Rating
Shenmue I & II
"Originally released for the Dreamcast in 2000 and 2001, Shenmue I & II is an open world action adventure combining jujitsu combat, investigative sleuthing, RPG elements, and memorable mini-games. It pioneered many aspects of modern gaming, including open world city exploration, and was the game that coined the Quick Time Event (QTE). It was one of...
Details
- Released
- August 21, 2018
- Developer
- Sega AM2
- Genres
- Action · Role-playing (RPG) · Hack and slash/Beat 'em up · Adventure · Open world
- Publisher
- Sega, Sega Games
Player pulse
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Shenmue I & II Reviews
Professional reviews from gaming critics
Sega have done these classic titles a service by re-releasing them in the original form and resisting the temptation to tamper. Surely as divisive now as they were nearly 20 years ago, Shenmue I & II are not just a great primer for the forthcoming threequel, but also a great opportunity to experience one of gaming's most pioneering series. Welcome back Shenmue, I have missed you dearly.
I really must emphasise this; while I spent a lot of time in this review highlighting that much of Shenmue and its sequel doesn’t live up to the nostalgia that people have to it, as a work of narrative its strengths so completely outweigh its weaknesses that it’s still something that everyone should play. It’s a critical part of the history of game development, and while I don’t know if their re-release will “sell” anyone on Shenmue 3, it’s a useful refresher course for something that people haven’t been able to play on modern consoles for quite some time. If nothing else, the…
The beloved Dreamcast series finally makes its PC debut.
Yu Suzuki's magnum opus may still retain many of its core flaws, but this remains a series that is well worth experiencing for yourself.
Shenmue is incredible- All open world games should be this good. Players hoping for a little more action and less Forklift Operating should check out the Yakuza series.
It's still hard to recommend Shenmue I & II to modern players with no connection to the franchise or appreciation for older 3D titles. It may simply be too chewy to really enjoy unless you've got a certain appreciation for the games of the early 3D era, but if you do have an appreciation for this period, and for Japan, Hong Kong, and the cultures you'll get a glimpse of as you guide Ryo Hazuki on his journey of discovery and revenge, then Shenmue I & II can most certainly be recommended. It's a piece of video game history that's worth digging into. You'll see.
Playing Shenmue I & II is a treat for die-hard fans as well as an accessible way for newcomers to experience these renowned titles, though they won’t be for everyone. Even though I enjoyed both games, I really struggled to look past the clunky dialogue or even fully invest in Ryo’s story, and the controls sometimes made walking around a nightmare. They’re seminal products of their time that deserve to be celebrated, and this port does a great job of delivering that authentic Shenmue experience. If you’ve never played the series, then you might struggle with the myriad of dated issues,…
Although this pair of games may seem rather rough as they’ve been brought to current consoles, Shenmue I & II hold up in satisfying fashion for longtime fans though newcomers may be in for a rough start.
Yu Suzuki’s classics remain as unique and fascinating today as they ever were, if you can tolerate the painfully slow pacing and wooden dialogue.
It doesn’t make the games feel modern, but that likely isn’t the point. This HD remaster is mainly here to provide fans with a new way to play some of their favorite games. I can’t fault Sega too much for wanting to stick true to the original vision of Shenmue. If you were worried about compatibility issues or crashing, then you can rest easy. These ports are fine.