Kotaku
When I first heard that the next-generation Shadowrun game was going to be a first-person shooter, I said some very unkind things. Things that involved unconsentual sex. In the butt. As the game began to take a more concrete shape, my mind began to change a bit. It might not have been an RPG, but the spirit of the world was there. Now that I've actually played the game, heard a little of the back story, and seen how they've implemented core values of the RPG into a shooter format, I feel really bad for writing this.
I might have been a bit harsh, but I am a rather large Shadowrun fan, and I don't just mean the amount of water I displace when submerged. I religiously bought the RPG supplements, and I own a grand total of forty Shadowrun novels. I once owned a hamster named after the character Striper, who much to my chagrin could not kill a man with her bare hands...paws...whichever. Maybe not as fervent a fan as the ones who sent the developers death threats, but definitely a strongly worded letter level geek.
How has playing the game changed my opinion? Well despite the massive differences between the RPG and the game (magic spells that don't exist, storyline changes, no cyberspace) the developers have managed to inject the essence (no pun intended) of the series into a first person shooter that, even without the Shadowrun license, I can see having a great deal of fun playing.
Like the RPG, the FPS game lets you customize your character to reflect the way you want to play. If you want a big bruiser who can take a hit, choose the troll, who has the power to get tougher the more hits it takes within a certain period of time, to the point where spikes visibly form on its body as you shoot it, fading away as time passes. If you want something a bit more run and gun, pick the agile elf, the fastest of the characters who can leap into the fray, score some choice hits, and then leap out again, keeping the slower characters on their toes. You can be a melee fighter. You can be a sniper. You can be an essence syphoning Dwarven bastard, who drains power from the people, powers, and constructs around him.
Much like the RPG, the balance of technology and magic plays a pivitol role in the game. The more tech upgrades you get, the less magic you can cast. In the RPG, the more of your body you replaced with machine bits the less you could tune tap into the world of the spirits. Once again, not perfect, but the feel is right.
The magical powers themselves provide new strategies never before seen in an FPS. One of the gentlemen showing me the game told of a FASA player that would teleport down into the middle of a firefight, summon a creature to cause havoc, then teleport through the floor, letting the mellee continue above him, only to teleport up again after things had slowed down a bit to mop things up. As he talked the other presenter was playing the game. He fell off a roof towards the firefight, and at the very last possible moment kicked in the glide power, landing safetly and suprising the heck out of the bot players below.
One controversal power is ressurection. In Shadowrun the RPG, there wasn't any, but that doesn't work too well in an FPS format. The devs have come up with an interesting middle ground that delivers a great new twist on bringing the dead back to live. If you ressurect a player, their essence is linked to yours. If you die, they slowly start to bleed out. If a player rezzes you, and then you rez someone else, the guy who started the rez chain suddenly becomes one of the most important people on the map. Should make for some very interesting rounds indeed.
Yes, bots. As a novice FPS player, bots are an element of the genre that are sadly underused. I love to practice with them, and if I find myself getting my ass kicked in a game with real people it is something I can do to vent my frustrations. Bots in Shadowrun might give me a run for my money, however, as the presenter (really need to start writing down names) told me they had to tone them down a bit to give players a chance against them. Bots will use powers effectively and even ressurect a dead player if they get the chance.
After much talking and many questions, I finally got a chance to play the game. They had it running simultaneously on a PC and an Xbox 360, with the PC running Windows Live. For some reason seeing the Xbox Live blades on a PC was very odd, but the two integrated seamlessly. I played a few rounds on both machines, and I'm going to have to give the thumbs up to the PC controls over the 360 controls. Much more precise using good old mouse and keyboard I'm afraid.
Gameplay starts off like a regular FPS, but soon I was seeing the possibilities that the title has to offer. I chased a character around the corner only to have them turn into smoke as I chased them, temporarily invunerable save for the blow spell, which I did not have. Using my smart link upgrade I unloaded a chain gun into a crowded melee without hitting y teamates even once (there is no friendly fire option, carebears). I beat a dwarf to death with the butt of my rifle before figuring out that the rifel will not fire unless you are zoomed in using the scope.
Gameplay was tight yet frantic, and finding a spot to camp with my rifle was made a lot harder by the fact that other players could use special vision to see where I was, even through obstacles. One of the other writers there had mastered the art of teleporting, and was really beginning to piss me off. Luckily he ran out of magic power on the wrong side of a wall.
As I played I not only saw the gameplay possibilities in this Shadowrun title, but also the possibilities for expanding the series in the future. While they couldn't talk about future plans for the franchise, it was obvious that these guys had a great love for the series, and while the success of this game could lead to the RPG all Shadowrun fans are craving, the FPS is looking to be a really exciting entry into the series for all but the most hardcore of purists.
Comments
I'm sorry, even if its a fun shooter, its still not Shadowrun
Carebears? It's one of my pet peeves, but the misuse of this term has got to stop. If it's not a MMO, the term doesn't apply, especially not to somebody who prefers not to have hyperactive 12-year-olds shooting them at spawn points for giggles.
Also, no FF option in a shooter that's playable on Live? Yikes.
Did they mention anything about when they expect to release it?
I'm gonna get it, because like you said, it may eventually lead to a true RPG.
No campaign mode, I have no point to buy the game. Multiplayer is great and everything, but it should not be the only thing developed for a game.
Hell, the game doesn't even have local lan or splitscreen. This game is a half-assed job banking on microsoft's new PC/360 connectivity.
I have to agree that from what I have seen it really isn't Shadowrun. I used to be pretty hardcore into Shadowrun (I had most of the second generation source books) and I recently tracked down all of the novels (46 unless they have released another one already) and read them again. The game does look promising but the way FASA Studios appears to have picked and chosen which parts of the canon they want to respect and which parts they wish to trash turns me off in a big way.
Also the recent news that it features no split screen play on the Xbox is pretty much the nail in the coffin for me. I was hoping it would finally be something to replace Halo at our Xbox LAN parties but currently I only have one friend with an Xbox 360. Any games we play have to be able to support 6 to 8 player on two 360 units so without split screen and a decent single player campaign it is now a renter at best in my book.
I would love to see a Shadowrun RPG though. I had high hopes for the previous Shadowrun FPS back in the late 90's that was canned. Depending on the developer I would reserve it ASAP (and if it was Bioware or Bethesda [just imagine a game like Oblivion only in the Shadowrun universe) I would probably pay the total in full when I reserved it). I would also like to see an RPG based on the Earthdawn property. It sort of got lost in all the other fantasy based game worlds and never really got the attention it deserved IMHO.
Aww the video went down. hahahah
But why use the Shadowrun licence in the first place??? Why not develop a new IP?
Shadowrun's not "instant hit, just add IP" type material, ala Harry Potter or Star Wars.
But it IS an IP that is feverently loved by nerds who pick up any little inconsistency and will be seized and criticised.
It sounds like a great game, and I look forward to playing it, but I just don't understand why they'd risk using the IP and risk alienating vocal fans who will cane the game before it's out...
Oh yeah, any word on pricing?
probably 59.99 for the game, and then 50.00 for the Games for Windows Gold Membership.
If you want an FPS with net diving, try Dystopia, a Half-Life 2 mod. Check out the cyberspace environments in this trailer. Looks pretty badass, doesn't it?
"I beat a dwarf to death with the butt of my rifle before figuring out that the rifel will not fire unless you are zoomed in using the scope."
I hate it when game designers cheat against reality, especially when the intention is to make things more difficult for the player. I'd really like to know how they justify gimping the game like that.
@FunkyJ:
Answer: This is the same FASA studios that produced the MechAssault series, and that game really reflected the original IP.../sarcasm
Well, it may not be the RPG we fell in love with, but if its solid, I'll back it and hope we an RPG in the future.
I must say, this game looks quite promising from the previews. It's unfortunate that no campaign mode is available, but the multiplayer may prove to be very fun.
That being said, I hadn't heard of Shadowrun previous to this release, and haven't suffered the disappointment felt by other readers from the divergence of the classic RPG style.
@aka Bitter:
You do know that FASA are the actual original creators (or at least long-time - like since the 80s/early 90s - holders) of the BattleTech/MechWarrior and Shadowrun IP, right...? Or is this some other FASA?
No campaign mode? Seriously? They wrote that whole mangled story on the website just so they could find a reason to add gliders and pyramids and crap?
It doesn't seem as much of a 'god what the hell have they done, bash my head in now kthx', but I'm still not so sure it's a Shadowrun game.
Nevertheless, I'll probably buy it just so Shadowrun doesn't fade into obscurity in the cold heartless grip of Monopolysoft.
@Kyle81: "I'm sorry, even if its a fun shooter, its still not Shadowrun"
Yeah, because the fact that Shadowrun is an extremely action packed universe means it can never be anything but an RPG, right?
Don't be a douche, maybe this new Shadowrun game will mean more people besides you and your obese, neckbeared (overused stereotypes ftw) P&P RPG-playing friends will get in to the franchise.
By your logic, MechWarrior and MechCommander aren't BattleTech games because BT was a tactical grid game, and KotOR isn't a Star Wars game because Star Wars has too much action to ever be an RPG.
@OmegaX123: Actually the license for Battletech and Shadowrun went over to WizKids for a while, then it went back to FASA. Actually I think there was one other transfer between WizKids and FASA, but I just cant remember exactly.
Anyways the info is on Wikipedia, for those who are curious. Just use FASA as your search topic. Should be under the "History" section of the FASA entry.
@Witzbold: @Witzbold:
Earthdawn. The rights were sold to WizKids, but then returned back to FASA Interactive.
For some reason.
And, I'm sure that WizKids still has the rights for both Shadowrun and BTech, it's just that FASA Interactive always hanged onto the rights for any computer/video games based on the settings. Which means that FASA couldn't go out and publish anything other than computer/video games based on those.
Which is a good thing, since FanPro (the guys who licensed the rights for both BTech and Shadowrun, and have been actively supporting both) have been doing a amazing job on both, even if SR books have a bit of a gap between releases.
I miss the old SR books. Thats kinda what brought me more into the series, even though Im not so hard core as knowing if the authors were really good or not. I just enjoyed what I read.
The "Never Deal with a Dragon" saga was kinda cool.
@PMAvers: And FASA actually licensed the Earthdawn rights to two separate companies, last I checked… Why those aren't part and parcel of the Shadowrun rights, being the same universe and all, I don't know, but that's FASA for you. :-P
(I say this as someone who loves both the BattleTech and Shadowrun universes, but damn did FASA make some rather odd choices at times! TRO:3025r, anyone?)
I tried getting in to the Shadowrun P&P game. I loved the setting, it was really fresh, and had tons to offer story wise. But I just couldn't stand the mechanics. I swear, there were at least three look-up tables involved in firing a pistol. I loved the idea that every little thing could change the outcome of your actions, but actually playing the game was just too tedious. Compared to Shadowrun, even Exalted runs fast.
Now I love the idea of them taking all the cool parts of Shadowrun (the setting) and doing something with it that's a bit more fun. I'm looking forward to this game. Would I like to see a Shadowrun RPG? Sure, having the computer look up all the rules would make it much easier to play, though it might be difficult to build a story that lets players explore such a dynamic setting, but I don't have any problem with enjoying the good parts of the setting in a new fashion.
Like probably 90% of people, especially those coming from the PC background, I've never had any contact with the Shadowrun universe so if the game turns out well, I'll probably get it.
Multiplayer-only, even with bots, means this had better be $50AU at the absolute maximum.
That doesn't sound like it'll be nearly as good as the Genesis Shadowrun.
How depressing.
The 4th edition of Shadowrun rules put me off the RPG for life.
But it's a pity there won't be a campaign mode as that's where they could have offered a few missions that could have captured the feel of being on a run.
I'm just hoping they include some 180, or 90 degree, quick-turn actions on the 360 side, as the biggest weakness in analogue stick control over mouse is how slow you turn imo.
Anyway it's good to see some imagination in the FPS deathmatch arena. Go FASA!!
Fahey: so do you just *like* KB/M controls better, or were you convinced that there's going to be a true balance issue?
From Wiki:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shadowrun_%282007_video_game%...
Another controversy is based on the changes made in order to balance the PC and console versions in online play. Fasa has implemented a feature which will distort the PC's aiming reticule during quick turns[5]. PC players, who have a more sensitive control scheme, are able to turn significantly faster than their controller brethren and would have gained an unfair advantage. The console players will also have a form of autoaim since controllers are not as capable of 'pixel-accuracy' adjustments.
Lame.
Oh, Shadowrun. Nothing like saying, "I'm using my Dodge pool," and rolling a literal bucketful of D6.
I guess my take on it is pretty much the same as other people have said, namely "it actually sounds pretty cool, but the SR license is just tacked on". Dystopia would be a far better fit for a SR game (albeit Dystopia lacks magic).
I still hope against hope that the SNES *and* the Genesis versions will show up on the Virtual Console. I'm sure that the licensing issues will be akin to the supposed issues with DuckTales, and none will ever be released. :(
@Jazhuis: You mean Duck Tales isnt comming to the VC?
*Runs off crying like a little girl*
@OmegaX123:
This is not "the" FASA that created the original pen and paper(or metal mini and dice) games.... and just because you created and\or own an IP, doesn't mean you get to crap all over it and expect everyone to be happy about it.
Start a discussion:
Login with your username and password below. Or comment on this post via email.
Forgot your username or password? New User?