Shenmue II

"The Absolute BEST Video Game Ever Released On ANY Console. A True Masterpiece."

This review is based on the European version of Shenmue II, which was released on November 23, 2001.

When I first heard about Shemnue, I really thought it was an ambitious project. The game in concept and execution, seemed to be very innovative and original. Then all the hype about how Shenmue was the most expensive video game ever produced peaked my interest. I was unable to get my hands on the Japanese version of Shenmue, so I resorted to borrowing a domestic copy from a friend of mine. I was in awe at the amazing visuals and expansive environments. Even the soundtrack was memorable. Unfortunately, the major downfall of the game was the absolutely HORRIBLE English voice acting. The voice for the main character Ryo was so annoying and obnoxious. The only other character to top Ryo's monotonous unemotional acting was the extremely abrasive Goro, who has to be an example of the absolute worst dubbing ever to be recorded for a domestic port. Unfortunately, EVERY single character in the domestic Shenmue had god awful voice overs. I pretty much got tired of playing Shenmue with the sound off, and that pretty much killed whatever interest I had in the game. Yes, I know it's a trivial reason to dislike a game, but the voices are what ruined it for me. My final analysis was that Shenmue was a very good game that I could just never get into.

I got interested in Shenmue II after reading numerous reviews about how much the environments and interaction were improved over it's predecessor. But the most important feature that caught my eye was the original Japanese voices were left intact, but had English subtitles! This was the main reason for me to buy the game, as I wouldn't have to play in silence to avoid hearing the poorly acted English voices. After playing through and beating Shenmue II several times, I can sincerely say that Shenmue II is the best Dreamcast game, and most likely the best video game ever created. Never have I played a game that has oozed such quality. But now it's time for the review........

Graphics: 10

The graphics seemed to have been improved significantly over the original Shenmue. The original Shenmue was an extremely beautiful game in it's own right, so you can only imagine how pristine Shenmue II's visuals are. To get the absolute best visual experience, I highly recommend playing on a VGA monitor. Viewing the graphics on a standard television is still amazing, but watching through a VGA monitor will allow you to appreciate and absorb Shenmue II's intricate environments in all their visual splendor. The lush environments and vibrant colors are hypnotizing. There is IMMENSE detail in all the objects within the game, from the architecture to the individual rooms to the interactive objects. The characters have impeccable detail, from their faces right down to their clothing. The character's facial details and expressions have to be seen to be believed. The character's mouths move in synch with the spoken dialogue. The environments are completely breathtaking, and watching the scenery change depending whether the time is morning, noon, or evening is jaw dropping. Subtle visual effects like lighting and rain are handled extremely well, and completely suck you into Shenmue II's engrossing atmosphere . There is a sense of realism in Shenmue II that cannot be matched in any other video game to date. The cut scenes are perfect, and are of cinema quality. Yu Suzuki and Sega have really raised the bar for quality and detail in video games.

Animation: 9

The animation in the game is all smooth and fluid. The combat and attack animations are also top notch. My only complaint is that Ryo's running animation looks kind of choppy, especially when he is running up and down flights of stairs. Other than that extremely minimal problem, no complaints.

Sound Effects and Music: 10

The orchestral music in the game is phenomenal. It's sets up the perfect mood for the appropriate situation. All the music is memorable and catchy (especially the Duck Races and Darts Challenge ). Never have I heard music in a video game that had this much style and quality.

The sound effects are top notch and the voice acting is excellent. All the voice acting is high caliber. The characters all show emotion and depth, and overall give the game an intense and cinematic atmosphere.

Control: 10

The control is perfect. Everything is responsive, from the QTE to the combat situations to the free roaming, everything is on point. My only grievance is that it is a slightly awkward chore to turn Ryo around, especially when he is running.

Gameplay: 10

No doubt, the most important part of any game is the gameplay. And this is the area where Shenmue II truly shines. You interact with hundreds of people, explore expansive areas (much larger than those in the original Shenmue), participate in Quick Timer Events, combat in battles, play a variety of games, and much more. Much of the game is exploration, and Sega has made the task extremely enjoyable, rather than an annoying chore. You also can raise money by working part time and by gambling in a plethora of games against some ornery dealers. And for the action junkies, there are fights galore. The combat will familiar to fans of the Virtua Fighter series. The QTE and free battles require quick reflexes, and more than once you will repeat an event for entering a direction or button press a tad too late. It might frustrate some people, but it is absolutely fun. The solid fact is that there are so many things to do in Shenmue II's universe, that Yu Suzuki and Sega have practically redefined the term ''gameplay''.

Presentation: 10

The presentation of the characters, story, plot, and settings is truly astounding. Sega displays their many decades of experience in this truly extraordinary product. NO other game on any other console has ever displayed such quality in unraveling a story. Sega has raised the standard for storytelling in games, and Shenmue II is on par with contemporary cinematic works. It is really amazing to see a true masterpiece on such an underrated console. Many people will look to trendy consoles like the PlayStation 2 to deliver realistic gaming experiences. Many will leave the task of ushering gaming to the next level with companies like Squaresoft. Yet Sega has already beat them to it. Sega has been and always will be ahead of their time.

Replay Value: 10

There is an immense amount of replay value in Shenmue II. There are a vast array of mini-games to unlock, including arcade classics such as After Burner II, Hang-On, Out-Run, and Space Harrier. There are also games to test your reflexes such as QTE Title, Excite QTE 2, Darts, Neo Darts. There are also Slot Machines and many gambling games. You can collect a staggering variety of prizes and toys through toy capsule machines. You can practice your fighting skills against street fighters, arm wrestlers, grapplers, and various other miscreants. You can also unlock Duck Races (where you can gamble on or enter your own duck to race) and much more. There are also multiple scenarios and events that change depending on what decision you make. New moves can also be unlocked by interacting with different characters. To be blunt, there is TONS of replay value in Shenmue II. You definitely won't see everything in one sitting, and you'll need to look up some FAQs to see how to unlock the vast amounts of secrets and scenarios within the game.

Overall: 10

What more can I say? This THE penultimate videogame to own. Other next generation systems spew forth hype about delivering the next level of interaction and gaming experiences. Yet they ALL fail to deliver. None of the current gaming systems can even capture an ounce of the charm that Shenmue II has. This has to be one of the most overlooked games on one of the most underrated systems.

It's extremely disappointing that because of the Dreamcast's dismal success, the Shenmue saga will not be continued on the console on where it was born (technically it was the Saturn, but I digress). Shenmue II leaves you begging and screaming for more. I heard that the Shenmue saga is supposed to comprise of 16 chapters, with Shenmue I containing Chapter I and Shenmue II containing Chapters II through V ( a lot of these numbers are off, I would suggest looking at an FAQ to see what the the exact Chapters are). But now that the Dreamcast is dead we may never see the remaining Chapters, and we will never see how a wonderful story could have ended. Imagine seeing Lord Of The Rings: The Two Towers at the movie theater, and getting engrossed in the story. Now imagine that the third installment of the trilogy will never be released. You would never know the results of Frodo's journey, or the fate of any of the characters. You would be left with an eternal cliffhanger, and unfortunately that is the case with Shenmue II. It is a travesty that Yu Suzuki's dream was squashed, and such innovative gameplay, dynamic characters, and a grand conclusion will never see the light of day.

Reviewer's Score: 10/10, Originally Posted: 11/17/03