Shadowrun Hong Kong - Extended Edition

Shadowrun: Hong Kong uses almost the same mechanics as Dragonfall, with the exception of the new Matrix, which is not for everybody. Let's just say that isometric perspective never lended itself well to sneaking. Graphically it's pretty much the same except for the Matrix which is arguably improved. The storyline is weaker than Dragonfall, albeit better than Shadowrun Returns. The extended edition mini-campaign is a half-assed slopjob with nerfs, grammatical errors, spelling errors, bugs, three sidequests, three main quests, and some new gear. In my opinion the worst mechanical problem about it is that you can no longer initiate combat when you want to, which makes the whole point of introducing an icon for that specific purpose pointless. The next one is that there's zero use of intelligence or wisdom. It makes sense that you can have Is0bel do the non-decking hacking and computer stuff if she's tagging along, but there's zero reason to have any intelligence above 1 unless you're a decker or want some BioTech. Likewise, there's zero story options for mages of any sort. I could forgive this sort of thing if it was just constrained to Shadows of Hong Kong, but if you install the Extended Edition, it also gives you the new mechanical crap in the main campaign. I'd rather play the non-extended edition.

Shadowrun: Hong Kong shouldn't be worse than its predecessors, right? Boy I was wrong. I did enjoy first two games in the series. Especially Dragonfall was done very well. But lets talk about Shadowrun: Hong Kong. First off, game starts promissingly. Intro mission is great with enough action, enough dialogue and not too difficult or easy. Then you get to the Hub area and there everything is great as well. You can walk around chat with random NPCs (if you want, it's optional). First couple hours you spend with the game are really good but then game starts crumbling. Various bugs start popping out. Even bugs you didn't notice before now start to irritate you (like volume levels are jumping up and down). You play more and more bugs you notice. Sometimes maps won't load up (they will but all you will see will be black screen). And loading times are so bad... I do have a high end rig and ssd, but I doubt that helps in this game. Then eventually you will get to missions like Misdirection which are so broken that you will be unable to finish them and get stuck there forever unless you will follow the correct path devs intended for you to follow. Now besides countless bugs (not gonna list them, almost 2 years after release and game is still in terrible state, abandoned by developer long ago), game has other serious issues. Most annoying ones: a) new matrix system is terrible. It's in real time and does not fit turn based game at all. Hacking mini game is as bad as those in Alpha Protocol. b) team members you get are overpowered. They are much stronger than your character will ever be. c) shortage of money. There are so many items you could buy, but you only buy maybe 5% of them cos there is not enough money in the game! You are even forced to sell medkits, grenades and other consumables because it's how badly balanced economy in this game is. This review is too long. I will end here. 1/5 stars. Shame cos Shadowrun: Dragonfall was 4/5 easilly.

The characters are great and there's lots of interesting flavour, but no amount of flavour and fun characters can make up for how dull this is to actually play. If you actually want to chat with the other characters (which have way more expanded stories than other titles in the series), this ends up being... most of your playtime. Some missions are fun, some are alright, but if you're actually playing the game to its full potential there isn't a lot of active time here. And the new matrix setup is frankly awful. Why put a timing and memory minigame into an rpg that was previously exclusively turn-based combat and dialogue trees? (If you play turn-based rpgs because you find games involving timing and memory stressful, don't get this game - just don't.) Even if you like this kind of setup, it doesn't deliver - you can't use your programs while in stealth in the matrix, which means a lot of them aren't really working to their potential. What's the point in a skill that lets you sneak faster in the matrix if you can only use it once you've been caught?

Returns established the setting, Dragonfall got more political, and Hong Kong is horror. Enjoyed them all. If you liked the other two then you should like this one too. I am surprised to read so many people go, "Dragonfall was the best and this one was way worse" -in regards to the story and especially in regards to the companions. Hong Kong has way, way better companions. SPOILERS FOLLOW DRAGONFALL Dog - :) Punkrock Shaman - Waah, my brother's a nazi! No you can't side with humans even if you are human! Tough Grrl - I'm a special forces operative with survivor's guilt. And a girl! Bet you didn't expect that vagina! Bet it's the first time you have ever encountered a butch woman in a story Sexist! Specialist Snowflake - My backstory's so serious you guys: magic's a curse cause daddy was racist against spells. So I ran away from home to worship SATAN. Now I wounded my soul with cybernetics so Satan can't have it. Really, this emo Darkblade Bloodstalker type character is what you guys found compelling? HONG KONG He's a Rigger - Best companion out of all 3 games. Dude segments his Id to control a robot and dreams of a future technocracy with fellow sociopaths. Rat Shaman - Ew. They went there. Rocket Midget - Grew up poor. Boring. Grenade Launcher's way more useful than Special Snowflake's claws. Brother - Refreshingly plain. He was a cop, has a stick up his bum, and takes convincing to go criminal. It makes for a nice inversion that the player character is familiar with the seedy underworld and bringing an outsider into it rather than being the outsider with an underworld connection to initiate him. Ronin Ghoul - Can an abomination maintain its' honor after death? Choosing which of his old team to ambush first makes for a way cooler, more reactive loyalty quest than anything Dragonfall.

Bottom Line: Interesting characters and a (very linear) story that becomes more compelling the closer you get to the end. Good music creates a nice moody atmosphere but combat seems very manipulated and a fairly specific character build is necessary to thrive. It’s interesting that you can customize the appearance of your character (very often the difference between a sale and a pass for me) and associate it with a close-enough portrait and this is not an adventure with deep choices. It is a specific story with a *right* character build. SRHK is more a cyber shooter with additional class options for challenging future play-throughs than it is an actual rpg. Without cyber enhancements and guns you will find it hard to hit and struggle to hurt what you hit. To get more out of magic you will have to expose yourself to harm more, getting closer or seeking energy spots to be more effective, and drain your own health to use spells more often. Decking is a surprisingly nice bonus. The puzzle mini game isn’t that hard when you get used to it. However you can ignore it entirely, sneak a bit and when you’re caught exult in virtual violence. Is0bel’s abilities in the matrix are *much* more effective than your magic outside of it. All of your original companions (Is0bel, Wu and Gobbet) are competent and will grow more so with little help from you beyond choosing their specialties and providing extra medical supplies. You won’t have the money to dote on them anyway. So if you *want* a cyber shooter game or expect practice progression (dying repeatedly until you figure out what the game *wants* you to be and do) you should add at least one star. But I can’t recommend the game to people who prefer natural development or get-what-you-see fight enthusiasts, or to loot lovers or players who like to build characters off the beaten path.