Shadows of Reality Review - First Look

Cyberpunk RPG?

We've had a few non-fantasy (as in no dragons, wizards etc) RPG's over the last couple of years and some could easily be called "Cyberpunk RPG's" but none would deserve the title as much as Nevolution's upcoming game Shadows of Reality. Taking place in the year 2087, the developers have dedicated themselves to a cyber look and feel that can only slightly be compared to System Shock but maybe has a closer resemblance to Blade Runner. With this background, the mood is set for a very interesting and equally intriguing 3D RPG that promises to change the way we look at gaming.

We have heard similar statements before but Nevolution is very persistent in this so it's time to see if their boldness is justified. Of course we can't be sure until the game is released but based on what information is available now, we could definitely take a peek into the future.

Massively multiplayer?

Originally, Nevolution set out to create a massively multiplayer online game but they felt it would be easier to secure a publisher if they would focus on a single player game first and perhaps use their technology for an online game as a future project. For now, they concentrate on building a good single player experience.

The game is set in a new city called North Cal which recently arose from what was left of San Francisco. North Cal, like any other large city in the world, is controlled by several mega corporations. No longer do governments rule the world, commerce has taken over and all these incredibly large corporations think about is how to increase their power.

You've recently been recruited by the YAR Corporation as just another "Joe Bob" that's doing his job to help the company thrive. One way or another, things don't work out the way you, or they, had planned. You quickly become involved in a conspiracy that soon grows way above your head. As you learn more about what's happening, you become increasingly intrigued with everything and decide to go to the bottom of things. What you discover then isn't exactly pretty and maybe it's a little bit more than you had bargained for as well.

Shadows of Reality Gameplay

At the start of the game, players will define their own character in a rather unusual way although the effect remains the same. Instead of assigning points to particular skills or answering a set of questions to define your character, future technology has enabled you to add parts to your body or learn a completely new occupation within a matter of minutes. Special simulators will virtually inject knowledge into your brain while all kinds of technologies can be surgically implanted into your head or maybe even other parts of your body. Quite handy indeed as adding new skills becomes a matter of money and availability rather than time and ability.

Later in the game, new skills are added in the same way but you'll have to wait for the opportunity to do so rather than have the whole shebang being readily available at your fingertips. Once you're on your way, you'll find yourself in the city of North Cal, a detailed and fully 3D environment where you're free to roam around and go wherever you want, whenever you want. You can stop and gaze at the scenery but don't forget about your self imposed mission to see who is behind all the strange things happening around you.

During your investigation, you will encounter many people that will be able to help although some will have their own agenda's and may be leading you to believe they're helping you. As in real life, there are good guys and bad guys but sometimes, it's not that obvious. The storyline isn't quite linear. According to Nevolution the storyline will have many branching plots and a "dizzying array of subquests and world information". Occasionally the game will push you back on the right track as losing your objective out of sight is quite easily done in a game as big as this. ;-) That doesn't mean that there is only one ending though. The game can be finished in many different ways which of course does a lot for replayability.

Let us know in comments what you think, and like about Shadows of Reality Video Game.