Shenmue II

"Possibly the Best Game on the DC"

The original Shenmue was released as the first in an epic saga about a young man in Japan who witnesses his father being murdered by a mysterious Chinese cartel boss. The game was revolutionary both aesthetically and in gameplay terms. It had flaws, but was almost universally praised as the true future of gaming.

Shenmue II was planned along with Shenmue, and when it was finally released in Japan in early September 2001 I was down at my local importer faster than you can say 'obsessed'. I had to pay £60 ($86) for the special edition, but was it worth it. Absolutely. Definitely. Yes.

Graphics:
The graphics in Shenmue II, like in the prequel, are stunning. Considering the Dreamcast is over 3 years old the visuals that it is capable of are incredible. Granted, there is some slowdown in busy areas, the fade-in is still there and there is a nasty shimmering effect, but when you see what your DC is pushing around you will be amazed. The sleepy streets of Yokosuka are far behind - this is bustling Hong Kong and the atmosphere is incredible. The minor NPC's still look weird but the character detail is even better than before.
10/10

Sound:
The original was renowned for it's brilliant and epic soundtrack that rivaled any major Hollywood movie. Unfortunately in my opinion Shenmue II doesn't quite manage to equal it. This is by no means a bad thing as the music is still suitably epic-sounding, but I just don't find the more Chinese music as good as the more Japanese material in Shenmue. It still contains a lot of the original music but it's not the same in the new contexts. The voice acting is still as high as the Japanese original (and thankfully infinitely better than the robotic English Shenmue voices). This would easily be a 10 if it had retained more of the original music.
9/10

Gameplay:
If you've played the original you'll know what to expect - this is one of the most engrossing adventure games you can play. You can explore anywhere, talk to anyone, and if you can see something happening (arm wrestling, street fighting, etc) chances are you can join in and even win money from it. There is a lot more action in this game than in the prequel and there is no longer any more tedious waiting for appointments thanks to a useful time-skip feature. Also now if you want money you don't have to work the forklift. Now you can carry crates, arm wrestle, fight, pawn off your toys from Shenmue I, or gamble on a variety of games. It makes for a lot more FREE (pun intended) experience.
10/10

Lifespan:
The game will take you about 20 hours if you take the time to play all the little games, explore everywhere, and take in the atmosphere. If you're anything like me though you'll play it through again which will take about 10-15 hours. There is a lot of fun to be had if you work through this game slowly, enjoying all the little details.
10/10

Overall:
This is more than a game, it's an experience. If you want your DC to go out with a bang you really have to get this game either on Japanese import or PAL import if you live in the US. It is absolutely incredible and any flaws really are minor and pointing them out would be nitpicking. Worth every penny and an instant classic.

10/10

Reviewer's Score: 10/10, Originally Posted: 10/20/01, Updated 03/11/03