Shadowrun: Hong Kong

Shadowrun: Hong Kong offers a steady evolution of Harebrained Schemes' Shadowrun experience. It's such an enjoyable game that a director's cut wouldn't need to do much to boost it from an excellent, tactically engaging family conspiracy to a must-have.

Excellent story, likeable characters and dynamic missions filled with tension. In the latest addition to the modern Shadowrun saga authors gave their best.

This is a game that transcends its name and should be spoken of in the same breath as the genre’s best.

Shadowrun: Hong Kong is a solid RPG. Whether it be the dialogue, story, combat or exploration, the third installment in the Shadowrun series delivers. [Sept 2015]

If you loved Dragonfall, you're going to really like Hong Kong.

Perhaps it doesn't reach the heights of Dragonfall in the writing department, but this is still a wonderful walk in the Sixth World.

Despite ultimately feeling slightly "inferior" to the greatness that is Dragonfall, Shadowrun: Hong Kong introduces lots of much-desired improvements to the series and remains a solid RPG effort, true in every way to the high standards that we've come to expect from its developers.

A really enjoyable play. The Hong Kong setting gives a new thematic twist for the series that feels well fleshed-out and interesting, and the increasingly strange mystery you get caught up in makes for a great experience...Definitely one for newbs and phreaks alike.

Harebrained Schemes has again struck gold within the Shadowrun universe. Refined Decking and brilliant writing as well as some genuine surprises breathe life into the fantastical future Hong Kong setting. Sadly, some pacing and level design issues stop it just short of the heights it was reaching for.

Harebrained Schemes has managed to once again impress by adding a few, but only a few, good improvements to the recipe, while delivering a very interesting setting and some imaginative missions. However, it might not feel like a whole new experience, just "more of the same."

The writing shines through as some of the most genuinely compelling we've seen in a title this year. [Nov 2015, p.81]

Shadowrun: Hong Kong isn't the best RPG Harebrained Schemes has put out, but it's still a great game in its own right.

The game grew in scale since the previous Shadowrun – locations are a bit larger and story lasts for over 20 hours. The visuals and the interface were improved a bit. The third trip to The Sixth World is worth every penny, but the game mechanics could really use a facelift. [11/2015, p.54]

Shadowrun didn't need a revolution to impress, considering the base game was simple but tactical and well calculated. With Hong Kong, though, the developers went the extra mile, finely creating a great storyline, and an inspired background. We expect more enhancement in the gameplay for future DLCs and expansions, but for now we're fully satisfied.

Hong Kong features a wonderful story but patience is required due to the glacial pace with which it progresses. [Oct 2015, p.56]

Players who have already taken this trip with Shadowrun Returns and its expansion may find themselves wanting a bit with the gameplay, and newbies will have quite the learning curve to surmount, but if you see the gameplay as an adequate means to experience the more satisfying narrative end, Shadowrun: Hong Kong more than earns your attention.

What it lacks in new features it makes up for in improving old ones, such as a better experiences in the Matrix as well as improved interface options.

Shadowrun Hong Kong shows the excellent level of skills in Harebrained Schemes. Although the title can't compete in terms of graphics with high-profile productions, and the gameplay model can still be improved, new Shadowrun is still a very recommendable game.

With its sprawling story, not to mention the array of side missions available when Shadowrunning, Shadowrun: Hong Kong is a huge game, with mystery at the heart of everything. Its stunning visuals won’t tax your hardware too much, meaning that it can run on PCs half a decade old without much in the way of performance issues, and its open-ended gameplay means that no two playthroughs will be the same.

Story, characters and dialogues make it a thrilling game, despite the stagnant game mechanics.

Although Hong Kong is basically a clone of Dragonfall, it doesn’t diminish the game’s strengths: solid storyline and interesting missions (only a few, if any, are straightforward or purely combat-oriented). It has only one downside – the game expects players to read. A lot. Crime against humanity, I know. [Issue#201, p.50]

Shadowrun: Hong Kong is a good game and it’s better than its predecessors in some aspects, but I can’t help but feel that this is as good as it gets. And the design of the campaign feels a little bit tired.

Shadowrun Hong Kong’s success boils down to a smart early decision to stay true to Hong Kong, and exaggerate the flaws of the city’s bizarre governing philosophy to find a new, urgent relevance in the cyberpunk genre.

Shadowrun: Hong Kong is fun for a select audience, but doesn’t have the depth or innovation to stand out.

If you really loved the original, you will enjoy this expansion, which is honestly much less original and compelling compared to the main game.

If you are a huge fan of this series, then you will no doubt get some enjoyment out of this title. You should keep your expectations in check, however, because it probably isn’t the type of compelling, lasting experience that will top your favorites list when all is said and done.