The Shenmue 3 Debate

...is more interesting than the game itself?

Posted by Staff
Don't turn your back on me! I said do not do that!!
Don't turn your back on me! I said do not do that!!
There are some gamers who will tell you that Shenmue is the best and most important game ever made, a true piece of realised ambition from one of the true legends of gaming.

There are others who'll tell you that the two games already released in the series were a bit rubbish and boring. SPOnG's staff is split on the issue, though we do all agree that driving a forklift truck around a dockyard full of sexually ambiguous sailors wasn't without appeal.

Of course, some also believe Shenmue 3 is as close to release as any other game in development. Technologically, this may well be true, though the real-world economics of resurrecting such a massive franchise will surely scare the black cars and snow out of Sega's new management.

Of course, SPOnG has dealt with the issue, though to date, Sega has simple skirted around the subject.

Shenmue fans were given a breath of hope when Yu Suzuki announced Shenmue Online, though the any momentum the spin-off might have gained was hampered by outcry from fans that this wasn't the promised third instalment of his free-roaming epic.

The reality is, however, that the debate itself is currently the most interesting aspect of the franchise.

Take for example the latest mainstream voice to be heard, the BBC's videoGaiden.

In response to the following fannery:

What do we want? We want closure. We want Ryo Hazuki's story to be told to its end. We want to see ambition rewarded. We want a straight "Yes." No other answer will do. We will fight the good fight. We will march on their buildings. We will sing songs of praise. We will write golden words that will lift the hearts of this increasingly cold industry. We will make them all say "Yes." We will make this industry do something for us. We will bring about the promise of Shenmue 3 and it will be our finest moment.


videoGaiden’s counter argument reads:

The truth that Shenmue is the most overrated series in video games history. We know this and so do you. However, brothers and sisters, there are some still among us that are convinced otherwise. They tell themselves they "love" Shenmue. They use words like "innovative" and "emotional" to describe these games. Some of these deluded fools are even convinced that today, in the year 2006, a Shenmue 3 release is still a possibility! These people are a sickness and need our help.


As soon as Sega comments on the situation, we'll let you know.

Companies:

Comments

Steviepunk 30 Oct 2006 10:58
1/5
While I never really played Shenmue myself, it has always been one of the games I really wanted to play - the scope and depth of the game seems fantastic.

They tell themselves they "love" Shenmue.


While videoGaiden are entitled to their own opinion on the Shenmue series, I would have to question their agenda (or even just their respect of games players) if they are trying to tell people that loved Shenmue that they didn't really 'love' it!

If I play a game and love it, then why should anyone try to take that away by trying to tell people that I didn't really love it?
majin dboy 30 Oct 2006 12:24
2/5
i played them both up to the forklift racres abd the book carrying,i cud never end it,i cudnt trigger the storyline advancement.that coupled with absolute s**t controls and s**t fighting system(diluted virtua fighter) made yhem both boring and uneventful.just cudnt appreciate it.
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Joji 30 Oct 2006 14:53
3/5
I do agree Sega Sammy should look to finish what they started, especially with 360 and PS3 kicking around. I understand the frustration, its like buying a nd reading half of a book and never knowing the ending.

Perhaps the series needs an overhaul to refresh interest.

RiseFromYourGrave 30 Oct 2006 16:44
4/5
shenmue (i speak for shenmue 1 here) is a brilliant game, full of character and story. yeah the controls werent super great, but they didnt hinder me too much in running around dobuita and fighting the mad angels either. loved the quick time stuff, and in contrast the sense of reality of living ryo's day to daily life in this beautiful little japanese suburb with all these people that care for him or know him.

i need shenners 3. i just want to kill lan di, knock shenhua's tits about and get over to canada in time to marry nozomi before she falls for some stupid westerner

is that too much to ask
TigerUppercut 30 Oct 2006 18:46
5/5
RiseFromYourGrave wrote:

is that too much to ask

No, I think that's exactly what everyone wants!
Shenmue is brilliant, it is boring, it is something special, it is over-rated. I am a Sega fanboy through and through. Right now I have a six inch Cream the Rabbit figure staring at me. The amount of Sega 'stuff' I've collected over the years is vast and really needs rescuing from storage in the UK so I can, erm, put it in a box here? Dunno...

The point of Shenmue and I think why it really gets the blood pumping is that it perfectly sums up Sega from the DC days. Brilliant yet flawed. Under-rated by many, over-rated by the few and no mainstream middleground.

YTF didn't they have the full VF3TB fighting mechanic in it? Fools! So many things to love/hate... You guys know what I mean.
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