Shadowrun: Hong Kong

1. blackdaze

   Aug 24, 2015

   10

   The third iteration of the Shadowrun series of group-based cRPGs. These games are fairly light on gameplay and more narrative focused thanThe third iteration of the Shadowrun series of group-based cRPGs. These games are fairly light on gameplay and more narrative focused than most cRPGs. By that I mean there is an extensive amount of well-written dialogue (however, a few spelling issues/typos) and combat doesn't happen too frequently. However, the amount of combat somewhat depends on player choice of skills, how they approach a situation, and which team members they bring to the missions. There are cases where you can go through missions with minimal or no combat which is a big change from the previous games.
   
   You team selection is fairly well-rounded and good for both combat and non-combat situations. Bringing different team members usually provides you with different ways of approaching a problem. I found on my second playthrough that the missions played a bit differently based on my skills, who I brought and choices I made. I think that it adds to the replay value so it's worth playing through a second time just to see what you've missed. The missions are really well designed and have multiple ways to traverse them or find extras within the levels.
   
   As far as the story/writing, well the entire game is just absolutely loaded with dialogue, text-descriptions, menu based choices, and interaction with companions and various NPCs. If you're looking for more of an action-based game, this isn't it. If you spend your time reading through all of the dialogue and doing all of the missions available, it'll likely take you around 20 hours to beat. If you just try to beat the game as quick as possible and ignore the dialogue, it'll likely take you under 10 hours. One of the key selling points of the game is reading through the texts and finding more about the world, it's characters, and the story. One nagging downside is the story tends to halt for a bit if you're looking to do every mission. You'll have talked to everyone, have the final missions unlocked, and still have three or four optional missions left.
   
   The combat plays out well and a lot quicker paced than the previous two games with smaller bite sized battles and partially due to the fact that the AI responds faster and animations are quicker. In addition, you're able to enter battle mode if you see an encounter so you're tactically in a better place before the battle starts and you'll leave battle mode after encounters. This is a change from the previous games where it would just have entire maps full of battles.
   
   There is more of everything as far as combat options; Adepts/mages/shamans all have a few new spells and totems, there are more melee/cyberware/gun/drug/health options than before, etc. Dragonlines are one of the bigger new additions to magic. They allow mages to have their spells bounce off of nearby targets(or allies if they're in the area), allow damaging spells to heal you or simple reduce cooldown/increase effectively like the old leylines. The particular effect isnt posted so its try and see. Armor has been radically simplified in that it no longer provides bonuses but straight armor class and there are unique options from the vendors around town (mage/shaman, adept, street sam, and decker). It's purely cosmetic but helps your character look the part.
   
   The matrix has been completely overhauled from the previous games. Almost all of the matrix nodes will just have White IC (intrusion countermeasures) scour areas with set paths and vision cones. As long as you avoid them, you avoid matrix combat. However, if you blunder into them or just don't care to work around timing puzzles, you can just enter into combat with them and it's a bit more challenging but certainly doable. There is a mini-game associated with hacking firewalls to get access to datastores or matrix controls and it's fairly easy to accomplish. Those can also be destroyed brute force via combat if you're in an alert state.
   
   The aesthetics of the game have been improved from the previous two games. The colorful art style and backgrounds are still there but now there is more variety in PC/NPCs and most of the character models/animations have been redone. No more massive body trolls with stick legs. The spells have nice new effects, there is more blood and gore, and all of the weapons/spells/punches/abilities feel more impactful. The music is very atmospheric but non-descript. I found that I don't seem to remember any particular track from the game but found that it just subtly added to the mood/atmosphere.
   
   All in all, I loved the game and have played through it twice and assume I will play it again! I think it's a good sign when the game ends that you roll up a new character and start another game. The drawbacks I have for the game are mostly subjective, there are a few minor bugs/typos which will hopefully get fixed soon. However, people may not enjoy the new non-combat themed matrix, lack of combat in the missions, the story, etc etc. However, I give it a 10 because I certainly did! It's a winner in my book… Expand

   • 10 of 12 users found this helpful
2. Lamp

   May 5, 2020

   10

   The Shadowrun Returns trilogy (Dead Man's Switch, Dragonfall, and this game aka Hong Kong) are some of the best tactical RPGs I've everThe Shadowrun Returns trilogy (Dead Man's Switch, Dragonfall, and this game aka Hong Kong) are some of the best tactical RPGs I've ever played. I admit I'm a huge fanboy of Harebrained Schemes for both this series and Battletech; can't wait for their next games. Been a while since I played any of them but,
   
   Pros:
   -Atmosphere, including music, visual art direction, and pacing
   -Satisfying combat
   -Specialization and unit customization / upgrades
   -Amazing dialog and dialog choices
   -All missions unique and worthwhile
   -Well designed overworld, perfect for chilling in between missions
   
   Cons:
   -Some technical issues and lack of user friendliness, such as figuring out whether gear can be equipped on your fellow shadowrunners… Expand

   • 0 of 0 users found this helpful
4. swampah

   Sep 16, 2015

   9

   For new would be players - Shadowrun: Hong Kong is a turn-based (the fights), story driven, RPG.
   
   This is a very good game, with someFor new would be players - Shadowrun: Hong Kong is a turn-based (the fights), story driven, RPG.
   
   This is a very good game, with some drawbacks.
   To begin with, there is no open world (like in all Shadowrun series). The game is pretty linear. There are dialog choices and the order in which you can take missions. This reminds me about the last third of Planescape: Torment, where you travel through big worlds, but still follow a path. Is it a bad path to follow? No! It’s a beautiful path – story, mood, music, characters, graphics - I enjoyed them a lot. Some say there is too much to read. Well, there is much to read but it is a joy. Witcher 3 was a PAIN to read, just to compare.
   Another gripe would be that there is very little money in this game. You can buy about half of what you want to buy. And you can’t go out and raid some bad guys for loot, this is not open world. Was I able to beat the boss? Yes, with the first attempt, without healing! But I would enjoy the game even more if I could buy some other weapons/items/magic, etc. Games should be all about fun, are not they? The devs could have given more money, but tougher enemies to compensate.
   Regarding replay value - I am not sure if I want to replay it. The easiest and most logical character choice is street samurai, and then you invest karma in quickness and ranged. Quickness gives you both offence AND defense. If you go for melee, you have to improve both quickness and strength, but you may not have enough karma to improve both. Also, you can get into your team a special character – a melee expert mutant, who can regenerate by chewing on enemies, big fun -) Maybe I should try a mage because there was no good mage in the team.
   
   Some similar old turn-based games to compare with? Here you go:
   - Planescape: Torment gives you a better story. Also it gives you more freedom where you can go in the first 2/3rds of the game.
   - Fallout 1 and 2 – better story, with treachery, laughter and tears (treachery and tears only in Torment). Real open world.
   - Jagged Alliance 2 – pretty standard story (free a country from a dictator), not much to read, no moving music… but tactics (fights) in this game are a masterpiece yet to be beaten. Every bullet counts. If you can’t send bullets full auto in the head of a bad guy by the end of the game, you suck sir, and should stay in the easy difficulty (finished it in hard yes!). This game is also open world and has a uge replay value.
   Well, Hong Kong will lose to the above games in some aspects, but those games are serious 10/10 items.
   In my opinion, it is a solid 8/10 or 9/10 game provided the player likes turn-based action, worth buying.
   
   PS Sorry for the possible mistakes, I am not a native English speaker.… Expand

   • 1 of 2 users found this helpful
5. Chilliast

   Mar 22, 2019

   8

   Excellent story from Harebrained Schemes. Perhaps not so good as Dragonfall, but it compensates for the slightly better systems.Excellent story from Harebrained Schemes. Perhaps not so good as Dragonfall, but it compensates for the slightly better systems.
   
   Recommended if you enjoyed the previous Shadowrun games, even if you did not and when to play cRPG in a quirky setting with a deep storyline, this could be for you.… Expand

   • 0 of 0 users found this helpful
6. Ragmar

   May 25, 2018

   7

   i had fun, it was great, but I can't say it is an upgrade from Dragonfall on any field, i can actually say i liked SHDF much better. Stilli had fun, it was great, but I can't say it is an upgrade from Dragonfall on any field, i can actually say i liked SHDF much better. Still recomend it tho, a couple of great moments awaits you there.… Expand

   • 0 of 0 users found this helpful
7. hileger

   Dec 11, 2022

   6

   тут графомания сплошная, чувствуется общая затянутость игры геймплей тот же что и в прошлых частях только на 20 - 30 часов что итут графомания сплошная, чувствуется общая затянутость игры геймплей тот же что и в прошлых частях только на 20 - 30 часов что и заруинило игру… Expand

   • 0 of 0 users found this helpful
8. crayno66

   Mar 3, 2017

   0

   I was enjoying this....until I ran into the new matrix, this totally ruined the game for me.
   I'm done with shadowrun unless they fix the fastI was enjoying this....until I ran into the new matrix, this totally ruined the game for me.
   I'm done with shadowrun unless they fix the fast action/reaction part that screwed this for me… Expand

   • 0 of 4 users found this helpful

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