Post originally by Mike Hunt at 2004-07-20 08:19:37
Converted from Phorums BB System

(In the book I mean, not with your review.) Most of it just simple syntax errors (and a lot of them) and in a $40 product its really disapointing.

I really didn't like a lot of the art, and outright hated some (the cyberware ads on pages 195, 199, 201, and 202 were included for what reason?) I would have preferred less art, with some of the better art to have half page spreads (like the painting on the page 41.) I really hated the borders too. Again it adds to the overall impression I have of the book being pasted together out of consituent parts.

The lack of cyberclaws (or equivalent) I can overlook - the inclusion of cyberwings I find... odd. I have visions of a group of runners descending on the rooftop of a corp building, all to the theme of Flight of the Valkyries, (one of the few moments of imaginitive inspiration I had while reading the book.)

I did like the section on Hacking. I liked the inclusion of servers, even though there wasn't a whole lot of detail on use. I imagine you're meant to write and store your programs on your own server, then jump around, grabbing software as needed or leaving programs to run encrypting or decrypting (something else they left out. Bouncing to escape traces too.) Setting up servers protected by scammed (sentient?) ICE sounds fun as well.

Apart from the editing and the art (and the kooky cyber wings,) where Cybernet really fails, for me, is in any sort of spirit or flavour. (Thus why I'm a little confuzzled over the 5 for style.) Weapons have brand names, vehicles have brand names - implants, decks and programs don't? It made the everything feel really sterile. I can't help but think that the book wasn't exactly what the author intended to create.

The rules stuff is rudimentary but fairly servicable. If your looking for ideas (and rules to go with those ideas) I think buyers should be wary.