Shenmue II

"And the story goes on"

My personal favorite thing about the original Shenmue was the atmosphere; the sense of time and place the game was able to evoke. The world of Japan in late 1986 came alive to me and that is why I fell in love with that game.

The sequel also creates a believable environment, this time conjuring up Hong Kong in early 1987. Ryo Hazuki has come to the city in search of the man who killed his father in Japan. It was a tough journey, but getting to Hong Kong was only half the battle.

In comparison to the original game, Shenmue II has a deeper plot, richer characters, and much larger locations to explore. The same basic structure is used in the sequel that was used in the original, but it has been tweaked and enhanced in a number of ways.

There were three major ways the original game was played. The majority of time was spent in free quest mode, wandering around at will speaking to anyone and doing nearly anything. However, at certain points free battles would be entered into against other characters and at other times quick time events would appear. These events required the player to press the correct button at the correct time, while in free battles you fought against the other characters in a free moving 3D environment.

Free quest and free battle remains nearly the same, but the quick time events have been reworked quite a bit. The events are much longer now, requiring many more buttons to press correctly. Also, combinations have been added. An event may now require the pressing of numerous buttons closely together, making these much more challenging than they were in the first game.

The overall area in the game is massive in comparison to the first game. The first three discs of Shenmue II are broken up into two major areas, each with sub-sections. In the beginning you are in Hong Kong, which is broken up into the areas of Aberdeen and Wan Chai. Both of those areas are then divided up into locations known as quarters.

Another improvement over the original is the role the bystanders now play in the game. In the first game you could stop people on the street to ask for clues or directions but most of them said they were too busy for you or they needed some time alone. This time around they will not only tell you where a place is located, but most of them will actually take you there. Sure, you may want to find places on your own, but sometimes it’s better to just lock on to them and do nothing as they lead the way.

Ryo had little to worry about in regards to money in the first game. His family’s housekeeper gave him a moderate allowance daily. This time it’s up to him to make some money on his own. This can be done through pawnshops, gambling, or getting a part-time job.

There are at least a dozen pawnshops located in different areas in the game. Ryo can take extra items to these and sell them for money. This is a good option in the beginning, but definitely not a source of a steady income.

Gambling is another way to earn money. Stands are located on the street with different types of games to bet on. There is also street fighting and arm wrestling matches Ryo can take part in. A lot of money can be earned by gambling, but on the same token a lot of money can also be lost considering the large role luck plays in gambling.

The most reliable way to earn money in Shenmue II is by finding a part time job. Unlike the first game you won’t be set into working regularly if you do choose to get a job. Find a job for a few hours, no strings attached, then do your job and get your pay. You can go back later if you like, or never go back at all. There are two different types of jobs he can get. One is working at one of the gambling stands, which requires Ryo to win against whoever stops by to play in order to make any money, or by carrying crates at a warehouse.

An arcade located in the town of Dobuita in the original Shenmue offered Ryo a chance to play darts or arcade versions of Space Harrier and Hang On. All of those games are included in the second game, along with two new arcade games – Afterburner II and Outrun. Playing the games is a nice diversion if you get bored with the main game or if you just want to play them for the fun of it. To me, it’s an ingenious idea to be able to play real video games in a video game.

The first two discs this game are more adventure heavy, while the third is action-driven leading to a climax and conclusion that wraps up the events that were building throughout those first three discs. The fourth disc sets up the future of the series, while bringing a much more profound meaning to Ryo’s quest than ever before. This is definitely the most beautiful disc in the game, and not just graphically. There is a serene quality to the events that transpire in the final hours of the game that will most likely leave an indelible impression on the player.

In closing, I imported the European version of the game rather than waiting for the XBox version even though I knew the release of that game was getting closer. Shenmue II is a rewarding, challenging, beautiful game you need to experience. It takes everything good about the first game and improves on it considerably, creating one of the greatest experiences in video gaming. It’s the best game that ever appeared on the Dreamcast and one of the best on any console, period.

Reviewer's Score: 10/10, Originally Posted: 05/31/02, Updated 05/31/02