g1immer's 3-Day Video Game Review!

Shenmue 1 Re-Release

Hi everyone! If you follow me on twitch, you may be aware that I picked up a physical copy of Shenmue 1+2 for the Playstation 4 on its release date (this Tuesday, 8/21/18). I will go over my experience with the game, pros and cons, memories it brings up, etc! I hope this won't be too scatter-brained, but let's dive right in!

First off, this was a re-release, NOT a re-master or a re-make. The difference, to put it simply, is that a re-master has increased graphics and that is it. A re-make would be everything looks way more shiny and new. A re-release is basically just the game and all its bugs and quirks, slapped on the new system. Graphics may still look like they are from the 2000's, but that era always gives me the heart flutters (you are talking to a girl who loved her Nintendo GameCube so go figure)!

The box came with a poster with the cover art and the image on the back of it, with some girl and the main character, Ryo. Don't ask me who the chica is because I have no idea. She seems pretty mysterious and heavenly when seeing her in the opening cinematic if waiting at the main menu screen long enough. I really miss games that did that, but I wish we got a taste of the game play in an opening cinematic or a different scene if waiting there long enough. The menus are very nostagic, however, all the visual effects and sound effects remind me of the late 90's and it is just a great feeling.

Let's talk about the story, as it is a big factor to the game. I love how campy and cheesy everything is (I love the older Resident Evil's for this exact reason). We are immediately thrown into an intense fight between our father who owns a dojo and some evil Chinese dude - who kills your pop with one thrust of his hands! The scene is very over-the-top and dramatic, even ending with your main character screaming "No! Father! Noooooo!" I like the story though. As it is a mystery (who is this Chinese man and why did he want your father's hidden mirror so badly) and also a revenge story, it keeps the player wanting to move ahead to find out what happens next.

The story does come with its downfalls. Many events take place only at night, or only at this certain store, so you have to understand and know the layout of the three areas you are introduced to in the beginning of the game well. If you watched my stream, you saw me get lost about one-hundred times (sorry about that)! Luckily there are maps scattered throughout the town, but the places all look very similar and can be hard to navigate through. This is an older game, so you can't mark the map yourself, look at a map on screen while running around, or fast-travel (okay, there is a little bit of this when you leave your house). Killing time is also difficult in the first game, as you can just wait around in-game or stare at your watch to make time go by a little faster (that's definitely not how it works in real life, am I right?). 

Still, there are ways around these negatives. I read that you can play mini games to possibly make money, collect items or train in your house to kill time. As I've only played for three days, I've only tested these waters, but so far, the game seems enjoyable in these aspects. I like collecting the captcha toys you can buy as they remind me (or are?) of SEGA characters. The gambling at the slot machine seemed fun, even though I spent my 200 yen having no idea what I was doing. There are not a lot of tutorials, and even the ones that smack you in the face I had trouble understanding (like how it must be 20:00 for you to go to bed). Luckily the game isn't like Harvest Moon, another game I've been playing recently, and if it becomes too late, Ryo instantly teleports home and doesn't pass out.

Like Animal Crossing, there is a lot of back and forth in the town, going from one person to the next to gather information (or like in the loved Nintendo game, giving items to each villager). I've never hated these sort of chores, but it gets repetitive real fast. Each character you meet, however, looks very different, so it is easy to remember who lives where. I'm not good at remembering their names as I don't speak Japanese and don't really follow any meaning to them, but each is unique. The design may be different on the exterior of the character, but almost all characters act the same. Some are a little more rude when talking to them on the street or if they look busy, but none seem to have distinctive personalities (besides the flirty lady at the bar, maybe?). The characters also look very good with defined faces and expressions, especially for this era of game.

To highlight the love put into this game a little more, I want to talk about the environment. The game takes place in Japan in the late 80's, and although I haven't been there, I can sense the vibe well throughout the game. Each area is crafted with care too, as you don't see repeated wall art or the same textures everywhere. Different characters hang out in different spots, as the more shady ones are around the night-life areas and bars, while the school kids and young women are around flower shops and neighborhoods. People walk into shops too and I even followed a guy into one where he was seated and active with his own special animation. People also drive around on little bikes and stop for pedestrians. I can't say it enough - so much thought and research was done for this game!

Oh, I forgot to mention that the player can talk to anyone and everyone! The only person I couldn't interact with was a drunk guy sitting on the street. Otherwise, everyone is fair game! I sort of wish there was an interactive wheel to pull up about what to ask the character in question, as Ryo will only ask about whatever is on his mind ("Do you know any Chinese people?"), and asking over and over again can get stale, but it may progress the story. When the player gets a new clue, Ryo writes it down in his notebook which I find pretty hilarious. Sometimes his writing is just too to the point and it makes me chuckle, even though that is not intended. I wish he had a bit more personality, but as a main character, what can you do (that self-insert bullcrap is always the reason why main characters are dull as drywall)?

Here are some questions I haven't gotten to figure out yet, as I am still new in the game:

1. How do you make more money besides getting it every day from your home?
2. What is money needed for, besides missions or mini-games?
3. How big is the world (no giant map)?
4. There are a bunch of apartments around - can I buy a place in a different location to be more close to the action?
5. Does Ryo go to school? Is that later in the game or will it be explained?
6. Why did Ryo's father get his ass-whooped so badly by the Chinese man in the skin tight dragon suit?
7. Does Ryo have a love interest?
8. Who is that girl on the cover and in the opening cutscene?
9. What does the fortune telling do? Does it assure some points in the game (such as luck)?
10. Do you get something if you collect all the little capsule figures?
11. Can you get a haircut?
12. Can you buy clothes?
13. Do you need to eat or sleep? Does getting a soda increase something?
14. Can you collect anything in houses or other spots?
15. What is the point of calling some of the numbers (example: Weather)

Honestly, I'm having a lot of fun with the game so far. I just keep getting lost or it is unclear what I am supposed to be doing. Not everything is marked on the maps around town, so it encourages me to do a little bit exploring. I've found some cool places to check out this way, but I've also just gotten tired and annoyed at running around the city multiple times to find that one shop I need to go to in order to progress the game. You can't ask NPCs either where a place is located, so online guides have been my best friends. I'm not huge on looking up information on a game I want to experience first-hand, because I always tend to read ahead as I am interested in where the lore is taking me. So far, for each night I've stopped my stream, I've had to look something up. But, that's just the nature of the "open world" game, I guess.

To finish off, I go over the pros and the cons. I really do like the game so far, and I hope you will check out my stream next time I play (~8PM EST every week night)!

Negatives (in no particular order):

1. Only 1 Main Menu waiting screen cinematic.
2. Time-specific events.
3. Killing time.
4. Not a lot of or good tutorials.
5. Repetitive 'missions'.
6. Not defined personalities for characters seen so far.
7. Can only ask NPCs about the newest entry in the notebook.
8. Maps are missing certain story mission-related shops.
9. Can't pull up a map - the player must find one located around the city.

Positives:

1. The UI VFX and SFX.
2. Cheesey, but interesting story.
3. Teleporting the player home when it's time for bed.
4. Unique characters and names.
5. Fun and unique mini-games.
6. Great facial graphics.
7. Unique areas accurate to the time period and location.
8. People walk around and interact with the environment.
9. The player can talk to everyone.

Love,

g1immer