Forklift Racing Could Return in Shenmue III on PS4, PC

Shenmue is a crazy series. The original incorporated various minigames, including gambling and arcade machines – but forklift racing will forever remain a favourite of fans. And speaking as part of a Reddit question and answer session, Yu Suzuki has hinted that it could make a return in the franchise's forthcoming sequel on the PlayStation 4 and PC.

"Look for it in the stretch goals," he said when asked about the possibility of forklift gameplay. He also told Famitsu magazine – translated by NeoGAF – that he's desperate to incorporate the feature in a natural way, as it's something of a fan favourite. Other returning elements that he's eager to reincorporate include Ryo Hazuki's journal, which he's "looking into".

Suzuki also cast some light on two of the game's unexplained mechanics. For starters, the mysterious Rapport System will see Shen Hua's behaviour towards you change depending on your actions, while the Character Perspective system will "highlight different characters personalities as they go through the story". Alright, that latter one's still a bit ambiguous.

The takeaway here, however, appears to be that Suzuki is planning a much more personal story. It sounds like, rather than incorporate hundreds of different characters, he wants to build the plot around a handful of people – with Shen Hua taking centre stage. It makes sense as it will bring costs down – but hopefully it doesn't dilute the essence of what makes Shenmue great.