premise as you continue through the game, excellent dialogue and a very unique cast of characters, with the addition of being written in a stylish noir narration that fits the story and setting.

Gameplay is no slouch either. The game is divided in two components, exploration and turn-based tactic combat (the latter being one of the main characteristics on the game), where in exploration you pretty much feel like a detective (a given because of the campaign) and part of the world, as you speak with many NPCs and main characters, explore your surroundings, have many ways on accesing areas depending on your characteristics (more on that later) and investigate crime scenes, all very engaging. I also very much like the combat, as you have a reasonable set of attack depending on your class and level and options on how to aproach enemies or take cover. Speaking of classes, the character costumization is very robust on this game, where no mather class, gender and race (thougn they also their own set of characteristics), you can combine create set of characteristics avaiable for your own liking and/or add anyone you want, like you can be a dwarf Decker (hacker) that also knows magic, a a Street Samurai with guns and spells, an ork with blunt weapons and ability with turrets, there's many options to your liking and a cool thing is that there are subtle changes on dialogues depending on the race and finally, there's your choice of single etiquettes (like security or gangster) that also alter your dialogues and have their own exclusive set of dialogues that take you to other options. I just love the level of detail in this game.

Soundtrack is also very good and I really like the artstyle and details on the scenery, although I do admit that the character models look pretty basic. I also haven't entered into the matrix, so I don't have an opinion on it yet, and neither with the custom mods by other players.

So yes, consider me now a fan of the game and I can't simply wait to continue on my quest through Seattle.

Comments
0
Posted on February 6, 2015 2:01 AM

if you like the videogame you should try to find a group of people who play the Shadowrun pen-paper game.

That game was awesome.

Decker for life.

Posted on February 6, 2015 6:43 PM

I so want to try the pen-paper game, but unfortunately it'd be hard to find other people that know about Shadowrun, let alone people that are into role-playing here on Colombia or atleast where i'm currently living.

Posted on February 6, 2015 4:04 AM

I remember the SNES game being pretty loved. I think. 

Posted on February 6, 2015 6:44 PM

Well I forgot to mention that they had the SNES game in mind, so much that this game is not only in the same canon as SNES Shadowrun, but even the protagonist of that game makes an appareance.

Posted on February 6, 2015 4:28 AM

You should try the expansion when your done. I haven't, but I've heard it fixes almost all of the issues I had with the first game

Posted on February 6, 2015 6:45 PM

I'll do it once I finish my campaign. I can see some small nitpicks, but what were your problems?

Posted on February 6, 2015 10:43 PM

My biggest problem was the save system, but that got fixed, and the writing is MUCH better from what I played. They really stepped up their game! Also it isn't as linear, as there are hub worlds and such.

Posted on February 7, 2015 12:05 AM

Yeah, from Totalbiscuit's video on the game before release, the game didn't have the save anywhere function. I do admit that the main campaign of the game is a bit linear.

Posted on February 6, 2015 9:09 AM

I like this game too but I haven't finished it.  From what i understand it is just kind of linear as opposed to most of the freedom you have commonly in WRPG's these days.  Still, it's a great setting, and I really love it. Gonnna finish it soon.  

Posted on February 6, 2015 6:46 PM

Yeah, it is kinda linear on the story. However, it so well done on many respects that I can forgive that.

Posted on February 6, 2015 10:45 AM

I've wanted to play this ever since it came out but I just haven't. Too many other games! I also assumed it would show up in the Humble Bundle at some point but it hasn't as far as I know. I LOVE cyberpunk stuff though and I've always thought that the Shadowrun premise was super cool. Man, I really gotta play this.

Posted on February 6, 2015 6:47 PM

IT HAS appeared on a Bundle before, last year on Halloween I remember.

Posted on February 6, 2015 8:39 PM

Well frickin' dang crap! Hopefully it will show up again...

Posted on February 6, 2015 2:54 PM

I got this game in a bundle (Huge Surprise!) but I haven't checked it out yet.

Posted on February 6, 2015 6:48 PM

I think we can all count with our fingers how many games you have actually started Tongue Out

Posted on February 6, 2015 9:15 PM

You'd only need one hand. 

Posted on February 7, 2015 8:48 PM

Soooo want to play this!

Posted on February 8, 2015 12:29 AM

It really is that good. I actually can see this getting a console port down the line, although i'm not sure what will they do without mod support, which is an integral part of the game.

Posted on February 8, 2015 2:14 AM

Like so many other games, I have this, but still need to play it. I tried it though and it seemed cool. I also got the expansion during the last major Steam sale. I never could get used to the controls in the SNES version.

Posted on February 8, 2015 6:21 AM

You should continue whenever you want. The game gets progresively better when you start advancing on the story.