How quickly can I get into the arcade in Shenmue?

[noiseredux]

So I got Shenmue from DJ Tekky T when he traded me my Dreamcast. I did pop it in one night just to get a taste. It's certainly an impressive looking game for sure, but far too big a game for me to actually focus on right now. But I am curious, can I get to the arcade like right away? I'm just wondering if even if I don't spend time playing Shenmue right now, could I still pop it in and play Hang On and stuff like that pretty easily/quickly?

[AppleQueso]

Not immediately, but you get there pretty early on. There aren't many games in that arcade but they're all pretty fun.

[fastbilly1]

If I remember correctly its in the first hour, and once you get there you can make it there from your house in seconds.

[CRTGAMER]

There is also a Yu Suzuki Arcade compilation disc.

[noiseredux]

There is also a Yu Suzuki Arcade compilation disc.

yup. But if I'm not mistaken, it's the same gams that are within Shenmue, and sells for $100+.

[Original_Name]

Actually, Shenmue only features Space Harrier and Hang-On, while Shenmue II additionally features Afterburner II and OutRun. The Game Works disc features all of those as well as Power Drift, which is also a fantastic game. However, as you mentioned, the $100 price tag is exorbitant. If you want, you could grab a copy of Shenmue II and burn this: http://snesorama.us/board/showthread.php?t=5982 . Shenmue II lets you play all of the arcade games on its fourth disc straight from the bonus menu once Ryo has played them in-game.

For just Space Harrier and Hang-On in Shenmue though, it shouldn't be long until you can access them. If memory serves me correctly, you can leave Sakuragaoka as soon as you talk to the old man who was knocked over by Lan Di's black car. I would be surprised if this took you more than an hour. You can't miss the "YOU Arcade" once you get into Dobuita -- it's toward the end of the main street (as in don't go onto the back-street with all the bars) in view of the really busy highway where the bus stops. Once you get in, you can use the quick-save feature (the little VMU icon in your "Y" menu) and load it up whenever you want.

...it's kind of weird how I feel like I'm giving directions to a place I've actually been before.

[fastbilly1]

you can use the quick-save feature (the little VMU icon in your "Y" menu) and load it up whenever you want.

Some how I missed that when I played Shenmue. Now I am going to go back and finish it...

[Breetai]

...it's kind of weird how I feel like I'm giving directions to a place I've actually been before.

I've been there in real life. I never did find "YOU Arcade." I guess it closed down sometime between 1986 and 2006.