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The best scifantasy RPG ever made.

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 11 / 11
Date: December 02, 2000
Author: Amazon User

You must solve the mystery of your brother's death.

You must go to Seattle of the middle of the next century and interact with dozen of unique characters.

You are a Shadowrunner.

In all honesty, Shadowrun is an console RPG that is as unique as they come. It is fairly non-linear, since you can accomplish sub-plots in no particular order. You select one of three classes: a samurai brute, an agile mage, and the hacker. Instead of increasing in level, you can (and must!) tweak your atributes and the pre-equipped skills with Mana points, which accumulate slowly over time (preventing overkill). You can hire partner Shadowrunners to cancel out your failings (hire a mage if you are a warrior, or hire a proficient hacker-class character if you are a mage who doesn't want to get "equipped"). If you have the equipment, you can even go into the 3D virtual reality and hack private files for some extra funds (that is, if you can avoid the traps!). You can ally with gangs and hunt hellhounds for pelts. Since Seattle and its surroundings are the "overworld", the game places an added emphasys on plot. There are literally dozens of unique character throghout the game: innkeepers, "contractors", gang members, everyone you could think of in a megacorporation-run, dark-future Seattle.

You can equip yourself with a variety of realistic firearms and bullet-proof jackets. Spells are purchased and upgrades are available. You can even purchase cybernetic upgrades. Combat is in real time directly in the field. Money is usually earned by taking on certain jobs (ranging from simple deliveries to complex VR heists) from "Mr. Johnsons", some of whom pay particularly well.

The best part of Shadowrun is the ambience. Some equipment is illegal and you can get into a run-in with the law. Most characters are complete with portraits. The game keeps tabs on you: shoot a passer-by and you have a higher chance of being questioned by the police (although you can delete your police record- not for free, of course!). You may gain certain useful contacts over the course of your investigation. The music fits exceptionally well. The menus glow green, like low-quality computer screens. The denizens even have a jargon of their own.

If you don't mind the unimpressive graphics and you can appeciate the charm of a Genesis game, Shadowrun will make for an unbelievable experience.

Old school cyberpunk

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 7 / 7
Date: December 04, 1999
Author: Amazon User

Back in the day - waaaay back in the day, before anyone had ever heard of Diablo, Shadowrun was the epitome of the top-down-view, real-time RPG. With a mix of real-time street combat, menu-driven decking, and stealthy infiltration of megacorporations, Shadowrun was and is one of the best console games made, based around perhaps the best p&p RPG available.

Incredible

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 5 / 5
Date: December 18, 1999
Author: Amazon User

I can't believe that they have this jewel at Amazon.com... It dates back to a LONG time ago... the days when Genesis ruled the gaming world...

In those days, Shadowrun was worshipped, and was sold out in virtually all stores. It is probably the only GOOD dark-future RPG I know, on any system. The controls are very intuitive, tiht, and enjoyable. The adventure is complex, and the graphics are as good as they get on Genesis. Buy this game.

Cyberpunk Heaven

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 5 / 5
Date: December 22, 2000
Author: Amazon User

This game, i have to say, is the best game i've ever played. I continue to play it to this day, due to the many different variations there are, many different skills to master. That aspect really makes this game alot of fun. You choose to play as one of 3 classes; Samurai, Decker, Shaman. Each class has it's own strengths and weaknesses. You also have an arsenal of weapons to choose from. Cyberware is an enhancement to your body, and includes Hand razors, muscle replacements, and dermal armor. But, you dont have to survive the mean streets of Seattle alone, there are other shadowrunners that must be bought, once paid for, they'll accompany you wherever you go. I reccomend this game to anyone, but mostly to those that are looking for a new gaming experience.

A very good adventure RPG!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 5 / 5
Date: July 09, 2001
Author: Amazon User

This game is based on the pen and pencil game of the same name. It keeps more to the game play as the pen and pencil game more than the SNES version, which has a totally differnt story line. This is a very fun game to play. I just love the cyberpunk genre. You start out as a dead beat, spending your last cash to go to Seatle to find out why your brother was killed outside a shrine. Well, with back rent due at the motel your brother stayed at, you gotta make some fast cash. How do you do that? Dive into the shadows and become a runner! You will encounter magical creatures and beasts, as well as gang bangers and cops alike. Surf the net to download info, or run the streets. Your choice, most likely you'll do both. I pity the person who misses out on this truly great game.

Shadowrun, a redeeming quality of the Sega Genesis

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 6 / 8
Date: December 19, 1999
Author: Amazon User

For those gamers who need a fresh style of RPG, Shadowrun is that game. It has great replay value and enough challenges to keep you busy. It's based in a future world in which orcs, dwarves, and elves exist because of mutation in the human genes. There are three different character types, decker( a hacker), samarui, and a mage type character, so you have three different focuses as each of the characters. Not the greatest of graphics and yet it still has captivating gameplay. I've beaten the game over ten times and I still dust it off to play it again

Adventures in Okayness

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 4 / 6
Date: March 07, 2002
Author: Amazon User

First of all, I do have to say that I did somewhat enjoy playing through Shadowrun, but in retrospect, it wasn't very good. The experience was slightly better because the Shadowrun was a classic Sega-channel game. I recently acquired and played through it out of nostalgia.

The main problem is that Shadowrun is incredibly repetitive, and at times even downright boring. You spend almost the entire game delivering packages to get that next gun or point of computer skills. Getting to Cyberspace was a temporary thrill, although soon enough that degraded into pressing one button over and over until the ICE was defeated. In Cyberspace, you are either way too bad or way too good. Either way, there is no challenge.

The real-time combat and Karma system were probably the best part of the game, but were used way too sparingly. You do almost no fighting beyond random gang members (who you can totally trash up soon into the game).

The plot and storyline were nice, but extremely thin and bare-boned. There is some good story at first, but then it drains down into only doing pointless runs for about 20 hours, interspersed with interesting little tidbits (By the way, the cutscenes were cool), until the very end, where within half an hour you've gone from doing generic runs to having beaten the game. The end fight itself was anti-climactic.

All in all, this was a fun game for a while, and a good novelty item for RPG fans and Genesis owners, but after finishing it, I was a little let down.

This Game Was The Coolest Game EVER!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 3 / 4
Date: July 06, 2000
Author: Amazon User

This RPG game is AWESOME! unlike most RPGs you get to use conventional weapons like pistols, SMGs and frag grenades. Unlike Shadowrun for the SNES this one is is about as nonlinear as they come (except daggerfall). You are Joshua a Shadowrunner (someone that does "dirty" jobs for megacorparations. Your brother was gunned down and you go to seattle to avenge your bro. The three races make for great replay value because each archtype solves the puzzles differntly. THIS GAME IS THE BEST RPG OF ALL TIME FOR THE SEGA (because lufia 2 is for snes)

Very fun RPG from the Genesis era.

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 1 / 1
Date: January 13, 2006
Author: Amazon User

Of all the Genesis games I played back in the old days this was my favorite. Not just because I was familar with the source material of the same name (Shadowrun is a table top role playing game), but the way they incorperated the material into a pretty impressive console game.

The Shadowrun setting is essentially a mix between Blade Runner and Lord of the Rings. You have major corporations controlling a dystopic metropolis (Seattle) while at the same time elves, ghouls, trolls, dragons and other fantasy creatures are seen in everyday life. With you get magic spells along with guns and cybernetic implants. In this game you are an operative for hire. A shadowrunner. This entails you getting assignments ranging from being a bodyguard, courier, corporate thief and more. Along the way you also have a personal mission to take care of. The way this all is put together makes for some great gameplay.

First off Shadowrun is completely open ended. You pick what kind of runner you want to be (cybered up mercenary called a street samurai, mage for fire, or futuristic computer hacker) and you decide what jobs you will do. You're not even that limited by the character you pick. You can give your mage some cybernetic implants or build up your samurai's computer skills. I think you can even get both to start casting spells. The trick is as you gain experience in the game you only have so much resources to use in increasing your skills so technically it's best to pick one and roll with it. Personally I recommend being a Decker (futuristic hacker) as it gives you more levels of gameplay.

Not only is character generation open ended, but the game world is as well. You can travel all over Seattle and the outskirts without being stuck in some linear path. It's funny how people go nuts about Grand Theft Auto and how you can go anywhere and do anything. Well this was doing that long before. As you explore the world around you meet various different characters. Some will just talk to you or sell you stuff. Others will hire you for shadowruns. There are also other shadowrunners out there for you to meet and even hire to help you with your missions.

The gameplay is pretty straight forward. When not in combat you walk around and talk to people, collect items. Pretty standard fare. When in combat things are a bit different. It essentially becomes a move around and shoot as much as you can sort of deal. It's all done with auto aiming so this part really isn't like scrolling shooter. Also be warned you can miss your target... a lot. But as long as you continue to increase your shooting skills in the RPG aspects it works out. A high enough skill level and you won't ever miss.

Another form of gameplay you get to do as a decker is jacking into the matrix. What that basically means is a virtual reality type Internet. The world looks like something from Tron and you go around with a silver persona of yourself zapping or sneaking past intrusion countermeasures as you steal data from computer systems. Gameplay is about the same as other combat modes in that you press a lot of buttons with the exception of a little more tactical planning in picking your programs to fight with.

Okay enough about game mechanics. Essentially the gameplay can get repetitive what with the combat mode and walking about, but that's what's to expect from an RPG. What makes the game jibe so well is the story behind it. All that non-linear gameplay sets up the feeling of being in a living, breathing environment. At least as good as you can get from the Sega Genesis (keep in mind boys and girls this is the 16 bit era). The personal mission you have is more linear, but since you can get on and off track of that anytime you feel it still feels more fluid. The climax of the game feels big and gets you pumped. Definitely worth the effort for 16 bit console fans.

The Sega Genesis is known for being better at music and sound than the Super Nintendo. However the SNES version of Shadowrun (totally different kind of game by the way) I feel actually had better music. Sounds effects, on the other hand, are better on this one. If you want an overal game comparison ultimately the story and gameplay on the Genesis version beat out the SNES (however the songs are cooler on the SNES version).

I loved playing this game and it's the only reason I still have my Genesis. If you are a fan of RPG games from this era, or a Shadowrun, or a fan of cyberpunk styled games I highly this one to you.

The Best Game Ever!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 1 / 7
Date: February 04, 2001
Author: Amazon User

I'm now coming on 14. When I was 10 my brother borrowed SHWRNsnes from a friend of his. The game wass increadible and emencly enthraling. I JUST WISH I COULD GET HOLD OF A COPY, AND A SNES/ GENESIS. if you own one and would like to sell me 'em then email: jaybz@thomasjerome.co.uk i will pay quite a bit!

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