Hands on Shadowrun

Shadowrun, for the uninformed, is a pen-and-paper game in the style of Dungeons and Dragons, but with a very futuristic and dark setting. It blends technology and the reemergence of magic and fantasy races into the modern world. It’s a very compelling world that holds a great deal of intrigue and infinite possibilities. With such a lush and inventive role-playing game at their fingertips, what could the new development team make but the most natural of transitions? Shadowrun will be on the Xbox 360 and the PC, and it will be reincarnated as a first-person shooter.

The game will be bringing a few pieces of its source material’s flavor, with technology and magic becoming a large strategic element to the game. The two forces will be opposing each other, thus the more magic your avatar has the less technology he or she can use. In the vein of technology, characters can "equip" (if the game follows the setting, it would likely be a cybernetic implant) a visual aid which allows them to see heat signatures through walls. Tech heads could also whip out their handy glider and swoop into or out of battle in a floating maneuver somewhat like a horizontal jetpack. On the opposing side, magic users can conjure a magical tree that heals all within a radius. Budding magic could also teleport short ranges, appearing instantly about ten feet in a direction of their choosing, including up through floors. Finally, with enough skill, magic users can even revive fallen comrades on the field.