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Shadowrun - SNES or MD/Genesis?
- Thread starter EAJAPAN
- Start date
Dark Age Iron Savior
Banned
Don't forget Sega CD, it's totally different too! And in Japanese, with a non-intuitive battle system. Er, nevermind, then...
You should decide which game to do based on your mood and tastes - if you feel like an action-centered and rather plot-lite romp, go for the SNES one. If you prefer something in the vein of earlier PC RPGs, with more heavy focus on freedom and less on running around and shooting people. They're both good!
Here's a comparison from RPGClassics:
Each of the CRPGs made covered the Shadowrun universe with attention to different details. The SNES version involved a full immersion in the universe- the buildings LOOM, rising high into the sky and casting the streets into shadow, while the storyline covered intricate details of the Shaman's craft such as the constant search for seemingly mundane items to attain new power.
The Genesis version, OTOH, focuses on the bigger picture- the actual life of a professional Shadowrunner. It is this version that comes the closest to capturing the PnP experience, with the ability to customize your character, explore an enormous gaming world (you almost certainly WILL be lost the first time you enter the Salish-Sidhe), meet all sorts of people in both predetermined locations and in random encounters, and- and it is HERE that this game truly shines- take Shadowruns, randomly generated "quests" to earn Karma(XP) and Nuyen(GP), which are as involved as any of the preconceived quests seen in other games, be it "take item A from location B to location C," to "break into heavily guarded location X and rescue Y."
By the way, you can find the "shrine" (RPGClassics terms for a usually full-fledged subsite with walkthrough, beastiary, item lists, etc) for the Genesis version here, and the SNES version here.
I haven't personally perused those particular shrines, but I can vouch for RPGClassics being a great site for both casual and in-depth information searching on certain RPGs (ie, the ones they've gotten around to shrining).
You should decide which game to do based on your mood and tastes - if you feel like an action-centered and rather plot-lite romp, go for the SNES one. If you prefer something in the vein of earlier PC RPGs, with more heavy focus on freedom and less on running around and shooting people. They're both good!
Here's a comparison from RPGClassics:
Each of the CRPGs made covered the Shadowrun universe with attention to different details. The SNES version involved a full immersion in the universe- the buildings LOOM, rising high into the sky and casting the streets into shadow, while the storyline covered intricate details of the Shaman's craft such as the constant search for seemingly mundane items to attain new power.
The Genesis version, OTOH, focuses on the bigger picture- the actual life of a professional Shadowrunner. It is this version that comes the closest to capturing the PnP experience, with the ability to customize your character, explore an enormous gaming world (you almost certainly WILL be lost the first time you enter the Salish-Sidhe), meet all sorts of people in both predetermined locations and in random encounters, and- and it is HERE that this game truly shines- take Shadowruns, randomly generated "quests" to earn Karma(XP) and Nuyen(GP), which are as involved as any of the preconceived quests seen in other games, be it "take item A from location B to location C," to "break into heavily guarded location X and rescue Y."
By the way, you can find the "shrine" (RPGClassics terms for a usually full-fledged subsite with walkthrough, beastiary, item lists, etc) for the Genesis version here, and the SNES version here.
I haven't personally perused those particular shrines, but I can vouch for RPGClassics being a great site for both casual and in-depth information searching on certain RPGs (ie, the ones they've gotten around to shrining).
Date of Lies
Banned
PSP
Dark Age Iron Savior
Banned
I should also note that the SNES version has a FUCKING AWESOME score - there's not a lot of tracks, and they are generally short, but they fit the game perfectly.
Dark Age Iron Savior
Banned
Musashi Wins!
FLAWLESS VICTOLY!
Are you playing it because the RPG means something to you? The one it was based on?
GENESIS>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>SNES.
GENESIS>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>SNES.
Great info Dark Age, thanks muchly.
Nup. But over the years I've read/heard so much about how good these games are, but I never actually got around to playing either in the 16bit days which was when I played games the most. I figure I mayaswell get this out of my system, much like Snatcher on CD, which was well worth the wait to finally play it.
Nup. But over the years I've read/heard so much about how good these games are, but I never actually got around to playing either in the 16bit days which was when I played games the most. I figure I mayaswell get this out of my system, much like Snatcher on CD, which was well worth the wait to finally play it.
MightyHedgehog
Member
Play the (superior) Genesis version first. If you're not well-versed on SR, at least you can gain a better understanding of the world and its possibilities before heading into SR Lite with the SNES game...which is far better written, in terms of plot strength and direction.
Late Stage Marxist
Member
The SNES version is a RPG/Point and Click adventure hybrid. The art design and music fit the mood perfectly.
The Genesis version is strictly an RPG with some interesting gameplay mechanics (such as the matrix). The graphics and music are pretty crap even by Genny standards.
All in all the SNES version does a better job of fleshing out the universe and telling an interesting story.
The Genesis version is strictly an RPG with some interesting gameplay mechanics (such as the matrix). The graphics and music are pretty crap even by Genny standards.
All in all the SNES version does a better job of fleshing out the universe and telling an interesting story.
BobTheFork
Member
I preferred the Genesis version. I
Servizio
I don't really need a tag, but I figured I'd get one to make people jealous. Is it working?
SNES: Much better plot, writing, and memorable characters. Gameplay is much more RPG/Puzzle based. You'll need to think your way through most tough parts of the game, though you'll probably spend a bit of time gathering karma and nuyen too. You also have to get used to the dialog interface. You basically "talk" to people to get new dialog subjects, and then use "Ask about..." You get somewhere around 20 or 30 subjects per area so it'll take you awhile to go through all of them with everyone by the time you're done with an area, but it's fairly easy to get critical info fast.
Genesis: Almost a dungeon crawler. Good writing but not as good as the SNES. You have far and away more gameplay options by virtue of the fact that you can actually choose one of three classes to be in the beginning; Shaman, Street Samurai, and Decker. You can play as the other two classes by hiring Shadowrunners and using their skills. You'll spend most of your time doing runs for nuyen and karma so that you can take on the next story related quest. The combat is faster paced than the SNES one and generally more action oriented, but you'll win more through virtue of firepower than dodging skills more often than not.
I put a ton of hours into both, but I'm a sucker for the Shadowrun universe and cyberpunk in general. I think the Genesis version takes longer to beat than the SNES one,so you might try starting with it.
Genesis: Almost a dungeon crawler. Good writing but not as good as the SNES. You have far and away more gameplay options by virtue of the fact that you can actually choose one of three classes to be in the beginning; Shaman, Street Samurai, and Decker. You can play as the other two classes by hiring Shadowrunners and using their skills. You'll spend most of your time doing runs for nuyen and karma so that you can take on the next story related quest. The combat is faster paced than the SNES one and generally more action oriented, but you'll win more through virtue of firepower than dodging skills more often than not.
I put a ton of hours into both, but I'm a sucker for the Shadowrun universe and cyberpunk in general. I think the Genesis version takes longer to beat than the SNES one,so you might try starting with it.
SNES version is in my top 10 all time. I worshipped that game. I can state for a fact that my boxart for the SNES version was not like that moby games listing at all. NM, I see that that's the UK version. I could just erase what I previously wrote, but longer posts = cooler posts.
Apharmd Battler
Member
Musashi Wins! said:
I was just to say the same thing. Having played both and a HUGE fan of the PnP game, the Genesis version was the definative Shadowrun game. I can't wait to see what's in store for the rumored XBox360 Shadowrun game.
Kung Fu Jedi
Member
I played both games back in the day, and the PnP game as well, and I preferred the Genesis version. The pseudo-3D rendition of when you were jacked it were awesome, at least for the day. 
Still, you can't really go wrong with the SNES version either. Both are interesting, and different, takes on the Shadowrun Universe. If I were forced to choose, I'd take the Genny version though.
Still, you can't really go wrong with the SNES version either. Both are interesting, and different, takes on the Shadowrun Universe. If I were forced to choose, I'd take the Genny version though.grenadeguru
Member
Genesis is by far my favorite of the two. Great Gameplay. Still fun.
Nostrildamus
Member
I prefer the Genesis version by far. The SNES version was just a standard linear rpg, whereas the Genesis one was very open-ended and gave you many character customization options.
Plus "hacking the matrix" was way better in the Genesis one too.
Plus "hacking the matrix" was way better in the Genesis one too.
mrkapawutzis
Member
SNES. I remember getting the Geneseis version and trying to play it, but it was damn near impenetrable unless you did some massive leveling up. I loaned it to a friend for a year and when I got it back the character was leveled up enough that the game became enjoyable, but in the end the atmosphere, art direction, gameplay mechanics and charm of the SNES version was superior.
WrenAndroid
Member
The Genesis version.
BigGreenMat
Member
Genny version for me. When i had sega channel Shadowrun was constantly on my playlist.
Buffy4ever
Banned
The Genesis Shadowran is more like the real RPG. My friend is a big fan of the Shadowrun system. He said that the Genesis one played more like the real pen and paper RPG.