adventure

Shenmue is simply something that every Dreamcast owner HAS to experience. This is to say that there's no gaurentee he/she will LIKE it....

The game is an RPG-style game with occasional Virtual Fighter-style fights, along with some Dragon's Lair-type button responses. There's even a few arcade sequences to add flavor.

The story is very well presented- the main character "Ryo" is on a quest to avenge his father's death. Along the way both exciting and mundane events occupy Ryo's time, from fighting rival biker gangs to helping a young girl with her kitty. The story is rich and by the 3rd disk it may become your life.

A couple words of warning- the game is rather short. It can be finished in 20 to 25 hours of gameplay. To me this is a plus, to others it might be a negative. Also, the voice acted is, for the most part, horrible. There are moments where the voice performance can be effective, but these moments are few. This is something the player has to get used to or it will drive them crazy. Parents note- there is a fair amount of violence (the fighting sequences) and a few 4 letter words towards the end of the adventure. Final note- the box for this game says "The Experience Begins...". Without giving too much away, those looking for a complete story might be dissapointed.

In spite of this, Shenmue is one of the best gaming experiences I've had all year. Like a good book, the game lives on beyond the time spent playing it. I recommend every Dreamcast owner to give it a shot and see if they can make it past the game's shortcomings.

Shenmue is probably one of the best video games I've ever played, and despite it's minute amount of flaws, I gave it a rating of five stars.I have done this for a wide variety of reasons: For one, the graphics in this game are superb, so that absolutely everything looks 100% real. From the people, to cars, to buildings and shops, everything looks fine. As for the story, well, you can decide for yourself. You play hero Ryo Hazuki, a normal teenager in 1986 Japan, who comes home one day to find his father being murdered by the sinister assasin, Lan Di. Lan Di demands to know where the "Dragon Mirror" is and although reluctant to tell your father spits it out and Lan Di steals the mirror, killing your father in the process. From this moment on you vow to avenge your father's death and find out more about the mysterious "Dragon Mirror". It turns out to be a lot of fun and becomes extremely addictive. Gameplay is also amazing. It is so realistic! You can go from playing games at the local arcade, to enjoying the refreshing taste of a Jet Cola (no kidding). You can take the bus to the harbor, or just talk to everyone around town! Don't be home too late, though. You wouldn't want a scolding from your care taker Ine San! As for the rest of it, the fighting is great, the QTE (Quick Timer Events) moments are unforgetable, and your job working as a forklift driver is amazing! To sum it all up Shenmue is a great game, and is definitely worthy of your attention.

Shenmue is truly a masterpiece, for the many days I spent playing this game I was emerged into the story, the environments, the thoughts, the dramas, of Ryo's life in Yokusuka. Among the other games I played, only the Legend of Zelda Ocarina of Time comes on par, and to those who played that through and through know that's saying alot. Get a DC if you don't have one, this game is worth it, and to those who have a DC already you're missing out on possibly the best SEGA release (or any release by the way). You won't think twice about playing the sequel after this.