Shenmue (1999 Video Game) User Reviews

Just a game?

[shadowolf2k · 9/10 · 27 March 2001]

Shenmue is the closest a game has ever come to reality. The game's environment is fully interactable in a legal fashion (for example, you can't just barge into a house...you'll knock first). You can open ever drawer and closet in your house, buy and drink a soda, play in the arcades (with two full versions of old-school classics), raise a kitten, talk to every person, ride a motorcycle, and even take a part-time job with riding a forklift.

But that's not the main idea of Shenmue. Shenmue provides a progressing storyline that will keep you mystified and addicted to it's gameplay. In the process of gathering clues, you will go into fights that will play as a 3D fighting game, mostly like Virtua Fighter. The fights in the game are challenging and fun, with wonderfully animated moves that look like they belong in a kung-fu flick. There is also "QTE" (quick-time event) in which you must press a certain button in a certain amount of time. This may sound simple but is actually fun, and heart-pumping. These events are in the form of controlling a cinematic event within the game, and provides a better experience.

Shenmue is a game that may attract gamers and non-gamers alike. It's story, interactivity, logic, and fun makes a pure gaming experience. The game starts out a bit boring and slow, but soon afterwards, it begins to pick up pace and Shenmue then reveals it's shine.

The next way of telling a story

[jcjimher · 10/10 · 19 August 2002]

This is not only one of the best videogames around in technical terms (graphics, sound, gameplay), but it also pioneers in a way of telling an story. It has a cinematic presentation, many dramatical and emotional scenes, but the viewer lives the story rather than watching it. It's the viewer/player the one who explores the environments, the one who makes the events happen, the one who knows the characters and in some degree influences the relationships with them.

The story itself is a little plain, and in fact this game is more like a prologue to the whole story that develops in further chapters, but even in this case the global immersion you can feel is extraordinary. I strongly believe this model of videogame hides a great potential, and should be developed in time.

Shenmue, worthy of much praise.

[saint_george · 10/10 · 18 February 2009]

Shenmue is a video game par excellence. For a western audience it gives us experiences from lands and cultures little known. It is an original and pioneering concept in entertainment, with ideas copied in large budget productions such as GTA IV and Yakuza Ryu Ga Gotoka and production values seen since Final Fantasy X until today.

When Dreamcast owners first saw this game they were stunned at how beautiful the scenery and central characters were drawn. Second viewing and you are aware of the amazing camera work and variety of cut scenes. Third viewing and you realise how immensely rich the score and background music ever present. Fourth viewing and your quest as Ryo Huzuki becomes a world you gladly submit. Fifth viewing and you realise your concept of martial arts is being deepened and nurtured. And beyond a wealth of side games and distractions make the work and world of Shenmue an endearing and longstanding entertainment landmark.

When I found this game by accident. I purchased a Dreamcast because there were already some great titles around. I was completely taken by Shenmue from the first moments of the dramatic opening scene and how that day would shape the central character's life.

Shenmue rewards patient gamers with an enriching experience quite unlike anything else.

Shenmue II is very much similar to Shenmue I although not at all the same experience. I highly recommend Shenmue II as the Xbox game is fully compatible with the xbox360.

But to enjoy the original and in my view the better of the two games you should seek out a Dreamcast and are unlikely to be disappointed if you begin your Shenmue experience here.

Beautiful

[darkangel2003 · 8 August 2003]

This is my favourite game (Along with the second one) of all time. The story drags you in and you feel for the characters, the music is beautiful and the graphics at the time were the best, this was the most expensive game ever made and the quality speaks for it's self. I love this game so much, like the tagline say's not a game but an experience (something like that.) And for me that was true.

amaizing game

[eviQnine · 10/10 · 15 October 2019]

Amazing game for these years back to 99 shenmue 3 back 2019 i hope its good

cult classic

[kailomonkey · 8/10 · 6 October 2015]

This game did a lot of things new for its time and is now a cult classic. By the maker of the arcade game Virtua Fighter 3 among others, he was rewarded with free reign to make a completely unique game for the Dreamcast, SEGA's last console that saw a great year of innovative game releases. Shenmue and its sequel are perhaps the most revered of all those games.

The game lets you run free round a limited but highly programmed set of environments interacting with objects and people all while day/night, season and weather change around you as you slowly uncover the mystery of your situation and pursue revenge. While some areas of the game can waste your time, the level of connection you forge with the environment and characters keep you involved and the addictive beauty of the real-time changing world keeps you hooked.

At the time of release it was at its height of technology but it has aged relatively well while also having a lot of retro charm in its styles. However, it does require your patience.

The game's action involves a combo deep combat system similar to Virtua Fighter games as well as minor combat situations and other fast action moments being dealt with by quick time events (QTE). This is where a button shows on screen to be pressed straight away to succeed at an action, and people generally love QTEs or hate them, but I think they're used well and sparingly in Shenmue.

A feature I love is being able to play a couple SEGA arcade games in full at the arcade within the game although my personal favourite doesn't appear until Shenmue 2. The game is heavily Japanese which feels very authentic. If you don't have the time to invest as a working adult to play, you can find longplay videos online totalling about 8 hours to get an idea of the experience without the full emersion or shortened story videos for highlights.

So yeah, this is a cult classic and worth looking into, but decide your level of interest as acquiring the game for dreamcast can be difficult or costly.

Shenmue is an epic game and is one of my favorites.

[vivifan · 9/10 · 8 August 2018]

Shenmue 1 & 2 are my favorite games of all time, I loved these games because of the atsmphrere, graphics/art design, music, sound effects, level design, storyline, characters, voice acting that's funny and cheesy(which imo adds charm and likability to the game) in English but sounds great in Japanese. The game has so many things you can do to by pass the time with being able to play arcade classics like Space Harrier and Hang on, play darts, buy drinks, listening to music tapes and practicing martial arts to get better. there is a lot of variety in it's gameplay from detective work, Fighting up bad guys, riding a forklift, QTEs and buying items from various shops. The camera does a great job for the most part and it's controls are good and responsive( the only down side is the walking controls which can be a bit awardward at first but you can adjust to it over time plus the rest of the other game modes are fine)The pacing is a bit slow but then gets better as you progress through the game Shenmue is a fantastic experience and something I recommend to people who like sandbox, fighting, RPG plus a good storyline.

Probably the best game ever

[Amyrlin · 1 May 2003]

Probably the best game ever. I first played it on Segas DreamCast. I was stunned. The game was on every way perfect. If you like realistic and games you don't finish the same day you got it, Shenmue is for you.

Epic, Amazing

[guanghuanf · 26 February 2006]

Yu Suzuki is a genius in every sense of the word. The man who brought us classics like Space Harrier, Hang On, and Virtua Fighter now takes us into an epic world with Shenmue.

Ryo Hazuki, a highschool student, comes home one winter day to discover his father's dojo has been hijacked by the enigmatic Lan Di. Before brutally killing Hazuki Senior, Lan Di is given a sacred mirror that stores clues to something mysterious but no doubt important. As Ryo Hazuki you must investigate into the murder of your father. Talk, fight, and explore your way into three towns. The clues you receive will shape everything and shock you.

Describing this game with words alone is not enough, it REALLY has to be played and experienced. But what makes Shenmue great is its originality.

Forget the typical point A to point B storyline of most RPGs, Shenmue is quite literally the first game where the player has full control of what happens.

Explore a huge town with myriad of townsfolk who live daily lives. Follow them from their homes to their jobs. Talk to them and be amazed at the flow of the (spoken) dialogue. Watch as day turns into evening into night. Play your favorite old school games at the local arcade. Go shopping for music and food. Play a round of darts. Or learn to fight from your favorite NPC characters.

In a nutshell this gem lets you do whatever you want, but unlike the GTA franchise, there is a motif throughout the entire game that keeps you wanting to progress through the storyline without getting too carried away.

Shenmue is also surprisingly poignant, the musical score is excellent and really sets a solemn mood throughout the gameplay.

I loved this game. To this date it still remains a strong favorite 10/10