JVGG: Dreamcast: Reviews: Shenmue

Shenmue

He shall appear from a far eastern land across the sea.
A young man who has yet to know his potential.
This potential is a power that could either
destroy him or realize his will.
His courage shall determine his fate.
The path he must traverse, fraught with adversity.
I await whilst praying,
for this destiny predetermined since ancient times.
Awaiting in anticipation.
A dragon emerges from the earth
as ominous clouds fill the sky.
A phoenix descends from the heavens
trailing purple from it's wings.
The pitch-black night unfolds
with the morning star as it's only light.
And thus, the saga begins...

That is the prolouge from what is one of the greatest games of all time Shenmue.
The game is set in December of 1986 in Yokusuka,Japan and is about an 18 year old High School stundent named Ryo Hazuki (the hero of the game) who's father was murdered by a mysterios man named Lan-Di. The story of Ryo's quest for revenge is divided in 16 chapters, only one of which is included in the games 3-disc's. The sequel recently realeased in Japan and Europe and cancelled in the U.S. contains about 3 chapters of the story in 5-disc's. So we will probably see Shenmue III-V in the years 2003-2005. It is not known yet if the series will have a sixth installment.

The game is the first game to feature the new genre FREE (Full Reactive Eyes Entertainment) and the new "Magic Weather" and "Time Control" technologies to make the huge world of Shenmue almost as realistic as our's.

The game features mini-games such as Space Harrier and Hang-On, two of Shenmue's creator Yu Suzuki's first arcade hits. Forklift Races, Slot Machines, and 70 person person free battle, in which you fight 70 people at the same time are also some of the mini games in the game.
The "You Arcade" is the best place to go for mini-games, there you can play Space Harrier, Hang-On, Excite QTE 2, Darts 7, and QTE Title. You can find the "You Arcade" at the end of Dobuita and you best know were it is cause some of important things happen there.

I would like to thank Yu Suzuki for creating Shenmue and all those great games that he has created over the years. Yu Suzuki has triumphed again. Yu Suzuki is one the best there is, Yu Suzuki keep up the good work.

Review By Johnny Morales