Alright, so I finished the game last night. Overall I feel the game is: pretty bang average. I’m not disappointed by what we got as a finished game but I do share some of the same criticisms that have already been shared. I also liked a number of things too. For me, Shenmue 3 ends up being just okay to decent overall. This is coming from a devoted fan of the first two games. The story and setting were always the most important features of the first two games, followed by the martial arts combat. And every other aspect of exploration, interaction, are just added bonuses.
First, the good.
Graphics: Really really sharp. Beautiful vistas in two gorgeous locations. The lighting and ambiance of the two areas was simply gorgeous. I am impressed with how great this game looks. I really liked Bailu Village. It seemed remote, sparse and symbolic of a minor village with just the necessities to subsist (ignoring the arcades and fondness for gambling which are just there as fan service from the first two games).
Sound / Music: I really was satisfied with the sound. Though the music got repetitive, I liked walking into different stores and areas and hearing different throwback tunes. I like the reused elements like receiving items, and mastering a move, complete with the (Japanese? Chinese characters?) The fighting had that classic kung-fu movie fight sound. They did a great job here. My favorite moves were the Thunder Palm and Tornado kick.
Gameplay: The game handled well enough for the combat. You can really cheese the game by timing your blocks, then pushing R2 to unleash hell. There wasn't an overabundance of QTE which is where Shenmue 2 tended to get stale. I liked the herb collecting. I am take it or leave it on the capsule toys. The Sega characters were cool for the first two games, but in Shenmue 3 there simply were too many. Fishing was my favorite mini-game. The arcade games provided some nice novelty. There's plenty to do as far as distractions.
Story / Background: I loved the flashbacks about Iwao. This was really cool and opened up some narrative that was full of mystery in the first game. Who was Iwao Hazuki before the events of Shenmue? Why was he in China? How did he get the mirrors? Why was Lan Di following a path of revenge? A lot of the questions were answered, and only a few remain around Sunming Zhao’s mysterious death.
I like how Feng Li was introduced with some mystery. I thought it was a good twist to have her be revealed as a leader of the Chi You Men. I originally was thinking she'd be an ally, so that twist was interesting, albeit a bit vague. However, is there infighting with the Chi You Men or is Niao Sun just batshit crazy, burning old castles down to the ground.
I really enjoyed the ending. I like that you square off with Lan Di, and surprise, he actually isn't ready. It appears he is still lacking in discipline, composure, and ability. I am curious as to what happens now that the mirrors are in the hands of the Chi You Men. Is it now a war between two factions of the Chi You Men, with Niao Sun possessing the Phoenix, and Lan Di possessing the Dragon? Are Shenhua and Niao Sun counterparts, as the same for Ryo and Lan Di? It leaves me with interesting questions that I hope could be elaborated on.
Lastly, I liked the bonding that takes place between Shenhua and Ryo. It seems really that these interactions only happen during the evening after you're recalling the days events. I will bring this up later on.
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Now the not so good:
Graphics: The graphics are fine. However, there seems to be a tilt towards pooling resources into graphical areas that could've been diverted a bit into storytelling / plot. Why did there need to be hundreds if not thousands of items you could purchase from the shop. Each of these has their own 3D model. I know what a banana looks like. I don't need to buy a keyboard, furniture, demon masks, 25 different capsule machines, etc. I feel like many of these assets could've been rendered in the store themselves, and not purchasable items. If an item was needed for the plot, it could've been purchased from the shop accordingly. Shenmue 2 parted with the interactivity elements for items in the first game, and this should've been a concession to improve provide more opportunity for plot, character development, and the story.
Gameplay: I share Sload’s view that the gating between areas seems unnecessary, especially since the first two games allowed you to explore virtually everything. I can’t chalk it up to being Ryo being dumb, naive or inexperienced. Rather, it seems like a convenient scapegoat when it feels these were design choices that impacted our ability to explore. I don't like that I'm gated from advancing the story because I need 2,000, then 5,000 yuan at two different points in the game. It just feels like an easy way to make the game longer. I felt like most of the sidequests were pointless and I soon felt they weren't my efforts. They were usually fetch quests, and I lost interest. Additionally, where did the affinity / rapport system go?
Lastly, I understand it was a budget constraint, but Jujutsu and all of its techniques being absent create a bit of a void for me. The grappling, holds, and locks were essential in the martial arts that Ryo practiced prior to departing for China. Now, as he's incorporating Bajiquan and other Chinese martial arts into his repetoire, I can't help but feel puzzled that this was missing. It was satisfying to step behind an opponent and slam my elbow into his neck. For Ryo to shift into a combat style that is completely void of grappling and holds is completely against his character. I realize there's limitations and I'm open to interpretations. You see it in a few cutscenes, so at least there's that.
Storytelling. Shenmue 3's story is really weak, or if I'm being constructive, simply lacks nuance, detail, and explanation. It amounts to two similar formulaic plot elements: track down thugs, get beaten by leader, enlist aid of a master, learn move, and use said move to defeat the big bad. I think there's really a missed opportunity to expand some rationale and develop Ryo's character around these key moments in the plot.
For example, In Shenmue 2, you are at least given the opportunity to learn the four Wude. We're treated to some great cutscenes and interactive moments. We (a western audience) are given the opportunity to glimpse into the world of Chinese martial arts. Ryo gains a valuable lesson for himself and this leads to some (presumably) important character development. It's purposeful in the sense as Ryo has to free his mind that is hellbent on revenge and Xiuying / Lishao Tao makes Ryo pause and reflect. It's evident that this is the purpose -- Ryo is hardly a year from his father's death and Xiuying wants to free Ryo's mind from his tunnel vision.
However, in Shenmue 3, Ryo simply seeks out a martial arts master. Ryo is told his Kung Fu is lacking. What is this nebulous Kung Fu term that is thrown about? Is this a weakness in the translation? There's far too much left open to interpretation as to what Ryo is lacking. I think it's poor storytelling when we're left making guesses and presumptions. Pierrot, I know you outlined the specifics around stances, moves, and counters to these two bosses. For anyone not versed or familiar with the martial arts, this area of the plot feels really lacking and unexplained. This would've been a proper way to convey this challenge that Ryo needs to overcome. However, the player is led to believe that we simply need a move, and until we possess the kung-fu (again is there an important characteristic that Ryo requires), we won't be taught it. We acquire said kung-fu by simply showing up to a Dojo and beating everyone inside until we have the knack. To be fair, Ryo does reflect with Shenhua that catching chickens is helping him get low in stance, and that elements like horse stance help the mind and body become stronger. I can't help but feel these parts are not as revelatory or deep compared to Xiuying's teachings.
Other aspects in the story felt really hollow. I liked the dialogue with Ryo and Shenhua, but disliked that this was abandoned as soon as you're at Niaowu. We get hints that Shenhua has some supernatural abilities. We know that she is fond of talking to animals, and she possesses a power that resembles a Vulcan mind-meld on the first boss. The dream sequence cutscenes from Shenmue (Where Shenhua is in Ryo's dream) Those are absent. There's a lot of mystery around Shenhua and she really takes a backseat to what I think is a pretty insignificant plot driver (fighting two bad dudes). Shenhua's mystery really was an interesting aspect of the first two games, and it's a missed opportunity.
Some of the other characters are inserted without much explanation or given a reason as to their purpose and significance. The masters Bei and Sun are important people evidently, but not much elaboration is given as to their stories.
I loved the Iwao flashbacks and stories, but Ryo seems downright emotionless about these villagers sharing important memories about his father’s time in Bailu village. People handle grief in many ways, but at most you see surprise coming from Ryo, and blank expression to surprise seems to be the range of emotion for these revelations. This was a missed opportunity. Instead, Ryo could've found more backstory about his father, saw a cycle of revenge possibly repeating, and gain the wisdom of the path he might be venturing down.
Overall: If I had to change things, I would suggest a few things:-Give Yu Suzuki some talented writers that can help deepen the plot and drive a compelling story.
-Remove those gated parts of the game that prevent your exploration.
-Provide more rationale as to the barriers or challenges Ryo needs to overcome. Use this to emphasize Ryo's growth. Perhaps he'd get to the precipice of finishing off Lan Di and realize, like Shenhua says, it will be his undoing.
-Remove the purposeless items in the game. Use those resources to improve the above.
I know I've shared a lot of constructive criticism, but overall I did enjoy the game. I came in expecting a pretty average game, but hoping the story wouldn't be compromised. I feel let down with that. I can't help but feel though with 18 years between games, that perhaps some of the plot elements became fuzzy, or there was a lot of challenges (perhaps tug of war with stakeholders) into the game's development that hindered the great story of the Shenmue series. At this point I would like a return to the strong storytelling elements that was evident in many areas of the first two games, even if it means sacrificing some of the larger open-world aspects that are fun, but ultimately distractions.
I'd give Shenmue 3 a 6.5/10.
