Shenmue (Dreamcast) | 
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| From: Sega
Category: Video Games
List Price: £19.56
Buy Used: £17.00
You Save: £2.56 (13%)
Used (4) from £17.00
Rating:  90 reviews
Sales Rank: 4363
Platform: Sega Dreamcast
Genre: fantasy-action-games
Rating: Suitable for 12 years and over
Media: Video Game
Number Of Items: 1
Age: 11 - 18 years
Operating System: Sega Dreamcast
EAN: 5060004760558
ASIN: B00004U2DF
Release Date: December 1, 2000
Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days
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| Editorial Reviews:
Amazon.co.uk Review
With an epic story line, luscious graphics and gameplay to match, Shenmue is everything than the Dreamcast can produce and more. Ever since the launch of the Dreamcast, Sega have been looking for a decent RPG to bolster the range of titles available and to reply to the popularity of the final fantasy series on the PlayStation. The main character of Shenmue is Ryo Hazuki, a hard-working college student who has been knocked sideways by the death of his father and swears vengeance as he sets off in search of the killers. Although the story sounds familiar, Shenmue differs through its execution. Everything from the finely tuned opening sequence to the interactivity with the 500 or so characters is nothing short of superb. But beware, this is no pick-and-play game. Shenmue comes on three packed discs, with a further disc for extra features and Internet options allowing the game to boast over 250 hours of gameplay. Couple this with the rumours that this is, in fact, part one of a trilogy and you've got an epic on your hands. The game boasts distinctive time settings: different things happen during the day and night. Knock on someone's door during the day and they are likely to be out; visit the local shop in the evening you'll probably find it closed. But it's not all talking to old people and children in an attempt to find the bad guys. Shenmue offers the chance to get into fights, race a motor bike and interact with everything and anything. This game is a slow-burner, rising to an epic crescendo at the end. It's notCrazy Taxi or Resident Evil but something far greater, something almost compelling so that, although you know you're going to do a lot of walking around searching, you can't help but blindly carry on. --Stuart Miles
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| Customer Reviews: Read 85 more reviews...
 The best game ever June 24, 2008
P. Mallorie (Ingerland)
when i first recieved a dreamcast i purchased it with this game and for some reason, i think due to development it was a year before it's delayed release. Find yourself immersed in this fantastically constructed world. The gameplay is faultless and the storyline is nothing short of perfection. This game single handedly defined the modern 3rd person role-play game and i loved every minute of it.
However it maddens me not to know how the story concludes, as sega did not make a Shenmue 3!
Xbox 360 release perhaps? (Please)
shemue fantastica!!! May 17, 2008
A. Pepworth (ENGLAND)
Shemue is a truly amazing game it looks great the stories great and the graphics are way way way ahead of its time.I have fineshed the game my self and the build up to the end is rally well structured following continuesly on four disk role-play entertainment.A really great role-play game to play.Well done sega!!!
An unforgettable experience. May 1, 2008
P.Davey (UK)
Shenmue is an unbelievable game, yet still so many people out there who haven't played it or even heard of it!
I had great memories of this game playing with a friend back when it was out and I only just got a Dreamcast and Shenmue to play through myself. Shenmue has so much charm and originality and a fantastic protaganist named Ryo Hazuki.
Set in Dobuita, a small Japanese town, Ryo sets out to find Lan Di and avenge his father's tragic death. The story is completely absorbing. Places are beautiful, voice acting, cutscenes, combat is fantastic. Every part of the game is fantastic and original. Shenmue is hard to pin down to a certain games genre.
Having just finished Shenmue yesterday I think it can definately still stand proud nearly 10 years later. I can only imagine how amazing the experience was back in 1999. A true masterpiece!
A Monumental Adventure January 11, 2008
Henry Spencer
Yu Suzuki's (and Sega's) masterpiece.
Set in Japan during the 1980's, this game offers gameplay unlike any other. Prepare to be overwhelmed with technical achievements and articulately crafted material. The game is in itself, a painting of the era where it is set. No other game has encapsulated both Japan and the era so perfectly. It is very doubtful that any other game will capture, like a moving picture, any setting so well.
If you ever wished for a game that takes you on a journey to another world, another time, you may try the adventure genre. Now ask yourself, what do you, as a gamer, demand from the adventure genre? A compelling storyline, interesting characters, an original world, an atmosphere which is unique, the gameplay must be varied, plenty of extras material for you to find, and an epic length. Shenmue delivers this and so much more.
If ever there was a gaming series that catches you in an instant, this is it. Not only does it incorporate everything you wish for an adventure game to have, but some nice and new features to the genre. Shenmue gave us the QTE system, press the button which flashes onto the screen. Many argue that Dragon's Lair created this, however, I digress; Shenmue incorporated this so it fit into an adventure game. Now look at how many games have tkane the QTE system as one of their own original devices; God Of War, Resident Evil 4 et al. Not to take anything away from that, since I enjoy QTE sequences, they're a lot of fun that keep you on edge during the cutscenes. It certainly added a lot of tense moments in Shenmue, as well as replay factor; fail the first button you have to press, and get the second one right, and you shall react differently in the situation.
The action, when it arrives, is a breathe of fresh air and adds some spice to the game. The fighting moves are taken from Yu Suzuki's masterful fighting series, Virtua Fighter. The moves are easy to learn, and easy to adapt to, even for those of us who aren't very good at fighting games on the whole (myself included). The fighting can be a lot of fun, and the game's big climax is a very rewarding experience.
Then there's the freedom of the areas. You can explore Shenmue to (almost) its fullest extent. The only time I have found any limits with the areas, is when you are attempting to enter 'restricted zones' at the Harbour, or try to go onto the road, whilst at Dobuita. The many brilliant actions you can perform in this mode is incredible. Talk with the locals, buy a can of coke, play on an arcade game, spar, the list goes on and on. Very rarely do you get such a game that, strictly speaking, follows a linear path, storyline-wise, but allows itself to let you take your time. There IS a limit to how long you can keep doing whatever you wish, but it is a long, long way down the road. The game does not wish for you rush, in other words. How many other adventure games give you so much freedom? Very few, that's what.
The characters in Shenmue are either very bland and ordinary people (Dobuita's fellow locals), or extremely fascinating (Lan Di, Guizhang, Chai). The voiceover work varies greatly, whilst it doesn't take away from the overall impression, the game does suffer from mediocre overall voice work. However, there is some good work in there, regardless (Chai, Lan Di, Iwao, Terry, Guizhang, Shozo Mizuki). That is practically the only fault in a game so vast and full of great promise.
The atmosphere, I cannot put into words, for it is untold how magnificent the atmosphere in this game is. No other game has pulled me in beforehand into its world. The feelings I get from it change all the time, each time I play, there are sections that are intense, emotional, saddening, joyful, distressing, funny.
This game is a prime example of what games can, and should accomplish; give the player a sudden rush of emotions, capture the player with its atmosphere so brilliantly like a great novel, a great experience to be had that the user will never, ever forget.
The graphics are still pristine, even to this day (eight years on from the original release date). The Dreamcast was truly a blessed system, whilst not the greatest, it certainly had the potential to be. The graphics and gameplay factors in Shenmue prove just that.
Need I utter another word for you? I do not even need to spell it out to you, or to myself; this game is absolutely well worth buying. It certainly made me interested in visiting Japan in the near future, that's for sure. The sequel lives up to this promise, adding even more incredible features to the series, that so desperately needs its third title. Sega, the time is now. Release Shenmue III, for we have waited long enough. Let us turn the next page and be swept away again.
Simply outstanding June 30, 2007
michael myers
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
It has been a few years since Shenmue came out on the Dreamcast, critically acclaimed by gamers and press worldwide but does it hold up years later or is it a big disappointment?
Well I have mostly good things to say about the games but there are defently a few negatives.
The story starts off with Ryo Hazuki witnessing his father's death, murdered by a martial arts master lan di, lan di is after a mirror that is in the possession of Ryo's father. After failing to prevent the murder of his father Ryo wants revenge and sets out trying to track down Lan Di and take revenge for his father's murder.
Shenmue can really fit in to a number of game categories as the game is extremely varied, the largest section of the game will have you searching for clues for instance after the opening scean the only clue you have as to who killed your father is that you saw there black car speeding away, so you start asking around to find out what way the car went and this will bring up new leads for you to investigate. Eventually peoples names will start popping up and your search will rely on you finding them in order to find out more information.
Fighting is also a major part of Shenmue as some people wont like your nosing around and will try kicking your ass, the combat system reminds me of virtual fighter there are a number of kick, punch and throw moves pulled off by pressing the right combo of buttons as well as your more basic moves by just hammering the buttons. There are also a number of new moves you can learn by speaking with people you meet along the way.
There are also several smaller in the game sections one is a adventure style section you will be searching fore some clues in your house, you will find secret areas and essential items that you need, there is also stealth sections where you need to break in to a wear house with out the patrolling guards spotting you and my favorite part of the game a beat em up section a bit like streets of rage on mega drive but in 3d. This section near the end of the game is excellent you and your mate take on loads of bad guys whilst trying to progress forward so you can beat the boss.
The cut scenes in Shenmue are also unique as the the game designer gives you something to do whilst these scenes play out, the scene might see Ryo trying to catch someone and as you are chasing him you might have to press a button or a combination of buttons at the correct time in order to jump over, duck or weave out the way of objects or if a character trys punching you you will have to correct button fast in order to avoid being hit. If you want to take a break from the main story that's fine there is a arcade where you can play outrun and space harrier as well as darts and a punching game its is a great way to waste some time.
So what are the bad points? In 2007 the Dreamcast graphics whilst good in there time start to show there age however for a Dreamcast game the graphics are good, moving Ryo around is quite clumsy it feels like early resident evil games so the control defently could be better. You spent too long working it takes you months(game time) to quit your forklift truck job and whilst cool at first you will be thinking your playing a in depth forklift truck simulator towards the end and you will be glad you don't have to drive that damm thing any more. The camera is also not great When fighting especially when you reach the beat em up section, the camera should be working for you not against you.
Overall Shenmue does have some flaws that you will find in a lot of games from that era but the gameplay is solid, a bit of polish on the graphics and in some other areas this game could be released today and be superb, if you have a Dreamcast buy.
So for those who have completed Shenmue head on over to my Shenmue 2 Dreamcast and Xbox review.
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