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Shenmue Review (continued)
More User Submitted Shenmue Reviews
Date: 2003-03-14
Innovative game design
When I think of Shenmue, one word comes to mind - detail. The folks at AM2 really put all they had into making this game. Technology advances so fast that each new day brings faster, more flashy graphics and crisper more lifelike sound. But does better graphics and sound = better games? Not necessarily. So when does a game really stand the test of time? I believe it is when there is something truly brilliant in its design. I think game designs fall into "archetypes" - for instance there is the "pong" archetype, the 2D match fighter (street fighter), the 3D racer, etc. I think Yu Suzuki and his team wanted to design a whole new archetype of game design. And I think their goal was to make something which totally immerses the player as though they are part of the game. Not only that, but multiple paths exist depending upon the gamer's actions within the game. So it is very non-linear. I *really* like games which incorporate this. Maken X is another title which is very non-linear and supposedly has 7 different endings (i've only solved 2). I congratulate Yu and his team with such an innovative style of gameplay and look forward to seeing more titles like it in the future. Thanks!
Date: 2003-03-09
I love all aspecte from begining to end becos "its the bomb"
It is one in an ever expecting games.Ther was never like it nor is/will ther be any that can ever be like it now &future times to come.
Date: 2003-01-26
Shenmue
This is just Sweeet the whole game is fun simple
Date: 2003-01-10
Ended before it should
This is a very fun game, I loved it. It will start off abit slow to some people, (I didn't like it at first either) but once the game takes off, it is great! Some of the voice overs are very cheesy however, but I kinda like that. They could of let you quest outside the story a little more, but oh well.
The whole game is pretty easy. I didn't get stuck on any hard bosses (most of the fights are very easy, the ones that arn't that easy like the 70man battle will just take about 2 or 3 trys before you get past it)and one of the hardest parts for me was in one area you have to sneak around, metal gear style like. But if you fail afew times, it makes it easier so you won't be stuck their for long. Also I only needed the help of a walkthrough once. Because there is "time" in this game (Dusk-Dawn) You will find yourself running around trying to kill time alot in this game before you can do what you need to next.
The main problem I had with this game however was, that the game doesn't really end... It ends and you get a nice little story of you taking off to hong-kong, but you never really finish the game. Alot like the movie LOTR ending. Alot is left unanswerd. Why is this? Well the developer wanted the story of the first one, to continue into part two. But because of the untimly death of the DC system (Which I still think is the BEST system right now, and shouldn't of died) part two was never released in the U.S. So you have only three choices of how to find out the ending.
1. Get something that will let you play imports on the DC and buy the Pal version.
2. Get an X-box, because part two was released for the X-box (But part one hasn't and I don't see how you can play part two without getting lost because you didn't play part one)
3. Go on-line and read a walkthrough or something for part 2 to see how it ends.
If you have no problem with one of those choices. BUY THIS GAME! One of the best games I have ever played, and I am a gamer of over 15 years. All and all it's a great game. But kinda more like an advanced interactive movie... But still GREAT!
Date: 2003-01-01
Is this a kung-fu movie, or a game?
Remember Sewer Shark for Sega CD? Shooting some goblins here, some bats there, but basically just watching a bunch of cut-scenes? Shenmue will remind you of those types of games, but don't worry. It's not boring. Shenmue for dreamcast is something you should not miss for a number of reasons. For one thing, it's the finest game ever for dreamcast. Graphics that dreamcast shouldn't have been able to do were made a reality; a dazzling real-time feature with weather conditions that are impressive and beautiful. There's no doubt, Shenmue for dreamcast is eye-candy to drool over. Also, Shenmue is going to most likely be a very intense story that will continue on into a third installment already on the way, and this story gets more interesting with each installment. Missing out on the thorough gameplay of Shenmue 1 robs you of the bits and pieces that actually make it's sequel all the more enticing to uncover. If you ever happen to find yourself buying Shenmue 2 or 3 (if released), I strongly believe it will ONLY be because you've played Shenmue 1 for Sega Dreamcast. Let me take you through my experience with Shenmue. Back in 2000, dreamcast was king. With PS2 miles off, and gamecube just a funny fantasy in the minds of techno geeks and E3 enthusiasts, I ventured out to find a great adventure for dreamcast. A mother in line was purchasing Shenmue for her son as a gift, and it took me in the moment I saw how many discs long it was. 4 disks long! Wow (even though I didn't know the 4th was a gimmick)! I looked at the box. The technological leaps in sound, graphics and depth it spoke of and the enthralling storyline, and that was it. I bought it. When I got it home, the graphics were all I was interested in. First of all, the intro to this game immediately sucked me into the story. What a fantastic opener. Your father...DEAD! I wanted to believe I had a gem of a game here so I gladly forgave the fairly bad voice-acting and proceeded on with the story. I asked people around me for clues. I slightly got turned off from the game when I discovered the similarity between this game and Sherlock Holmes for Sega CD years back. And man did I hate THAT game: You'd walk around aimlessly, asking everyone questions, and having to piece everything together yourself without any help from anyone. But this game was a welcome change because the storyline unfolded ever so slightly with everyone you spoke to and left you more and more interested. Anyway, to make a long story short (too late!) the game takes you through edge-of-your-seat moments, some tangy gang-fights, emotional dream sequences, some mysterious images (perhaps that'll make sense much, much later in this saga), and I must say, a fantastic musical score of beautiful ballads, lullabies, and orchestra hits that fit the mood of every moment. And of course, the ending is done like a masterpiece, still leaving so many questions unanswered. If you are an XBOX owner of Shenmue 2 and have not played Shenmue 1, do yourself a favor and find a dreamcast and this game before you begin part 2. So much of it that is not in the pitiful DVD enclosed with that game is so crucial to play in Shenmue 1 to give the full enjoyment of this mysterious saga. Pick it up today. It's not hard to find (especially at most any Toys 'R Us), but it may not be easy to find for much longer.
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