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.