The game has all the features from a really good RPG that's story-driven with many side quests. The skill tree is somewhat different from your usual fantasy or futuristic RPG, but this Vampire system is really clever. Graphics are somewhat dated but nevertheless beautiful. The explorable hubs are big but not Fallout or GTA-like huge, and there are many scene transitions. Some issues plague the game however, like clunky movement, bad AI, some bugs, combat exploits and some frustrating boss fights, combat or stealth missions. Some dialog options shouldn't appear at certain points, while some dialog options that would improve immersion and choice are missing. Get it at sale price as a really nice story-driven RPG but don't expect much from combat and take the game's age into account before being too critical of it.
Super tough shooter that gets you killed in the blink of an eye. I think this game just makes stuff happen even faster than in a real life brawl/gunfight. Enemy reaction time is superhuman lightning fast, even though AI is kinda dumb at times, which makes this not good as a stealth game and pushes you to just insanely rush into the fray. There's mostly no time for thinking, not even snap decisions, and you depend quite a lot on luck and not getting killed by the controls, which is frustrating. Reminds me of the GTA 1 gunfights with neither bulletproof vest or the option to get into a car, but much faster. The retro setting is interesting, plot elements are confusing like a dream, which reminds me of Devolver's later Mother Russia Bleeds, which also features ultra-violence. Music is great and kinda sets the tone. It's worth the sale price.
...and I don't say this lightly, even though I'm not a guy that has played tons of fantasy RPGs. I played BAK back in the day and it was a superb gem! It was the first time I saw an open 3D world, and it looked nice too! Tons of hours of gameplay, tons of lore, tons of dialog, great turn-based combat, not so complex inventory, neat skill system, great music... A need-to-have!
Complex, well-thought and challenging but not very well-aged. I remember playing it back in the golden Sierra days and this was one of the best explore and verbal command adventures Sierra delivered, and definitely not for casual players. You must have an eye for forensic investigation, detail and exploration to get the full score on the game. I remember I got almost a full score back then: it wasn't easy, but it wasn't impossible either. As in any Sierra oldie, you can get killed easily, in addition to missing stuff as the night progresses, so save often and keep backtrack gamesaves.
This title presents the most well-rounded Shadowrun Returns system and loads of character traits, items, spells and upgrades. The matrix also feels a little better too, although the matrix mini games are kind of unecessary in my opinion. The Extended Hong Kong campaign ensures loads of hours of fun gameplay, even though the story is not the masterpiece that Dragonfall was. You'll also enjoy the great and long custom campaigns The Caldecot Caper and Calfree in Chains. GOG users can get them from Nexusmods. This title has all the huge content from the trilogy available for use in the campaign editor and better-looking ork models (although you can't use the old outfits on them), so you have loads of resources to create your own Shadowrun solo campaign if you're feeling creative.
When I played Jagged Alliance 2 Unfinished Business and later the original Jagged Alliance 2 in the early millenium it blew my mind, because I had only known the X-Com series in turn-based so far, and Jagged Alliance took it to a whole new level. It's great combat, great fun and also features a humorous story. For me it's well worth the full price. If you get it, be sure to also get the v1.13 community mod, that brings more fun, guns and inventory system into the game. (Be aware though, that if you choose the enemies drop all inventory option you're bound to be micromanaging the squads' inventory as a part-time job)
Disclaimer: I do not own the remastered copy. I own the original discs from back in the day. Everything in both games is superbly designed, and the ship models feel very Chris Foss. The starting missions might be easy, but the difficulty progression is challenging and the final stages are VERY hard, though not impossible. The story is engaging and has a touch of mistery, and levels are sure to keep you busy fighting incoming enemy waves as you explore for more resources and marvel at the stunning space scenery.
I played this one back in the day, and it felt great! It's like barbarian Tomb Raider. Level design is superb. The acrobatics are not that hard but they'll get you killed more than once for sure. The fighting is simplified and logic but also hard, and don't let the bad guys gang up on you. The visuals and environment are fantastic, mythical and varied. Well, you go from deep caves to the surface then down to the underworld (Hel) and up to the dwarven (Nibelung) land. Epic all the way.
A really engaging story, an RPG masterpiece, improved gameplay (compared to SRR), great soundtrack, memorable by all accounts! And you can build your own campaigns using the editor, so there's some great user generated content out there (you can get most at Nexusmods)
Great cyberpunk setting, great graphic concept (seamless mix of 2D maps and 3D characters), a nice combat system and cool RPG experience. The included campaign "Dead Man's Switch" is quite good, well-written and might take a while to finish (even though it's not huge by present day standards), but the best thing is that this system allows you and a community to create new campaigns. (most are available at Nexusmods for GOG users) I enjoyed "A Stitch in Time" quite a lot and that one is huge compared to Dead Man's Switch. If you liked this game and don't own Shadowrun Dragonfall already, get it too!
