Shadowrun Review (Xbox 360)
When I first heard that Microsoft was making a magic-inspired first person shooter I was giddy with anticipation. Anything that could add a bit more variety into a world of standard FPSs would be greatly appreciated. Now that the game is finally out it has gotten much hate for being $10 more expensive than its PC clone. This price gap and lack of maps and game types have left many feeling cheated, but if you can get past the price you will find an enjoyable game with plenty of re-playability, at least till Halo 3 comes out!
Graphics
Shadowrun is a mix of good and mediocre graphics. Character models are well done and magical effects are top notch. Where Shadowrun comes up a little short is in the environments. Some areas tend to feel a bit flat and lifeless, while some look quite amazing when you get a chance to really take it in. This disparity reeks of a game that needed a bit more polish before heading out the door. Something else that I noticed is how similar some maps are graphically. There are two or three maps that are way too similar. Luckily they play very different so it probably won’t be a big deal to anyone but a nit picking game reviewer…oh wait. The only other thing that bothered me was the lack of detail in some maps. Interiors seemed very drab and repetitive. They could have used some art on the walls or some better textures. Even with all these things to gripe about, Shadowrun is still a decent looking game with some very cool special effects.
Gameplay
Gameplay is one thing that saves Shadowrun from being a mediocre game. Playing Shadowrun is fun… pure and simple. The mix of FPS and magic is balanced very well, and the game holds a steady frame rate even during heavy combat. One of the best things about this game is that you have to experiment with different races, weapons, and magic until you find your own personal butter zone. Once you find that sweet spot you can then dominate the competition using a vast array of techniques to obtain victory. Large team games are fast paced and take a lot timing and skill to win. Some people may find the magic system a bit hard to work with at first, but once you learn where everything goes you will have no problem switching out abilities on the fly.
The one thing that makes me mad about Shadowrun is the lack of game types. There are three… that’s right threeeeee! Raid is a simple one flag game where one team defends (RNA) and the other team (lineage) tries to capture the artifact or kill everyone on the other team. While this is a good game type you never change sides during the match. RNA is always defense and lineage is always offense. Extraction is basically neutral flag with a slight twist. Instead of returning the flag to your own spawn you must capture it by taking it to the enemies. It’s a bit different and it makes it a lot of fun trying to catch the other team by surprise as you peek inside their spawn with artifact in hand. The final game type is attrition and it is basically a death match game with a few twists. First off you can’t clear a body once you kill someone, thus giving your teammates ample time to revive you. Second is that the artifact is present on the map, but it serves a different purpose. Whoever holds the artifact is able to see the enemy’s position. A nice tactical advantage yes, but you can’t fight while holding it. While these game types are fun the game also lacks a lot of customization that you see in games like this.
Misc
Shadowrun has proven that you can blend RPGs and FPSs in a fun and balanced way. The only thing they failed to do was build a deep game around the exciting combat. The small number of game types and maps will make you feel like you are being ripped off, especially if you have been playing the Halo 3 beta, which has more variety 4 months before launch. That said, I really want to see a sequel to this game. Even with all of Shadowrun’s faults the game is still worth playing for quite a while, and with some enhancements it could become a genre defining game. If you are still on the fence about Shadowrun I implore you to go rent it. Sure the game is lacking in many areas but Shadowrun is a unique experience that any fps fan should at least try once.
Dear Microsoft – If there is to be any downloadable content for Shadowrun it better be free!
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Shadowrun should not be a $60 game. No single player, lack of maps and modes, etc. Should be $40. The game is really fun I played through the beta and had a lot of great games. As for free DLC ahahahahahaha that’s a good one!
im on the fence so to speak most of the reviews i have read say even tho its a fun game there is too many unfinned edges and i wont buy it for 60$ with no single player but i see if i can rent it
A lot of people who give the game bad reviews are being really picky about the use of the Shadowrun license. To them I say “shut the hell up” and judge the game for what it is and not what you wanted it to be.