Shenmue 1-2

It's an adventure game first and foremost, and then you have the combat during certain story sequences, or bumping into random dudes.

I did say before that if you didn't like Yakuza 3 you probably wouldn't enjoy Shenmue, since this is basically the spiritual precursor.

Very similar game format, though I personally prefer Shenmue's combat since it is a brawler version of Virtua Fighter. Or why not stop by the arcade and play full emulated versions of Hang-On and Space Harrier.
 
yeh you were right. ABout yakuza.

Well I think I wouldve liked it when I was younger but atm I got no time for long story driven minimal action games.

Ah well I just forked out for dreamcast et al for this :(
 
Yeah you really have to put in the time and be patient with the game.

Otherwise you might as well just spoil yourself and watch other people's playthroughs.

http://videogamesheaven.net/movie-shenmue-movie.htm

Has both games here, plus loads of others at the main website.

Shenmue also has one of the most epic battle sequences you can play through if you ever reach it. Spoilers.
 
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i mean i dont dislike the game. I just thought there was more to it.

So really its like watching a long long movie and you control the character.


But there isnt much action in it.
 
There is action, but again, you just need to put the time and patience for it, or also know where to look for it.

Because Shenmue has some realistic aspects to it, like the time, date, day/night and weather cycles (You can even unlock the actual real weather of the time period this game is set in), it can affect the gameplay in some ways, like a bunch of hidden stuff you can easily miss.

One example where most players tend to miss out on is a very early fight against some bullies when you first visit Dobuita. You just have to be there at a very specific time (Otherwise you miss it for good) and you will trigger it, and also get an extra cutscene added to the Passport disc.

Using your experience from playing Yakuza 3, Shenmue will be very similar, but unlike Yakuza, Shenmue has a lot more detailed elements to it i.e. the near-realistic living and breathing world of the NPCs.
 
Alive is an understatement. Some of the attention to detail is quite amazing and goes unnoticed for a lot of the time. I mean sure, there are some small flaws like you can easily see some fade in and out animation transitions, but you aren't really supposed to notice that.

If you waste some time following or concentrate on certain NPCs in Dobuita for the day in-game, you can appreciate how much effort has gone into making them play out a daily real-life routine. Opening/closing up shop, dealing with customers, sweeping the floors, taking breaks, wondering off elsewhere or to their homes. There's just so much.

The Passport disc is full of extras, like viewing all the cutscenes you were able to unlock, some tech demos, or the 70-man battle, if you ever get to that.

Anyway, I hope you give the game some more time. At least till you find some sailors. :p
 
aye aye captain


ill give it more time I was just a bit disspointed at my 1st 1 hour off shenmue. The game I recall being overly excited for 10 years ago but for soem reason (sold dreamcast) never got.


Its liek buying this game was getting a girl I fancied in school now 10 years later and checking her out. Maybe she got fat and stuff lol
 
Yeah being a decade late definitely doesn't help, especially if you've already played so many other games since then that have offered similar or better experiences.

It's a case of trying to rewind your mind back a bit, and least learn to appreciate some of the early works which helped influenced much of the things today.

Shenmue and later Grand Theft Auto III, certainly paved the way for open-world games we see today.
 
yeh I thought gta 3 was the 1st snadbox 3d type game.

But I can see it was shenmue.

Haviong been overwhelemd and amazed when playing GTA3. Im sure I wouldve felt the same with Shenmue at the time.

However 10 years later I have played 100 3d open world games. With larger worlds, better graphics and more interaction.

Shenmue really wouldve been a masterpiece in its day.

Its like if I replay GTA3 today its not that great but back in the day GTA3 was like crack cocaine addictive and unbelviebale.
 
I would argue it's a matter of quality versus quantity if we had to compare the two.

Shenmue is much smaller in scope, but it allowed for a better focus on the little details to make it very life-like experience, whereas GTA3 was more about it's larger scale, but had less detail.
 
For a bit of fun, after you helped out the Chinese restaurant bicycle delivery guy, I would sometimes follow him around, from within his seat inside at the place itself, and then to where he will be delivering. Quite amazing how far he goes.
 
yeh it is like a real living world.

Still doesnt mean it make a good game to play.

Though im not slating it. Just saying that though it is quite cool it doenst effect the core gameplay much?
 
Problem with Shenmue is that it was too overly ambitious, to fuse so many different genres into one whole thing. It was originally just supposed to be Virtua Fighter RPG. The slow-pace parts especially doing detective work can certainly put people off, but then that is a major component of old fashion adventure games.

Still, I always liked Shenmue more for it's story driven 1980's martial arts movie experience, and what the mirrors would entail. The end of Shenmue 2 hinted at something much bigger and it was annoying that the series was cut abruptly.
 
Haven't played it myself, but it looks like it has that mixed with GTA-like gameplay.

Could definitely see it being much more appealing to you. :p
 
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