We must admit to a slight feeling of trepidation at the thought of reviewing Shenmue I and II. With fond recollections of playing this series on the original Dreamcast nearly twenty years ago (gasp!), the thought that this re-release could somehow tarnish those cherished memories made it something of a dilemma. Would this new, polished version show up the original in some way? Have the developers given in to pressure from the accounts department and produced a bastardised, Call of Duty meets Halo version of what was once a cult classic? Would we weep tears of joy or regret?
After some ten days immersing ourselves in the world of Shenmue I and II, we can happily say we never want this series to end. Ever. Originally produced when Sega’s Dreamcast was the new kid on the block, Shenmue I and II won critical appraise for its ground-breaking ideas. The brainchild of legendary game designer and head of Sega’s AM2 team, Yu Suzuki, Shenmue broke all the rules and made up new ones that are still in place today. The thought of a persistent world populated by NPC’s that went about their business whether you were there or not was, quite simply, astonishing at the time. The level of detail lavished on absolutely everything in the game – from objects you can pick up and inspect, buy, sell, use or play with to whole towns filled with life and energy, Shenmue set new standards that modern games struggle to meet up to. However, despite the huge support from gaming journals, Shenmue I and II failed to strike a responsive chord with the public. Anyone who played the series loved it. But not enough people experienced it to ensure its survival. To make matters worse, by the late eighties the Dreamcast had lost its momentum and sales eventually ground to a halt against competition from rival consoles. So Shenmue I and II was shelved and locked away in a dark cupboard for 18 years. Until now.
Plot wise, the story follows the adventures of jujitsu specialist Ryo Hazuiki whose father is murdered by the evil and seemingly all-powerful villain Lan Di. Just before he is murdered in front of Ryo, his father gives Lan Di a magical mirror that endows its holder with supernatural powers.
During the course of the game, you’ll find yourself in what was then (and is probably now) the most realistic games world you’ll ever experience. In Shenmue I and II everything is governed by time; speak to an NPC while they’re busy and they won’t give you the time of day. Wait or come back later and you’ll probably find they’re a gold mine of information. During the game Ryo must work, eat, drink and sleep. This might sound pretty pedestrian now, but remember this was in a time before The Sims.
Another great feature of Shenmue I and II is the quick time events (QTE’s). Long before Tell Tale Games unveiled its hugely popular The Walking Dead series, Shenmue I and II pioneered the concept of players reacting to events by pressing the right button at the right time in order to move the story on. Get your timing right and you’re rewarded by another piece of the puzzle. Get it wrong, and you try again and again.
Graphically, Sega has done little to change Shenmue I and II appearance except to give the games a modern polish that looks spectacular on a 1080p screen. The cut scenes are still 4:3, but everything else has been improved beyond anything Sega could have imagined back in 1999 and 2001.
Admittedly the NPC characters lack the detail of the main players, but that does little to detract from the sheer visual impact of the game. On a side note, we were pleased to see that, one you access the games menu system, Sega decided to leave the Dreamcast icon at the top right hand corner of the screen. Excellent.
Audio wise, Shenmue I and II was then, and is still now, a remarkable achievement. Each character’s voice is distinctive and memorable. The world of Shenmue I and II practically hums with the sound traffic, street vendors and people going about their business. You can literally walk around for hours just admiring the world that’s been so painfully recreated in these two games.
A note of warning: Progress in Shenmue I and II can be slow as you have to talk to lots of people in order to put together the puzzle of your fathers murder. There are moments where the only solution will be to fight your way out of a situation. And in that department, Shenmue I and II excels. The combat mechanics are a watered down version of Virtual Fighter (remember that great game?) and the more you practice, the better you get and the more moves you learn.
And if you get distracted from the main storyline Shenmue I and II is filled to the brim with tonnes of mini games and challenges.
For anyone who played the original games back in the day, Shenmue I and II is a must buy. For newcomers curious about has become an iconic landmark in gaming, Shenmue I and II is an experience you’ll never forget. Highly recommended.
9 out of 10.