Shadowrun Is Shadowrun Hong Kong worth it?

[S.torch]

So I just ended Shadowrun: Dragonfall, the combat was nice enough, but like a good storybro that I am, the story was good enough to follow it all the way to the end.

So for all I know, Shadowrun: Hong Kong is the next one in the series, it is worth a shot? the story is on the same level than Dragonfall?

 

[Void_Pickle]

Speaking as one who quite liked Dragonfall...

nah, not really.

 

[Gregz]

It's the weakest of the 3, but worth playing once.

 

[Heroic Liberator]

It has a quite strong character cast in terms of companions and the worldbuilding is pretty neat. You should definitely check it out, but be warned in advance that the NPC chatting at the home hub in-between runs is much more spammy this time around.

Also, without spoiling anything, do be consistent about talking to the NPC in the magic shop or whatever.

It's the weakest of the 3, but worth playing once.

First is weakest and most barebones.

 

[Junmarko]

Hong Kong is worth it just for Racter companion, comrade.

 

[Heroic Liberator]

Gaichu and Racter are the best.

Spoiler

Also would've liked Gobbet to be romanceable, but eh.

 

[Fedora Master]

It's the weakest of the 3, but worth playing once.

I'd argue the very first is the weakest on the basis that it is the least refined.

 

[Pink Eye]

It has a quite strong character cast in terms of companions and the worldbuilding is pretty neat. You should definitely check it out, but be warned in advance that the NPC chatting at the home hub in-between runs is much more spammy this time around.

Also, without spoiling anything, do be consistent about talking to the NPC in the magic shop or whatever.

It's the weakest of the 3, but worth playing once.

First is weakest and most barebones.

I liked the first one. The ending was a real kick to the balls. You fight otherworldly monsters while also saving the world. Only to have a big corporation either offer you a job, or tell you to kindly fuck off.

 

[Icewater]

The combat is overall easier than Dragonfall but the plot, characters, and setting are more interesting, IMO.

 

[Western]

It's the weakest of the 3, but worth playing once.

I'd argue the very first is the weakest on the basis that it is the least refined.

I understand the events of the first game are cannon, but the change of pacing from low key, detective cyberpunk to fighting interdimensional monsters is jarring, in Hong Kong something in the same vein happens but it's less jarring as it's foreshadowed, and the game is definitely more refined. Perhaps it's seen as weak since its the same thing 3rd time round.

 

[Pablosdog]

game is like 60 cents. Just play it.

 

[SniperHF]

worth playing but I hope you're good at speed reading.

 

[Pablosdog]

worth playing but I hope you're good at speed reading.

I agree. These games badly need an editor to trim some of the purple prose.

 

[Generic-Giant-Spider]

Shadowrun Returns was pretty good storyline wise... up to when you solve the Emerald Ripper case. Then it takes a sudden turn into fighting an evil insect cult or some shit for the good of the world.

 

[Stormcrowfleet]

So I just ended Shadowrun: Dragonfall, the combat was nice enough, but like a good storybro that I am, the story was good enough to follow it all the way to the end.

So for all I know, Shadowrun: Hong Kong is the next one in the series, it is worth a shot? the story is on the same level than Dragonfall?

As others have said, weakest of the tree. Main storyline/writing is bad (IMO), but some of the NPCs are nice. Some portion are frustrating and it seemed (in my mind, I have no empiral data for this) to have less C&C and "fluidity" of skill usage in mission than both the two others (even though the first had less than Dragonfall). I suggest running the first one instead. But if you REALLY like it, why not ? Wait for it to be on sale or something. Overall, having played all of them multiple times, my conclusion is this: Dragonfall > 1st one > Hong Kong

 

[S.torch]

It has a quite strong character cast in terms of companions and the worldbuilding is pretty neat.

The combat is overall easier than Dragonfall but the plot, characters, and setting are more interesting, IMO.

No problem with the combat, these things that you mention like characters and plot is what interest me. If you said they're better than Dragonfall, I feel the need to play it.

 

[razvedchiki]

Hong Kong is worth it just for Racter companion, comrade.

i agree.

 

[Verylittlefishes]

Actually I think of Honk--Honk as a strongest of three.

Still linear tactics crap disqused as RPG, but story and art direction was good.

Didn't finish though, went to the war with Deadfire, from which I shall never fully recover.

 

[Heroic Liberator]

I'd say that DF nailed the shadowrunner experience better, but HK overall has better worldbuilding and gameplay & story integration (the quest in Whampoa being a shining example of that).

I think that focusing too much on the Yama Kings alienated a significant part of the playerbase, especially coupled with the amount of purple prose pertaining to it. That aside, the story hook with the whole family subplot was also quite mediocre.

 

[Junmarko]

Shadowrun Returns was pretty good storyline wise... up to when you solve the Emerald Ripper case. Then it takes a sudden turn into fighting an evil insect cult or some shit for the good of the world.

Fact that the first encounter you have with Jake Armitage he's sleeping in a morgue.

 

[JDR13]

Yes, it's worth playing, but I wouldn't play it immediately if you just finished Dragonfall. It's too similar despite the differences. Play something else first and then come back to it.

 

[Xeon]

Dragonfall has the better combat, Hong Kong offers you the option to do almost all quests using your skills so you can pretty much avoid most combat in the game if you have appropriate party members and skills iirc.

 

[Gord]

Overall Dragonfall was the better game in terms of story and having some missions that stood out more. Hong Kong isn't bad though, but a somewhat different setting and while the missions in general are varied, they are missing some really memorable ones.
I was a bit let down by HBS not improving the matrix more (despite it being one of their goals). It does offer some new mechanics, but imo Blitz' personal quest from Dragonfall had the best gameplay there. SRHK's matrix felt like a step back again.
As for the wall-of-text-NPCs - it's worth mentioning that most of them can be ignored completely. The only ones that are really important are your companions and the bookstore-lady (that one is tied into the main quest, so talk to her regularly even if you don't have a caster for MC).
In contrast, the non-vendor NPCs in the hub in particular just offer (lots of) flavor text. If you don't like to read random stories from the Shadowrun-universe, just ignore them.

 

[Falksi]

Dragonfall>Returns>Hong Kong

I loved the first 2, found Hong Kong WAY too dull & text spammy to stay interested. It just goes on, and on, and on without you really doing much half the time.

 

[Heroic Liberator]

Returns is basically the gameplay skeleton upon which DF and HK were built. Both of the latter have their flaws, but at least they're fully fleshed out.