Shadowrun Chronicles Impressions

Lead your team of Runners to survive a corrupt megacorporation’s intrigue threatening thousands of lives in this new action-strategy game set in the most popular cyberpunk universe of all times – Shadowrun. Blending X-Com style gameplay with RPG elements in the unique Shadowrun setting and adding an extensive single- and co-op campaign, Shadowrun Chronicles offers the next generation of tactical turn based action games.

Well hello everyone! This will be my first non-interview article for the site. So, lets get started as I was sent a free Steam key for Shadowrun Chronicles:Boston Lockdown from Cliffhanger Productions.

When the game was first announced on Kickstarter under the name, Shadowrun Online, back in July 2012, I wasn't interested very much. To me I saw the online part of the name, and assumed it will just be another online game that ruins the Shadowrun name once again. Boy was I proven wrong.

So moving on, the game had it's name changed a few moths back form Shadowrun Online to Shadowrun Chronicles:Boston Lockdown. Along with the announcement was the following quote from the developer about the name change.

I will post the full quote below so everyone can read the full announcement.

We have had repeated comments and complaints from people who are expecting our game to be a full-scale, open world MMO in the style of World of Warcraft. Now we have made it (hopefully) clear from the beginning that this is not the case with our limited budget, but a lot of folks don’t really read past the name tag, assume a game with “online” in the title should be a massive open world game and then go berserk on us for not delivering what they envisioned.

Now that brings me to the point about everyone asking on our site about whether the game is an MMO, and only playable online. I can officially say it's a little bit of both, so lets go with yes and no. After you download the game on Steam you are taken to the games login client that automatically imports your Steam account. After that you create a new persona name to play under, the game will finally launch in a new window.

So bottom line, think of it as a fast, turn-based combat game with a focus on Co-op play. Also, yes, you can play solo if you want, but using A.I companions is not as fun. I can also say I was pleasantly surprised in my few hours playing the game, as the game almost mirrors the Hairbrained Schemes Shadowrun versions. It has a few differences though.

Now with that out of the way lets talk about character creation, and the games prologue mission. When you begin a new game you are offered the usual pick of playing as male, or female. Next, you choose what race you want to play as which include humans, orks, trolls, elves and dwarves. You then customize him/her to your heart's content. After that you choose your class and background. 

The game starts with you waking up in an operation room with two guys doing an unethical surgery on you. Fortunately, you wake up before they finish, and the game starts a few combat tutorials to get you used to the various systems in the game.

One thing about combat is that it's more fact paced than the other Shadowrun games. You basically have a certain amount of action points, and click the mouse on the map. This means your character will move, and attack whatever you click on through the whole game.

The rest of the prologue includes three more fights that every player should win as none are a challenge. At the end you get a short cut-scene talking about how you arrived at this point in the game. Congratulations, you're now a new Shadow Runner in a small city hub in Boston. From here you are introduced to various NPC's who give you jobs to do solo, or with online friends.

Just remember, the game is a tribute to the table-top versions you play with friends. As for me I found some enjoyment, but I will definitely enjoy Shadowrun: Hong Kong when it gets released a lot more. If I made anyone interested in the game it will be officially released on Steam April, 28th.

Now since this is a short impression article I will stop here, and If I find time to write a full review I will. So, my verdict is if you can overlook the need to play online you're in for a surprise just like I was.

Here are a few links for the game, and I will back with my next interview later this week.

• Kickstarter Link
• Official Webpage
• Steam Link