Shadowrun

"Dark, fascinating, enthralling!!"

This game is perhaps the only one on the earlier systems that creates that creepy feeling that gets under your skin and makes you care for the character. Shadowrun may not be the perfect translation of the paper-and-pencil game to console, but it comes rather very close.
The game is gloomy. You are always surrounded by imposing buildings, dark alleys, and even unsavory random encounters. All the enemies are completely random, which never quite allows for a complete guide. All combat is real-time, and the battles always turn to skirmishes and shoot-outs. Most of all, there is no omnipresent ''Egress'' spell, and the combat quickly acquires that hint of real risk. Feels very real. The graphics are top-notch for the time (although the text does get a bit hard on the eyes after a while). There is no trace of a detailed linear plot. You are almost never directed to do anything - you roam at will talking to those whom you deem worthy, hiring out thoe whom you find useful, and going anywhere you want.
The option of entering the cyberspace ''Matrix'' is incredible, considering it's done in 3D.
The control is something to get used to and the menus could use some more tweaking, but those are far too miniscule to shadow the jewel that Shadowrun is.

Reviewer's Score: 8/10, Originally Posted: 02/09/00, Updated 02/09/00