Xbox 360 impressions: Shadowrun

by James Ransom-Wiley { May 12th 2006 at 6:20PM }

Shadowrun is Microsoft's launch pad for Live Anywhere, the game that the company hopes will unite (in comradery and competition) Xbox 360 and PC gamers. It's an online-based game similar to Counter-Strike, only with magic and tech enhancements (e.g. the ability to glide).

Since Shadowrun can't be released until Vista is deployed, developer FASA has clearly had -- and will have -- a lot of time to fine tune this title. The weapons, magic, and tech abilities are well balanced, and players will have to pick and choose wisely.

Mechanics aside, the demo map we previewed was extremely bland. It did however, highlight some of the unique tactics that must be employed to win, including teleporting through walls and floors, planting health replenishing trees, and using extra-sensory vision. It was a lot to handle in a 10-minute session, which is a sign that Shadowrun has the depth to support Microsoft's vision.

Tags: E32006, fantasy, FASA Studio, FasaStudio, Live Anywhere, LiveAnywhere, Windows Vista, WindowsVista, Xbox Live, XboxLive

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Amos @ May 12th 2006 6:24PM

Sounds extremely cool, and it looked neat in the trailer too. I'm rather excited about Live Anywhere, and for more than just the multiplayer opportunities. The possible benefits I could imagine, personally, are almost endless. Content sharing of what you buy on the marketplace with your PC and phone is a great achievement in and of itself.

jabbertrack @ May 12th 2006 6:28PM

is it me or are we running out of titles for decent games

Vivio @ May 12th 2006 6:48PM

Way cool! Multi-player is truly genius!

JDTAY @ May 12th 2006 6:54PM

Hey, jabbertrack, this game is based on a pen and paper RPG that debuted in 1989. So, um, that is when they started running out of titles.

Dennis @ May 12th 2006 6:54PM

If it is based on the pen and paper Shadowrun RPG (magic and tech concept in that too), that would be a good sign. I thought that was a well thought out RPG.

SocialChameleon @ May 12th 2006 6:59PM

Too bad they threw out the entire backstory that made the game what it is. They took a deep RPG license and made it into a Counter-Strike mod. Yawn.

Ethan @ May 12th 2006 7:10PM

Did I miss something...is it pure multiplayer? If so, how can they possibly justify taking one of the best tabletop RPG worlds that ever existed and turn it into a simple twitch deathmatch fragfest. This game screams a rich and engaging single person game. Beyond that, the footage that I've seen of the game thus far (yes, I know, it?s probably got a long way to go) have been wholly uninspiring...generic models, flat textures, repetitive animations. Sigh, I hope they don't screw this up...but I'm bracing myself to be disappointed.

mandarin @ May 12th 2006 7:10PM

They should have made it an MMO.

elle @ May 12th 2006 8:20PM

"This game screams a rich and engaging single person game."

Yeah, but since they needed an online FPS to launch Live Anywhere, they moved the timeline back from the 2070s to the 2020s and threw out most of what SR had going on between 2000 and 2020.

Because, you know, you can't have a fast-paced multiplayer FPS with a deep, thought-out storyline unless you want to compete with Halo, which would be cannibalization here.

SELL THE LICENSE TO BIOWARE PLZ KTHX

JPRacer @ May 12th 2006 8:20PM

I don't remember if it was on NES or SNES but Shadowrun was a great game on one of those system. Too bad it's turning into an action game. A new Shadowrun RPG would have been much cooler.

Faust @ May 12th 2006 8:38PM

Shadowrun was one of my favorite games for SNES. I just have a feeling they ruined the game. Oh well at least I still have the memories.

progz @ May 12th 2006 9:09PM

so people that play xbox 360 are gonna be able to play with PC players also?

Mitch @ May 12th 2006 9:32PM

Why does Microsoft think that having PC players and 360 players competing together IN FPS GAMES is a good idea? I suppose if they really do implement that functionality it won't be long until they see that the 360 players will consistently get their asses kicked...

Judd @ May 12th 2006 10:06PM

I actually am gonna agree with #1. Among trailers for 360 games that I didn't know about before the show this was my favorite. Though as I am not at E3 I can't say how good the gameplay, I thought just the opening where the guy gets sniped and then gets revived was pretty cool.

lefty @ May 12th 2006 10:15PM

mitch

i do not belive pc gamers will own 360 gamers. theres a myth that a mouse/keyboard is better than a controller. with analog and a person who only uses controllers like me i do not belive it is all that much of a dissadvantage and if thats ur opinion we will see sometime in late 2007 and early 2008 when these games start to come out. i mentioned back when the 360 was first announced that i invisioned them making this possible. i belive this is a good move to unify the gaming world so no matter what system or what matter u play u will be able to play. i think u will find that those who are comfortable with a game and their mode of playing it will be quite effective against any other mode of play. the myth will die and we will all do what we want, is play anygame against anyone else no matter if ur console or pc. thats the brilliance in moving to nex gen. just get it on. i canlt wait, those of us old enough to have bought the first nintendo or artari will tell u its been a long road and we sit here about to take gaming to the ultimate level. i can't wait. halo3 vs everyone oh yeah i said it. watch halo 3 will be vista ready and u know it

devian @ May 12th 2006 10:53PM

I believe this game was based on a pen & paper RPG, then ported to console (the SNES). Never played the pen & paper, but the SNES game was fun as hell.

But an online FPS? I hear a flop.

tactics @ May 13th 2006 3:29AM

hahaha... i have to disagree that someone who's great with analog will be able to compete easily with someone who's great on a mouse and keyboard... i'm great with analog sticks usually, (and have never been a mouse+kb guy,) but using the DSs touchpad to control metroid is a friggin dream come true... i sure do hope that's how Wii feels.

i'd love to play someone on a PSP in an FPS with my DS hahahahaha... owwwwwwwwwnage. the touchscreen is simply the best FPS interface ever. i will say, though, that the only problem there is not having many actual buttons. somehow they made it work with metroid though, it plays like a dream.

JacKal @ May 13th 2006 11:46AM

Damn them for (quite possibly/maybe) ruining Shadowrun. It's gonna be some action crap isn't it? No RPG love it seems... we're all forced to play WoW...

And yes that is a completely uninterested/unintelligible rant I just made. I don't REALLY know if it's going to suck, but I doubt they're aiming for the table-top players with a game like this.

jcsr72 @ May 29th 2006 5:44PM

Very dissapointing. This game is based on an RPG with deep gameplay and endless possibilities. FASA studios needs to remake this game into a role-playing game and not another repetitive FPS. Life-giving trees? Teleporting? Where are the orks, trolls, dragons, Mega corporations, and the cyber matrix? Don't shoot yourself in the foot, FASA. I don't mean to be mean, but jeez, don't alienate your ENTIRE Shadowrun fanbase. Thanks.