Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1705 in Computer & Video Games
• Brand: Sega
• Released on: 2000-12-01
• Platform: Sega Dreamcast
• Number of items: 1

Amazon.co.uk Review
With an epic story line, luscious graphics and gameplay to match, Shenmue is everything than the Dreamcast can produce and more.

Ever since the launch of the Dreamcast, Sega have been looking for a decent RPG to bolster the range of titles available and to reply to the popularity of the final fantasy series on the PlayStation.

The main character of Shenmue is Ryo Hazuki, a hard-working college student who has been knocked sideways by the death of his father and swears vengeance as he sets off in search of the killers.

Although the story sounds familiar, Shenmue differs through its execution. Everything from the finely tuned opening sequence to the interactivity with the 500 or so characters is nothing short of superb.

But beware, this is no pick-and-play game. Shenmue comes on three packed discs, with a further disc for extra features and Internet options allowing the game to boast over 250 hours of gameplay. Couple this with the rumours that this is, in fact, part one of a trilogy and you've got an epic on your hands.

The game boasts distinctive time settings: different things happen during the day and night. Knock on someone's door during the day and they are likely to be out; visit the local shop in the evening you'll probably find it closed.

But it's not all talking to old people and children in an attempt to find the bad guys. Shenmue offers the chance to get into fights, race a motor bike and interact with everything and anything.

This game is a slow-burner, rising to an epic crescendo at the end. It's notCrazy Taxi or Resident Evil but something far greater, something almost compelling so that, although you know you're going to do a lot of walking around searching, you can't help but blindly carry on. --Stuart Miles

Manufacturer's Description
Shenmue, a genre-busting work from Sega, is transcendent for both its beauty and its innovative gameplay. In a convergence of role-playing, fighting, and adventure elements, you play as Ryo, a young man who's come home to witness his father being fatally beaten by thugs.

This event immediately sparks in him a quest for both revenge and an investigation into the mysterious jade amulet the thugs stole. You'll have to play detective to gather clues, such as possible motivations and whereabouts, from non-playing characters. Not all of the people you question will be happy about you nosing around, so be prepared to fight and keep fighting. You'll need money for the quest, and there's plenty of mini game-style ways to get it--from forklift driving to casino gambling.

The game features vibrant 3-D graphics, which are nearly photo-realistic in their astounding attention to even subtle detail. For example, the sky background changes slowly to denote the passing daylight.

Customer Reviews

The best game ever
when i first recieved a dreamcast i purchased it with this game and for some reason, i think due to development it was a year before it's delayed release. Find yourself immersed in this fantastically constructed world. The gameplay is faultless and the storyline is nothing short of perfection. This game single handedly defined the modern 3rd person role-play game and i loved every minute of it.
However it maddens me not to know how the story concludes, as sega did not make a Shenmue 3!
Xbox 360 release perhaps? (Please)

shemue fantastica!!!
Shemue is a truly amazing game it looks great the stories great and the graphics are way way way ahead of its time.I have fineshed the game my self and the build up to the end is rally well structured following continuesly on four disk role-play entertainment.A really great role-play game to play.Well done sega!!!

An unforgettable experience.
Shenmue is an unbelievable game, yet still so many people out there who haven't played it or even heard of it!

I had great memories of this game playing with a friend back when it was out and I only just got a Dreamcast and Shenmue to play through myself. Shenmue has so much charm and originality and a fantastic protaganist named Ryo Hazuki.

Set in Dobuita, a small Japanese town, Ryo sets out to find Lan Di and avenge his father's tragic death. The story is completely absorbing. Places are beautiful, voice acting, cutscenes, combat is fantastic. Every part of the game is fantastic and original. Shenmue is hard to pin down to a certain games genre.

Having just finished Shenmue yesterday I think it can definately still stand proud nearly 10 years later. I can only imagine how amazing the experience was back in 1999. A true masterpiece!