• Tag Archives Shadowrun
  • Shadowrun: Hong Kong

    The third Shadowrun Returns game once again enhances the mechanical and storytelling elements of its predecessor.

    The enhancements this time around are a bit more pronounced (massively improved matrix segments, a cyberware affinity skill, overhauled inventory management, a few noteworthy results for following certain NPC stories to the end), but they come with a trade-off of increased instability. I’ve seen inventory GUI corruption, repeating/blank dialog options, installing the Pain Editor making it impossible to raise Intelligence, a perpetual NPC movement turn softlock (opening the console with ctrl+f1 and using the verbose->hardsave option, then loading the save, will let you get around that particular issue), and broken Int checks in the bonus campaign.

    Gameplay is basically the same with the notable exception of matrix excursions; with its new makeover they often play like stealth sequences. The bonus campaign is a bit different though in that pretty much all of its missions involve unavoidable large scale combat at some point. So if you plan to eventually run through that you may want to avoid making a ‘face’ character who’s only focused on passing dialog checks.

    Some minor notes:
    – If you want the best cyberware money will be very scarce until the bonus campaign.
    – Max Charisma check is 7, to avoid a fight in the second to last mission and bonus campaign.
    – This time around Gang and Academic are arguably the most useful etiquettes.
    — Shadowrunner is useful in the bonus campaign.
    – You’ll always have access to a decker.


  • Hand of Fate 2 & Shadowrun: Dragonfall

    The second Hand of Fate game is essentially a slightly refined/expanded version of its predecessor. If you’ve already played that then you’ll know whether or not you’ll like this, and if you haven’t then you may as well just start here.

    As for its recently released DLC… well, you might as well grab that too. While the new cards aren’t really anything to write home about, the new companion is remarkably useful.

    Similar to the above, Shadowrun: Dragonfall is mechanically just a refined Shadowrun Returns and you’re basically paying for the base campaign. Which, granted, certainly does feature more roleplaying opportunities and choices than the earlier game. What’s a bit odd though is how most of the various NPCs in your central hub have evolving storylines which don’t actually go anywhere; they’re pure flavor text.

    A few quick things about it:
    – Your PC has to be a Decker to access everything.
    – Decking and Charisma don’t need to be higher than 6 for dialog checks.
    – The Security and Corporate etiquettes are both useful for avoiding annoying fights.
    – Bonuses (such as those from cyberware) can’t raise your stats above 11.