Shadowrun Chronicles: Boston Lockdown

 PC
User Score
7.0

Mixed or average reviews- based on 54 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 32 out of 54
  2. Mixed: 10 out of 54
  3. Negative: 12 out of 54

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  1. MetaviraVet
    Jul 24, 2014
    8
    Still early access (so a lot of features are still missing, or not finished), but shows great promise. Combat is similar to Shadowrun Returns, but faster-paced and with more different skills. Can't wait to see proper character creation, and more guns - once they add co-op this will be great fun!
  2. fumbel
    Apr 28, 2015
    8
    Played several weeks in Early Access. Now the game has launched. If you like a good tactical and turnbased stuff, you can crab this one easily. If you like the Shadowrun Setting.. go ahead. The runs are very interesting and the storyline will unfold slowly. You can also play in co-op with up to 4 buddies. This is the real tabletop feeling with firiend. Nicely done!
  3. Aditu
    Apr 28, 2015
    9
    Simply love it!
    It totally is Shadowrun, it is fun to group with friends, setting, characters and graphics are awesome and what is really important for me when it comes to a great gaming experience:
    No gamebreaking bugs for me!
    Had some difficulties with the control of the camera, but, well if that's the only thing...
    Thumbs up!
  4. quorum
    Apr 28, 2015
    9
    Cool game, I like it. It's like XCOM, but faster and at least as difficult. The Shadowrun setting is a nice surplus to have. Also like you can add NPCs if your friends aren't online to play. It's an awesome game for casual gamers!
  5. Eldryr
    May 27, 2015
    9
    Now because they fixed the bug and perma server restart problem I can give a higher rating.
    Game is good and goes better and better. Devs are nearly 24/7 on steam, which is outstanding. I have a lot of fun grouping with friends and looking very forward to learn more about the story.
  6. Obsidianman
    Apr 28, 2015
    10
    Shadooooooooowruuuuuuuuuun :)
    Nuff said - it's Shadowrun and it feels good. Nice turn based game with a lot of charakter options. I really like the co-op mode and the feeling you get when you are on a run.
    I'm very curious what we will see ingame on new stuff now that the game is released. Not too complicated good for beginners and well balanced for people who are not that familiar with    Shadooooooooowruuuuuuuuuun :)
    Nuff said - it's Shadowrun and it feels good. Nice turn based game with a lot of charakter options. I really like the co-op mode and the feeling you get when you are on a run.
    I'm very curious what we will see ingame on new stuff now that the game is released.
    Not too complicated good for beginners and well balanced for people who are not that familiar with the Shadowrun pen & paper ruleset.    … Expand
  7. Aldur
    Apr 28, 2015
    9
    Interesting game, a lot of possibilities, and it become even more interesting more you play... The graphics are cool, the gameplay is pretty enjoyable and the storyline is amazing, the ambience, the universe...
    Look forward this game!
  8. Elrath
    May 1, 2015
    8
    The game is ok to good. If you are a Shadowrun Fan it's a must have. As may have said the limited budget can be felt in it though not in a bad way just don't expect a multimillion dollar game here. It has a good principle, so far the community is very good, and most of the maps are challenging. I agree with the one critic though. Without no end game or pvp. Long term duration maybeThe game is ok to good. If you are a Shadowrun Fan it's a must have. As may have said the limited budget can be felt in it though not in a bad way just don't expect a multimillion dollar game here. It has a good principle, so far the community is very good, and most of the maps are challenging. I agree with the one critic though. Without no end game or pvp. Long term duration maybe problematic for the game though.… Expand
  9. RumblefishGames
    May 8, 2015
    10
    Full disclosure ... the game is currently an 8, but I'm giving it a 10 to balance against the people who prematurely rated it down due to lag issues.

    So, first, let me address the lag. IT HAS BEEN RESOLVED. Like many games at launch, especially from small companies, Shadowrun Chronicles (SRC) had some problems. But one week and many patches later, the game is running smoothly. So I hope    Full disclosure ... the game is currently an 8, but I'm giving it a 10 to balance against the people who prematurely rated it down due to lag issues.

    So, first, let me address the lag. IT HAS BEEN RESOLVED. Like many games at launch, especially from small companies, Shadowrun Chronicles (SRC) had some problems. But one week and many patches later, the game is running smoothly. So I hope no one who takes the time to read this will condemn the game because others have claimed it is unplayable. Reviewers who rated the game low because of lag aren't really rating the game. Those reviews are knee-jerk reactions to what was, admittedly, quite horrible lag; but to actually rate the game fairly, it would make more sense to wait until the lag is fixed and then rate the game based on its actual quality. So I would not make a purchasing decision based on anyone who rated it poorly because of lag. If you do, you will be missing out on a very fun Shadowrun experience.

    Now about the game! It is like a cross between Shadowrun Returns (SRR) and XCOM. Fans of the PNP RPG might be disappointed in the character creation process as it is not a literal translation of those rules. At this time there are no traditional PNP attributes like strength, dexterity, etc. They are reflected instead in broader categories such as Body (which encompasses health, strength, and dexterity), which is labeled as a "skill" along with traditional skills such as Blades, Pistols, Automatics, etc. As you spend karma in a skill set (I'll use Body as an example) you have to make decisions at each purchasing point whether you want to increase your health or dexterity, dexterity or accuracy, health or reaction time, etc. I'm not in love with this method, because I'm one of those who would have preferred to see a literal translation of the PNP rules. However, I understand the realities of creating a game, and I understand that compromises have to be made based on aesthetics and resource limitations. Harebrained Schemes had a significantly larger budget to make every iteration of SRR, and even Jordan Weisman (the creator of the Shadowrun IP) decided to alter their approach in making SRR because the PC game version did not need all the elements of the PNP rules to be a good game. Cliffhanger has taken a similar approach with SRC, and while it might serve as a turn-off to diehard fans of the PNP game, frankly all those differences are forgotten once you start a mission. Once inside, one's only care is completing the run, getting out alive, and collecting that sweet karma and nuyen to prepare your character for the next run.

    I have not progressed far enough to know how long the initial campaign is, but I know Cliffhanger's vision for the game is to do much more with it. The online/coop nature of it lends itself to the possibility of frequent updates, so my *hope* is that new missions will be added on a regular basis rather than using the SRR model of spending a year or more to craft an entire campaign-type story before adding new content.

    Bottom line ... if you like turn-based tactical combat that's almost identical to XCOM, this is for you. Everything else is just icing on the cake.    … Expand
  10. Chabbawouk
    Apr 29, 2015
    8
    It's a round based game where you can choose between different kind of species and "professions" with many options to individualize your own character. After a short tutorial the game and the missions become more difficult so that i had to restart some missions again and again to find the right way to solve the missions. For every completed mission you get points you can use to specializeIt's a round based game where you can choose between different kind of species and "professions" with many options to individualize your own character. After a short tutorial the game and the missions become more difficult so that i had to restart some missions again and again to find the right way to solve the missions. For every completed mission you get points you can use to specialize your character. If you become a mage or a pistoleer or.... - it's your choice. Nice game with many options to play it the way you prefer most. Thumbs up!… Expand
  11. Distope
    May 6, 2015
    9
    This game is simply a tremendous amount of fun for turn based tactical action in either singleplayer or Co-Op.

    Plays a lot like X-Com but with more emphasis on maneuver and melee rather than missile fire - but the glass cannon gameplay of high damage/high accuracy fire from units with low HP remains, creating a very tense experience that punishes bad decisions quickly. Its fully    This game is simply a tremendous amount of fun for turn based tactical action in either singleplayer or Co-Op.

    Plays a lot like X-Com but with more emphasis on maneuver and melee rather than missile fire - but the glass cannon gameplay of high damage/high accuracy fire from units with low HP remains, creating a very tense experience that punishes bad decisions quickly. Its fully optimized for Co-Op as well as a good team of 4 players can bang out turns in 30 seconds, making a turn based game actually fast paced.

    Just pure fun and loads of potential.    … Expand
  12. markelphoenix
    May 30, 2015
    10
    Had a wicked lag bug that hurt it early on, but once that was fixed, the experience was great. I feel it nailed the Shadowrun 'flavor' pretty well. While it isn't going to please any purist that are looking for a direct port of PnP rule-set to online play, those who are looking for a good game that jives well with the spirit of Shadowrun will find it as a blast.
  13. Kitjan
    May 30, 2015
    9
    For fans of tactics video games, this is a gem. It's worth a play through solo, but it really shines when played with other people. I've been playing this game with coworkers at lunch for weeks now, and it's still fun despite having done every mission several times. The last mission, in particular, is great. When playing at home, I never have trouble finding folks in global chat toFor fans of tactics video games, this is a gem. It's worth a play through solo, but it really shines when played with other people. I've been playing this game with coworkers at lunch for weeks now, and it's still fun despite having done every mission several times. The last mission, in particular, is great. When playing at home, I never have trouble finding folks in global chat to invite me along with them.

    The lag mentioned in the older, excoriating reviews has been completely gone for weeks. It is a shame for this fine game that its score is still dragged down by reviews that no longer reflect the state of the game.

    Really looking forward to the challenge modes they're adding soon (eta 2015/06/03)    … Expand
  14. Conduit
    Jun 2, 2015
    10
    It's a co-op CRPG where you don't need other players set in the Shadowrun universe. While the game has a strong multiplayer element, it's also possible to hire bot runners and easy to completely ignore the chat rooms. Play by yourself or play with other people, Shadowrun Chronicles: Boston Lockdown is a fun game either way.
  15. Mechaphantom
    Jun 2, 2015
    10
    backed this game for 1505 and well known in the game. To me it nearly perfect with only some minor problems I don't regret my buy at all. It has a lot to prove and each update gets just a little better.
  16. PhanlaxTurret
    May 21, 2016
    8
    It's a fun multiplayer Shadowrun game. If you have friends try getting four copies, will make the game much better. It's a shame that this game probably won't grow into something great, but still can give you a weekend of entertainment.

Awards & Rankings

85
#85 Most Discussed PC Game of 2015

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
61

Mixed or average reviews - based on 21 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1 out of 21
  2. Mixed: 18 out of 21
  3. Negative: 2 out of 21
  1. GameCritics
    Nov 6, 2015
    50
    If the online multiplayer had modern social features and an engaging story worthy of the IP, Shadowrun Chronicles: Boston Lockdown would be as essential as other recent entries in the series. Unfortunately, the fundamental issues leave it hard to recommend. In lieu, I'd suggest replaying Shadowrun Returns and Dragonfall instead.
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  2. PLAY! Zine
    Jun 29, 2015
    75
    Might not offer something particularly new and exciting to the genre, but fans of Shadowrun universe will find enough here to enjoy. It’s a good tactical turn-based game, especially if you play together with other players.
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  3. games(TM)
    Jun 27, 2015
    40
    Boasts little to enthral any but the most diehard of fans. [Issue#162, p.100]
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