Shadowrun (Mega Drive)

From Sega Retro

For the Sega Mega-CD game, see Shadowrun (Mega-CD).

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Shadowrun title.png

Shadowrun
System(s): Sega Mega Drive
Publisher: Sega
Developer:
Licensor: FASA Corporation
Sound driver: GEMS
Genre: Action / RPG

















Number of players: 1
Release Date RRP Code
Sega Mega Drive
US 		1352
Sega Mega Drive
AS 		1352

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Shadowrun for the Sega Mega Drive is a top-down RPG/action game based on the tabletop role playing game, Shadowrun. Aside from sharing the same source material, it is entirely unrelated to the Sega Mega-CD game.

Story

Story takes place in Seattle. Joshua, a Shoadowrunner, (term used to describe people who can solve problems for a price, such as mercenaries, spies or fixers) using the last of his money travels to the city after he witnesses the death of his brother Michael in a news video. While trying to track down his brother's murderers, Joshua discovers a massive conspiracy that could potentially destroy the city.

Compared to the SNES version, Genesis version of Shadowrun is considered by many as true representation of the table top PnP game due to its focus on life of a shadowrunner and much more non-linear gameplay.

Gameplay

Shadowrun is a top-down RPG with shooting mechanics. While not exactly a true sandbox game, (like the ones we see today) game consists of large areas connected each other. Many non-playable characters exists in the game, allowing the players converse in order to advance the story, conduct transactions and learn about the world they are witnessing while they are playing.

Players can take jobs from "Mr. Johnson"s (Shadowrun slang for brokers who give jobs to shadowrunners). These jobs are generally randomly created and difficulty is dependent on the person who is giving it, ranging from simple courier jobs to extremely tough extraction or acquisition jobs.

Completing missions will award player "Karma Points", basicly skill points without level up system. These karma points can be used to increase a particular skill when resting in hotels.

Money can be used to purchase weapons, armor, items, magic and cyberware.

"The Matrix" is Shadowrun version of cyberspace, in which players can hack into systems and acquire information, money or other files that can be sold for nuyen.

In addition to weapons, magic can be used for attacking enemies or giving various bonuses to the player.

A recruitment mechanics exists to hire other characters. Depending on how much you are willing to spend, a Shadowrunner can remain for just one job or for long run until you fire them or they are incapacitated during combat.

Archetypes

At the beginning of the game, players can pick any of the three classes. While it is technically possible to created a multi-class character, it is generally advisable to focus on one path (combat, hacking or magic) and stick to it.

Samurai

Street Samurai is a combat oriented character. He starts the game with several combat related cyberware, better weapons and health. Samurai is the only character in the game to gain karma points by killing enemies which allows easier development. Since a Samurai will not have to worry about magic, he can completely wire himself with cybernetics if he wants to.

Decker

Shadowrun version of a hacker, Decker starts with equipment and cyberware allows him to dive into the matrix and acquire valuable information that can sold for credits. His combat abilities will be weak throught the game however (if he focuses solely on hacking skills) and he has to rely on other shadowrunners to survive.

Shaman

Gator Shaman (not to be confused with Mage, which is a completely different class in Shadowrun universe) bring his magic skills into combat. Shaman must carry his totem with him at all times, which means one less item slot. Shaman must also stay away from cyberaware. A stat called "Essence" is necessary for successfully casting magic and this stat drops permamently if cyberwares are installed.

Production credits

Source:
US manual
Shadowrun MD US Manual.pdf
[1]

Magazine articles

Main article: Shadowrun (Mega Drive)/Magazine articles.

Promotional material

Logo-pdf.svg
Print advert in Game Players (US) #0705: "Vol. 7 No. 5 May 1994" (1994-0x-xx)
also published in:
Logo-pdf.svg

Artwork

  • Shadowrun MD Art Cover.jpg

Physical scans

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
80 [5]
80 1999, p134
60 №376, p30
62
65 №60, p120/121
83 [6]
92 №22
79 [7]
80
95 №29, p78-81
88 №55, p40/41
Sega Mega Drive
 79
Based on
11 reviews
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
1700 igr dlya Sega (RU)
93
[8]
Electronic Games (1992-1995) (US) NTSC-U
100
[9]
Electronic Gaming Monthly (US) NTSC-U
80
[5]
Entsiklopediya luchshikh igr Sega. Vypusk 1 (RU)
80
[10]
Entsiklopediya luchshikh igr Sega. Vypusk 4 (RU)
80
[11]
Game Players (US) NTSC-U
62
[12]
GamePro (US) NTSC-U
65
[13]
Game Informer (US) NTSC-U
83
[14]
Igry Sega Luchshiye iz luchshikh. Vypusk 2 (RU)
78
[15]
MAN!AC (DE) PAL
73
[16]
Mega (UK) NTSC-U
79
[7]
Mega Force (FR) NTSC-U
86
[17]
Mega Fun (DE) NTSC-U
78
[18]
MegaTech (UK) NTSC-U
95
[19]
Mean Machines Sega (UK) NTSC-U
83
[20]
Sega Power (UK) NTSC-U
88
[21]
Sega Zone (UK) NTSC-U
85
[22]
Tricks 16 bit (RU)
94
[23]
Video Games (DE) NTSC-U
81
[24]
VideoGames (US) NTSC-U
80
[25]
Sega Mega Drive
 82
Based on
20 reviews

Shadowrun (Mega Drive)

Mega Drive, US
Shadowrun MD US Box.jpg
Cover
Shadowrun md us cart.jpg
Cart
Shadowrun MD US Manual.pdf
Manual
Mega Drive, KR
Shadowrun MD KR Box.jpg
Cover
Mega Drive, Asia
ShadowRun MD AS Box.jpg
Cover
ShadowRun MD AS cartback.jpgShadowRun MD AS Cart.jpg
Cart

Technical information

ROM dump status

System Hash Size Build Date Source Comments
Sega Mega Drive
 ?
CRC32 fbb92909
MD5 53090bcd67a0b6262f71ef7c5838c02b
SHA-1 a06a281d39e845bff446a541b2ff48e1d93143c2
2MB 1994-01 Cartridge (US)
Sega Mega Drive
 ?
CRC32 d32199f7
MD5 e1c549eb7a842594a99ab8993d01b427
SHA-1 e28bb51227abcc71aaf18d445d3651054247c662
2MB 1994-03 Cartridge (AS)
Sega Mega Drive
 ?
CRC32
MD5
SHA-1
1994-01-25 Page
Sega Mega Drive
 ?
CRC32
MD5
SHA-1
1994-01-25 Page
Sega Mega Drive
 ?
CRC32
MD5
SHA-1
1993-12-31 Page
Sega Mega Drive
 ?
CRC32
MD5
SHA-1
1993-12-28 Page

References

  1. ↑ File:Shadowrun MD US Manual.pdf, page 45
  2. ↑ Electronic Gaming Monthly, "May 1994" (US; 1994-xx-xx), page 11
  3. ↑ Electronic Gaming Monthly, "June 1994" (US; 1994-xx-xx), page 123
  4. ↑ Sega Visions, "October/November 1994" (US; 1994-xx-xx), page 123
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Electronic Gaming Monthly, "June 1994" (US; 1994-xx-xx), page 38
  6. ↑ Mean Machines Sega, "June 1994" (UK; 1994-04-30), page 80-82 (80)
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Mega, "June 1994" (UK; 1994-05-19), page 43
  8. ↑ 1700 igr dlya Sega, "" (RU; 2001-xx-xx), page 203
  9. ↑ Electronic Games (1992-1995), "July 1994" (US; 1994-0x-xx), page 64
  10. ↑ Entsiklopediya luchshikh igr Sega. Vypusk 1, "" (RU; 1999-xx-xx), page 356
  11. ↑ Entsiklopediya luchshikh igr Sega. Vypusk 4, "" (RU; 2001-xx-xx), page 172
  12. ↑ Game Players, "Vol. 7 No. 6 June 1994" (US; 1994-0x-xx), page 42
  13. ↑ GamePro, "July 1994" (US; 1994-xx-xx), page 122
  14. ↑ Game Informer, "July/August 1994" (US; 1994-0x-xx), page 22
  15. ↑ Igry Sega Luchshiye iz luchshikh. Vypusk 2, "" (RU; 2001-08-27), page 259
  16. ↑ MAN!AC, "06/94" (DE; 1994-05-11), page 68
  17. ↑ Mega Force, "Juillet/Août 1994" (FR; 1994-07-04), page 102
  18. ↑ Mega Fun, "06/94" (DE; 1994-05-18), page 98
  19. ↑ MegaTech, "May 1994" (UK; 1994-04-21), page 78
  20. ↑ Mean Machines Sega, "June 1994" (UK; 1994-04-30), page 80
  21. ↑ Sega Power, "June 1994" (UK; 1994-04-28), page 40
  22. ↑ Sega Zone, "May 1994" (UK; 1994-04-xx), page 44
  23. ↑ Tricks 16 bit, "Tricks Sega Gold 800 igr" (RU; 1998-03-20), page 23
  24. ↑ Video Games, "6/94" (DE; 1994-05-25), page 90
  25. ↑ VideoGames, "July 1994" (US; 1994-0x-xx), page 71
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