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| Note: these pictures are in low resolution and the game looks much better on a TV. |
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| Story: 10/10 The Shenmue saga starts off in 1986 where Ryo Hazuki arrives home to find his father at the hands of Lan Di, a man who knows a rare form of Chinese Martial Arts. Lan Di is after a mirror that Ryo's father owns, and he won't tell Lan Di where it is, so Lan Di duels with him and kills him. Now Ryo is off to avenge his father's death by finding Lan Di. Shenmue II starts off with Ryo arriving in Hong Kong, China, in pursuit of Lan Di. Graphics: 10/10 I you thought the first Shenmue had great graphics, but this game is a step above that. There is a price you pay for this detail and animation, as the game is sluggish at times while wandering around the streets of Hong Kong. Fear not though because the quick time events and battles are smooth as silk. Probably the most impressive visual feature is the characters themselves. Their motions are fluid and so natural. Close ups are impressive, especially when you see facial expressions and detailed polygon rendered bodies. There are so many different characters, and most of them are quite distinct. For instance, Joy is the red-orange haired woman that befriends Ryo right from the start. When she rides in on her ninja bike it's so realistic and smooth!! The waiving hair; the glint in her eyes; the voluptuous curves. Then you see her get off the bike and walk around with you all on the fly! Simply amazing. As you know, this game takes place in Hong Kong, and that is a sight to behold as well. The city locales are much more detailed than the first adventure. I remember the first time I crossed the bridge over King's Street, and saw four lanes of busy traffic flowing at all times! Talk about feeling like you're there. The maps are more intricate as well, complete with more alleys and branches. There is also a map feature that has been added which is always nice. Inside buildings, the detail is just as impressive. And of course, almost every building and street has a constant natural flow of citizens going about their business. Controls: 10/10 Basically the same awesome gameplay from the first Shenmue, plus a few new goodies. Naturally, this sequel includes a plethora of new fighting moves to master. It's up to you to find someone to spar with, and a place to practice as well. When appropriate, you can ask about finding work, which is very necessary while you're in a foreign country without a stash of cash. Jobs include physical labor and gambling operations. You can also make money by arm wrestling and pawning items. Rest assured, all these activities are easy to master, and quite intuitive. If at any time you're not sure how to control something, just press the "Start" button for a detailed explanation. Also, if you bought a map for a particular area, it automatically gets overlaid on your main view. Sound: 10/10 Many of the same musical scores are carried over into the sequel, which is a good thing. The new (and old) songs blend together perfectly and are customized for the situation. Environmental effects abound and add to your realistic experience. Game Play / Replay Value: 10/10 As with the prequel, Shenmue II is loaded with activities which simulate real life. One of the things you will really like about this game (to an even higher degree than the original), is the fact that you're never really in a position where your next task is unclear. You can always check your diary and simply talk to someone to get hints on what to do, or where to go. AM2 even added NPC's that will physically guide you to your destination! Of course, the character interaction, fighting sequences, and story line are the main attraction. Once you get started on this FREE adventure, you'll be sucked in until the end. Overall: 10/10 Shenmue II succeeds in making you feel as if you are living Ryo's life out, while maintaining a admirable level of entertainment that never descends into the boredom that can punctuate other efforts at this sort of genre. This is because Suzuki's tale of revenge is compelling in the way it handles the topic, and the increased development of mysticism in the Shenmue series is fascinating to see. While the control system maybe unwieldy and graphical glitches apparent, by balancing the tremendous atmospheric and character based story telling qualities of the game with direct, exciting involvement through varied action based tests of skill and thought, Shenmue II achieves results that do border on the spectacular. Results that immerse you in a wave of Eastern culture and distinct martial art influences, commanding your attention until you reach the defining fourth disc and then ultimately leaving you surprised, shocked, and yearning for more. History: -Microsoft paid a large amount to make sure that Shenmue II is exclusive to Xbox in the US -The limited edition was only released in Japan and came with Shenmue 2, Virtua Fighter/VF4 history and preview disc and Virtua Fighter 4 Passport -The European verisons online functions were removed |
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