Shadowrun Hong Kong is the latest release in the Shadowrun series. Like its predecessors, Hong Kong’s premise is a dark, twisted cyberpunk tale that will take you through the bowels of Hong Kong in search of justice, revenge and a body count like no other. Hong Kong happens to be the most in-depth Shadowrun game to date, as it dredges up memories of pen and paper D&D.
With a story that pulls in the player, Hong Kong’s turn-based combat and seedy atmosphere simply sucks you in the moment you start playing. Just like previous Shadowrun releases, Hong Kong has extensive customization options when creating your character.
Fans of the pen and paper Shadowrun series will be familiar with the game’s provided character classes, traits and talents. But if you’re new to the series, don’t let the available customization options confuse you; the character creation screen explains everything in detail.
The character classes that we are all familiar with are available in Shadowrun Hong Kong, including Deckers, Riggers, Mages and even the Street Samurai (and this is just the tip of the iceberg). You can also pick between races, character appearances and even their avatars.
What really makes Shadowrun stand out is its traditional turn-based combat system; it makes for a fantastic experience. The game has the player controlling multiple characters at the same time. In fact, the gameplay is very similar to the previous games in the series (i.e. strategic and tactical).
Depending on the character classes you choose during the character creation process, it is possible to greatly enhance your party and improve the in-game difficulty. Some classes are more advanced than others, and they require a more tactical approach during combat. Combat can be difficult and even frustrating at times, especially if you’re not familiar with turn-based RPGs.
The battlefield is grid-based; your party members and enemy NPCs all have a set number of action points that can be spent each round. Gamers that try to strong-arm their enemies by rushing into battle will not survive. While fighting, it’s important to study the environment before issuing any orders to your party. You should also take mental notes of any potential ‘cover spots’ (where enemies could be hiding) and the placement of enemy spell casters on the battlefield.
Every character class has their positives and negatives when it comes to perks. For example: when it comes to the Decker class, it can grant access to the matrix and the ability to initiate programs during combat. These programs are like magic, but on a different level. Even though the Decker class has the best features of both worlds (such as close combat and range combat skills with the use of software), their bodies are rather fragile and tend to be weak.
You can spend hours customizing your character before entering the game world. The combinations available to the player — and the amount of customization that can be done — is absolutely mind-boggling. Shadowrun Hong Kong does a great job of retaining the classic D&D gameplay of the franchise.
Shadowrun Hong Kong offers a dark, gritty atmosphere that swallows you up the moment you start playing. This is one game that shouldn’t be missed; it’s that good.
James ‘Daripp3r’ Pittaro
Platform: PC
System Requirements:
• Minimum:
◦ OS: Windows XP SP3/Vista/Windows 7 & 8
◦ Processor: x86-compatible 1.8GHz or faster processor
◦ Memory: 2 GB RAM
◦ Graphics: DirectX compatible 3D graphics card with at least 256MB of addressable memory
◦ DirectX: Version 9.0
◦ Storage: 10 GB available space
Developer: Harebrained Schemes
Publisher: Harebrained Holdings
ESRB: N/A
Price: $19.99
Shadowrun Hong Kong Official Website:
http://harebrained-schemes.com/shadowrun/hongkong/
| Review Score | |
|---|---|
| Graphics |  |
| Dark, foreboding environments that add to the cyber-punk theme. | |
| Sound | |
| A moody soundtrack adds to the game’s atmosphere. | |
| Gameplay | |
| Shadowrun Hong Kong has the best turn-based combat in any role-playing game. | |
| Overall | |
|---|---|
| Shadowrun Hong Kong is one of the best turn-based, cyberpunk RPGs available on PC today. | |
