The only clear sound is the death-cry of your'runner when he bites the dust. Voice effects and more futuristic music would have enhanced this game. Although this view looks better, it's boring because nothing major happens. You'll see giant IC chips and computer Nodes flash in front of you while you try to zap them into memory hell.

The second view is a first-person perspective that takes place when your 'runner is in cybercombat in the Matrix. The graphics are small and muddled, and the sprites lack detail. This is when you'll fight the thugs and miscreants of futuristic Seattle. The first view is an overhead look that takes place whenever your'runner is walking. You also meet some of the strangest characters this side of San Francisco, so keep on your toes. You won't be able to enter any buildings if they're on-screen.Р вЂќР вЂћs you start to gather skill and Nuyen, you unlock clues to your brother's murder. Duck into alleys and make turns until they're off-screen, then duck into the first door you see. If you're trying to lay low and you're being chased by cops or thugs, you can try to outrun them.Most times it's an undercover Lone Star cop. Don't waste your time buying illegal Frag grenades from this character.You'll need the money to purchase anything from guns to cyberhardware (the computer accessories required for Matrix runs.) You 'deck' into the system to gather information and Nuyen, which is postapocalyptic money. When you're not fighting these goons, you'll go up against the Matrix, a huge computer system that runs transactions for every business in the world. You'll also trip up with Ghouls, Street Gangs, Magic-Users, Vampires, and more. They have a group of ores running the police-enforcement division, known as Lone Star. Running roadblocks in your path are the Corporations. Use the Sleaze program when you're up against gray IC chips. Sleaze is your best weapon when in cybercombat.Save before you talk to them, then if It doesn't work out, reload the game. Unless you have a high Reputation rating, they'll scam you every time.

Whenever a character asks for money in exchange for information, be wary.

If you buy a stripped-down Mach 22 submachine gun from Boris, remember that it's illegal, and if Lone Star stops you on the street, you're busted.

This leads to higher money for runs, and lower prices to hire 'runners.

The first Attribute you need to develop is your Negotiation skills.

You can hire other 'runners to help you out, but they ain't cheap. Each character has his own set of skills and specialties. You pick from three types of characters: a Samurai, a mercenary hunter skilled with weapons a Decker, who's a computer whiz or a Shaman, a mystical magic-user. He's been fragged by someone with connections to the upper echelons of power in the city, and you want that slag-head dead. You play as a Shadowrunner who wants to know what happened to your brother. They're kind of like the Teamsters of thugs, and they can put a hurtin' on you in a hurry. Into the fray come the Shadowrunners, small-time mercenaries who take a job, or 'run,' for any amount of money. (Good thing that could never really happen.) These giant, powerful Corporations frequently hire members of the underworld to do their bidding. Nestled within the grimy confines of the city are the Corporations that run things.

In the year 2050, Seattle has become a wasteland frequented by thugs and mercenaries. There are two sides to that coin though, because the game also requires tedious character building and extensive game saving. RPG fans can rejoice, because Shadowrun for the Genesis plays more like a traditional RPG than its SNES counterpart.

Shadowrun free