| Shenmue | 
 enlarge | From: "Sega of America, Inc."
Category: Video Games
Buy New: $11.99
Buy New/Used/Collectible from $11.99
Avg. Customer Rating:   (306 reviews)
Sales Rank: 4796
Platform: Sega Dreamcast
ESRB: Teen
Media: Video Game
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.5
Dimensions (in): 5.6 x 4.9 x 0.9
MPN: Unknown
UPC: 010086510591
EAN: 0010086510591
ASIN: B00004S99R
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Editorial Reviews:
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 have been waiting since then to see what the fuss is all about. It's a game in which the concept itself is the selling point. What if you could portray a young hero in a fully realized Japanese city? Would you like to participate in and influence an over-the-top kung fu-style action-mystery flick in your living room? What if lots of combat, cinematic flourish, detail, and a dash of romance were thrown in? The game itself is awash in small details, crammed into a confined space. The city of Yokusuka circa 1986 is rendered beautifully in a short series of neighborhoods that are long on detail even if short on variety. The story itself is ripped straight from a chopsocky flick: you portray the young hero Ryo Hazuki, whose father (a kung fu sensei, naturally) is killed before his very eyes by a mysterious and frightening villain. Ryo must uncover the identity of the killer and fight his way through the city in an effort to avenge this wrongful death. Shenmue's Yokusuka might be short on space--in total, it represents maybe a square mile--but the detail is overwhelming. You can interact with nearly every 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 are there. Much of this interaction involves combat that ranges from Dragon's Lair-style reaction tests (such as timing a button press to dodge an oncoming car) to freeform kung fu fighting. Further, each second of real 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 feels like 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 have been waiting since then to see what the fuss is all about. It's a game in which the concept itself is the selling point. What if you could portray a young hero in a fully realized Japanese city? Would you like to participate in and influence an over-the-top kung fu-style action-mystery flick in your living room? What if lots of combat, cinematic flourish, detail, and a dash of romance were thrown in? The game itself is awash in small details, crammed into a confined space. The city of Yokusuka circa 1986 is rendered beautifully in a short series of neighborhoods that are long on detail even if short on variety. The story itself is ripped straight from a chopsocky flick: you portray the young hero Ryo Hazuki, whose father (a kung fu sensei, naturally) is killed before his very eyes by a mysterious and frightening villain. Ryo must uncover the identity of the killer and fight his way through the city in an effort to avenge this wrongful death. Shenmue's Yokusuka might be short on space--in total, it represents maybe a square mile--but the detail is overwhelming. You can interact with nearly every 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 are there. Much of this interaction involves combat that ranges from Dragon's Lair-style reaction tests (such as timing a button press to dodge an oncoming car) to freeform kung fu fighting. Further, each second of real 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 feels like a race against time. Some might say that gaming doesn't get shallower than this (you are essentially performing tasks and exploring, instead of gaming), but the game feels like no other and is ultimately satisfying by the time that it all ends. In this way, Shenmue is more than a game--it's an event that's worth experiencing. --Andrew S. Bub Pros: - Compelling, well-told story
- Good action and combat
- Fantastic sound and graphics
Cons: - 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: Read 301 more reviews...
 My favorite video game of all time November 7, 2008
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 about gameplay, graphics and stuff. But ill do a brief run-down of those things.
For starters, this game, for a Dreamcast game, has amazing graphics, for its time.
The game play is unique, and mixes fighting game style action with this kinda of timed button pressing gameplay, like when youre in a part in the story where there is a cutscene, and you have to go chase someone....it will have you running in the cutscene, and certain things in the scene will take place, like something like a car or person might suddenly get in your way...a controller button shows up on the screen and you only have a couple seconds to hit that button on your controller...in turn, if you time it right, you end up jumping over something in your way, or maneuvering around it.
Kinda different, but it adds more interaction to cutscenes, where usually in a game you just sit there and watch.
Other times this sort of game play is used in hostile situations, where lets say you are ganged up by 5 people....sometimes instead of an all out action type of game play, youll be presented with timed button pressing. Theres a name for the gameplay, i just cant remember what they called it lol.
but ya. its weird, but its exciting. But ofcourse theres lots of moments where you simply fight freestyle in a freeroaming place, as if youre playing a fighting game like Virtua Fighter.
The story is like an action/mystery. Ryu Hazuki, the main guy you play as, father is killed and you are determined to find the killers.
And this is partly what makes Shenmue so great, not only the story, but how you go around town....TOWNS THAT ARE MAPPED PRECISELY AFTER REAL PLACES AND TOWNS IN JAPAN....and you go around asking neighbors and strangers if they know anything, or where to find a certain someone or certain place.
In turn, you have a daily rutine. Get up...go out and investigate the towns around you and when it gets late....get home to go to bed. Seriously, you have a time where you go to bed, just like in real life.
Other things in the game is the great weather effects, that fluctuate from day to day, just like real life. And from season to season....such as winter bringing lots of snow for instance. Its rather fascinating and intriguing, this game is. Mysterious and unforgettable. I feel in love with it all.
Eventually in the game, you explore even further beyond towns and neighborhoods and even take it to the city and ship yard. All places based on real life locations, with their real life names of towns and places. Its amazing. And before i forget to mention, you get a daily allowance from your grandmother...but even that doesnt cut it forever...you will be given a chance to find a job. Ya, even that.
You thought playing a game would give you a little escape from work, but it ends up reminding you for a moment about the daily grind lol. But its great.
Another thing i wanna share with you, is that you can pick up your phone at your house and call the weather man. YES! its true. You can call'em and he'll tell you what the forecast will be for the next day or so.
Thats just great lol.
Not only that, but you can even give your female interest a call. A chick named Nozomi, who is a sweet heart and really likes you, but your too busy and determined to follow up with any feelings yall might have for eachother, sadly. Since your murdered father wont leave your mind for a moment.
Shenmue is the vasted game ive ever played that actually offers real meaningfull interaction with every person you find in the game. Everyone seems to have a personality and their own distinct voice and role. Its fantastic.
Even with the Grand Theft Auto games and the Sims games and all that stuff thats been put out since....nothing has really come close to intimate involvement we get in this story and gameplay provided in Shenmue.
Another memorable thing about this game, is the great musical score. Apart from the memorable music thats synthesized for various shops and things, the game itself for the most part is accompanied by music thats an actual ochestra playing, mainly in various cutscens and menu screens and things. Its breathtaking, not only visually, in shenmue.
From dusting off an old game sysytem in Ryu's room...to hanging out at the arcade and playing old sega games (ya, you can actually play video games...in this game)....or getting soda to drink....or collecting toys from various toy machines around town....or heading off to work....or learning martial moves in the park....or simply exploring the nightlife ant the various bars and things....then finally catching some sleep.
Shenmue pretty much has it all....
You can knock on practically anyones door in town....feed stray cats....beat up drunk american sailors....play pool...call your girlfriend....visit the shops and cafes and barber shops....even go home and pay respect to a little shrine in one of the rooms.
Not to mention you get a intriguing story that unfolds, with characters you find yourself actually caring about.
Yu Suzuki, the games create, truly put together a masterpiece here. An unforgettable experience that only comes around once or so in a generation.
I highly recommend Shen Mue.
 Great Game November 1, 2008
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
awsome October 24, 2008
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
Amazing game, best video game I have ever played... September 15, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
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 Game June 28, 2007
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
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.
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