It feels so good to be writing a Shadowrun Returns review. And not just because I got paid to play a game based on my all-time favorite RPG, but because it was a franchise I thought was dead forever. Shadowrun Returns delivers just about everything fans of the cult classic board game/90s console RPGs could want. And there's plenty to draw in fans unfamiliar with what is, in my opinion, one of the most creative and original worlds in the entire RPG genre.
A quick recap for the uninitiated. Shadowrun Returns takes place in late-21st Century Seattle. An event known as the Awakening returned magic into the high-tech world of tomorrow, transforming random humans into orcs, trolls, elves and dwarves. It's a blend of high-fantasy tropes and sci-fi noir that provides a multitude of foundations for character building. Gamers take on the role of a shadowrunner, basically the underworld version of a handyman. Everything from delivering suspicious packages to stealing corporate secrets and good ol' fashioned murder-for-hire is part of the Shadowrunner repertoire.
Harebrained Schemes developed Shadowrun Returns after an incredibly popular Kickstarter campaign gave the studio a budget of $1.8 million, exceeding their initial goal by 459 percent. Much of this comes from the love of fans who worshipped either the pen-and-paper board game or Super Nintendo/Sega genesis versions or both. Shadowrun fans (myself included) try to forget about the woeful Xbox 360 game that took a beloved RPG property and tried to force it into FPS conventions. It long felt like a series without a home, so maybe that's why Harebrained is bringing it to as many platforms as possible right now. No console version (yet) but availability on PC, Mac, Android and iOS ensures that just about EVERYONE can get their grubby mitts on this gem of a game.
Fortunately for old-school fans Shadowrun Returns delivers a story similar to the Sega genesis RPG. You get word that a close friend has died under mysterious circumstances and set out to investigate the circumstances surrounding his untimely demise. I won't give out too many story spoilers here and, in the 3+ hours I played the game, I felt I barely scratched the surface of what Shadow Returns has to offer. There were dozens of characters to interact with, as well as highly detailed, sumptuous environments that were painstakingly crafted to look and feel like late-21st Century Seattle.
Case in point, the Seamstresses union, a brothel that serves as your home base early in the game, is adorned with art in the Coast Salish style, one of many Native American tribes in the Pacific Northwest that have totemic art known for bold shapes and striking red and black coloring. Having recently been in Seattle I can confirm that this style is everywhere in the city, and to see it in the background of just one location in the game really impressed me. Clearly, Harebrained cares about doing it right. And, in what I experienced beyond looking at the pretty stuff hanging on the walls, they continue to do it right with a deep, engaging story, superb writing and a simple but efficient turn-based combat system.
WARNING: Shadowrun Returns is a text-heavy game. As you move through the belly of seedy Seattle you encounter lots of distressed civilians with jobs for you. Dialogue options are distinct and creative, a must-have for a game as text-heavy as Shadowrun Returns. It's a slow playing game, methodical and intriguing. If you're looking for fast action or intense tension you won't find it here. Odds are, if you're interested enough to read this review then you'll be at home with how the story and gameplay unfold.
Shadowrun Returns is as much about immersing you in the wonderful world they've crafted and making you part of the story as it is about a tactical, turn-based shooter reminiscent of a stripped-down XCOM.
No RPG is complete without letting you design your own character. I played it safe for my first run through (pun intended) and chose to make a human street samurai. A balanced character with a proclivity for guns and combat works for me, but there are so, so many options you could spend hours tinkering until you find the character that works for you.
One hiccup I noticed in the character design occurred when I was prompted to choose an Etiquette. Obviously, this trait is in line with how your character interacts with the world, and a hefty list was presented for me to choose from: Corporate, Security, Gang, Socialite, Shadowrunner, Street and Academic. Unfortunately, no mini-display or pop-up explained the pros and cons of each, so I just clicked "Shadowrunner" and moved on. There have already been a few dialogue options closed to me because of my choice, so I'm curious to see how things play out for my character and what kinds of variable I'll encounter in this play through. Needless to say, a second, third and probably fourth and fifth playthrough seem to be in store if you want to experience the breadth of characters that are possible within the design system in Shadowrun Returns.
But the game is damn fun. With story and dialogue elements that are a pleasure to read, cameo appearances by wealthy, well-known Kickstarter backers (ex-NFL punter and Sparkleponies author/avid gamer Chris Kluwe appears as a hulking Troll bouncer named Mr.Kluwe) and a turn-based combat system that seems basic at first but promises more and more customization with each new Karma point, Shadowrun Returns is everything a fan of the series could want and everything needed to make a fan out of just about anyone.
UPDATE: I can't believe I forgot to mention the best part! Shadowrun Returns comes with a free level editor and, if you bought the game on Steam, an easy-to-access community where user generated content is uploaded. What does this mean? this means that the 12 hour campaign included with the game will be one of dozens, maybe hundreds, maybe even thousands of levels and stories that will be available over the next few weeks and months. Will there be some junk out there? Sure. But if you've ever looked on in awe of the amazing things created by gamers in games like Minecraft, then you know how powerful the creativity of a rabid fanbase can be.
