This SNES RPG Was Set up to Fail (and How it Didn't)

Today is May 19th 1993! New episode every single Friday!

Welcome to Now in the 90s, where we rewind the clock exactly 30 years ago to see what new video games had just released!

Released this week 30 years ago was Shadowrun for the SNES, Shadow of the Beast II for Sega Genesis, and Joe & Mac for the Gameboy!

Writers: Jared Knabenbauer, David Rota, & Dylan Lawrence

Editor: Dylan Lawrence

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~~MUSIC BY WILLIAM BENCKERT & AGST~~

#retro #retrogaming #nostalgia

[abdelali]

I must accept that fighting a dragon who just so happens to be the evil CEO of a megacorp, sounds very metal

[TheDapperDragon]

Fun fact, Jake shows up in the Hare Brain Scheme Shadowrun returns.

[GyprockGypsy]

Shadowrun was by far one of my favorite SNES games ever made. Too bad I didn't discover it until emulation became available, long after I had sold my SNES..

[dopplegangerdavid]

This game was phenomenal! After finishing it the first time, I immediately went back and played it again to see all the stuff I missed. In my opinion, it has one of the best soundtracks on SNES.

[kohganightbane]

The moment he said "Hit it Rockapella!" I felt an urge to watch Jared's old Carmen Sandiego video.

[Ravenwing]

Fun fact! The artist who did the cover art for the Shadow of the Beast trilogy (Roger Dean) was a regular feature for the covers of other games by Psygnosis, AND his otherworldly art was also featured as cover art for bands such as Yes and Asia

[orionassante]

I remember when Shadowrun came out on SNES, it was really hard to find a copy. I had to get my local game store to specifically order me a copy after spending two weeks searching every local video game retailer in my area. Still have my original boxed copy and booklet. The poster that came with it hung on my wall for years until it literally fell apart.

[thefreakmachine]

Shadowrun is an rpg where you watch glimpses of the fmv promotional video and you start a quest to find the full version

[Sarutaru]

That XBox 360 game is one of the most original FPS games ever made. If it had a single player campaign and more content and had been finished, I'd probably still be playing it, but since it's only online it's never worth going back to.

[masteryoraerasante]

Dylan's confusion about Congo's Caper is very understandable, since I heard that in Japan it was originally named Joe&Mac2 and what became 2 was 3.

[nippazhobbies]

I still have the phrase "geeked by go-gangers" in heavy rotation in my vernacular. Thanks, Shadowrun!

[trident]

NOW... in the 90s, my father turned a mere 42 years old. He had a wife, two kids, a sweet house on the lake, and a burgeoning dentistry practice. He still has those things, but he had them then, too. I'm glad I got to call and wish him a happy birthday today, and am unsurprised to report that he was mowing on his day off from the office, for his birthday. The man likes his simple pleasures, and I'm so fortunate and grateful that he was able to support my pleasures, like having a SNES and games.

[cbmalta]

The SNES release was delayed numerous times, and when it finally came out, the internet didn’t yet exist and I got stuck/lost a couple times and gave up on it. I finally beat it years later, and still own it to this day.
It’s better than the Genesis port, and MUCH better than the often-dull newer trilogy that was re-released for the Switch last year.

[epicon]

I'm glad there are others who are enjoying the 90's in this way 30 years later. 4 years ago i started playing my full Master System and Genesis collections but i'm playing them in order from 33 years ago, so i'm now in 1990 now!

[MrLeFilipfloppyvelarde]

Dylan's humor gets better on every episode

[Flasa]

The whole story with Shadowrun’s launch feels like a cyberpunk plot. Very appropriate

[orionassante]

The Shadowrun SNES game started a life long obsession with the brand for me. As others have mentioned it was a surreal experience. A game setting like no other. It would literally become the grand father of the Shadowrun Trilogy that would arrive decades later.

[BladeBlur]

Funny how in Japan Congo's Caper was a direct sequel to Joe & Mac. The original game was known as "Tatakae Genshijin" with Congo's Caper referred to as "Tatakae Genshijin 2: Rūkī no Bōken (Adventure of the Rookie)". On top of that, Joe & Mac 2: Lost in the Tropics is actually "Tatakae Genshijin 3".

It's like Data East looked at the chronologically confused Final Fantasy series and said "WE CAN DO THAT TOO!"

[thecunninlynguist]

I was just thinking of shadowrun. I loved how both versions were so different from each other

[MentalLiberation]

Okay, I usually read how the comments section and viewers really love Dylan's part. And I got to say, it's always been hilarious. But for this week made me laugh a whole heck of a lot more. I'm really glad they added this section in general.

If it's getting longer, Jared, just take it up with your writer. He knows what the people like. LOL.

Jokes aside, the show's really something else.