Shadowrun Returns Hands On Impressions

Initial Release Date: July 25, 2013

Mode: Single-Player Video Game

Composer: Marshall Parker

Designer: Jordan Weisman

Developer: Harebrained Schemes

Genres: Tactical role-playing game, Indie game, Adventure game, Adventure, Strategy

Platforms: Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Android, Xbox One, iOS

Shadowrun Returns is one of those games that’s been sitting in my STEAM library for years after buying it via a STEAM Summer Sale but never got around to starting it. I game on consoles the majority of time for ease of use brand reasons. Today I saw Shadowrun Returns recently released on the Xbox Series X via gamepass so I decided this was the time I play this damn game alittle atleast. Plus, I would write up some content about it. Win win! Initially I was interested in Shadowrun Returns as a franchise because I read about how it had a cyberpunk world aesthetic. That and I loved XCOM’s tactical turn based gameplay. It is true Shadowrun does have the grimy dark dystopian cyberpunk look but with a twist. The twist is high fantasy. There are mages, wizards and all sorts of Lords of The Rings high level Fantasy. They even have orcs in this game.

Shawdowrun Returns released in 2013. So that’s like the same year games like Grand Theft Auto V and The Last us Us released. The original Shadowrun is old ass hell dating back to 1993. Returns is obviously a remake which looks and runs in 4k 60fps (I think) on the Xbox Series X. Regardless, I can tell this game is old by the fact their is no voiced dialogue from what I played. I’m joking about the age but it really wasn’t an issue with me. For what it was I thought the game looked and performed fine technically.

Shadowrun Returns is a tactical based RPG from what I played. You can explore the cyberpunk world, read documents, take objects, talk to NPCs etc. Only the battle gameplay is tactical turn based. In XCOM all I did was fight it seemed. No real downtime to explore the world unlike Shadowrun Returns it has that covered. Starting out you have to create a character with full on RPG stats. My archetype was called “Street Samurai”. What did you expect chum? After picking a class, name, appearance you can drop karma points into your stats.

Early into the start of the game you’re basically thrusted into battle after meeting up with some “gunks”. Yeah they said gunks just like in Cyberpunk 2077. A deal gone wrong plays out and you have to survive a Renraku ambush. You can use cover. You use strategy action points when you do any action on the battlefield. You can flank, use health items. If you played these types of turned based strategy games there is a grid covering the battlezone. Gameplay is precise, snappy, decent even. It’s 2022 and any and everything is about visceral atmosphere with super visuals, super music, super sound design, super voice acting. Shadowrun Returns lacks all of that stuff. But what it does have is that core gameplay. And that to me is paramount. That concludes my brief impressions. Thank you for reading – Jason