The Stuff of DreamsThe Stuff of Dreams
The History of Shadowrun
Posted on Jan 26th 2011 at 10:00:25 PM by (ReddMcKnight)
Posted under Shadowrun, VideoGames, TabletopRPG

So, you want to hear a Story, eh? One about Stealth, Deception, Guns, Elves, Orcs, and a Cyber Matrix? Then you've come to the right place. Where to begin...

Shadowrun was developed and published by FASA Corporation from 1989 until early 2001, when FASA closed its doors and the property was transferred to WizKids, which was founded by people from FASA. It started as a Tabletop RPG.



The Shadowrun world is cross-genre, incorporating elements of both cyberpunk and urban fantasy. Unlike in a purely cyberpunk game, in the Shadowrun world, magic returns in 2011. Among other things, this causes humankind to split into subtypes, also known as metatypes. Some of these metatypes take the form of common fantasy races. Likewise, some animals have turned into familiar monsters of past fantasy and lore and both monsters and human magicians have regained magical powers. By the second half of the 21st century, in the time the game is set, these events are accepted as commonplace. Man, machine, and magic exist in a world where the amazing is among the most common and technology has entered into every facet of human (and metahuman) life.

There's more to Shadowrun though. It also had 4 Video Game releases, each one being developed by a different company:

1993 Shadowrun (Beam Software, SNES)
1994 Shadowrun (BlueSky Software, Genesis/Mega Drive)
1996 Shadowrun (Group SNE, Sega/Mega CD)
2007 Shadowrun (FASA Interactive, PC and Xbox 360)

Each game, being developed by different companies, had very different Gameplay, with the Genesis Version being cited as being closest to the original Tabletop RPG. It's also my personal favorite. Anyway, here's a brief synopsis for each game.

[img width=640 height=462]http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a136/DarkTheThief/588651_40382_front.jpg[/img]
[img width=260 height=226]http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a136/DarkTheThief/gfs_40382_2_2.jpg[/img]

The first Shadowrun Game was released for the SNES, and it...it wasn't very good, at least not in my opinion. I couldn't figure it out for the life of me. It felt like I should be playing with a SNES Mouse, as opposed to a controller. I couldn't even get past the beginning. It does however, have the honor of being the first Shadowrun Video Game, so I guess that's something...maybe.

[img width=640 height=897]http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a136/DarkTheThief/366854_57114_front.jpg[/img]
[img width=320 height=224]http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a136/DarkTheThief/gfs_57114_2_1.jpg[/img]

Now we're talking! This is my favorite game in the series, and for good reason! As I mentioned before, this one is the most faithful to the Tabletop RPG, and it's just plain fun to play! I can't say enough good things about this game! I wish it hadn't ended! Plenty of sidequests, a cool main quest, some good gameplay variety, and then some! I would rant on, but it would take forever, so I won't.

[img width=640 height=545]http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a136/DarkTheThief/919216_27062_front.jpg[/img]

Shadowrun for the Se...Mega CD. Why the Mega CD? Because it was only released in Japan. I know absolutely NOTHING about this game, nor could I find any screenshots for it. Sorry about that.

[img width=640 height=899]http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a136/DarkTheThief/929196_68798_front.jpg[/img]
[img width=700 height=393]http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a136/DarkTheThief/929196_20070601_screen015.jpg[/img]

Several years after the release of the Mega CD Version of Shadowrun, it returned to the Video Game world for one more round, this time as an FPS. For whatever reason, many people absolutely hate this game, but I thought it was pretty cool myself, and it's not like it's unfun. Thanks to it's unfair judgement though, it was the last Video Game in the series. Stupid critics. They probably didn't play the game for 5 Minutes before casting judgement on it.

So, what happened to the Shadowrun Tabletop RPG? As far as I know, it's been struggling for sales lately. I doubt it's even being made anymore, which is pretty sad. There was also supposed to be another Shadowrun Video Game in the 90s, but it was cancelled.

That's all for now. Thanks for reading!


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Comments
 
FASA was my TSR growing up, and instead of Dungeons and Dragons it was Battletech, Mechwarrior and Shadowrun for our crew.  As a fan and player/GM of the tabletop from my youth, the franchise has a special place in the foundation of my nerd-dom.  My thoughts:

The Genesis version is definitely the closest to the pen-and-paper game, and overall well conceptualized from the source material.  I love/d it, though it can be a slow grinder.

The Snes version is so different that, like the newer 360/PC variant, it can be difficult to 'get it' unless it's the starting point for a person's experience into the franchise.  I myself love this game, and our crew, being heavy players of the tabletop, all seemed to enjoy how this game portrayed Shadowrun universe, putting long hours into it upon release.  If you don't mush it together with the Genny variant, I think it stands up very well as an alternate take. 

The Mega CD version is one of many games we here across the pond have been waiting for some sort of translation.  The art style, as seen on the cover, has been completely revamped as an anime, and the gameplay is more akin to the more common Japanese visual novel, often being compared to the excellent Snatcher.  The action elements are overhead and turn-based, likened to the original Shining Force.  Considering the majority of the game consists of dialogue and text, localization was never realized, nor have I heard of any fan-based projects underway for it.  Pity.

As for the modern 360/PC take...the biggest problem it faced was competition with the imaginary spectre of a grand scale RPG often promised but never realized.  Talk over the years of a true-to-the-source modern take on the universe built up much hype among its niche audience (myself included,) that when the next game was a Counter-Strike clone set in the Shadowrun universe, no-one knew how to treat it with anything but contempt.  In truth, I found it to be a well done, fun, polished project, true to the universe in its setting and enjoyable with a good set of teams.  But since anyone familiar with the name not only expected, but demanded an RPG, the final product might as well have been Shadowrun Presents:  Astral Planes Bikini Volleyball.
 
Great right up.

I can say i am familiar with this series at all.

I know i have seen the 360 version and i am fairly certain i have seen the genny(remember the box art) but i didn't know they were based on a pen and paper game.

I might have to check out the 360 version. My only thing i know about it is it has a small (if existent) online community and can be grabbed at bargain prices.
 
I had to chuckle at your comments on the SNES/Genesis versions.  My view, which is entirely colored by my views on "what an RPG should be in 1993/94" (thanks Final Fantasy) is the exact opposite.  Shadowrun for SNES remains one of my favorite experiences of that year, yet the Genesis version to this day remains impenetrable to me, despite my adulthood re-branding of the Genesis as a RPG smorgasbord (much love to D&D, Buck Rogers, etc.).

I tried the modern Shadowrun exactly twice.  Both times I lasted exactly five seconds and both times I was slaughtered by someone transporting in behind me.  Nonetheless, this series desperately needs a brand-reboot (in my opinion).

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