Penny Arcade on Shadowrun: "It enthralls"

[Red Cloak]

Looks like Tycho from Penny-Arcade (http://www.penny-arcade.com/) gives Shadowrun the thumbs up.

This is a game that is going to live and die by its demo, because I honestly believe that if I were to put a shooter enthusiast in front of this thing, the polish, the loadout options, and the feel of it will get a hook in. As an abstract concept, the game has interesting ideas. As a genuine experience - where its quick rounds and area-of-effect resurrections make each map a roaring asylum - it enthralls.

Editor: I still don't/won't buy it.

[Tricky Thumb]

I'll buy it because it looks fun. I really don't see a reason not to buy it if you're a fan of this kind of game.

[Bagger]

I'll buy it because it looks fun. I really don't see a reason not to buy it if you're a fan of this kind of game.

Probably because buying just helps to ensure that we'll never see an actual Shadowrun game. Just more of this, which bears only a passing resemblance to the SR universe.

[laggerific]

Red Cloak...is that an OOTS reference?

[IrishWhiskey]

Probably because buying just helps to ensure that we'll never see an actual Shadowrun game. Just more of this, which bears only a passing resemblance to the SR universe.Well thats just silly. Why on earth would it mean that? Its not like successful franchises are less likely to have multiple spin-offs than long dead ones.

I just don't get the Shadowrun fans who hate on the game for being in a different genre. If it bothers you thats its so different from the original, then just think of it as different series. It will still be a good game, regardless of the licenses.

[Tricky Thumb]

Probably because buying just helps to ensure that we'll never see an actual Shadowrun game. Just more of this, which bears only a passing resemblance to the SR universe.

Oh I'm sorry! I didn't realize I wouldn't be supporting a development team for their hard work and time spent on creating something for other people to enjoy. Woe! I shouldn't buy this game because it is fun, or well made or even a game with the heart of a developer behind it.

No, I should not buy it for these things because it is not true to the original game. Obviously.

[Kolreth]

The demo will come with psychotropic black ice that rewires your brain to love MS.

[Crono]

Which Editor doesn't know if they buy this?


“The insanity that ensues when you rush into a firefight and see your fallen buddies only to resurrect the entire group to turn the tide of battle is a total rush.” – EvilAvatar.com
http://shadowrun.com/gameguides/default.htm

Because you've been quoted on the site! :O

[IrishWhiskey]

The demo will come with psychotropic black ice that rewires your brain to love MS.Only in the special edition. Which is fine, because those people are the only ones who would get a special edition.

[Heretic Machine]

I'll demo it. I've never been against the concept, franchises shouldn't be restricted to one genre. Final Fantasy's trip to turn-based strategy land turned out pretty well, I expect Halo's upcoming RTS game will be fun, I've always enjoyed Mario Sports titles... Fun games are fun games, end of story. If this is fun enough, I'll buy it.

[noxa]

I agree with Tricky - stop being such snobs!

The game is great - I played on the beta for awhile and it was a blast. I'm not even that big in to FPS', but the way the tech/magic system works is actually fun and as the quote says you can really get in to it. Getting rezed, along with 5 other players (friends and foes) is great, and I've played some crazy matches where it was 5-6 people killing each other, getting rezed, then killing each other again and so on. It's a lot more fun than the 'you died in the first 2 minutes of the round from a sniper shot, now sit around and watch people' of CS & co.

[Wonka]

I *was* bitter about SR being an FPS.

But I have played the beta. And the gameplay is top notch. Also the bots are pretty smart and decent good stand-ins for balancing teams out.

In a strange twist, my biggest concern is now the look of the game. Hopefully the final product will look a lot better because the beta has a bad case of the uglies. Scenes look flat and "last gen". But the bottom line is that the gameplay is really terrific.

[noxa]

Agreed Wonka - the beta looked like ass - the screens posted in the past month or two have looked a lot better, though.

Speaking of bots - funny story (in a sad, pathetic way) about that. After you finish the tutorial, it drops you in to a game. For a few minutes, I thought I was playing against real people. It took me almost the entire round to realize they were bots. A testament to both the bot skill and behavior, and my obliviousness :)

[Micasa]

It looks pretty interesting, but with no single-player mode aside from playing the bots I'm not sure I'd pay full price for it. If it has a wealth of maps, 10-15 or so, then maybe.

While I'd love a return of the RPG, they seem to really offer a lot of cool gameplay here. The tradeoffs between tech seem interesting, and strategy in a FPS is always welcome - if sadly lacking in most cases.

[Micasa]

I'll demo it. I've never been against the concept, franchises shouldn't be restricted to one genre. Final Fantasy's trip to turn-based strategy land turned out pretty well, I expect Halo's upcoming RTS game will be fun, I've always enjoyed Mario Sports titles... Fun games are fun games, end of story. If this is fun enough, I'll buy it.

I've never really understood the whole "genre lock" thing anyway. Let's keep going with this insanity and maybe we'll get some good games out of it. Throw Mario, for example, into - oh let's say a kart racer. It could be good!

Take Warcraft and make it a MMO! I doubt that would work though, since RTS and MMO genres are pretty far apart.

Yeah, that's probably just crazy talk. Let's stick to the 'whatever genre it starts as, it dies as' instead. We can always get developers to make new franchises instead of expanding existing ones.

[codswallop]

Probably because buying just helps to ensure that we'll never see an actual Shadowrun game.
Wouldn't buying Shadowrun-licensed stuff show the license holders that people want more Shadowrun stuff?

By not buying the game, you are showing them there is no interest in the license; so why should they make more?

[Vandenh]

Editor: I still don't/won't buy it.

Emo crybabies are us.

How old are you people??? Life is going to be a real struggle for you.

[Banacek]

I apologize for saying anything bad about Kamalot. I didn't realize Red Cloak was still breathing on this site. :)

[Dirty Harry]

I apologize for saying anything bad about Kamalot. I didn't realize Red Cloak was still breathing on this site. :)
Yeah came into say something similar to that.

[Banacek]

For the record: as a paper-and-pen RPG fan, Tycho should be having a world of problems with this game. Coming from someone who write fan-fic RPG stories, I'm sure he wouldn't be happy with a FPS wand-casting Counter-Strike clone :)

[Heretic Machine]

For the record: as a paper-and-pen RPG fan, Tycho should be having a world of problems with this game. Coming from someone who write fan-fic RPG stories, I'm sure he wouldn't be happy with a FPS wand-casting Counter-Strike clone :)

I played the paper-and-pencil games too, and I've never had a problem with them making Shadowrun into an action game. Shadowrun has been a lot of things: a paper-and-pencil game; a series of novels; two different console RPGs; a miniatures game... Why can't it be an action game?

[Banacek]

I played the paper-and-pencil games too, and I've never had a problem with them making Shadowrun into an action game. Shadowrun has been a lot of things: a paper-and-pencil game; a series of novels; two different console RPGs; a miniatures game... Why can't it be an action game?

Because the potential there is greater than a CS clone. As good as that clone is, and it really could be the best, I'm not denying that, it couldn't come close to the game experience that it could of been if you just did something as simple as combined Dues Ex with the Shadowrun Mythos. And that was a lazy example!

Listen, I love action games. Deathmatch games are some of the most fun I've ever had. All I'm saying is that there was potential there that MS and FASA just threw away. And I don't think many Shadowrun fans would disargee with me on that.

[Heretic Machine]

Because the potential there is greater than a CS clone. As good as that clone is, and it really could be the best, I'm not denying that, it couldn't come close to the game experience that it could of been if you just did something as simple as combined Dues Ex with the Shadowrun Mythos. And that was a lazy example!

Listen, I love action games. Deathmatch games are some of the most fun I've ever had. All I'm saying is that there was potential there that MS and FASA just threw away. And I don't think many Shadowrun fans would disargee with me on that.

They didn't throw out any potential. They opted to make this game. It is obviously not the game that you wanted from the franchise, and to that I say: Tough titties. They may make the game you want in the future. Maybe they won't. This throwing out potential BS is just that, BS. You can turn any franchise into something grandious if you want to dedicate the time and money to it. In this case, they opted for what looks like an above average action game that shouldn't have a hard time making a profit, and seems to be pleasing every rational person that plays it.

[Banacek]

They didn't throw out any potential. They opted to make this game. It is obviously not the game that you wanted from the franchise, and to that I say: Tough titties. They may make the game you want in the future. Maybe they won't. This throwing out potential BS is just that, BS. You can turn any franchise into something grandious if you want to dedicate the time and money to it. In this case, they opted for what looks like an above average action game that shouldn't have a hard time making a profit, and seems to be pleasing every rational person that plays it.

If that's want you want, have a blast. Tough titties, as you say, that I don't like it. I can't wait till someone makes a Thief CS clone. I hope you monkeys have fun with it.

[Stryfe01]

Being in the 360 Beta for this, I have to say I quite like the game. I won't buy it because I am not a great FPS multi-play person. I need a single player campaign...I just don't think I can justify buying a game without one. However, if you are open to this, the game is very good and the battles are definitely intense.

[Yeti2005]

Being in the 360 Beta for this, I have to say I quite like the game. I won't buy it because I am not a great FPS multi-play person. I need a single player campaign...I just don't think I can justify buying a game without one. However, if you are open to this, the game is very good and the battles are definitely intense.

I'm in the 360 beta as well. The game has a steep learning curve but it's fun once you get the hang of it. The combination of tech and magic allow you to customize your character to fit whatever role you want. If you're looking for an RPG then you'll be disappointed but if you're looking for a good shooter with some depth then I think most people will be happy once they learn the game.

[bapenguin]

Which Editor doesn't know if they buy this?


http://shadowrun.com/gameguides/default.htm

Because you've been quoted on the site! :O


oooh! That was me from my preview back in October. :)

[UnderHero5]

It looks pretty interesting, but with no single-player mode aside from playing the bots I'm not sure I'd pay full price for it. If it has a wealth of maps, 10-15 or so, then maybe.
10 maps is a "wealth" these days?
Holy shit man, if it's multiplayer only it should have at least 20 maps, if you ask me (which no one did ;) )
*thinks about UT2K4* Now THAT was a wealth of maps!

[reimomo]

I am stupid.

[Johan]

I am stupid.

You can always delete posts, rather than leaving behind a bullseye! :)

Oh, and I think others have eloquently addressed the GOOD aspects of broadening the appeal of a particular IP beyond the genre it began in, rather than having it live and die locked in place.

I like the fact that developers are willing to attempt creative expansions on existing franchises. Go for it, I say. Step on some toes in the process; that's a good thing!!!

[Yellowman]

Well there are a lot of FPS's out there, might of been a little bit more interesting if they had tried a Deus-Ex style game....

[RestlessAvenger]

Because the potential there is greater than a CS clone.

I've been playing around in the Beta, and I have to say that this is one of those games that steps out of the "clone" shadow to be a far better experience than the game it apes. (See also: Titan Quest as "Diablo Clone")

[Mr.Green]

Editor: I still don't/won't buy it.
Thanks for sharing.

[Klunka]

Look, we all loved Shadowrun back in the day, get over it.

Anyone who is complaining about this game being an FPS never again has the right to comment on the lack of creativity and new things in video games today.

Final Fantasy's trip to turn-based strategy land turned out pretty well
Until the two most recent outings, when was Final Fantasy NOT a turn-based strategy game?

[lockwoodx]

Emo crybabies are us.

How old are you people??? Life is going to be a real struggle for you.


http://img247.imageshack.us/img247/8531/grassni6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

[Squidbot]

I'm slowly coming around to this, despite my reservations about the genre choice. If it's a good game then I'll pick it up as I do like a good multiplayer blast, and some of the feaures do sound fun and may add a new dimension to FPS multiplayer gameplay.

But it needs to be a great game to apease the hardcore Shadowrun fans.

[Jack B]

I've played the beta. Thumbs up here too. Should be fun with friends in a coordinated team.

[Phades]

If you love Shadowrun and enjoy this kind of game then you're an idiot for not supporting it. If a franchise is proven popular they will make more games in it. Does anyone really believe that Halo would have gone back to its RTS roots for Halo Wars if the original Halo hadn't sold well?

[Red Cloak]

I'm in the beta and LOVE the game. Wish the editor didn't edit out my feelings on the beta and put his 2 cents in instead.

[51|RandoM]

I agree with Tricky - stop being such snobs!

The game is great - I played on the beta for awhile and it was a blast. I'm not even that big in to FPS', but the way the tech/magic system works is actually fun and as the quote says you can really get in to it.

Well, see, that is the problem right there. YOU are not big into FPS, by your own words.

I'm going to skip it until I find out if we can take the limiters off of mouse&keyboard and setup servers that support that. Everything I've heard up to this point is that it is console mechanics, which includes auto-assist, capped turn/look speed, etc., and I've got enough of those gimped FPS on my 360 already.

[51|RandoM]

10 maps is a "wealth" these days?
Holy shit man, if it's multiplayer only it should have at least 20 maps, if you ask me (which no one did ;) )
*thinks about UT2K4* Now THAT was a wealth of maps!

Epic is the only one interested in doing that on console... and Microsoft won't let them. :p

[Hexxagonal]

The game is really good, I'm in the beta. I actually wasn't planning on buying it until I played it. It's a good, deep shooter.

[Keldi]

Because the potential there is greater than a CS clone. As good as that clone is, and it really could be the best, I'm not denying that, it couldn't come close to the game experience that it could of been if you just did something as simple as combined Dues Ex with the Shadowrun Mythos.

On the subject of the potential of a license, I have to say that games should be judged for their quality, independant of their license. I don't like the setting change, but that shouldn't be held against the game itself. (Although Deus Ex Shadowrun would probably be awesome...)

My reasons for this opinion?

Chronicles of Riddick: Escape from Butcher Bay.
And...
Shadow the Hedgehog.

I think those right there showed that a license does not always make or break a game.

[akusazero]

Now, don't get me wrong. I loved me some pen-and-paper Shadowrun, regardless of how bad the GM was that was running most of the time.

However, I can't help but think that this is a great thing. The fact that they are actually making a shadowrun game, let alone one that is actually pretty fun, is great.

It means that the shadowrun license isn't buried. I'd say that is good for at least some hope for the future, right?

[motor]

I do think it's an interesting question, what would increase the chance of a Shadowrun RPG being made next? I think the answer is, Microsoft is not going to rent the Shadowrun IP out to anyone else, so if they don't make it, it is not going to happen. So...the shadowrun rpg ahs the most chance of happening if this game does well.

Frankly, I'm not a big enough fan of the shadowrun IP to buy a game on the hope that it would make an RPG (which I probably would by) more likely, so I'm just going to judge it on it's own merits. It looked terrible before, but the art has improved and I'm willing to try the demo.

But honestly, I think I'm not going to buy it because I'm much more excited about the new team fortress and it's coming out pretty soon. Plus you get a great single player game with Team fortess so its a much better deal.

[Pluvious]

10 maps is a "wealth" these days?
Holy shit man, if it's multiplayer only it should have at least 20 maps, if you ask me (which no one did ;) )
*thinks about UT2K4* Now THAT was a wealth of maps!

THANK YOU.. I was just saying that to myself when I read that too. 10 maps is crap.. multiplayer needs 20. I was spoiled with UT2k4 and that's not mentioning the user maps that brought it into the high hundreds. PHffft.. 10 maps.. pleeeease. That's the only thing that killed Gears of War for me.. yawn.

[Dag-Sabot]

A successful fps will only spawn another fps, not an rpg. Myself, ill wait on the demo. As someone else said, 10 maps and no single player doesn't a promising title make. Enthralling, right. Penny Arcade needs to lay off the coco-puffs.

[motor]

10 multiplayer maps is pretty unreasonable considering that this game has no single player.

[Goronmon]

I'm in the beta and LOVE the game. Wish the editor didn't edit out my feelings on the beta and put his 2 cents in instead.Just edit it back in there, haha.

[Achilles]

FASA really needs a hit. They make good games but since Mech Assault 1 they haven’t done that well. I think it was a huge mistake not putting a real single player game in Shadowrun, it probably saved them a bunch of money but people generally come for the single player and stay for the multiplayer; multiplayer-only games have a tough time selling. Though I do hear this game has a mission based single player similar to that in BF:1942 or UT. A successful fps will only spawn another fps, not an rpg. Myself, ill wait on the demo. Well Halo was a successful FPS and it spawned an RTS, an episodic series of some kind, and a movie. So if they have it in their head to make an RPG out of the Shadowrun universe this game selling well would probably allow them to do that.

[Dag-Sabot]

Well Halo was a successful FPS and it spawned an RTSIf memory serves, Halo spawned Halo2.

[Crono]

Well, after researching this game for a few, it looks like a winner! The trailer makes a decent case, but the true feel of what this game is about can be seen in the words of previews, beta participants, and the "features" on the game's official site. The graphics looks smooth (what is the average frame rate anyway? Does it stagger noticeably with many actors on screen?) Although I am not a fan of the two main character designs, that is trivial compared to how fun this game looks.

As a (HUGE) fan of strategy games and all things strategy this game looks like a dream come true. I hear there are a plethora of options available for setting up your character and what actions he/she can take to make them unique. This game certainly looks to be a refreshing new take on what action games can be. I can't wait to try it out in the palms of my own hands.

[Ultima Thulian]

4) If you want to put a nice witty comment at the end, put it in italics. Remember to be concise.

Editor: I still don't/won't buy it.

Good to see our main man stick with the rules! :D

In all seriousness though, I thought that was kinda stupid. Reminds me something you'd see on a Gamefaqs board. "LOL I ADMIN AND EDITED UR POSTZ!!11!" Oh well, Evil did it for the lulz, I'm sure. :)

As for the topic, the game looks interesting, and I generally find myself agreeing with PA's opinions, so I'll at the very least rent some day. I think the game deserves a chance, even though I'd like to see this game follow in the vein of the ole Genesis title instead.

[motor]

FASA really needs a hit. They make good games but since Mech Assault 1 they haven’t done that well.

Actually, Mech Assault is one of the best arguments for scrapping the studio. Mech Assault was made by licensing out the Mech IP to another studio (I think Day One), FASA had very little to do with it. So, if the only good game FASA has made in years was actually not made by FASA....

[karak]

I will buy it if its fun, not buy it if it sucks. That should be a mantra instead of judging it before playing it.

[MrE]

Still looking forward to playing this. Damn all you beta testers that tease us with "I love this" or "The game rocks". I want my copy. Waaah. :)

[Bad_Buddha]

For the record: as a paper-and-pen RPG fan, Tycho should be having a world of problems with this game. Coming from someone who write fan-fic RPG stories, I'm sure he wouldn't be happy with a FPS wand-casting Counter-Strike clone :)
if you read his column on Wednesday he stated that he originally did have a problem with it, but he got over it.

Getting past what I wanted a Shadowrun game to be - i.e. a role-playing game - was difficult, but this is not the first time they've gone elsewhere with a setting that I have some affection for. They took Battletech and Crimson Skies, elaborate tabletop wargames, and transformed them into (quite enjoyable) twitch action festivals. I've complained each time, and then recanted. There's probably a lesson in there, somewhere. Judging the game Shadowrun isn't might not be entirely constructive.
I especially like the last sentence.

Hope it does well. I'd like to see them do more things with the license.

[dethnight]

Hope the demo is good, this needs a battlefield 1942/UT2004 level demo to be a hit, a half-assed demo WILL kill this game.

[roboninja]

A question: is this game Vista-only? Because that is something that would keep me away.

[Micasa]

10 maps is a "wealth" these days?
Holy shit man, if it's multiplayer only it should have at least 20 maps, if you ask me (which no one did ;) )
*thinks about UT2K4* Now THAT was a wealth of maps!

I'd rather have 10-15 maps where they're all solid, fun and balanced maps instead of having it ship with 30, but half of them aren't worth playing at all.

[Jack B]

I'd rather have 10-15 maps where they're all solid, fun and balanced maps instead of having it ship with 30, but half of them aren't worth playing at all.

Yeah, Chromehounds had 80+ maps and that didn't seem to help it's reviews any... I happen to love the maps, but obviously quantitity didn't help in this case.

Gears only has what 10 maps and most people would consider that a success... ;)

10 good maps are fine. 30 good maps are better. 80 good maps are better still. Kind of goes without saying if you think about it...

[EvenSteven]

Editor: I still don't/won't buy it.Wonderful. Thanks for your $.02, but thank you even more for editing your quote/comment into an already 4 hour old news post, just to state your irrelevant opinion. Can we expect to have all submitted news posts of the future to have some sort of "oh btw, this is what Evil Avatar thinks" subtext? I can't wait.

Have you played the game? No? Who did? One of "your" staff members did, and they loved it. So who am I going to believe, bapenguin who basically runs the site now and has had hands-on time with the game? Or you, a cop from Arizona who barely has time to play anything, let alone be invited to play games that haven't even been released yet?

[motor]

Yeah, Chromehounds had 80+ maps and that didn't seem to help it's reviews any... I happen to love the maps, but obviously quantitity didn't help in this case.

Gears only has what 10 maps and most people would consider that a success... ;)

10 good maps are fine. 30 good maps are better. 80 good maps are better still. Kind of goes without saying if you think about it...

I think its all about the value for the money. If the only thing they are providing is a mutli-player game then comparing it to Gears doesn't seem fair, (unless they are charging less for it).

[KingGorilla]

Well thats just silly. Why on earth would it mean that? Its not like successful franchises are less likely to have multiple spin-offs than long dead ones.

I just don't get the Shadowrun fans who hate on the game for being in a different genre. If it bothers you thats its so different from the original, then just think of it as different series. It will still be a good game, regardless of the licenses.

I announce the Halo Dating Sim, you play as Cortana as the elligible heiress of a fortune. Or the Diablo Deathmatch FPS. Shadow-Run on 360 is what Nintendo does to their IPs, whore them out. And if Xbox gamers are not smart enough to stamp this out, more of it will happen.

[Skyelan]

I announce the Halo Dating Sim, you play as Cortana as the elligible heiress of a fortune. Or the Diablo Deathmatch FPS. Shadow-Run on 360 is what Nintendo does to their IPs, whore them out. And if Xbox gamers are not smart enough to stamp this out, more of it will happen.

So it doesn't matter if the game is good or not, which it seems to be? Man, I'm glad you revealed this. I had no idea the kind of horrible negative impact I've been doing just by purchasing games I thought looked entertaining. Why, I loved Panzer Dragoon Saga, and that was an RPG instead of a flight game! I'm probably the reason Sega dropped out of the console business!

You heard him folks, let's not buy good games that might be fun! We'll prove... Well fuck, I dunno what we'll prove. I guess that what genre instantly impacts whether a game is fun or not. Not its actual, you know, fun. But goddamn we'll prove it! Make one wrong purchase and BAM! The whole industry falls apart.

Interactive media enjoyment is serious business.

[Incidence]

This game has nothing to do with any part of Shadowrun. I'm sure its a fun game for people that will play it but it isn't Shadowrun outside of non-standard names of the classes and the names of the gear load out pro/cons. They deviate pretty far from established canon in just about everything. They really should have just spent the 15 minutes more in the brainstorming session and not tried to tack on the Shadowrun name.

I'm not buying it either but mostly because I actively dislike FPS's on consoles and they deliberately gimped the PC version to compensate for the limitations of controllers. The fact that its Vista only doesn't help it much either.