The Shadowrun license saw a controversial transition to the Xbox 360. When Microsoft announced the latest chapter in the series, we were thrilled -- until we discovered it was going to be a first-person shooter. Then we learned the game would skip an elaborate single-player campaign, instead focusing on multiplayer combat. The final product presents some moments of brilliance, but not near enough to justify the $59.99 pricetag.
Players can learn the basics of combat by running through several comprehensive tutorials and trying their luck against automated "bot" enemies. After learning the somewhat convoluted controls, players log in to Xbox Live and challenge multiple opponents through a series of maps and three modes -- Extraction, Raid and Attrition. Shadowrun lets players choose from classes of soldiers, each with pros and cons. However, nothing really binds them together or gives them any sense of progression.
Intense and focused in-game combat keeps the heart pounding, despite a targeting reticule that loses accuracy the longer we press the fire button. Players can also equip three special abilities during each match, along with technical tools such as a glider (which lets players float up to higher areas) and a vision tool (which enables them to see through walls to spot enemies' positions). Magical items found around the map also keep things interesting -- for instance, a rapidly growing tree to regenerate lost energy, a powerful wind gust that knocks enemies backward and special gems that temporarily disable anyone who comes in contact with them.
Over the course of the game, players can take their earnings and purchase new abilities that boost their in-game performance. They needn't worry about stragglers that overstay their welcome with a constant barrage of magic attacks, as an Essence points system keeps it from being unfair.
Shadowrun's visuals look average. Characters move unnaturally, particularly when climbing ladders or jump around. The game runs at 30 frames per second, with only slight breaks between each session (particularly with online matches). The 12 maps offer lots of places to explore and come with different settings (day or night). The game's audio -- also decidedly average -- provides some OK background tunes during the menus and action-oriented sound effects. A sergeant provides a few fleeting moments of comic relief, particularly when he "kills" the main character during the regeneration tutorial.
In a bizarre twist, the game lacks any tie-ins to the long-standing Shadowrun universe, outside the familiar characters and a few of their abilities. The rock-solid amount of shooting action and spell-casting keeps this game from entering Superman: The Game territory, but, we can only imagine how superior it could have been with a rich single-player mode thrown in.
Final Score: 6 (out of 10)
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