Shadowrun

"This Game Is Missing Something..."

Introduction

Shadowrun is a love/hate game for whoever has played it. Without Xbox Live you will have no reason to even play this game. If you did get this game and you do not have Xbox Live then you would have been very disappointed to get a great training game for something you would never get to experience. Shadowrun has a great concept, but without a single player campaign you have to produce something that passes all other multiplayer games that also have a single player campaign and Shadowrun is unable to do that. The game play is placed all in gearing up for multiplayer mayhem and it is a very complex and interesting style of first person gaming, but it does not even touch the competition of other great multiplayer games like Halo 3 or Call of Duty 4. This game had a tough start and with a hefty price drop the online community finally came alive so if you are into this game or are looking to see what it is like then you will be greeted with a very large community.

Story

Yes this game does have a story to it believe it or not. In the short explanation of the game you choose between the humans and the fairies who are at war with each other. You will train as a human, but you can decide who you like to be as each side uses the same techniques to fight each other. The maps have something to do with the game, but whatever they are just themes really and I still do not know the full story behind this game. The story has no outcome as it is just online warfare so there is no conclusion and no side has a greater advantage than the other. There is no in-depth anything about the story so it loses some points from me for that.

Game Play

The controls for Shadowrun are rather unique. You can choose up to three special powers as well as decide which characters you want to play as. There are dwarves, trolls, humans, and other characters to choose from and there are all kinds of special powers to use. You can glide, resurrect dead comrades, and teleport through walls so the special powers are unique and fun to play around with. The only thing that comes with this game is the training course which you will have to complete before being able to compete online. The course does not take too long to finish, but it will teach all of the basics that you need to know from shooting a gun to surviving being killed. Online you can play with a large group of people taking two sides between the humans and fairies (I know this isn't the real term for the two sides but I forgot what they called themselves) and you will really want the most experienced players on your side. A new player to the game can really drag the team down, but an experienced player will be able to use revives and deploy healing points where they need to go. The games are very standard for a multiplayer game so it is nothing unique beyond the game controls you have.

Graphics/Sound

The graphics are not the greatest, but not the worst either. Even with the teleporting and all other sorts of flying and falls you take, nothing gets glitchy for you. Nothing really stands out for me with the graphics, but the maps are very expansive and so sniping can get fun at times. The music and sound is also not that memorable or outstanding. All I really remember about the sound is the training course instructor and how he seems to get a kick out of killing trainees and bringing them back.

Replay Value

Shadowrun is either a love/hate game for you so the multiplayer will determine what kind of replay value this game has for you. For me the online multiplayer did not stand out enough for me to get real big into this game. If you do not have Xbox Live then all you got was a fun training game for an online experience that you cannot access. You cannot even play a splitscreen game with friends! Shadowrun lacks in a lot of ways to have any real replay value to it.

Final Recommendation 4/10

Shadowrun has too many requirements and is too narrow to be an enjoyable game. This game is only for a single player mulitplayer experience- if that makes any sense. The story features no campaign even though this game seems to hold a valuable and perhaps an original story to it, but also you have no access to splitscreen multiplayer. Shadowrun would have been so much better off being a game that could be downloaded from Xbox Live instead of being sold in a store because this game is Xbox Live exclusive and lacks way too much to be a game that would be sold in a store. The online experience is just at par with a unique concept, but your typical standard online games for first person shooters and therefore there is not much reason to buy this game.

Reviewer's Score: 4/10, Originally Posted: 08/18/08

Game Release: Shadowrun (US, 05/29/07)