Review RPG Codex Review: Shadowrun: Hong Kong

[Darth Roxor]

This is China. The protagonist is forced to work for the triads, not the yakuzas.

ROXOR! YOU EEEEEEDIOT!

Funny thing, though, I remember even stopping for a sec while writing to think 'hey was it really the yakuza?' but then something distracted me and i moved on

 

[Excidium II]

I thought you were being cheeky. Kill yourself bro

 

[Sensuki]

Should have said nothing

 

[Darth Roxor]

a real men admits his mistakes

otherwise he is a little snake coward tiny dick

 

[Xeon]

I liked how they introduced more flavor to the matrix but yea, its kinda boring and man its too much of a hassle in real time.

I wish if the matrix was turn based similar to Spiderweb and Eschalon series kinda way or something, Not sure if it will be easier or harder than normal turn based but since they wanted real time in the matrix, that probably would have been better to simulate real time but in turn base or something.

 

[Mrowak]

Excellent review Darth Roxor Very critical but balanced and fair. Glad you did not go all cynic on this one.

I liked Hong Kong a lot, but apart from the things you mentioned it felt to me it didn't quite have the "Asian" vibe I expected. Maybe it's cyberpunk globalisation thing.

The only thing I disagree with... I actually liked the new matrix.

 

[DramaticPopcorn]

Like entire last paragraph of the review

Darth Cuxor confirmed for HBS apologist.

 

[Darth Roxor]

gg wp u got me

 

[Lurker King]

According to the general audience, HBS improved on the formula with 2014's Shadowrun: Dragonfall, which Codexers even voted the 2nd best 2014 RPG. I guess being able to enjoy Bioware-esque writing without Bioware's anathematized name attached has a certain appeal.

 

[Lurker King]

Besides, its not like the flaws of HK are completely irreversible. Most of them can be fixed just by making the level design compelling again and reaching back for the gameplay solutions that made Dragonfall so ridiculously fun to play in the first place (and fixing the friggin’ broken AI). Here’s hoping the upcoming mini-campaign manages to do that. I’d rather have Shadowrun go out with a bang than with a honk honk.

Decado, is that you? This text is just like a shameless apologetic PoE review. Practically states that the game is a popamole linear biowarian opportunist crash-gab iPhone game that attracts attention on the Codex just because it is isometric, turn-based and cyberpunk, but at the end, all the problems are miraculously forgiven and there is still hope that they will improve in the future. Sure.

I won’t deny that I was hyped for Hong Kong. But even so, I think my expectations were not unrealistic enough to cloud my judgement. All I wanted, basically, was another Dragonfall.

For all your typical edginess, you have a shitty pleb taste.

 

[Darth Roxor]

 

[Disgruntled]

Reading the review reaffirmed my choice not to continue with HK having only completed a single side mission. Stark contrast with Dragonfall which is one of my favorite games in recent years.
Goes to show how little details here and there can make the difference between greatness and mediocrity.

 

[Mrowak]

Reading the review reaffirmed my choice not to continue with HK having only completed a single side mission. Stark contrast with Dragonfall which is one of my favorite games in recent years.
Goes to show how little details here and there can make the difference between greatness and mediocrity.

Greatness is overrated.

 

[you know what time it is]

Yeah, when annotation is better than both review and the game itself.

 

[GarfunkeL]

Good review, Potato-Man. I had high expectations as well. I'm satisfied with HK but have to agree that it didn't deliver on everything promised/expected. Making the game even easier than DMS/DFDC is unforgivable though. I can deal with the Matrix and the big maps are beautiful so I don't mind running around while listening to the great soundtrack - but having very little challenge in combat is just ridiculous. I did not buy a single medikit during the campaign and for the last mission, even after filling out my team inventory with them I had 6 left over. That's fucking nuts and doesn't include the number you can loot during it.

Remove the timed memory game and real-time sneaking from Matrix, give all AI (not just boss AI) ability to attack twice in a turn, increase party size to 6 and double the number of enemies in each encounter - just those changes would make it much better.

Oh well, the writing was great and as someone else already mentioned, it was great how they mentioned multiple times that your actions don't really change anything for the better. World keeps turning around and so on, which is a fantastic kick in the teeth for the Do-Gooder-World-Savers.

 

[Archibald]

Decado, is that you? This text is just like a shameless apologetic PoE review. Practically states that the game is a popamole linear biowarian opportunist crash-gab iPhone game that attracts attention on the Codex just because it is isometric, turn-based and cyberpunk, but at the end, all the problems are miraculously forgiven and there is still hope that they will improve in the future. Sure.

Perfect example of "setting matters". Shadowrun has... Shadowrun setting while PoE has not-dnd setting. Easy to see how one of them is preferable and manages to uplift entire game due to that.

 

[Ogg]

Also forgot to mention, the plastic face man showdown was really underwhelming. He seemed like such a big deal from the intro but the situation is resolved in 5 minutes (10 if you count getting the inhibitor).

True. The idea of making him just another hireling who just "did the job" and whose loyalty could be quite easily bought was a good thing, but he could have been just a little more of a threat or I'd have preferred if you had to discover more about him before meeting. His help should have been obtain after a thorough wiping of a matrix section or sthing. Not simply selecting a dialogue option.

 

[GarfunkeL]

But come on, having three options on how to snatch him was great. That's not something you see every day.

 

[DramaticPopcorn]

But come on, having three options on how to snatch him was great. That's not something you see every day.

What is better 3 under-developed options or 1 but fully fleshed out ?

 

[GarfunkeL]

They aren't under-developed ones. Each is a full combat scenario.

Besides, you do a run before snatching him to get his timetable, so it's not just 1 run either.

He seemed like such a big deal from the intro but the situation is resolved in 5 minutes (10 if you count getting the inhibitor).

See this is pure hyperbole.

 

[DramaticPopcorn]

They aren't under-developed ones. Each is a full combat scenario.

And there is your problem.
No flexibility for approaching those scenarios.

 

[Excidium II]

See this is pure hyperbole.

Sorry it is actually 20 minutes. 25 if slow reader.

 

[Bubbles]

20 seems a bit long to me. I'm sure you can do it in 10 on easier difficulties.