Shadowrun

Shadowrun brings the tabletop cyberpunk system from FASA to the SNES, blending it with action RPG and adventure elements in a form that rarely appeared on consoles in the nineties. In 2050 the player wakes up in a morgue with no memories and gradually uncovers a conspiracy of megacorporations, magic, and technology in a future Seattle, where elves and dwarves mingle with hackers and mercenaries called shadowrunners, and where old magic blends with a neon technological reality.

The gameplay combines a side view with free movement through an open city, dialogues with NPCs, item collecting and hiring companions, hacking the digital Matrix through separate levels, and turn-based gunfights with weapons and spells. Over the course of the game the character develops skills, magic, and reputation with street contacts, which affects available jobs and equipment. The graphical presentation is among the most atmospheric the SNES offered — dark neon streets, rainy alleys, and industrial interiors are underscored by music that perfectly evokes the grim cyberpunk world. The game gives the player unusual freedom in how to solve tasks, whether by force, money, or negotiation, and the many side characters and locations give Seattle the feeling of a truly lived-in city.

At the time of release Shadowrun was praised for its originality, atmosphere, and depth of world, even though not every player expected such a complex and dark title with nonlinear progression from the SNES. Today it's considered one of the most ambitious attempts to bring the cyberpunk genre into a console RPG, and its reputation as a cult classic only grows with the years, even though players used to more straightforward JRPGs with a fixed storyline may struggle with it. Its open structure, harsh tone, and unusual blending of magic and technology make it a title that stands apart from everything else on the SNES in its approach, and it still attracts players looking for an alternative to traditional fantasy RPGs today.

Why play: For players looking for an alternative to traditional fantasy JRPGs, Shadowrun offers a dark cyberpunk world, an open structure, and an unusual blend of magic and technology, even though its nonlinearity may not suit everyone.