Shenmue
from: "Sega of America, Inc."
Price: $25.98
Prices subject to change.Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Product Description:
To say that Shenmue is an anticipated title is an understatement;the game made huge waves in Japan upon its release, and American gamers havebeen waiting since then to see what the fuss is all about. It's a game in whichthe concept itself is the selling point. What if you could portray a young heroin a fully realized Japanese city? Would you like to participate in andinfluence an over-the-top kung fu-style action-mystery flick in your livingroom? What if lots of combat, cinematic flourish, detail, and a dash of romancewere thrown in?
The game itself is awash in small details, crammed into a confined space. Thecity of Yokusuka circa 1986 is rendered beautifully in a short series ofneighborhoods that are long on detail even if short on variety. The story itselfis ripped straight from a chopsocky flick: you portray the young hero RyoHazuki, whose father (a kung fu sensei, naturally) is killed before hisvery eyes by a mysterious and frightening villain. Ryo must uncover the identityof the killer and fight his way through the city in an effort to avenge thiswrongful death.
Shenmue's Yokusuka might be short on space--in total, it represents maybea square mile--but the detail is overwhelming. You can interact with nearlyevery person or object that you see; 300 citizens go about their daily routines,and whom you encounter is as much determined by where you are as when you arethere.
Much of this interaction involves combat that ranges fromDragon's Lair-style reaction tests (such as timing a button press tododge an oncoming car) to freeform kung fu fighting. Further, each second ofreal time equals about a minute of game time, and Ryo has to be home by 11 p.m.each evening. The game moves at a brisk pace, and each challenge or battle feelslike a race against time. Some might say that gaming doesn't get shallo
Amazon.com Review:
To say that Shenmue is an anticipated title is an understatement;the game made huge waves in Japan upon its release, and American gamers havebeen waiting since then to see what the fuss is all about. It's a game in whichthe concept itself is the selling point. What if you could portray a young heroin a fully realized Japanese city? Would you like to participate in andinfluence an over-the-top kung fu-style action-mystery flick in your livingroom? What if lots of combat, cinematic flourish, detail, and a dash of romancewere thrown in?
The game itself is awash in small details, crammed into a confined space. Thecity of Yokusuka circa 1986 is rendered beautifully in a short series ofneighborhoods that are long on detail even if short on variety. The story itselfis ripped straight from a chopsocky flick: you portray the young hero RyoHazuki, whose father (a kung fu sensei, naturally) is killed before hisvery eyes by a mysterious and frightening villain. Ryo must uncover the identityof the killer and fight his way through the city in an effort to avenge thiswrongful death.
Shenmue's Yokusuka might be short on space--in total, it represents maybea square mile--but the detail is overwhelming. You can interact with nearlyevery person or object that you see; 300 citizens go about their daily routines,and whom you encounter is as much determined by where you are as when you arethere.
Much of this interaction involves combat that ranges fromDragon's Lair-style reaction tests (such as timing a button press tododge an oncoming car) to freeform kung fu fighting. Further, each second ofreal time equals about a minute of game time, and Ryo has to be home by 11 p.m.each evening. The game moves at a brisk pace, and each challenge or battle feelslike a race against time. Some might say that gaming doesn't get shallower thanthis (you are essentially performing tasks and exploring, instead of gaming),but the game feels like no other and is ultimately satisfying by the time thatit all ends. In this way, Shenmue is more than a game--it's an eventthat's worth experiencing. --Andrew S. Bub
Pros:
To say that Shenmue is an anticipated title is an understatement;the game made huge waves in Japan upon its release, and American gamers havebeen waiting since then to see what the fuss is all about. It's a game in whichthe concept itself is the selling point. What if you could portray a young heroin a fully realized Japanese city? Would you like to participate in andinfluence an over-the-top kung fu-style action-mystery flick in your livingroom? What if lots of combat, cinematic flourish, detail, and a dash of romancewere thrown in?
The game itself is awash in small details, crammed into a confined space. Thecity of Yokusuka circa 1986 is rendered beautifully in a short series ofneighborhoods that are long on detail even if short on variety. The story itselfis ripped straight from a chopsocky flick: you portray the young hero RyoHazuki, whose father (a kung fu sensei, naturally) is killed before hisvery eyes by a mysterious and frightening villain. Ryo must uncover the identityof the killer and fight his way through the city in an effort to avenge thiswrongful death.
Shenmue's Yokusuka might be short on space--in total, it represents maybea square mile--but the detail is overwhelming. You can interact with nearlyevery person or object that you see; 300 citizens go about their daily routines,and whom you encounter is as much determined by where you are as when you arethere.
Much of this interaction involves combat that ranges fromDragon's Lair-style reaction tests (such as timing a button press tododge an oncoming car) to freeform kung fu fighting. Further, each second ofreal time equals about a minute of game time, and Ryo has to be home by 11 p.m.each evening. The game moves at a brisk pace, and each challenge or battle feelslike a race against time. Some might say that gaming doesn't get shallo
Amazon.com Review:
To say that Shenmue is an anticipated title is an understatement;the game made huge waves in Japan upon its release, and American gamers havebeen waiting since then to see what the fuss is all about. It's a game in whichthe concept itself is the selling point. What if you could portray a young heroin a fully realized Japanese city? Would you like to participate in andinfluence an over-the-top kung fu-style action-mystery flick in your livingroom? What if lots of combat, cinematic flourish, detail, and a dash of romancewere thrown in?
The game itself is awash in small details, crammed into a confined space. Thecity of Yokusuka circa 1986 is rendered beautifully in a short series ofneighborhoods that are long on detail even if short on variety. The story itselfis ripped straight from a chopsocky flick: you portray the young hero RyoHazuki, whose father (a kung fu sensei, naturally) is killed before hisvery eyes by a mysterious and frightening villain. Ryo must uncover the identityof the killer and fight his way through the city in an effort to avenge thiswrongful death.
Shenmue's Yokusuka might be short on space--in total, it represents maybea square mile--but the detail is overwhelming. You can interact with nearlyevery person or object that you see; 300 citizens go about their daily routines,and whom you encounter is as much determined by where you are as when you arethere.
Much of this interaction involves combat that ranges fromDragon's Lair-style reaction tests (such as timing a button press tododge an oncoming car) to freeform kung fu fighting. Further, each second ofreal time equals about a minute of game time, and Ryo has to be home by 11 p.m.each evening. The game moves at a brisk pace, and each challenge or battle feelslike a race against time. Some might say that gaming doesn't get shallower thanthis (you are essentially performing tasks and exploring, instead of gaming),but the game feels like no other and is ultimately satisfying by the time thatit all ends. In this way, Shenmue is more than a game--it's an eventthat's worth experiencing. --Andrew S. Bub
Pros:
- Compelling, well-told story
- Good action and combat
- Fantastic sound and graphics
- Plot is familiar to fans of kung fu action films
- Task-and-exploration gameplay might seem slow to action gamers
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Customer Reviews
Average Rating:
Rating: 
- My favorite video game of all time
I remember years ago, on Christmas, when i got a Dreamcast and this game.
One of the most special experiences ive ever had in a video game.
This game sums up all that i loved about why i loved to play video games. Games like this (which are very rare) are so involving, so much so that you begin to develop an emotional connection with the game, where it becomes more than a game. Its like an interactive story.
Im not going to make a review-review of this game, going into detail ... Read More
Rating: 
- Great Game
I had lots of fun with this game.It kept me busy for a few weeks due to a lot of walking around and looking for things in the game.The only disappointment I had with it is the end of the game really isn't the end.There should be a part 2 but it turns out they only made part 2 for japan and for the xbox not the dreamcast.So I guess I'll never know how the story ends
Rating: - awsome
it is a really great game but really hard to beat the product is in perfect condition but the case is little bit chip off other than that i like the game i haven't beaten it yet but i will soon enough thanks for the game
Rating: - Amazing game, best video game I have ever played...
8 years on and this is still the best video game I have ever played. I am even that tempted to buy a dreamcast again and this game so I can play it again - it would only cost about $40 for the both on Amazon.
It had a great story and amazing gameplay. I dont have much patience, but played this game for hours.
Rating: - Groundbreaking Game
If you own a Dreamcast do not miss this game. It is primarily an exploration game, with some minigames and CLASSIC ARCADE GAMES playable within the game. You walk up to an arcade game as Ryu, the character you control in the story,and put in money that you have earned. It is very immersive, has spectacular graphics and a great story.
- My favorite video game of all timeI remember years ago, on Christmas, when i got a Dreamcast and this game.
One of the most special experiences ive ever had in a video game.
This game sums up all that i loved about why i loved to play video games. Games like this (which are very rare) are so involving, so much so that you begin to develop an emotional connection with the game, where it becomes more than a game. Its like an interactive story.
Im not going to make a review-review of this game, going into detail ... Read More
- Great GameI had lots of fun with this game.It kept me busy for a few weeks due to a lot of walking around and looking for things in the game.The only disappointment I had with it is the end of the game really isn't the end.There should be a part 2 but it turns out they only made part 2 for japan and for the xbox not the dreamcast.So I guess I'll never know how the story ends
- awsomeit is a really great game but really hard to beat the product is in perfect condition but the case is little bit chip off other than that i like the game i haven't beaten it yet but i will soon enough thanks for the game
- Amazing game, best video game I have ever played...8 years on and this is still the best video game I have ever played. I am even that tempted to buy a dreamcast again and this game so I can play it again - it would only cost about $40 for the both on Amazon.
It had a great story and amazing gameplay. I dont have much patience, but played this game for hours.
- Groundbreaking GameIf you own a Dreamcast do not miss this game. It is primarily an exploration game, with some minigames and CLASSIC ARCADE GAMES playable within the game. You walk up to an arcade game as Ryu, the character you control in the story,and put in money that you have earned. It is very immersive, has spectacular graphics and a great story.
