Lost Classics: Shadowrun (SNES)

Years before Microsoft/Fasa Interactive took a steaming hot leak over the franchise, Beam Software and Data East produced this SNES masterpiece which bought PC-style role-playing game mechanics to the console. Based on the tabletop RPG of the same name, Shadowrun, combines real-time shooting action with RPG customization elements. Shadowrun takes place in the year 2050 on the streets of Seattle. Players take control of Jake Armitage, a Shadowrunner who wakes up in the morgue with amnesia after a near-successful assassination attempt. After giving the workers a good scare by walking out, Jake’s quest is to discover his identity, who wants him dead, and why.

Shadowrun has a unique conversation system. When hearing a word that seems interesting (these words are highlighted in yellow) it is then added to a database of words you can ask about. Asking other non-player characters about these words is how you progress in the game. By killing enemies, you can earn ‘karma points’, which can be distributed to enhanced Jake’s stats. You can also hire mercenaries to watch your back, hack into cyberspace to earn money, and participate in an arena.

While Shadowrun didn’t sell much, it provided a different brand of RPG gameplay than what was seen in console RPGs at the time, and it remains the best video game based on the franchise. It’s even better than Microsoft’s “Counterstrike-with-magic” screw-up. Licensing issues will most likely keep this from seeing a Virtual Console release anytime soon, so this is one of those games you’ll have to seek out.