A thinking man's online FPS game where you can choose from a variety of abilities to suit a wide range of play styles.
There is an emphasis on teamwork and cooperation in Shadowrun that feels more complex than the majority of team based FPS games. This complexity isn't a bad thing, though. There is a steep learning curve, but once it is crested, the player will be quick-casting abilties like a pro after a few hours. This game is not meant to be played Rambo style as is the case with many so-called team-based shooters, but rather works best when playing with a group of friends who discuss strategy and coordinate their abilities to support one another. Pick up games are also enjoyable, but even when playing with strangers, the team that talks the most and helps one another is generally the team that will triumph.
Shadowrun's strength lies in it's wide variety of possible play styles the player can create by mixing and matching abilities, equipment, and racical types. The number of potential character builds and strategies are practially endless, and every character build brings with it particular strenghs and weaknesses that must be considered in order to help your team succeed. It's like an elaborate game of rock-paper-scissors that is perfectly balanced and allows players to get creative with how they want to go about contributing to their team and defeating the common enemy.
There are four races, each with their own characteristics. Elves can heal themselves and are faster than the rest but have the least amount of health. Trolls are tough but slow, Dwarves drain magic from other players and the environment, can survive headshots, but generate magic very slowly. Finally humans have more cash to spend on gear and suffer no magical penalties from using technology, but have no real racial advantages or disadvantages. Magic can be cast at the expense of a characters essence, a resource that the players regenerate at a rate dependant on their race. Shadowruns magical abilities are not the standard fantasy fare. There aren't fireballs or lightning spells in Shadowrun, for example. Instead, magical abilites are used primarily for healing and defense, (although some of them preform double duty as tools to supplament an attack.) Gust behaves much like force push in the Jedi Knight games. Strangle is a magic-draining spell that can stop enemies dead in their tracks and can be used to restrict enemy movement at choke points. Summon summons a magical demon that can either be sent to hunt down an enemy or assigned to gaurd a particular area. Ressurect brings back an team mate, but limits your magic pool. Tree of life creates a tree that emits healing energy and provides cover. Smoke allows the user to become impervious to most damage, but the player is unable to attack. Telelport allows players to pass through walls and other barriers.
The technology is similarly defensive in nature. Most races must spend some of their available essence in order to equip various tech, but humans enjoy tech use without penalty. All players begin the match with two grenades, and players can also buy additional grenades that absorb all nearby magic, which can destroy magical defenses and prohibit hostiles from casting any magic when nearby. In addition to the grenades, there is some more unorthodox gear available to buy. Smartlink makes it impossible for a player to shoot friendlies, allows them to zoom in with any gun, and increases accuracy, but other players can see it's targeting laser, making them easy to spot. Enhanced vision allows players to see through wall for a short time. Boosted Reflexes work passively and actively. When equiped, players will move slightly faster and deflect some enemy fire while wielding the katana. When activated users spend a small amount of health for a quick getaway. Glider allows players to jump and remain in the air for a short time.
Finally, the weapons in Shadowrun are probably the most conventional aspect, and will be instantly familiar to anyone who has spent time with an FPS in recent years. Each weapon has a weight that will effect player movement, unless that player happens to be a Troll, who suffers no such penalty. There is the default pistol, which every player begins the game with. The Shotgun is good for close quarters fights, the SMG for medium-range encounters, and the Rifle for long range showdowns. There is a powerful Sniper rifle with 2 levels of zoom, and a heavy minigun that is best utilized by already sluggish Dwarves and Trolls. The Rocket Launcher, which is pricey and therfore only available at the later stages of a match, can destroy an area with it's large blast radius. Finally, we come to the katana, which is actually one of the more popular weapons in the game. This traditional Japanese sword not only allows players to run at full speed, it can take down enemies caught unaware (represented by a '?' above their head) with one fatal blow.
Shadowrun is a nuanced game that offers freedom to create your own play style on a level far beyond the current standard online FPS games. This is both it's greatest strengh and for some it's main weakness. It's not a casual game, instead catering to hardcore gamers looking for the depth of gameplay choices afforded by Shadowrun's robust character customization options. It is easily recommendable to anyone who has enjoyed Counterstrike, Deus Ex, Jedi Knight, or team-based multiplayer games in general.
The community seems really torn on this game... some (mostly those who read reviews and make up their minds about games without experiencing them first hand, or those who don't take the time to crest the learning curve) say it's a ripoff and call it 'half a game,' while some swear it's the best online 360 game available currently and well worth the money. I am certainly in the latter camp... and I applaud Shadowrun for providing 360 and Vista users with an online game that combines a fresh take on FPS gameplay conventions with cross platform play. Shadowrun allows you to do things in an online game that you have never been able to do before against human opponents. I recommend that everyone intested in FPS multiplayer games try the demo and see if they appreciate it's deep gameplay.