Shenmue I & II

90%
Game Brain Score Based on 1,127 reviews
  • story
  • graphics
  • gameplay
Shenmue I & II Game Cover
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"Shenmue I & II" is an open-world action adventure game that combines jujitsu combat, investigative sleuthing, and RPG elements. The story follows Ryo Hazuki, a teenage martial artist on a quest for revenge against Lan Di, who murdered his father and stole an precious artifact. The game is known for its immersive open world, engaging story, and pioneering features such as quick time events and day-night cycles.

  • PC
  • Play​station 4
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Play​Station
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

90%
Audience ScoreBased on 1,127 reviews
story142 positive mentions
grinding35 negative mentions
  • Shenmue was way ahead of its time, offering an immersive world with detailed NPC interactions and a unique blend of gameplay mechanics.
  • The attention to detail in the environments and character routines creates a living, breathing world that players can get lost in.
  • The story is engaging, with a compelling quest for revenge that unfolds in a richly crafted setting.
  • The controls feel clunky and outdated, making navigation and combat frustrating at times.
  • The pacing can be extremely slow, with long periods of waiting for events to trigger, which may not appeal to modern gamers.
  • The voice acting is often criticized for being poor, which can detract from the overall experience.
  • story469 mentions

    The story of Shenmue is a deeply engaging tale centered around Ryo Hazuki's quest for revenge after witnessing his father's murder, blending elements of martial arts, mystery, and personal growth. While the narrative is often described as slow-paced and occasionally tedious due to its reliance on waiting and mundane tasks, many players appreciate its immersive world-building and character development. Despite some criticisms regarding pacing and dialogue, the overall consensus is that the story remains captivating and memorable, making it a significant experience in video game history.

    • “The story is phenomenal as it keeps you engaged with the world and its intricate characters.”
    • “Rich storyline: the game’s narrative is deeply engaging, with a compelling quest for revenge that unfolds in a detailed and immersive world.”
    • “Shenmue is an incredible experience, and a lovingly crafted personal work that shows its greatest strength in the story it tells, and the unique way in which it tells it.”
    • “There's an entire chapter of the game, maybe a third of the story, that just feels like actual work.”
    • “95% of the game is spent either backtracking or waiting for time to pass so the next day can load to which unskippable cutscenes play out and then just to do it all over again.”
    • “The story is so dull and predictable too.”
  • graphics172 mentions

    The graphics of Shenmue I & II are often described as dated but impressive for their time, showcasing a level of ambition and detail that was groundbreaking in the late 1990s. While many players acknowledge the visual limitations and occasional glitches, they also appreciate the nostalgic charm and aesthetic consistency that the games maintain. Enhanced resolution options in the re-releases help to polish the visuals, but newcomers should be prepared for the old-school graphics and controls that reflect the era of their original release.

    • “I absolutely love Shenmue with a passion and it became my ultimate favorite game as a 12-year-old. Now, 22 years later, I am still baffled by how the graphics look considering its age; it still holds up.”
    • “Not to mention the graphics are far ahead of their time by years, considering this game was created in the late 90s and surpasses many of the games that would be released even five years later.”
    • “This game was a concerted effort to push the boundaries of graphics, gameplay, and storytelling in games, and it was amazing at all of those things.”
    • “Graphical limitations: while the graphics were groundbreaking at the time, they may not hold up well against modern high-definition visuals.”
    • “The graphics during the time were 'eh' but the gameplay and story make up for it.”
    • “It does show its age, especially when it comes to graphics and controls; the movement can feel awkward at times.”
  • gameplay171 mentions

    The gameplay of Shenmue I & II is characterized by a slow-paced, exploration-focused experience that emphasizes interaction with NPCs and immersion in the game world, often at the expense of action and depth. While it pioneered several mechanics, including quick-time events and a living world, many players find the controls clunky and the gameplay repetitive, leading to a mixed reception that highlights its charm and innovation alongside its dated design. Overall, the gameplay appeals to those who appreciate narrative and atmosphere, but may frustrate players seeking more dynamic action.

    • “The gameplay includes exploration, interaction, free fighting, and quick time events (QTE), where the button that must be pressed is flashed on the screen.”
    • “Unique gameplay elements: the game includes a variety of activities, from martial arts training to arcade games, adding to its charm and replayability.”
    • “Wonderful storytelling through visuals and mechanics that were way ahead for its time, filled with so many small mundane tasks to keep you entertained when you don't feel like advancing the story.”
    • “It's an interesting game with interesting ideas, but I see it as a lesson in game mechanics that don't work and aren't fun.”
    • “Due to the limited gameplay mechanics, some parts of the game actually start to drag heavily.”
    • “Most of the gameplay involves walking around and talking to people, absorbing the sights and immaculate vibes.”
  • music115 mentions

    The music in Shenmue is widely praised for its atmospheric and immersive qualities, with many reviewers highlighting the soundtrack as one of the best in video game history. The compositions are noted for their ability to enhance the game's emotional depth and setting, featuring unique tracks for various locations and moments that contribute to the overall experience. While some minor issues with sound mixing have been mentioned, the overwhelming consensus is that the music significantly elevates the game's charm and nostalgia.

    • “The music and atmosphere of Shenmue are so good that they give you the chills.”
    • “The soundtrack is amazing and probably one of the best to ever come out of a game to date, adding tons of emotion to the story.”
    • “The soundtrack is rich as well and ranges from nostalgic melodies to ambient.”
    • “Maybe it is the extremely bad voice acting, or the annoying music.”
    • “I love this game, but for some reason when the launcher starts it plays music that blares in the background of the entire game and I can't figure out how to turn it off.”
    • “Bad controls, game locked to 30 fps, very low quality sound and music, low quality textures.”
  • atmosphere51 mentions

    The atmosphere in Shenmue is widely praised for its immersive and detailed world, effectively transporting players to 1980s Japan and later to China, with a strong sense of place enhanced by a captivating soundtrack. Reviewers highlight the game's slow pacing and focus on exploration, which allows for a relaxing experience that encourages players to soak in the environment and engage with its rich cultural elements. Overall, the game's unique atmosphere is considered unmatched, making it a compelling choice for those seeking a nostalgic and atmospheric adventure.

    • “Due to its slow pacing, great atmosphere, relaxing music, and low overall difficulty, it's the perfect game for stressful times when you really just need to shut down for an hour or two and immerse yourself in a well-made and atmospheric world.”
    • “The attention to detail in the game’s environments creates a strong sense of place and time, transporting players to 1980s Japan.”
    • “Even though the story is nothing groundbreaking, the atmosphere, the choice of presentation, and the grand soundtrack just make the experience so immersive, as if you’re actually part of that world.”
    • “That's what killed the game for me—a real pity, as the atmosphere was quite cozy.”
    • “While the first Shenmue was taking place in Japan and oozed that special atmosphere, Shenmue II takes place in China and it feels absolutely different!”
    • “I kinda liked the atmosphere of the small Japanese town but that's pretty much all...”
  • grinding36 mentions

    The grinding aspect of the game is widely criticized for being tedious and repetitive, with many players expressing frustration over slow character interactions, monotonous tasks, and poorly designed missions that detract from the overall experience. While some appreciate the immersive world and story, the overwhelming sentiment is that the gameplay often feels like a chore, particularly in the second installment, where the pacing and task design lead to significant player fatigue. Overall, the grinding elements are seen as a major drawback, overshadowing the game's potential enjoyment.

    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “It's tedious, janky; you really need patience to enjoy its good parts.”
    • “The missions can be tedious or boring, and the second game especially feels incredibly rushed.”
    • “Everything in this game is insanely tedious, and the quests are so shallow; the time spent isn't worth it.”
  • humor23 mentions

    The humor in the game is largely derived from its notoriously bad English voice acting and awkward dialogue, which many players find unintentionally hilarious and charming. While some animations and translations add to the comedic experience, the overall humor is often described as a mix of genuine amusement and cringe, contributing to the game's unique appeal. Players appreciate the funny characters and mini-games, making the experience enjoyable despite its flaws.

    • “The hilarious voice acting is entertaining, really funny.”
    • “Somehow, all the hilariously awkward dialogue and awful voice acting become a huge part of Shenmue's charm and you find yourself really into it.”
    • “It's funny and enjoyable while also having a very in-depth story that invests you in the characters.”
  • stability22 mentions

    The stability of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting a range of issues including graphical and audio glitches, inconsistent framerates, and frequent crashes, particularly during cutscenes. While some users noted that minor glitches were manageable and did not significantly detract from their enjoyment, others found the bugs to be game-breaking, making the experience frustrating. Overall, the port is considered imperfect, with ongoing patches suggested as a potential remedy for the numerous stability problems.

    • “Runs great.”
    • “The game maintains a smooth performance without any crashes.”
    • “I appreciate how stable the gameplay is, even during intense moments.”
    • “Annoying audio glitches out of the box, voice lines cutting off constantly, crackles and poor quality that seemingly is exclusive to this version.”
    • “This game is so buggy it's basically unplayable.”
    • “There were glitches, I had 5-8 crashes, a few of which occurred during cutscenes after some particularly difficult fights (Chai, Dou Niu) and having to do them over was frustrating.”
  • emotional16 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is deeply tied to Ryo's journey for revenge, which resonates with players who invest in his story and the characters he encounters. While the narrative explores themes of futility and personal growth, it requires patience and a willingness to engage with its cinematic qualities. Many players find the experience profoundly moving, often reminiscing about the emotional impact and nostalgic memories associated with the game.

    • “The story hammers at you about the futility of revenge, but you can't help but want to see Ryo succeed, and if you're prepared to invest emotionally in Ryo's plight, you'll stick with these games.”
    • “I think Shenmue has a heartfelt story to tell, and it can be very captivating at times.”
    • “Nineteen years later, I still get emotional just hearing the soundtrack and playing Ryo again.”
    • “I think having a bad or boring story is the worst offender in a video game.”
    • “The emotional moments felt forced and didn't resonate with me at all.”
    • “I expected to feel something, but the game left me completely indifferent.”
  • optimization14 mentions

    The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting significant graphical and audio glitches, inconsistent framerates, and even system crashes, particularly on certain setups. While some users experience smooth performance, others highlight severe stuttering and frame pacing issues that detract from the overall experience. Overall, the game appears to require further patches to address these optimization concerns.

    • “Runs smoothly.”
    • “In regards to performance, everything runs well for me. I am on an i5 3570k, 16 GB of RAM, and an EVGA GTX 960 with 6 GB of VRAM.”
    • “Performance-wise, almost flawless; a few hiccups with some of the fancy effects, but nothing too jarring.”
    • “Has such poor CPU optimization that with certain setups it can genuinely cause the CPU to overheat and crash the system (a game 2 decades old!).”
    • “Massive stuttering due to frame pacing issues makes the game difficult to enjoy.”
    • “Sloppy performance like this mars the game's unique and engrossing atmosphere, and the last thing you want with Shenmue is any barrier to the vibe that Yu Suzuki intended.”
  • replayability6 mentions

    Overall, "Shenmue I & II" offers a moderate level of replayability due to its diverse activities, hidden events, and multiple outcomes based on player choices. While some players may find the pacing slow and the controls stiff, the game's intricate details and mini-games encourage exploration and repeated playthroughs to uncover all it has to offer. However, the lack of significant replay value may deter those seeking a more action-oriented experience.

    • “The game includes a variety of activities, from martial arts training to arcade games, adding to its charm and replayability.”
    • “There are so many little details that you're never going to catch all of them on the first playthrough, which adds to its replayability even if you know how the story goes.”
    • “There's tons of things to do inside the game, with lots of hidden events and cutscenes that are easy to miss, giving the game a good level of replayability.”
    • “If it weren't for the somewhat stiff controls, overcompressed sound, a few dragging sections, and the generally non-existent replay value, Shenmue I & II would easily be a solid 5 (maybe even a low 6) out of 8. The gameplay premise is indeed somewhat of an acquired taste and it might be just too slow and unexciting for people who are looking for some action, so for currently 35 euros at full price, this collection is way too expensive.”
    • “There's so many little details that you're never going to catch all of them on the first time you play through it, so it has some replayability to it even if you know how the story goes.”
    • “It has some replay value too; due to its mini-games, some different outcomes depending on what you do, how long you take to do it, whether you find and train all of your moves, etc.”
  • monetization1 mentions

    The monetization in Shenmue is criticized for its intrusive Sega advertising, which detracts from the overall gaming experience.

    • “Shenmue has lots of intrusive Sega advertising.”
    • “The monetization strategy feels overly aggressive and detracts from the overall experience.”
    • “I find the constant push for in-game purchases to be frustrating and off-putting.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
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Buy Shenmue I & II

Play time

4hMedian play time
15hAverage play time
3-33hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 5 analyzed playthroughs

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