Point and click sci-fi with RPG elements.
Storyline: It's not the gameplay, but the storyline and the STYLE that make Shadowrun a highly playable SNES game. You are in Seattle, year 2050. At the beginning you wake up in a morgue, unable to remember your identity. As the game progresses you learn more and more about who you are and the circumstances which brought you here. There are other really cool parts of the story but I won't ruin the whole thing, you will have to just play it I suppose. Super stylish.
Gameplay: In Shadowrun you fight primarily with guns, and you hire people to join your cause. You can have up to 3 other people fighting with you at once, which is pretty epic for such an old game. Mobbing around with 4 characters laying waste to enemy hordes is pretty cool! Also, a big part of the game is talking to people and learning new words. If you ask the right people about certain phrases you will learn more and more words. This is required to progress though the game. Hacking into computers for big money and progression is also important. Furthermore, you upgrade your weapons, magic and armor as well. You are free to distribute attribute points in any way you see fit - body, firearms, leadership, magic, charisma, computer, etc.
The Good: The graphics and music are both excellent, a big part of what wins me over in this game (especially the latter). Unforgettable music, very post-apocalyptic Seattle, if you will. You gotta love the early 90's (also gotta love the classic Mono-rail cut scences)! Another positive is that too many games like this do not have actual bosses (like the GTA series), but this one does! The 4-man gangs are cool too. The whole theme is cool and is presented very well.
The Bad: The combat is brainless and repetitive. You press shoot, and you keep pressing shoot, until they die or you do. Also, if you don't have a walk-thru it will be totally impossible to beat this game! I couldn't even find a gun w/o a good walk-thru. That bothers me.
Bottom line: some of the games I have are better, but this one is rock-solid.
Course of action: If it sounds like your style pick it up because you'll like it. But it's not a MUST play, just a cool old game with a unique style.