Shenmue

[Key-Glyph]

A very generous friend like me borrow his copy of Shenmue and I'm still getting through it. No spoilers though! I'm not done!

Interestingly enough, I shelved the game for a little while because I hated the crate phase! I love knowing that you all enjoyed that part of the gameplay, though. I always find it interesting how different people get such different things out of the same gaming experience.

On the whole, I love the game. It has such atmosphere. I still can't get over how real the neighborhood looks -- and I mean that in the sense that the urban grittiness isn't glossed over. When it rains, it looks like a true-to-life cruddy rainy day, period. The concrete looks textured and stained; Ryo's house looks like it might smell a little moldy. I don't think there's even one drawer out there that I haven't opened five times for the sheer joy of it, and I've prayed at the family altar dozens of times just because. I love that amount of detail. I took darned good care of that stray cat, and I still can't explain to you why I enjoy blowing my Yen on Sonic capsule toys.

What I didn't love, besides the crates, was the QTE element. I found it frustrating and rarely completed any on my first try. Part of that is because they sprang up without warning, which some might consider that fair as Ryo himself couldn't see a punch coming ahead of time, but I felt like there should have been some cue differentiating the QTE from the full-on battles. I thought it was a little cheap to settle me in to a cutscene just to spring a QTE on me.

[fredthezombie]

I will have to get on that, but I just wish the main characters in the game had very shallow personalities, but that could possibly be the English voice acting, I'm sure if I played with just text I could have a completley different experience with the game. I want to have some sort of attachment similar to that of let's say Hiro from Lunar 2,(very different game I know)

[ExedExes]

A very generous friend like me borrow his copy of Shenmue and I'm still getting through it. No spoilers though! I'm not done!

Interestingly enough, I shelved the game for a little while because I hated the crate phase! I love knowing that you all enjoyed that part of the gameplay, though. I always find it interesting how different people get such different things out of the same gaming experience.

On the whole, I love the game. It has such atmosphere. I still can't get over how real the neighborhood looks -- and I mean that in the sense that the urban grittiness isn't glossed over. When it rains, it looks like a true-to-life cruddy rainy day, period. The concrete looks textured and stained; Ryo's house looks like it might smell a little moldy. I don't think there's even one drawer out there that I haven't opened five times for the sheer joy of it, and I've prayed at the family altar dozens of times just because. I love that amount of detail. I took darned good care of that stray cat, and I still can't explain to you why I enjoy blowing my Yen on Sonic capsule toys.

What I didn't love, besides the crates, was the QTE element. I found it frustrating and rarely completed any on my first try. Part of that is because they sprang up without warning, which some might consider that fair as Ryo himself couldn't see a punch coming ahead of time, but I felt like there should have been some cue differentiating the QTE from the full-on battles. I thought it was a little cheap to settle me in to a cutscene just to spring a QTE on me.

I LOVED the crate phase. I just hated the bug that came up on a certain day when you were supposed to beat some heads on one of your lunch breaks, you'd be at the spot at the right time and sometimes they wouldn't appear and you couldn't advance to the next day without that encounter I liked the daily races too, took me back to Sega racing titles of the past

For more fun, visit the altar at all different points of the story. His prayer changes

Taking care of the cat is cool if only for extra story time

QTEs are an important feature and they are fun! Turns out I'm still as good as I was at QTE Title in Shenmue II (bonus game toy at 300K or more)

[jay_red]

While this game is a big love it or hate it title, I loved every minute of it, it was one of the first games I got with my dreamcast I think around 2002 (I was a little late to the Dreamcast sadly) And I have never felt more immersed in a game than when playing Shenmue. While playing I never once was annoyed with working, or waiting to meet someone, or looking for sailors on the dock . It all just flowed and worked together beautifully.

I have tried to play the 2nd one a few times, most recently I finally got hold of a PAL version for my collection. I hear how much better it is, and how the story picks up a ton, but then hear that it leaves on a cliff hanger, and knowing that we may never see a conclusion to the series, I dont want to leave so disappointed.

[CFFJR]

I have tried to play the 2nd one a few times, most recently I finally got hold of a PAL version for my collection. I hear how much better it is, and how the story picks up a ton, but then hear that it leaves on a cliff hanger, and knowing that we may never see a conclusion to the series, I dont want to leave so disappointed.

The cliff hanger is frustrating indeed, but please don't skip it. As much as I love the first game, for all of the same reasons that have been mentioned (yes, I'm one of the few people that loved the forklift part), the 2nd is superior in every way.

Its an experience you can't afford to miss, even if the story will never be concluded. Do yourself the favor of playing it.

[Nemoide]

I very generously let Key-Glyph borrow my copy. :P

I love the game; I think I've played through it three times. I love how you can collect toys from vending machines, sit back and drink a coffee (you might be a winner!), go to the arcade, listen to some cool tapes, try to win a Sega Saturn version of the arcade games, etc...
I'm also a fan of the forklift job. I don't know WHY it's fun, but I always like to see if I can improve enough to get beyond the amount I was paid the day before.

I remember my least favorite parts being when you had to sneak around without being caught by security guards, but I could deal with it. QTE could be annoying, but I didn't think it was all that bad.

When I found out that there wouldn't be an American version of Shenmue II, I was pretty bummed. I did get the Xbox version, but wish there was some way of importing my save-data... Shenmue II definitely is a stronger game in terms of story and setting - especially once you get out of Aberdeen. Kowloon was awesome.

BLARGH, now I want Shenmue III.

[ExedExes]

Shenmue II does have a lot more story, probably because the area you're in is so much bigger than just one little street in Japan and the harbor.

It really pained me to see how straight-forward the final disc was after the big areas in Hong Kong.

There's a LOT more to do in S-2 and the best part is even though it wasn't released in the US I used a EU Shenume I save file from my Dream Explorer ISO to start pretty well on Shenmue II

I really don't want to spoil it for K-Gs sake but there's so much more I could say about the awesomeness of Shenmue II. Let's just say if you like the games and capsule toys, you'll stay glued to the sequel.

[Czernobog]

A little while after the Dreamcast came out, I had a friend who bought a used one only to have it break, and immediately went out and bought a new one. He told me he was going to throw out the one that broke and if I could fix it, I could have it and told me to get a game called Shenmue if it worked. It was a ridiculously easy fix (the plastic clip that held the lid shut had broke) but he insisted I keep the system.

I took his advice and bought Shenmue as my first Dreamcast game and played nothing but Shenmue for three months. I was completely drawn into the environment and loved getting up each day in the game, wandering about the town and interacting with people, looking for clues to advance the story, slowly discovering the fighting aspect of the game, and of course buying capsule toys and various market items on a whim.

But what really made me love Shenmue, was walking into the arcade, and discovering that I could sit down at an arcade cabinet and play Space Harrier.

[valgalder]

I really want to replay both Shenmue 1 and II, but it's kind of hard because the way Part 2 ends.. it really makes me sad that there will likely never be a 3rd game to complete the story.. man it really leaves you hanging in so many directions

[ElkinFencer10]

I haven't played Shenmue II yet, but I played through Shenmue a few months ago after finally ordering it. I have to admit, I HATED it at first, but after a couple hours, I saw the true genius of the game. It's easily my favorite Dreamcast game. It's such a brilliant, unique gaming experience. Even if one never replays it, every gamer should play Shenmue at least once. In my eyes, it's like a right of passage.