With the lack of comments out in the internetz about Shadowrun, I figured I would pass on some of the information and tips that have been passed on to me and which I've gleaned from playing the Beta and now the full release game.
Shadowrun is a rich and history-filled IP that many gamers view fondly from years past. Some gamers feel that the franchise has been done a disservice by this latest rendition, while others are simply enjoying Shadowrun for what it is - a great multi-player (only) FPS that works wonderfully when you work as a team.
General Overview
I have found Shadowrun to be an addicting game that is hard to put down once you start playing. The variety of options between tech, magic, races, etc. allow you to customize your playing experience to best suit your playing style and to best work as a team.
Shadowrun also breaks new ground as the first gaming title to allow cross-platform gaming. Xbox 360 and Windows Vista players can, for the first time ever, compete against each other (or with each other) to settle the age-old dispute - is a controller or mouse/keyboard better for an FPS game. Thankfully FASA has done a great job at balancing the game between these two input options to level the playing field and prove once and for all that consoles rule!
(spoken like a true converted PC gamer - we're the worst type right?!?)
Many people are complaining that since Shadowrun is a multiplayer only experience it should not be full priced. Or that PC gamers get a break of $10 on the price over console gamers and that this isn't fair. There really is no correct way of answering this statement/complaint. It all depends on your view of what $60 is worth. $60 is no walk in the park, but broken down, it is also only about 10 Starbuck coffees. You don't see people complaining about paying $6 for a coffee that cost Starbucks $0.39 to make. So give up your cafe mocha carmel grande non-fat latte with cinnamon (I don't drink coffee so I just made that up), for 2 weeks and buy Shadowrun instead.
Like I said, there is no right way to answer this question. Everyone has a different sense of "worth" and while spending $60 to have a great time for hours with your friends while playing an addicting title like Shadowrun may be fine for some, for others it may not be. All I know is that Shadowrun is addicting and loads of fun to play.
Hints & Tips
All that being said, let me give you all some tips/hints/information about Shadowrun that may explain a few things and either pique your interest in the game or solidify your desire not to purchase. Add this to the Demo that is dropping in the Marketplace today (6/6/07 I believe) and you should be good to go.
Shadowrun is rated M for mature. There is blood... lots of it.
Not that blood is necessarily a bad thing, but children probably shouldn't be subjected to this level of violence. Katana wielding characters and crazy minions might scar children for life. If you are complaining about $60 for a video game, consider how much the psych bill will be later!
A few of the highlights of Shadowrun:
- Cross Platform Gameplay between Xbox 360 and Windows Vista Machines
- Dedicates Servers for Windows Vista gamers
- Twelve (12) maps in which to play
- Party system allows you to "party up" with your friends and kick arse
- Deathmatch mode added (attrition) since the beta build
One of the first things you'll want to do when you pop in Shadowrun is to take the training courses. These will explain most of what makes Shadowrun unique. Gamers used to playing Counter Strike will recognize the purchase style menu and ability to assign various items to various buttons. All of this and the various magic and tech abilities are explained in the training courses. This will help you understand Shadowrun and also make it easier for your to not get pwn3d as you play.
Once you get a good feel for the controls you can either start a solo match with just you against bots, or a private match with you and your friends against bots. Once you have beaten down the bots, you can try your skill against human opponents in the public matches. From here you can create a party and roam around kicking arse and taking names, or simply jump in and fill a roster for another team.
Combo System
One of the core components of Shadowrun is the ability to combine abilities inherent in any particular race along with abilities and tech that can be purchased. These combos make Shadowrun anything but your ordinary run and gun shooter. Here are a few combos to get you started, but after you play for a while you will discover the right combo for your playing style.
Elf/Teleport/Katana- AKA "The Ninja"
- The ultimate quick-strike assassin combo allowing you to attack from anywhere, score a mortal wound, then escape to safety to heal any damage
Human/Vision/SMG- AKA "The Commander"
- Someone on your team should have the clarity of mind to rally teammates to a common purpose
Troll/Smartlink/Minigun- AKA "The Tank"
- Once the Commander calls out a lone opponent, the Troll can cut them to shreds
- A spun-up minigun can clear a room full of enemies faster than just about anything
- Most effective when supported by infantry
Dwarf/Wired Reflexes/Shotgun- AKA "The Leech"
- No one can escape when the Dwarf is stealing your Essence and using Reflexes to keep up with even the fastest Elves
- The shotty puts down Humans, Elves and drained Trolls with ease
You will want to try out all the combos to find the one that is right for you. And once you've got it, use it to full advantage!
Magic, Tech and Races Magic
Magic appears in Shadowrun as a number of spells that a player can cast. Magic requires an investment of Essence to hold an object in the World so you must strategically use your magic. Each race has a different amount of Essence points available to them so choose wisely. Here's an overview of the different Magic abilities:
Teleport- Allows you to travel through walls, floors, ceilings, obstacles and enemies. Teleport fundamentally changes the way you will play Shadowrun
- Can be used to put cover between you and an enemy or allow you to surprise an enemy and then instantly retreat from a fight
- Since teleport moves you a fixed distance in whatever direction you are traveling, it can be used to reach a distant ledge or shorten the distance of a potentially lethal fall.
There is nothing more demeaning than walking along a wall only to have an Elf appear right in front of you and cut you down with a Katana. Teleport can be used in a variety of different manners, both defensively and offensively. Setting up the other team by leading them into a trap only to have the rest of your team teleport into the room and cut them down is a great time!
Resurrection- Resurrection brings teammates back fromt he dead
- You only receive one single life per round so resurrection provides a huge advantage
- When you kill someone you may want to eliminate the body to avoid the other team resurrecting them - or you can leave them as bait.
This is one of the *must have* spells in Shadowrun. If you have a 2 or 3 person advantage as a result of resurrecting your fallen teammates, you will do well. Traveling together and being able to resurrect is a key to success. Keep in mind, however, that you can only be resurrected once and that if the player who resurrects you falls in combat, you will eventually bleed out and die.
Tree of Life- Summons a large magic tree that heals anyone standing under it (including your enemies).
- Placement of a Tree of Life is key to avoid it being used by your enemies
- It can also be used as cover while healing
This is another *must have* spell in Shadowrun. You will be shot and you will want to heal. Without a Tree of Life, this will be impossible. This does not mean that everyone on the team must have a Tree of Life, but one or a few of your teammates must have it for your team to survive.
Smoke- Turns your body into a smoky cloud immune to bullets
- Can close distance on an enemy sniper or use it to retreat and heal
- You can also jump off a high roof and cast smoke right before you land to avoid taking any damage
- Also avoids you from appearing on Ehanced Vision
Smoke can provide a huge tactical advantage to the gamer. Being immune to shots can give you the extra time you need to get back to a tree of life and live to fight another few minutes. Being able to jump off of high buildings and not die at the bottom of the fall is also a great advantage.
Summon- Calls an Astral Minion to fight alongside you
- Minons can be cast on someone to pursue them or on the ground to patrol an area
When you just need a little extra help, a minion is a great tool. Used as a defensive measure when guarding the artifact, they can provide the extra time necessary to take out an enemy or surprise them from a different angle.
Gust- Conjures a powerful blast of wind to knock opponents back
- Gust bodies together for more efficient resurrection
- Gust opponents grenades mid-flight back towards them
- Combine gust and grenades to hit far away targets
Gust is useful for pushing opponents off ledges where they will hopefully fall to their demise. It is also useful for damaging a player in smoke. If someone is using smoke to retreat and heal, use gust on them to actually damage them. They may be immune to bullets, but as a puff of smoke, they're not immune to the wind!
Strangle- Creates a field of crystalline shards
- Shards entagle enemies and drain their magical Essence
- Can be used to seal doorways, guard objectives and disrupt enemy attacks
- You can set the stage and steer the enemy with strategic placements
What's more fun than crystals that damage your opponents? Placed around the artifact, they make walking off with it more difficult. They can be shot out, but while shooting you are vulnerable to someone taking you out.
Tech
Technology always plays a roll in battle. Advancements in technology let the Shadowrun player increase their vision, their reflexes and otherwise attempt to combat magic. These come at a cost, however. Some tech items reduce the amount of Essence you have available, so use them wisely!
Glider- Deploys a small set of wings that allow you to land softly after a jump
- Gives you a boost to reach higher places on the maps
- Allows mobility to fight while gliding
- Combine with teleport for long-soaring jumps
As one of the first techs you will learn in practice, gliders are way fun. They simply feel right and they let you get in and out of places not otherwise possible with normal jumping. Gliding off of a ledge and away from enemies is key. Jumping off a ledge and gliding at the last minute to slow your fall is also a good trick.
Enhanced Vision- Allows you to see through walls
- Counter teleporters laying in wait
- Used effectively with team communication can prove dangerous for the other team
The key to military victory is having all of the information available to deploy troops and make strategic moves possible. Being able to see through walls allows you to track enemy positions and move your team in the right direction at the right time.
Wired Reflexes- The ultimate 'roid juice
- Jump higher, run faster
- In active mode you receive a super boost of speed at the expense of a bit of health
- Combined with the katana you can block enemy bullets
No one ever said Steroids didn't come with a price right? Well juice up my friends because even in non-active mode, your character can use the extra boost to take down opponents. Just watch out for the random drug tests!
Smartlink- Direct brain/weapon link that improves accuracy and weapon control
- IFF system makes it impossible to damage teammates with friendly fire
Another extremely useful tool allowing you to aim faster and take down opponents more quickly. In war you must use every advantage possible to win.
Anti-Magic Generator (AMG)- Emits a field that negates magic energy
- Trees of life, strangle and summoned creatures are destroyed
- Essence is drained from players when they enter the field
Can be used to destroy Trees of Life that would otherwise be used by the opponent to heal up. Throw one into a defensive stronghold to weaken your enemy before picking them off.
Races
When magic returned to the Shadowrun world it awakened dormant magic DNA in certain people, turning them into creatures of legend. Each race has its distinct advantages and disadvantages. Choose wisely.
Humans- Baseline race
- Average health, Essence and speed
- Take little to no Essence penalty from Tech, allowing them to assign more tech than any race and still use magic effectively
- Start the match with more money than any other race
Your basic, all-around soldier. Good for starters until you know how you want to fight. Money gained during rounds or given at the start of a round can be gifted to your teammates to allow them to purchase tech or magic items to enhance your team's likelihood of success.
Elves- The fastest race... but at a price
- Less health and slow down when carrying heavier weapons
- More Essence than humans
- Automatically use Essence to heal themselves after taking damage
Speed and Essence make the Elves formidable and the ultimate skirmisher. String spells together or strike and run to safety and heal. Throw in a katana or shotgun along with teleport and it will be hard to see you coming or have any chance to defend.
Trolls- Big and Mean
- Have the most health
- Can carry any weapon without slowing down
- Slowest of all races without augmentation
- Automatically use available Essence to "harden" their skin when wounded, effectively giving them armor
Relentless while attacking as a result of their hardened skin, trolls can be formidable if they have support. Walking around like a tank with a spooled up mini-gun is tough to beat. Draining their Essence with a Dwarf while sticking and moving with your Elf is fun!
Dwarves- Average in health
- Below average speed
- Large amounts of Essence
- Essence regenerates slower
- Can drain Essence from enemies, friends and magical objects
Dwarves can be a great tool in the heat of battle. Draining magical defenses of both Elves and Trolls can be useful... just don't let them stand too close to you!
Conclusion
With the different races, magic, tech and weapons Shadowrun presents a unique opportunity to "fine tune" your character for your playing style. Working as a team to take down opponents is incredibly satisfying.
I say let the naysayers naysay. Shadowrun is fun and entertaining and provides hours of enjoyment. Being able to pwn those PC gamers is also a good time.
If you've got an extra $60 burning a hole in your pocket, give it a run. If you want to try it out first, download the demo and give it a shot. And if you are cheap like me, look around PGL for our soon to be announced contest to win yourself a free copy of Shadowrun! See you in-game!
