Shadowrun review

Full price... half game. Is it worth it?

GamesRadar+ Verdict

Pros

  • +

    Crazy magic and tech powers

  • +

    Playing as a dwarf or troll

  • +

    Counter-Strike on a console

Cons

  • -

    Just multiplayer

  • -

    Just three match types

  • -

    Just nine maps

Why you can trust GamesRadar+ Our experts review games, movies and tech over countless hours, so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about our reviews policy.

Whatever you're expecting from Shadowrun, you're bound to be disappointed.

Are you a fan of the pen-and-paper role-playing universe that combined cyberpunk tech with fantastical magic? Don't expect to find the depth of that fiction here. Shadowrun is a first person shooter, not an RPG, and the flimsy instruction manual contains far more story and character than the game itself.

Okay, so what if all you're looking for is a solid action experience to tide you over until Halo 3? Unfortunately, you won't find that, either. While the gameplay is unique, fast and fun, there simply isn't enough of it. The lack of a single player campaign and, more inexplicably, the severe limitations of the multiplayer result in a $60 title that somehow manages to be less meaty and less satisfying than a free beta demo.

The shame is that Shadowrun actually does quite a bit right. Thanks to the source material's unusual races and abilities, the combat is incredibly diverse. You can choose to run and gun as a human, elf, dwarf or troll, and the decision makes a bigger impact than you might expect. Each race has distinct, meaningful strengths and weaknesses that force you to play them differently to succeed. The elf is weak, but can move quickly and regenerate health. The dwarf is slower and smaller, but can steal magic and survive a single head shot.

More info

GenreShooter
DescriptionCool magic and tech abilities keep this shooter's multiplayer interesting for awhile, but not long. And with the complete lack of a single player campaign, you'll have nowhere else to turn when you get bored.
Platform"Xbox 360","PC"
US censor rating"Mature","Mature"
UK censor rating"",""
Release date1 January 1970 (US), 1 January 1970 (UK)
Less
Charlie Barratt
I enjoy sunshine, the company of kittens and turning frowns upside down. I am also a fan of sarcasm. Let's be friends!