A return to Fallout's Turn-Based Tactical Combat
Currently on a Midweek Madness Sale on Steam is Shadowrun Returns for only RM7.75* (around USD 2.39. Normal price RM31 or USD 9.56)! Originally I was going to post a review for another game, but this mad deal took precedence. Honestly, the things I do for you people even though I'm not getting paid.
If you've missed turn-based tactical combat simulators like the original Fallout series, or the much less gritty Final Fantasy Tactics, Shadowrun Returns is, well, a return to form. Quite a simplified one too, as it turns out.
Graphics and Sound
Shadowrun Returns is clean and simple from top to bottom, except for the maps which are appropriately gritty and generally unclean - you are, after all, in a dystopian setting. Neon bright colours are the norm and clear iconography makes it pretty clear what each button does.
In-game, the information you need is laid out clearly for you to find, and all else is found by pressing the giant power button on the top-left or pressing the Escape key. In it, you'll find your character screen, inventory, and menu functions.
The background music is pretty standard stuff. It sets the mood appropriately with an unobtrusive synth and fade of dark rock. Most times you won't even notice it, and even if you do you could do your laundry or cook a meal with it playing in the background. You might even be more attentive and wary while doing so and not miss the piece of paper in the back pocket of your jeans that will eventually get shredded by the washing machine.
Character Creation
The game is honest enough about the fact that what you choose isn't set in stone, with a "meh, I'll pick my own skills" option. Each class is really a low-level preset that you can override later in the game anyway.
Character creation is almost purely cosmetic (except for race that gives you a small perk for each), and you'll even be given an option as to what sort of demeanour you portray. Letting you choose between options such as academic, cop, or gang member does next-to-nothing to your dialogue choices except for specific instances where it might be useful (helpfully greyed out so that you'd just wish you had chosen to go at it like a cop. As far as I can tell there aren't any side quests or missions that become intensely tricky without the right attitude, so go ahead and choose something you'd likely find useful once or twice in the game.
Abilities are a lot more useful, and don't fret at the amount of Karma you get at the beginning, Karma is quite generously given to you as the game progresses. Contrary to it's name you do not get (much) more Karma from being nice as far as I can tell, so go ahead and do feel free to be a dick to the few NPC's that you meet.
Gameplay
Perhaps referring Fallout and Final Fantasy Tactics at the beginning was a little misleading, because Shadowrun Returns is not an open-world for you to explore, it's a story that you play out. As such there is no back tracking to previous stages or places so that you can fully explore the place or complete side quests, not that there are many. It's quite a shame because the maps are decently sized and full of graphical detail.
It's rare that you will find open lockers or random rooms where you find extra cash or sellables to pick up and hawk to the merchants you'll find along the way. In fact there is no sell function at all. Bought something you regret and there's nothing you can do but let it rot in your stash where it'll live out it's unfulfilling life till you visit it again (probably 2 minutes after never). Thankfully your stash is infinite. Most of the pickups you'll find come from the handful of pick up points (helpfully highlighted with an icon so that you can't miss it) or from wearing out dialogue options in things you'd need to look through anyway.
Turn-based combat is almost exactly as you'd expect it to work, except in general most actions cost 1 AP and most turns you get 2-3 AP. So firing a rifle and smacking someone in the head costs the exact same amount of AP. As such, I haven't found a reasonable advantage of having a handgun except to save on reloads (which, admittedly, is actually great tactical advice).
Perk - ammo is unlimited. The downside is that melee combat is effectively advantageless. It costs the same amount of AP and there is no minimum range for ranged weapons so you can unload your clip into an enemy right in front of you and not worry about losing accuracy.
Narrative
The main story is a film-noir crime solvency with guns and magic, a recipe for potential disaster and nerd-gasms alike. Thankfully, the people who wrote it knew to tread lightly.
The writing of the franchise is solid, especially so for this game. If you're not the reading type this game may not be worth the full price of admission to you, but if you are be prepared to be immersed. Characters are believable and somewhat endearing as much as they are sometimes stereotypical, but the melting pot of cultures is quite something to behold. It's not an epic thriller, but it's engaging.
Plot wise, however, it's somewhat simplistic. While I'm not suggesting that it's weak, it isn't anywhere close to the bone-chilling revelations of Andrew Ryan. It's not terrible, just linear enough that your cries of "I totally saw that coming" will be met with "everybody else did". The reveal is also quite lack lustre, but at least the story is believable and entertaining in it's own right.
Replayability
That being said, re-playability is not necessarily an issue with a thriving online community of modders and writers. The Steam Workshop and shadowrunners at large create downloadable content that seem to be of pretty good quality. It obviously takes a bit of time and an eye for these sorts of things, but considering that most, if not all, of these additional stories are free, I'd say Shadowrun Returns is definitely a very replayable medium that storytellers can make use of.
Verdict
If you're a fan of narratives as I am, Shadowrun Returns is certainly something you could use to pass more time than you could possibly imagine. Despite certain gameplay quirks and a lack of any real trade I could see this being a worthwhile purchase even if you miss the Midweek Madness sale.
4 Stars
Vinsant Huang is every bit your hardcore gamer, or at least he was until corporate life tied it's bitter noose around his neck. His highest achievement is attaining Ambassador in World of Warcraft, and it involved countless hours of grinding and coffee. To be honest, he's not that proud he did it.
* Steam recently introduced pricing in Ringgit Malaysia, and I've not been able to figure out how to change it back to see if they round up or down. It doesn't matter either way. In general USD 5 hovers around the regions of RM15, so a little give or take doesn't and shouldn't mean too much.
Currently on a Midweek Madness Sale on Steam is Shadowrun Returns for only RM7.75* (around USD 2.39. Normal price RM31 or USD 9.56)! Originally I was going to post a review for another game, but this mad deal took precedence. Honestly, the things I do for you people even though I'm not getting paid.
If you've missed turn-based tactical combat simulators like the original Fallout series, or the much less gritty Final Fantasy Tactics, Shadowrun Returns is, well, a return to form. Quite a simplified one too, as it turns out.
Graphics and Sound
Shadowrun Returns is clean and simple from top to bottom, except for the maps which are appropriately gritty and generally unclean - you are, after all, in a dystopian setting. Neon bright colours are the norm and clear iconography makes it pretty clear what each button does.
It's like Vegas out there
In-game, the information you need is laid out clearly for you to find, and all else is found by pressing the giant power button on the top-left or pressing the Escape key. In it, you'll find your character screen, inventory, and menu functions.
The background music is pretty standard stuff. It sets the mood appropriately with an unobtrusive synth and fade of dark rock. Most times you won't even notice it, and even if you do you could do your laundry or cook a meal with it playing in the background. You might even be more attentive and wary while doing so and not miss the piece of paper in the back pocket of your jeans that will eventually get shredded by the washing machine.
Character Creation
The game is honest enough about the fact that what you choose isn't set in stone, with a "meh, I'll pick my own skills" option. Each class is really a low-level preset that you can override later in the game anyway.
Character creation is almost purely cosmetic (except for race that gives you a small perk for each), and you'll even be given an option as to what sort of demeanour you portray. Letting you choose between options such as academic, cop, or gang member does next-to-nothing to your dialogue choices except for specific instances where it might be useful (helpfully greyed out so that you'd just wish you had chosen to go at it like a cop. As far as I can tell there aren't any side quests or missions that become intensely tricky without the right attitude, so go ahead and choose something you'd likely find useful once or twice in the game.
My choice of character stems from my desire for a glorious beard
Abilities are a lot more useful, and don't fret at the amount of Karma you get at the beginning, Karma is quite generously given to you as the game progresses. Contrary to it's name you do not get (much) more Karma from being nice as far as I can tell, so go ahead and do feel free to be a dick to the few NPC's that you meet.
Gameplay
Perhaps referring Fallout and Final Fantasy Tactics at the beginning was a little misleading, because Shadowrun Returns is not an open-world for you to explore, it's a story that you play out. As such there is no back tracking to previous stages or places so that you can fully explore the place or complete side quests, not that there are many. It's quite a shame because the maps are decently sized and full of graphical detail.
One day I too will open a bar called Tail and Ale
It's rare that you will find open lockers or random rooms where you find extra cash or sellables to pick up and hawk to the merchants you'll find along the way. In fact there is no sell function at all. Bought something you regret and there's nothing you can do but let it rot in your stash where it'll live out it's unfulfilling life till you visit it again (probably 2 minutes after never). Thankfully your stash is infinite. Most of the pickups you'll find come from the handful of pick up points (helpfully highlighted with an icon so that you can't miss it) or from wearing out dialogue options in things you'd need to look through anyway.
Turn-based combat is almost exactly as you'd expect it to work, except in general most actions cost 1 AP and most turns you get 2-3 AP. So firing a rifle and smacking someone in the head costs the exact same amount of AP. As such, I haven't found a reasonable advantage of having a handgun except to save on reloads (which, admittedly, is actually great tactical advice).
Perk - ammo is unlimited. The downside is that melee combat is effectively advantageless. It costs the same amount of AP and there is no minimum range for ranged weapons so you can unload your clip into an enemy right in front of you and not worry about losing accuracy.
Narrative
The main story is a film-noir crime solvency with guns and magic, a recipe for potential disaster and nerd-gasms alike. Thankfully, the people who wrote it knew to tread lightly.
Unlike Fallout, there is no false-pretense for sex, because there isn't any, period.
The writing of the franchise is solid, especially so for this game. If you're not the reading type this game may not be worth the full price of admission to you, but if you are be prepared to be immersed. Characters are believable and somewhat endearing as much as they are sometimes stereotypical, but the melting pot of cultures is quite something to behold. It's not an epic thriller, but it's engaging.
Plot wise, however, it's somewhat simplistic. While I'm not suggesting that it's weak, it isn't anywhere close to the bone-chilling revelations of Andrew Ryan. It's not terrible, just linear enough that your cries of "I totally saw that coming" will be met with "everybody else did". The reveal is also quite lack lustre, but at least the story is believable and entertaining in it's own right.
Replayability
That being said, re-playability is not necessarily an issue with a thriving online community of modders and writers. The Steam Workshop and shadowrunners at large create downloadable content that seem to be of pretty good quality. It obviously takes a bit of time and an eye for these sorts of things, but considering that most, if not all, of these additional stories are free, I'd say Shadowrun Returns is definitely a very replayable medium that storytellers can make use of.
"How could you not like a girl like that?"
Verdict
If you're a fan of narratives as I am, Shadowrun Returns is certainly something you could use to pass more time than you could possibly imagine. Despite certain gameplay quirks and a lack of any real trade I could see this being a worthwhile purchase even if you miss the Midweek Madness sale.
4 Stars
Vinsant Huang is every bit your hardcore gamer, or at least he was until corporate life tied it's bitter noose around his neck. His highest achievement is attaining Ambassador in World of Warcraft, and it involved countless hours of grinding and coffee. To be honest, he's not that proud he did it.
* Steam recently introduced pricing in Ringgit Malaysia, and I've not been able to figure out how to change it back to see if they round up or down. It doesn't matter either way. In general USD 5 hovers around the regions of RM15, so a little give or take doesn't and shouldn't mean too much.
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