Shadowrun: Dragonfall - Director's Cut

 PC
User Score
8.3

Generally favorable reviews- based on 326 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 259 out of 326
  2. Mixed: 44 out of 326
  3. Negative: 23 out of 326

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  1. kangggunw
    Nov 10, 2014
    10
    This **** fckin rocks. Old style TRPG with deep storyline with X-com battle ..
    All texts in this game show great deal of devotion into the story. I can smell blood of the writers from them.
    Battle system isn't new, yes but OST, story, making your character are just perfect in my perspective.
    This game punched me in the face lol
  2. Miskin
    Jan 18, 2015
    10
    Writing this review with 120h playtime. The game is recommended for all turn-based RPG fans. Well-written story, interesting personas, deep character level-up system in a blade runner futuristic atmosphere. Replay value is high since you cannot explore everything in one run. It was supposed to be a minimalistic RPG, but it hooked me up for good. Graphics are serving the purpose, musicWriting this review with 120h playtime. The game is recommended for all turn-based RPG fans. Well-written story, interesting personas, deep character level-up system in a blade runner futuristic atmosphere. Replay value is high since you cannot explore everything in one run. It was supposed to be a minimalistic RPG, but it hooked me up for good. Graphics are serving the purpose, music shines and gameplay is on steroids. I finished the game as a melee monk-ninja troll specializing in katana-sword, who sold his soul for cyberware! Would like to try a second go with a silver-tongued elf-girl, who is a shaman with full-auto rifle specialization. I bought it for 5$ on sale, and frankly I got a lot more than what I did from 50$ products.… Expand
  3. Troublewalking
    May 28, 2015
    8
    I just got this game and Shadowrun returns from a weekend sale on steam. I got DF for $4.49. The game is easily worth the $14 buck regular price. Great little turn based combat RPG's. Dragonfall is a Gigantic upgrade from SR returns. The story is better and the options are better. Along with you having a team of your own to take on each run. To top that every team member has their ownI just got this game and Shadowrun returns from a weekend sale on steam. I got DF for $4.49. The game is easily worth the $14 buck regular price. Great little turn based combat RPG's. Dragonfall is a Gigantic upgrade from SR returns. The story is better and the options are better. Along with you having a team of your own to take on each run. To top that every team member has their own story and give you their own run or quest. Though the choice of other runners is much weaker than SR returns.

    Is the game perfect? No. Like if you make a Street Sam and choose a premade he won't start with cyberware. Even though I can buy many types of cyber/bioware I still can't seem to buy the hand razors for my character (even though glory has them). I hate the fact I can't choose the items my team brings to a run. Some runs feel like there is way to much security for what your taking and what your getting paid. And the healing feels off. As a guy is hurt, but you can't heal him (with a healing spell), because he was hurt last turn. Sometimes you run into team after team of security guys. Who like that power hungry GM we all know. Gives every enemy encounter the perfect setup and all the best (and fully stocked) gear. It can also get annoying when the enemy AI doesn't role play. For instance there is a huge danger in the room. Yet the 9 guys on the security squad all target your main character. Because they know if they kill you, game over. And the most frustrating thing for me is the decker that is part of my team kills more people than all the other soldier/sams. Which shows min/maxing your character is the way to to go. And I foolishly made a character that is well balanced. If you don't min/max you get a ton of 99% chance to hit, but you miss with every action. But the game is still quite enjoyable with a non min/maxed character. I also wished that instead of giving your team special abilities, that they would let you chose their skill advancement through karma. That way you could adjust them to the game's min/max tendencies or your play style.

    However, even with those annoyances, I highly recommend this game to anyone who is needing a SR fix. The game has a true SR vibe. It's addictive. And I now find myself wanting to find a SR group to tt again. Or a SR MMO to play. Either way this game has me ready to buy SR: Hong Kong which should be out any time now.    … Expand
  4. Dassein
    Jan 22, 2015
    9
    Worth totally playing. Musics are awesome but i advise to play first Shadowrun returns and then the Dragonfall. The interface should be renewed and updated with the new upcoming Hong Kong version and hope they add more interactivity with environment.
  5. gloriouspotato
    Jan 23, 2015
    8
    As someone who generally doesn't like games that involve turn based strategic combat and had no knowledge of the Shadowrun Universe whatsoever, I found Dragonfall surprisingly entertaining. The RPG elements in the game are all quite strong, as is the quest design. Each quest usually involves a turn of events and difficult moral choices that keep the player engaged with characters and theAs someone who generally doesn't like games that involve turn based strategic combat and had no knowledge of the Shadowrun Universe whatsoever, I found Dragonfall surprisingly entertaining. The RPG elements in the game are all quite strong, as is the quest design. Each quest usually involves a turn of events and difficult moral choices that keep the player engaged with characters and the overarching plot.

    I even found the combat mostly decent, though one of the side effects of RNG based battles are those annoying and inevitable moments where you miss on 90%+ hit chance, even in circumstances which in reality would have no reasonable chance of missing. Sometimes, it's also difficult to interpret when you or enemies have direct line of sight to their targets, as there were several instances where you'd move to a new position thinking you had a clear line of sight but actually don't for some obscure reason.

    I think the game could also benefit from options to disable/enable fog of war, and also a more in depth explanation of gameplay mechanics from the help menus. There are also some minor, but noticeable glitches throughout the game.

    Overall rating - 8.0/10    … Expand
  6. Klewer
    Nov 24, 2014
    8
    A great addition to the original and further expands on the amazing game play and story of the first.
    Fans of the first game will love this and all the new additions.
  7. Zulgot
    Nov 25, 2014
    10
    Absolutely amazing story and character development. Tons of choices to make, tons of side missions with interesting content and rewards. Amazing music!

    Probably the best part of this game is the world - what is better than a troll with cyberarms, tearing you up with his summoned toxic-waste elemental?? :D This game is a real gem!
  8. dryerlaw
    Nov 16, 2014
    10
    Plenty of choices & decisions to make in almost everything; and they actually matter in the game. I am pleasantly surprised by this game.

    The plot is very thick, and twists are aplenty. The characters have personality. Overall, the writing could easily surpass many A++ RPG titles out there. Sure, the combat is a bit clunky, the graphics are simplistic, but Dragonfall succeeds in what    Plenty of choices & decisions to make in almost everything; and they actually matter in the game. I am pleasantly surprised by this game.

    The plot is very thick, and twists are aplenty. The characters have personality. Overall, the writing could easily surpass many A++ RPG titles out there.

    Sure, the combat is a bit clunky, the graphics are simplistic, but Dragonfall succeeds in what matters most in RPGs.    … Expand
  9. NeonCruiser
    Dec 2, 2014
    10
    Every few years there comes a game that, in a word, becomes unforgettable. It is the type of game that you will look back on a decade later and remember just about everything about it. Shadowrun: Dragonfall - Director's Cut happens to join that pantheon of timeless classics.

    Powered by high quality writing, Dragonfall DC is not the title which can be fully appreciated with skimming    Every few years there comes a game that, in a word, becomes unforgettable. It is the type of game that you will look back on a decade later and remember just about everything about it. Shadowrun: Dragonfall - Director's Cut happens to join that pantheon of timeless classics.

    Powered by high quality writing, Dragonfall DC is not the title which can be fully appreciated with skimming over the mountains of dialogue that is presented. Many times can an RPG game be too excessive or verbose, but Dragonfall DC never crosses that line and instead keeps the immersion level high. To truly appreciate the depth, one would have to play this in solitude and allow their mind to be swept into a world where the mystical mingles with the technological, thoughts can freely traverse the intangible, dark themes and plots are expected and where order clashes with anarchy. This is more than a campaign, but a deliberate sprinkle of everything the cyberpunk world of Shadowrun prides itself on.

    Perhaps what Dragonfall DC advocates most and what many newer titles in recent times have forgotten to embellish is choice. Decisions in your interaction with NPCs shape your roleplay of your character greatly, giving them a personality according to your vision while missions or 'shadowruns' can be confronted in a number of ways. A mission which may see you endure a brutal shoot out with a highly trained group of security personnel may have been resolved through sheer cloak and dagger by another or sweet talked by with ease for the more charismatic. There is a pool here that the developers are not afraid to fill the deep ends up with.

    But all the choice and decisions in the world fail if the world itself fails to grab the player, and thankfully can Shadowrun be seen as anything but generic or feeling like a retread in familiar territory. This is an ugly future: a concrete jungle soaked with neon and littered with dregs, 9-to-5ers, the vapidly wealthy, and no shortage of the shadowy. Visuals are introduced with care, details scatter around the game world to make it feel authentic. Slums carry that filth and danger but also strangely feel cozy while those thriving in the corporate world may have the mirror gloss tiles but in a sterile colour.

    There are no such things as a good person or a bad person. Rather, there are bad people and there are horrible people. Making seemingly "correct" choices in any other game would reward you with a pat on the back, while here it could lead to your crew scolding you heavily for now making a simple run take a turn for the complex. Shadowrun: Dragonfall Director's Cut does not necessarily seek a hero as much as it wants you to take a pause to consider your options. It is beautifully integrated and never feels forced, making seemingly miniscule encounters feel like they have their own prominence.

    But the involvement does not solely rest on you, as your storyline group is composed of interesting and various personalities. From an anarchist shaman, to a hardheaded former soldier and an extremely frigid combatant that doubles as emergency medic, these are characters that will stick with you in your mind long after the game meets one of its conclusions. At face value, these are accurate descriptions but there is so much more behind them to the point where they lose that synthetic "gamey" feel of being attached out of convenience but that they actually existed in the world before you. Backstories are carefully explored, thoughts are exposed, and if enough devotion is committed, unique missions to right any past wrong is given. It is all so integral to maximum enjoyment in an RPG, because should one of them fall in battle then you did not simply lose your magic-user, but someone that was much more to your character.

    All in all, enough praise cannot be given to a game such as this. Shadowrun: Dragonfall - Director's Cut may not have the financial backing of more commercially successful titles but it eclipses it with the soul it brings and the care so thoughtfully put in. The developers do not throw their arms in defeat at the limitations of the engine, but cleverly dance around it to still iron out a worthwhile experience. This is not simply just the definitive Shadowrun experience, this is what RPGs should do their homework on.

    On July 25, 2013, Shadowrun may have Returned.

    But on September 18, 2014, Shadowrun came Back.    … Expand
  10. EduardoAquinta
    Feb 10, 2015
    10
    Wow. The best game I have played for a very long time. The most engrossing story-line, characters you actually care about, A+ grade writing, and enjoyable (if never too hard) X-Com style fighting.
    I like any kind of game, not a genre specific type, and this game just floats to the top of the pile as a once in a decade great!
    I loved the graphics too, beautiful hand drawn style all maxed    Wow. The best game I have played for a very long time. The most engrossing story-line, characters you actually care about, A+ grade writing, and enjoyable (if never too hard) X-Com style fighting.
    I like any kind of game, not a genre specific type, and this game just floats to the top of the pile as a once in a decade great!
    I loved the graphics too, beautiful hand drawn style all maxed out in my fancy dan GFX card. (full HD at 8x just makes it look so silky!)
    Seriously, I am not being particularly cogent here, but I just wanted to tell the world (you, yes you!) that this game is worth every second of the 20-30 hours it will take you to complete.    … Expand
  11. zombiechan
    May 11, 2015
    10
    It's Shadowrun Returns with many needed improvements. The story is a lot better and I feel that there were more options in Dragonfall than in Returns.
  12. cxmtl
    Dec 4, 2014
    9
    Where to begin?
    Some missing pieces where there's still room for improvement: the inventory system (just give it an overhaul). Adding some stats - delimited from the skill ability tree - to complement the skill system in a separate manner would also be great. On the other hand, the skill system as a whole is working for me, so no further complaints here. There were countless    Where to begin?
    Some missing pieces where there's still room for improvement: the inventory system (just give it an overhaul). Adding some stats - delimited from the skill ability tree - to complement the skill system in a separate manner would also be great. On the other hand, the skill system as a whole is working for me, so no further complaints here. There were countless reaction-based events where I was overjoyed with the numerous choices I've had to dealing with a situation.

    I've absolutely ate up the story, the side stories of the protagonists and the side quests, the world events as a whole and the rich dialogue system. This is the best cyberpunk (well... shadowrun actually) universe you'll get to experience by far.

    Pure shadowrun: doing runs where you deal with AIs, crazy corporate mages, mysterious plots and conspiracies, while a looming sense of dread and dystopian reality creeps around every corner. I completely ate that sh*t right up.

    One more installment and Harebrained's Shadowrun unpolished gem could reach epic potential among RPG traditionalists. If there will ever be a third, it will write history.    … Expand
  13. Deathwafflez
    Nov 18, 2014
    9
    A true work of art while the GameCube quality graphics suck it sucks you into an amazing world with good characters and writing Because there are a consistent party that adds for better design (like upgrades better chat etc.) while in dialogue certain chat options can become outdated (example you can convince someone out of a drug binge and they email you that they are rehabbed you canA true work of art while the GameCube quality graphics suck it sucks you into an amazing world with good characters and writing Because there are a consistent party that adds for better design (like upgrades better chat etc.) while in dialogue certain chat options can become outdated (example you can convince someone out of a drug binge and they email you that they are rehabbed you can still talk to the rehabilitator he says she is still making progress) there are also spread out shops in the city you are in which makes ore painfully slow walking
    still 9/10    … Expand
  14. Mannikjana
    Feb 26, 2015
    8
    Highly enjoyable old school RPG, engaging story, only set back is that I feel more could have been done with the skill system (karma). Not to say that it is bad in anyway !
  15. Thekhumi
    Sep 10, 2015
    10
    Great game, less linear than the first one. More memorable characters and you can customize them to some degree. They also have their "story lines" to back that up. Very interesting story, very text-heavy but yet worth the readings.

    Its an improved version of the first game with a new campaign and mechanics.
  16. theseaker
    Nov 3, 2014
    10
    Very very good game. A great game in fact!! The combat and UI updates are awesome by themselves. Now add in 5 more missions, more character depth, and additional gear and you've made an already great game even better. If you enjoy roleplaying games, especially turn-basesd ones, this game is a no brainer. And just think, they are just getting started. If people support this game, there isVery very good game. A great game in fact!! The combat and UI updates are awesome by themselves. Now add in 5 more missions, more character depth, and additional gear and you've made an already great game even better. If you enjoy roleplaying games, especially turn-basesd ones, this game is a no brainer. And just think, they are just getting started. If people support this game, there is no telling how great this could be. Probably surpass any turn-based RPG before it if it hasn't done it already. Buy this game!!!!!!!!… Expand
  17. TomasLacerda
    Nov 7, 2014
    10
    I never played any Shadowrun series, I was pretty skeptic, but the game is utterly gorgeous, and mostly, bloody interesting. For the first time ever, I'm reading every conversation, every single chat. Short and focused.
    The story is amazing, the strategic options are really varied, graphics are awesome, the interface is easy to understand. I've downloaded to test it, today I bought it.    I never played any Shadowrun series, I was pretty skeptic, but the game is utterly gorgeous, and mostly, bloody interesting. For the first time ever, I'm reading every conversation, every single chat. Short and focused.
    The story is amazing, the strategic options are really varied, graphics are awesome, the interface is easy to understand. I've downloaded to test it, today I bought it. Support this guys, awesome game.    … Expand
  18. DRiVER_helsinki
    Dec 27, 2014
    8
    Game is great, even im not fan of old low res graphics. Theres too much of these games that are similar to the others and millions you've played before. but the story is actually good.
  19. YJMalmsteen
    Feb 8, 2015
    10
    Frankly i always hate isometric & turn-based (or both) games. But until now..
    First session i played 6 hour non-stop. I can't say anything beside that.
  20. aidan0
    Nov 23, 2014
    8
    I wish they made more of these kinds of games. Great turn based RPG. The story is very good, it's rare now a days to get such good writing. I really got into the story, with all the twists and turns. And the consequences of your actions. Definitely a little dark at times.

    I played as augmented rifleman with some points in charisma and I'll probably rerun it again as a mage to get the    I wish they made more of these kinds of games. Great turn based RPG. The story is very good, it's rare now a days to get such good writing. I really got into the story, with all the twists and turns. And the consequences of your actions. Definitely a little dark at times.

    I played as augmented rifleman with some points in charisma and I'll probably rerun it again as a mage to get the last bits of the story. Some dialog options are restricted to your lvl in certain skills, playing as a rifleman won't give you any options for the spell caster dialog. Which is frustrating sometimes, but it's fair.

    Graphics are a bit dated and the weapons vendors inventory could be presented better.
    But that won't stop me from buying another sequel of Shadowrun.    … Expand
  21. playbill
    Feb 3, 2015
    10
    Fantastic game. One of the best CRPGS in a long time. Do yourself a favor and play it. Words don't do it much justice. No wonder their new Shadowrun game reached its kickstarter goal in a few hours. Makes most of the big budget titles look small. Good old hardcore, massively bionic, two fisted, full auto role playing!

    My dwarf physical adept- brawler eats faces with his fists. Great times!
  22. MancombSeepgood
    Feb 28, 2015
    10
    This is one of the best RPGs I've played in years. Strong plot and characters combined with a solid tactical battle system make for a game that is both memorable and fun to play.
  23. Kar-Chee
    Nov 13, 2014
    10
    Sleeper hit. The original was good, then came Dragonfall which is suberb and now come directors cut that brings new companion missions, UI and polish. What more do you need? This game is the king of the isometric RPGs right now. Much better than Wasteland 2 and more focused than Divinity:: Original Sin.

    Good story with superb dialogues. Multiple ways to solve quests, sidequests, very    Sleeper hit. The original was good, then came Dragonfall which is suberb and now come directors cut that brings new companion missions, UI and polish. What more do you need? This game is the king of the isometric RPGs right now. Much better than Wasteland 2 and more focused than Divinity:: Original Sin.

    Good story with superb dialogues. Multiple ways to solve quests, sidequests, very interesting side missions with their unique side missions. Very engaging combat and tactical combat, unique hacking and much, much more.

    This is not a AAA blockbuster big budget game, but if you like isometric RPGs with good story - buy this one.    … Expand
  24. Darkly_Tranquil
    Jan 29, 2015
    9
    A fantastically enjoyable isometric TRPG in the well known and loved Shadowrun setting. The game features well made turn based team combat and an enjoyable pulp sci-fi story featuring an array of intriguing and shady underworld characters in dystopian futuristic Berlin.

    Graphics are relatively simple by modern standards, but are well designed and pleasing to look at. Music and sound    A fantastically enjoyable isometric TRPG in the well known and loved Shadowrun setting. The game features well made turn based team combat and an enjoyable pulp sci-fi story featuring an array of intriguing and shady underworld characters in dystopian futuristic Berlin.

    Graphics are relatively simple by modern standards, but are well designed and pleasing to look at. Music and sound effects are well done, with a synth heavy futuristic soundtrack that really fits the setting and solid, if unspectacular sound effects; there is no spoken dialogue however, with the story entirely conveyed through text.

    Overall, Shadowrun: Dragonfall is a highly enjoyable experience, delivering a better game than many recent AAA releases, despite coming from a small independent developer. If you like cyberpunk games, isometric TRPGs, or both, play it. Its well worth your $15.    … Expand
  25. Freaky
    Oct 10, 2014
    10
    I've finished Shadowrun Returns in 25h and got hooked, now i played trough Dragonfall in 45h. I didn't encounter any bugs.

    Content related Dragonfall is orders of magnitude better then the initial Deadman's Switch campaign of the first release. The Writing, oh man THE WRITING!!! It's OUTSTANDING! The story could very well make it's own book sell like hot cakes. The fact its    I've finished Shadowrun Returns in 25h and got hooked, now i played trough Dragonfall in 45h. I didn't encounter any bugs.

    Content related Dragonfall is orders of magnitude better then the initial Deadman's Switch campaign of the first release.

    The Writing, oh man THE WRITING!!! It's OUTSTANDING!

    The story could very well make it's own book sell like hot cakes.

    The fact its open ended with multiple paths and choices and ways to interact and change it is fantastic.

    I recommend this to anyone a fan of this Genre.

    Ticking at 45h of playtime (for me) its well worth the price tag. If they would make more campaigns for it of similar or higher quality i would buy them all anytime anywhere.

    Please Please keep making more. Take my money please!!!

    Fantastic game!    … Expand
  26. Maiquer
    Jan 25, 2015
    10
    Extremely good old-style, isommetric, turn-based RPG. The writing is simply great. Good gameplay mechanics, excellent UI graphics and UI design. For 14 Eur this game is a bargain. Recommended to anyone that appreciates good RPGs.
  27. LeGod
    Feb 15, 2015
    8
    very very good game, contender for game of the year. only slightly let down by some minor problems here and there. I would have liked to have more locales to visit and for the game to move from one base of operations onto another and for that to be tied into the story. instead of spending the bulk of the game within just one town which made it seem a bit like it was lacking content. sure,very very good game, contender for game of the year. only slightly let down by some minor problems here and there. I would have liked to have more locales to visit and for the game to move from one base of operations onto another and for that to be tied into the story. instead of spending the bulk of the game within just one town which made it seem a bit like it was lacking content. sure, what you get within that town is a rich place full of great stuff to interact with, but it would be nice to expand on this and give the player more places to go as the story progresses.

    the mercenaries for hire could have been expanded upon so that they had more of a role in the story and game and they could have had better stats which made them more worthy of recruitment.

    I cannot praise the writing enough, it was some of the best I have ever seen within a game and I found myself reading everything, to put that in perspective I sometimes don't read all the little details in text based games because they usually aren't so well written, and they simply serve a purpose but are not enjoyable to get through making a game a slog and detracting from it being engaging. but in this game, you want to know everything because it's so engrossing and this is what you call story telling! and its also what people should pay attention to when it comes to rich character detail and interactive worlds populated with citizens with bags of personality. in this regard this game should go down in history as being a fantastic example of what should be done with this aspect of gameplay, sadly this game won't be held up in quite the same way as other genre defining games with bigger budgets because this was an indie game which flew under the radar and didn't have a lot of money pumped into it to provide it with current gen fancy bells and whistles.

    there are some flaws though, one of which is within the combat engine, in general its pretty robust and strong and worthy of praise. but on one of the missions I was slightly amazed that I didn't die sooner as I watched enemy grunts run around me, shoot, miss, and then run to cover. it was comically bad, I hadn't planned the level too well and was fully expecting to be punished for it but what actually played out was some silly game of running around bumping into each other and then hiding around the corner for enough turns so that I could eventually make it out alive. the other flaw was when you attack from close range and miss so often, that shouldn't happen. its illogical.
    there was also one mission "trial run" that was just outright terrible, a mission whereby you aren't rewarded for intelligent diplomacy and trying to generate a successful outcome, and one which has a fatal flaw in that you cannot escape the building through the main exit if you make a specific choice.
    experiences like this tainted an otherwise well done battle engine. I will say though that there was one really standout mission "bloodlines", very good and ends with a real feeling of satisfaction upon successful completion. if more of the missions were like this then this side of the game would have been cracked and perfect.

    the classes aren't really well defined enough, its nice that its so customisable and open ended, but with your other characters being so clearly defined in their roles it means that to get your character to fit in with your team it needs to be more specific with it class. it would be nice if they made it more blatantly obvious which skill trees are for which class.
    I also feel the game could be longer and more drawn out ,its the sort of story that could keep going and going for as long as some of the best rpgs clock in at. I also feel it could do with more interesting side missions and quests. the story eludes to some really interesting places and characters that I would have loved to have seen or interacted with further in. aren't enough bosses, and the ones which are there are not tougher than their henchmen or supporting team mates who also seem to look pretty much the same in most battles, variation in enemies would have been nice for skins, attacks and character models.

    it would be nice if the character models were a bit more animated, or expressive, the picture within the speech text does a good job of conveying emotion, but having some animations for the character models would have complemented it nicely. they can appear a bit lifeless and perhaps disconnected from the speech window. don't get me wrong though, this game still looks gorgeous! it might be done in an older style of perspective but the lighting and atmosphere and brilliant depictions of the characters in the art is top notch. it might have a distopian setting but it wasn't depressing to look at ,unlike so many other cyberpunk or future themed videogames.

    for a small indie game that comes with a cheap price my complaints only bring the game down a little because its reflective on the amount of investment spent and people working on it.    … Expand
  28. anggadaz
    Oct 27, 2015
    9
    This game is strategy game like x-c*m. The graphic is ok. The game rule game and story is good. but the game camera is not ease to use for me. Overall this is well game.
  29. JediMasterRadek
    Nov 20, 2015
    10
    Setting is a really strong point for Dragonfall as well as graphic and music is. Dialogues are well written and engaging. Companions likeable, especially Dietrich. The biggest flaw is linearity, the hub design, which Harebrainded Schemes had tried to hide under a few tricks, like having a choice in which order to take most missions, or having an ingame internet forum from which the playerSetting is a really strong point for Dragonfall as well as graphic and music is. Dialogues are well written and engaging. Companions likeable, especially Dietrich. The biggest flaw is linearity, the hub design, which Harebrainded Schemes had tried to hide under a few tricks, like having a choice in which order to take most missions, or having an ingame internet forum from which the player may get a feeling of being a part of a bigger world. The missions are fun, often having contradicting objectives, and a few ways of doing them. Some of them are outsanding like the Lodge mission when the player is assigned to the team consisting entirely of strangers, with whom he must cooperate, even if the squad looks like it is going to fall apart any minute. Combat is fun, but playing on very hard is advised to make it enyojable. Encounter design is very strong, which is especially evident in APEX mission in which the player has to defend 3 points with 4 people against the swarm of enemies, some of which can stun the player for a turn. Althrough the game is short, the quality od content is very good. It's a great improvment over Shadowrun Return, which shows HBS as a skilled developer. Game managed to make me a fan of the setting.… Expand
  30. szaboar
    Dec 15, 2015
    9
    To start with, I did not expect much. Shadowrun Returns was not bad, but it had no real strong points and it had many flaws (none of which game-breaking). So I expected for something nice but forgetable. But Dragonfall was simply great!!

    Pros: - story: extremely well-written and very well presented, far the strongest suit of the game. The plot is very interesting from the beginning to    To start with, I did not expect much. Shadowrun Returns was not bad, but it had no real strong points and it had many flaws (none of which game-breaking). So I expected for something nice but forgetable. But Dragonfall was simply great!!

    Pros:
    - story: extremely well-written and very well presented, far the strongest suit of the game. The plot is very interesting from the beginning to the end. The plot turns are unexpected and arrive with great timing. The ending gave me some food for thought (though my choice was probably not what most would choose, at least not for the first), which I appreciated very much.
    - The world-building is solid. I like that it is for you whether, or not, you want to dig into this, just like how well you want to know your characters. You may completely disrgard if you dont want to spend time with this... your choice. But it adds some futher depth to the story.

    Neutral:
    - fights: the fights also improved since SR... which means it is not dumb easy anymore, though it is still very far from challenging and thus not as rewarding as it could be. You may take cover, think over some options, but mostly it is quite automatic. Still very far from the brainwork you need to do in some turn-based games
    - graphics: it mostly delivers the expected atmosphere, but in general it is not very appealing. Not a real drawback (thought in general I am not that demanding about graphics), rather just room for improvement.
    - character portraits: minor thing, but I remember how I hated them in SR. This improved in SD. It is still not very good, but at least not irritating anymore.
    - matrix: it could have a natural place in this world, but it is still as utterly boring as it was in SR. I did not put it to cons only bcs it hardly plays any role in SD and I think you always connect for some benefits, so you can avoid it completely.

    cons:
    - char. development: there are many options, but in the end all you need is a rifle and some HP. In fact I can imagine that some options (fe. decker-based character) may make your life really misarable. There are also many different attacks, but you need only one or two all over the game. Same with the artificial limbs and stuff - nice to have, but you dont really need them. In general, sadly, all these options are just cosmetic ones.
    - sounds/music: these games usully dont have voice-over due to budget reasons, which is always a missed oppotunity to add to the atmosphere. Unfortunatelly the music remained ugly, so I switched it off in the beginning (again).

    Taking a look at my pros and cons above, you may wonder why I give 9. Actually the story is so strong that it is well deserved, and the cons are not that terrible after all.    … Expand
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Metascore
87

Generally favorable reviews - based on 5 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 4 out of 5
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 5
  3. Negative: 0 out of 5
  1. GameCritics
    Dec 11, 2014
    70
    Shadowrun: Dragonfall has excellent writing which supports the whole shebang beautifully, but its sub-par tactical gameplay holds it back once the bullets and blades start flying.
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  2. GamingTrend
    Oct 31, 2014
    85
    If you’re new to Shadowrun Returns, skip the initial release and start with Dragonfall Director’s Cut. Nearly every aspect of the Dragonfall campaign is superior to Dead Man’s Switch, and there’s far more to be excited about than afraid of.
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  3. RPG Fan
    Oct 27, 2014
    92
    A world that demands your attention, Shadowrun endures long after the finale.
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