Little things like talking to Shenhua every night before going to bed and learning about her backstory are what make the world of Shenmue and its characters feel alive. This is another feature that makes Bailu Village and Niaowu feel lived-in, as it feels like the inhabitants of these towns are off living their own lives while Ryo lives his.Ĭollecting capsule toys, playing minigames, chopping wood, and collecting herbs are just a few of the activities that sound dull, but prove to be both addictive and oddly relaxing. Stumbling into substories still feels like a mysterious treat, as you never know what kind of peculiar side-quest will rope you in next. Slowly and methodically exploring each town and interacting with its denizens is a strange and fascinating experience, as everyone you can speak to feels like their own person, strange as they may be. This slower story can be forgiven though, as the world of Shenmue has always been its greatest feature in my eyes.
Even with all his goofy dialogue, there’s a real heart to Ryo as a character that continues to be at his core in Shenmue III, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
I said something similar in my review of the Shenmue HD Collection, but Ryo openly radiates compassion and kindness while still being a stoic badass. The next, he’s helping a child get a capsule toy and medicine for his sick grandpa. One moment, Ryo is battling a gang of thugs with grace and ease. Ryo is still the perfect protagonist, as he strikes a fascinating balance between being genuinely cool and hilariously awkward. “ Even with all his goofy dialogue, there’s a real heart to Ryo as a character that continues to be at his core in Shenmue III, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.“ The story we’re given is interesting, I just feel that we aren’t given enough. Throw in a seemingly rushed final area before the final boss (complete with a misplaced Pawn Shop sidequest), and you have a story that feels a bit more jumbled than it should be. Though I knew this wasn’t made as the last game in the series, I still find myself feeling a bit disappointed at how little happened in relation to Ryo’s pursuit of Lan Di. Though there are some exciting story developments in Shenmue III (which mostly happen towards the end), the overall story is fairly slow and not overly consequential to the overall projected five-game narrative Yu Suzuki has discussed. Wondering about the carved Mirrors, Ryo and Shenhua set out to find Shenhua’s missing father and Lan Di, in order to learn more about the history and purpose of the Mirrors that set Ryo on his journey two games ago.
While the floating sword has been retconned, everything else is exactly as it was 18 years ago at the beginning of Shenmue III. Ryo and Shenhua were in a cave with a floating sword, staring at two enormous impressions of the Phoenix and Dragon Mirrors. When Shenmue II ended, we were left with a cliffhanger. As a Sega kid who has always held a deep love for Shenmue, I’m indescribably glad that Shenmue III is out, and though it’s definitely not perfect, I’m very happy with what we got all these years later. Now at the end of 2019, all but one of those games are out or just around the corner, with Shenmue III being the most recent lost title to release. Alongside Half-Life 3, a Final Fantasy VII remake, and Duke Nukem Forever, Shenmue III was one of those games that everyone just assumed would never release. It’s still hard to believe that Shenmue III exists in a completed form.
#Shenmue 3 review code#
MonsterVine was supplied with a PS4 code for review. I wish the game pushed the plot forward a bit more and had a bit of a quicker pace, but overall, Shenmue III is a wonderful return to Ryo Hazuki’s epic journey. The world is fun to explore, the characters are charmingly awkward, and the fanservice is excellent without being overdone. Shenmue III isn’t for everyone, but anyone who was waiting for it will be amazed at how perfectly it captures the gameplay, atmosphere, and world of Shenmue so many years later.
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