Shadowrun Returns (2013)

A fantastic cyberpunk world, where the history of the game captivates the player to the last chapter. The player has complete freedom to customize their character from the beginning of its creation until the end. A strategic rpg where every move counts. A game where the player can play again having always a new experience from the different races and classes.

I REALLY wanted to finish this game. I have like 15 goddamn hours logged into it, way more than is necessary imo but then again I have a huge problem with game length for the sake of game length, so, and ultimately what it comes down to is that I just can't take this tactical bullshit anymore. It's SO good but it's so soul crushing that I just can't do it anymore. Having to fight the same battles 25 times in a row or more all because of some little nuance in a characters tools or something, and man, I just...I wanted to finish it, and I came so close I think, but I just can't do it. It's a fantastic game with a fantastic story that I wish I could see through to the end, and I rarely if ever give up on things, but I just can't pull this one out. It's too long and it's got too many faults at its core for it to not be overly frustrating, not so much in the battles but especially so in the decking stuff. Washing my hands and walking away.

I don't know how to rate this game. Shadowrun Returns is a game that relies heavily on player-created content. They released a very robust adventure creation kit with every copy. So games depend on who writes them. There is no "THE WORLD IS ENDING SAVE IT!" kind of story here. You're just a runner looking to make a buck, and I like that. The adventure that comes packed with the game, though, isn't proving to be very good. The combat is dull, and the death penalty is somewhere between modern day (barely any) and 1997 (you lose a ton of progress). It's a tactics game, so turn-based, action points (move twice or move once and shoot, etc, etc), equipment loadouts and all. Problem is that there's barely any customization. You either shoot guys, hit them with bats, or shoot fireballs at them. Sometimes you can summon a beast or something. I'm playing a "Decker" who is a tech-head who jacks into computers and fights it out in cyberspace. In normal combat (85% of the game) I'm gimped. In cyberspace combat I'm good, but the adventure I'm on barely has any of that. I love Shadowrun's universe and have been following it since 2002. I was really hoping for there to be more here (I backed it at a high number on Kickstarter) but I'm just not seeing it. I'll give it a few months and see if anyone makes something truly unique, and I'll give the adventure creator a shot myself.