Update One Hundred and Forty-Eight: 1 April 2018
Shadowrun Returns
15.4 hours, No achievements
6.5/10
☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆
Hello, everyone! Happy Easter! Happy Passover! This is the first of about twenty posts I’m going to write today! Just kidding. Happy April Fools, too!
I didn’t have the best experience with my first CRPG, Pillars of Eternity, but I ended up having a better experience with this one! What made the difference, I think, is that combat is turn based. That means that I had a bit more breathing room to maneuver and consider my options… even though I made an ork adept and just beat the shit out of everything anyway.
I’ve heard Shadowrun Returns’s reputation, and I largely agree with it - it’s competently made, a great starting place for a reboot, but a little meh, a little too linear and focused on fighting. I enjoyed it, and I heard that the next two - Dragonfall and Hong Kong - are much better. I’m excited! I have both, and I’m eager to play them.
My favorite bits were exploring around the beginning, talking to people and investigating. Once that dropped off, though, it became more of a slog of just dungeon after dungeon, with the only reprieve being ‘take a breath and gear up for the next dungeon!’ There also weren’t very many strong characters you spend time with in this one - your closest and longest-lasting companion is Coyote, and even after her person quest ends, she just becomes another hireable runner.
I’m eager to see how the series evolved, and I’m glad I can put this up on my ‘beaten’ list.
Next up: I’ve been sitting on this freebie for a while. Let’s try it out!
See you soon!
I share your opinion, ‘Shadowrun Returns’ hints at what a great game it could be, but is not completely there yet. I finished it a few weeks ago and was quite happy with it. The sequels are on my list of games to play as well…let’s see who gets them done first :D (hint: probably not me)
Who knows! I try not to play sequels too close to one another, especially non-connected sequels like these are. It will be the slowest race imaginable!
Challenge accepted :P Most of the times I plan to play them not to long after the prequel but then I forget…
I liked the Shadowrun trilogy a lot. The first one is good but absolutely the most basic of the 3. Dragonfall is amazing, and I have yet to finish Hong Kong because I sort of painted myself into a corner but I really liked what I’d done so far. The one thing I have seen people complain about with HK is that there is so much dialog but as visual novel lovers that’s probably not an issue for us hehe.
But boy oh boy are there some wild reveals in Dragonfall. I assume HK will be the same once I restart (and be a little more prudent with saving in combat lol).
Yes! Yes, I think ‘basic’ is a really great word to describe ‘Returns’.
I’m super excited to play the next two, whenever that will be.