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Post by Discoalucard on Apr 16, 2007 20:58:04 GMT -5
Not quite sure if I'm completely done with this one, but here we go: www.hardcoregaming101.net/shadowrun/shadowrun.htmBoth the Genesis and SNES games are excellent (I prefer the SNES one a bit more because of the story, and it's not QUITE as overwhelming) but the real interesting stuff is the Mega CD section, which is hard to find information about, except for a review and a few screens at Mobygames. Not so sure how to feel about the upcoming FPS though.
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Post by chaoticgood on Apr 16, 2007 22:21:31 GMT -5
Not quite sure if I'm completely done with this one, but here we go: hg101.classicgaming.gamespy.com/shadowrun/shadowrun.htmBoth the Genesis and SNES games are excellent (I prefer the SNES one a bit more because of the story, and it's not QUITE as overwhelming) but the real interesting stuff is the Mega CD section, which is hard to find information about, except for a review and a few screens at Mobygames. Not so sure how to feel about the upcoming FPS though. Good artice, there is something strange about this minor bit, though: "Beam Software (later known as Melbourne House and Krome Studios Melbourne) and published by Data East" They were Melbourne House already on the Commodore 64, so I doubt they were known as Beam Software at this time, unless that was the later name. Most likely the sentence structure is just a bit confusing . Not really related to the article, but I could also comment that the pen-and paper Shadowrun RPG was also absurdy badly balanced, at least in the early editions, so in that sense I guess the Mega CD version is accurate indeed... I remember if you had a guy with high 'toughness' and bought even average kind of armor (reinforced trenchcoat, which didn't even cover your head), you basically couldn't even be hurt with anything less than a bazooka or autocannon... EDIT: I checked Wikipedia about Beam/Melbourne, but it seems to be very confused about the matter as well. I THINK Melbourne House was originally a publisher (see en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Way_of_the_Exploding_Fist , for example), and Beam Software the name they used when someone else published games they made. Then they later dropped the Beam name and switched to Melbourne. This isn't very relevant, of course, so better leave it ambiguous...
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Post by Neo Rasa on Apr 16, 2007 22:33:59 GMT -5
The Beam Software phrasing is a bit weird, but the Beam logo and name is what's used on the SNES copyright screen when you start up the game, no ambiguity there.
You're right about the pen and paper game, all kinds of craziness, though nothing when you start getting the add on books and armories. Munchkin city.
Shame most players forget what running in shadows is supposed to mean.
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Post by ReyVGM on Apr 17, 2007 0:50:05 GMT -5
Did you ever get to beat the SCD Shadowrun Kurt?
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Post by jameseightbitstar on Apr 17, 2007 0:56:29 GMT -5
Not really related to the article, but I could also comment that the pen-and paper Shadowrun RPG was also absurdy badly balanced, at least in the early editions, Howso? I've only played 1st Edition and I've noticed no balance problems. In fact it seems like quite possibly the best RPG I've ever played (easily better than D&D in all its forms).
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Post by Neo Rasa on Apr 17, 2007 1:05:47 GMT -5
It isn't AS broken as many other RPG systems, but if you take the time to crunch the numbers you can pull off some absurd stuff. Typically, in execution this takes the form of the player customizing a single weapon/vehicle/whatever that's incredible in its power, but having no other capabilities or resources. Also any Shadowrun fan needs to read these great accounts of failure: archive.dumpshock.com/CLUE/Such a great universe. If only more cyberpunk RPGs could exist. What happened? When did it click that all video games have to be set in Lord of the Rings or in Quake II? Even Elder Scrolls had its weapon/armor/etc. designs made much more bland to achieve this expected look in Oblivion. No more wildly imaginitive games like Chaos Overlords or Bloodnet or anything like that. What shame.
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Post by chaoticgood on Apr 17, 2007 1:13:12 GMT -5
Not really related to the article, but I could also comment that the pen-and paper Shadowrun RPG was also absurdy badly balanced, at least in the early editions, Howso? I've only played 1st Edition and I've noticed no balance problems. In fact it seems like quite possibly the best RPG I've ever played (easily better than D&D in all its forms). Which RPGs have you played? It's a long time I've played it, but if I seem to recall about 90% of the weapons in the books were pure crap which no-one in their right mind would possibly use, and if you include the cyberware and high toughness, you could have the guys probably shoot at each other for weeks. Why is an 'Uzi III' in 2020 hell of a lot weaker than a normal Uzi you can get today? What's the point of all the light pistols and things like that which won't even kill a naked dwarf faster than he can do the same by kicking you in the nads etc... . Well, that's a bit exaggerated, I'm sure, but I remember we ditched that game after 6 months or so and switched to GURPS Cyberpunk.
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Post by jameseightbitstar on Apr 17, 2007 1:23:59 GMT -5
Howso? I've only played 1st Edition and I've noticed no balance problems. In fact it seems like quite possibly the best RPG I've ever played (easily better than D&D in all its forms). Which RPGs have you played? My Pen n' paper experience is pretty limited, really: Shadowrun 1st Edition Ghostbusters International (rules-wise, this is basically Shadowrun for kids, except based on the Ghostbusters movies). AD&D 1e and 2e (I slightly prefer 1e) And the D&D Basic line (I slightly prefer this to AD&D). One complaint I've always heard people mention about Shadowrun is how "lethal" the system is--its quite possible for your PC to die with one shot. Personally though, this is one thing I like about it. The Hit Points system of D&D never really made sense to me.
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Post by chaoticgood on Apr 17, 2007 2:10:29 GMT -5
Which RPGs have you played? My Pen n' paper experience is pretty limited, really: Shadowrun 1st Edition Ghostbusters International (rules-wise, this is basically Shadowrun for kids, except based on the Ghostbusters movies). AD&D 1e and 2e (I slightly prefer 1e) And the D&D Basic line (I slightly prefer this to AD&D). One complaint I've always heard people mention about Shadowrun is how "lethal" the system is--its quite possible for your PC to die with one shot. Personally though, this is one thing I like about it. The Hit Points system of D&D never really made sense to me. Lethal, when we played it was exactly the opposite? Weird . Well, compared to level 20 D&D guys fighting each other with daggers, or something, maybe... But the AD&D style games are pretty far from the best RPGs as well, they used to be more towards the 'worst' direction back when I played them, though I'm sure they've improved since. Unless they've just kept up the cash-in style of needing 10 books to be able to do half the stuff you can use a Hero System basic edition or something for... I suggest you try some other systems if you get a chance, I'm not much of an authority on what's good today since I haven't played any of them for about 10 years. There tons of systems, which don't use 'levels' or AD&D style hit points at all.
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Post by daimakaimura on Apr 17, 2007 6:42:19 GMT -5
Has the Mega-CD version been translated? i would like to know nice read , reminds my i still need to finish the SNES version of the game
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Post by Discoalucard on Apr 17, 2007 8:08:14 GMT -5
Did you ever get to beat the SCD Shadowrun Kurt? Nah, got to about chapter 5 before throwing in the towel, it got too tedious and obnoxious to continue. I'll zip up the save states/RAM saves when I get the chance and send them over.
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Post by ReyVGM on Apr 17, 2007 14:30:49 GMT -5
Alrighty. I'll see if I can continue from there then.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 17, 2007 15:14:44 GMT -5
A fine article indeed. Remind me to play more of the SNES and Genesis games. I think I played the SNES title for about an hour once, and it seemed pretty damn cool, even though I barely had any idea of what I was doing. Just two errors to note: A; you have near the beginning of the article "you should NOW this by now," when it should be "know." "Now this by now" is a really amusing typo, though. ;D And B; RPGClassics also had a shrine on the SNES title as well. Here it be: www.rpgclassics.com/shrines/snes/shadowrun/
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Post by jameseightbitstar on Apr 17, 2007 16:33:29 GMT -5
Lethal, when we played it was exactly the opposite? Weird . Well, compared to level 20 D&D guys fighting each other with daggers, or something, maybe... But the AD&D style games are pretty far from the best RPGs as well, they used to be more towards the 'worst' direction back when I played them, though I'm sure they've improved since. The way I've always heard it is that AD&D 1e was good, 2e was the beginning of the end. Uhh, what? All editions of AD&D I'm aware of only require the three core rulebooks. The rest are optional and are mostly there for people with no imaginations. I'm aware of that, though the other side of the spectrum seems to be the improv theatre White Wolf games, and I don't really want those either. Shadowrun seems like a nice balance between the two styles.
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Post by chaoticgood on Apr 17, 2007 16:56:02 GMT -5
[/quote]
I'm aware of that, though the other side of the spectrum seems to be the improv theatre White Wolf games, and I don't really want those either. Shadowrun seems like a nice balance between the two styles.[/quote]
Hmm yeah, I didn't quite mean that, I have never played anything by White Wolf. Basically what I meant is stuff like GURPS and Hero System could be used as anything between a tactical wargame and a storytelling device, with one rulebook, in pretty much any choice of genre and scenario you could think of. Compared to the very limited level/armor class/hit points/world sourcebook you must buy/etcetc crap.
At least they could... I don't know if either is even made anymore, or if they fcuked them up at some point...
But really, I don't remember any really positive points about 1st ed Shadowrun compared to any other game at the time (more to the opposite); the setting pretty much sold it, I guess, rather than the rules.
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