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Shadowrun vs. Shadowrun

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the i-roll-d6s dept.

eToyChest's regular 'I roll 20s' column today looks at the different faces of Shadowrun in the world of Videogames. Before the most recent, ill-conceived, 360 title there were several other attempts to bring the rich cyberpunk-meets-Tolkien world to gamers with controllers. Some met with more success than others. From the article: "In the Genesis Shadowrun, you played an actual Shadowrunner, the sort of guy a corporation would pay to do their dirty work, and then deny the existence of after the fact should things manage to find a fan and hit it. Moreover, you were given the ability to create a character designed after whichever abilities and archetypes you found to be most savory, and as a result, a huge array of hybrid character styles were available, creating a game with a good deal more replay value than most Sega Genesis action RPGs."

8 of 67 comments (clear)

  1. SNES Version by commonchaos · · Score: 3, Interesting

    I recently played the SNES version. While playing it, I kept thinking that they could have renamed a few people, changed a few graphics, and resold the game as a "Matrix" game...

    1. Re:SNES Version by Rethcir · · Score: 2, Interesting

      That game seemed to have a the framework in place for many more adventures than it actually did.. I'm betting they either ran into memory or time constraints, or had planned for a sequel. As I recall it came out fairly late in the SNES' lifecycle so it probably didn't get much consideration for a sequel. Amazing game tho. Wish my save battery hadn't died in my copy.

    2. Re:SNES Version by Pantero+Blanco · · Score: 3, Interesting

      It WAS a Matrix game. Gibson used the term to refer to the "Internet" in his novels, which Shadowrun is based on. If I recall correctly, both the SNES and the Genesis games used the term as well and included "hacking" missions. The movie was named after it, and many characters in the movie were based on popular cyberpunk characters. It couldn't be much more obvious unless they'd called Trinity "Molly". ;)

  2. very excellent game by eamonman · · Score: 3, Interesting

    My favorite games for the Genesis were SFII, Phantasy Star 3&4, all of the Shining series, and Shadowrun. I still remember when you interfaced with what was like their version of an internet; you'd try and break their security to disable cameras, open doors, get data, etc. That was pretty novel at the time.

    --
    0- Eamonman Proud member of DNRC
    1. Re:very excellent game by MrSquirrel · · Score: 4, Interesting

      Shadowrun was amazing. You could play the game however you wanted with so many aspects -- street tough fist-fighter, gunman, magic user, sneaky spy, charismatic talker... combine the endless customizability with the party system (3 characters in your party at a time), the story, and the great gameplay and you end up with an amazing game.

      Take the piece of crap Microsoft is making and you have... a big, smelly, piece of crap.

      --
      A computer once beat me at chess, but it was no match for me at kick boxing.
  3. Genesis Shadowrun by Pantero+Blanco · · Score: 4, Interesting

    I've been trying to find the Genesis version at flea markets and used game stores around here for a while, without much success. The only person that had it wanted as much as the game probably cost when it was new.

    I felt it was a lot better than the SNES version, which was incredibly linear. The Genesis version let you free-roam for the most part, in both "the Matrix" and the streets of Seattle, and complete the missions when you wanted. I figure that I looked at it the same way kids look at San Andreas today.

    It also made the first Gibson novel I read (when I was thirteen or so) all the more entertaining. "Wait a second, Black ICE, Chiba City, Runs...I know this!"

  4. pompus ass by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Interesting

    "Before the most recent, ill-conceived, 360 title there were several other attempts to bring the rich cyberpunk-meets-Tolkien world to gamers with controllers."

    Well, it's nice to see you've got an open mind at least... I take it you've actually played the game even though it's nowhere near finished? I mean otherwise a statement like that would just make you a pompus ass, right?

  5. Rockstar/Take2 should have taken this over.. by Wingfat · · Score: 3, Interesting

    I think that if they really wanted a true to RPG table top game for the PS3 or what ever they should have made a shadowrun game like how the newer GTA's are set up. That way people can pick what type of char. they want to be. be it Rigger / Decker / Mage / Body Mods / or combo, but you would be able to grow your char. like if on one mission your arm gets blown of you can go to a hosiptal and get a new one put on be it cyber or cloned. i think making Shadowrun a FPS is the worst idea i have ever heard! (well i hate ALL FPS so it is hard for me to say anything else.)