Shadowrun

"Breakin' the law in 2058"

I've played perhaps 100 games for the SEGA Genesis. Out of all of them, I can confidently say, this is the best game on the system. It was released in 1994 and is still popular among Genesis players today.

Storyline Intro:
This is the strongest area of an excellent game. The story is based on the pen and paper RPG of the same name. To give the whole background would make this an FAQ, not a review, but here's a few highlights. In the period after the new millenia began international corporations began to wield more and more power. Several began to maintain their own private armies to protect their interests. However, the whole world was thrown into chaos when magic returned. One in every ten new child was born as a meta-human. Kids nearing puberty began to violently mutate into ors and trolls. But the most important event was that a small group of American Indians learned how to harness the powers of nature. Holding the US hostage by threatening magical payback, the demanded return of all land west of the Mississippi River. The government laughed, so 4 volcanoes erupted in various parts of the country. Everyone stopped laughing.
Now by treaty, the only city in the west controlled by the remainder of the US (which merged with Canada after the Confederate states seized the opportunity to seceed in the chaos) is the free city of Seattle. There Americans, Japanese, Indians, Elves, Dwarves, Orcs, Trolls, and many darker creatures live in a city owned by 7 or 8 major corporations.
You play a Shadowrunner, a free-lance mercenary who works for whoever pays him enough. But this runner has a important mission. Find who was responsible for his brother's death, and take 'em down. You'll need to use shotguns, assault rifles, magic, and computer hacking to survive in these shadows.

Graphics:
Theres 3 main modes to the graphics: conversation, overhead, and the Matrix. Conversation cuts to a computer screen like box where a list of things you can say are posted with which key controls them. You can see a face in the top corner that represents who you're talking to. This mode is annoying, because they reuse the faces so you have to pay careful attention or you could assume you are talking to the wrong guy. The main view is the overhead. It moves nicely with little break up or lag.
However, the most interesting view is the Matrix screen. during a few points in your adventure you wil need to hack into a computer system. In the 2050's this means a hardwired Virtual Reality port in your head will create a 3D representation of the computer network you're hacking. You see enemies as large shapes that fire at you, and elements of the computer system are huge rooms. The game does a wonderful job of capturing the essense of the Matrix from the pen-and-paper game. The psuedo-3D effects are perfect. It adds a huge boost to the game, and even if the rest of the game stunk, people would play it just for the coolness factor of playing in the Matrix. (10/10 for a Genesis game, 8/10 in the current era)

Audio:
Sound effects are unimpressive but not annoying. But, the techno-beat of the background is very much a huge part of the attraction for the game. It really helps you feel the cyberpunk nature of future life in Seattle. This is very noticable in the various bars and clubs you visit in the game.(8/10)

Gameplay:
Another strong point. Controls are easy, and the menus are easily to navigate. B to target and A to shoot. Doesn't get much better. Switching to other teammates in the fight works smoothly as well. The XP system is unique and fun. It allows for extreme customization of your character, since you pick what order to increase his stats. What to be a hacker, boost Computers and Intelligence. Want to gun-sling, go for Body and Firearms. Also, you can pick one weapon type to specialize in if you just really want to be the King of the Roomsweeper Shotgun. One thing that should be pointed out is that while the begining section is quite easy, the difficulty really steps up when you get access to the rest of the city. Be prepared to just gain power and cash to afford better equipment before jumping into the thick of things. (9/10)

Replay:
Tons of replay. Not much else to say, except for while the storyline is linear, there's no pressure to stay on course. You can take time out to go on a few shadowruns and score some quick cash anytime. A few of the upgrades to armor and your computer are so expensive that they make a perfect goal for a second or third trip through the game. (9/10)

Overall:
This game will probably inspire you to go get the rulebook for the pen-and-paper RPG (the 3rd Edition rulebook was released around late '98, but even the 2nd Ed. is great reading). Doing so will give you even more appriciation for the wonderful job done on this game. From the slang to the music you really feel like you're in 2058. I can't recommend this game highly enough. (9-7-00)

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 09/07/00, Updated 09/07/00