Shadowrun Overview
Shadowrun is a skill based role playing game with action oriented combat, set in a version of Seattle from the year 2050. In this setting, a resurgence of magic has allowed fantasy races like elves and orcs to exist alongside advanced technology and powerful corporations.
The player controls Jake Armitage, a data courier who is assassinated and then mysteriously revived with no memory. His journey to uncover his past forms the central plot, which is derived from the novel Never Deal with a Dragon and differs from other adaptations of the pen and paper role playing game. Progress is driven largely by conversing with non player characters, where gathering and using specific topics of information is key to advancing quests.
Gameplay involves navigating the city, where Jake typically uses firearms in combat but can also learn supportive magic spells. He can hire temporary allies called deckers, who can be given commands or left to AI control. Character progression is managed through a karma point system, which functions as experience. Players manually allocate these points to improve basic attributes or to master various skills, such as firearms, computers, or negotiation.
A distinct element is the cyberspace known as the Matrix, which Jake can access using a cyberdeck to pursue objectives or acquire funds. This virtual space is represented by an icon based navigation system where he must combat defensive programs, with success heavily dependent on his computer skill level.
