Tag: Shenmue - Page 2

  • Gamescom 2018 Shenmue III Announcement Scheduled for Opening Ceremony

    Kiss off, twit

    We’re regularly writing about Shenmue again and it’s really bloody strange. Coinciding with tomorrow’s Shenmue I & II release, Yu Suzuki is lining up some kind of Shenmue III announcement during the Gamescom 2018 opening ceremony. The show – which will also showcase world premieres and reveals from a variety of publishers...

  • Hands On Is Shenmue I & II a Knock Out on PS4?

    The day the snow turned to rain

    Even in 2018, there’s something unusual about Shenmue. While most games strive to create lush, idyllic fantasy worlds, mid-80s Yokosuka is a claustrophobic dive, inhabited by everyday people living uninspiring lives. It’s this slice of life format that’s made the series a mainstay in gaming culture for almost...

  • Soapbox Why I Love Shenmue

    Sammy Barker recalls his history with Yu Suzuki's hit series

    Republished on Thursday, 18th August 2018: We're bringing this article back from the archives in celebration of Shenmue I & II's impending release on the PlayStation 4. The original text follows. Originally published on Thursday, 16th July 2015: I don't remember the day that the snow...

  • Guide Shenmue - How to Find the Flashback in the Dojo

    Treasure your friends

    Your main goal in Shenmue is to avenge the death of your father, and so in the early exchanges the game goes to great lengths to depict Ryo Hazuki’s relationship with Iwao. Much of this is achieved via flashback scenes, and in this guide we’re going to show you how to find the flashback in the dojo, which will unlock the...

  • Guide Shenmue - How to Find Charlie in the Tattoo Parlor in Dobuita

    Needle in a haystack

    One of the early objectives in Shenmue is to find Charlie in Dobuita, a man who wears a leather jacket, black sunglasses, and has a tattoo on his arm. The problem is that not many of the locals have heard of him, so we’re going to help you to track him down in the local tattoo parlor. Once you’ve found him, you’ll be able...

  • Guide Shenmue - How to Find the Flashback in the Kitchen

    Yummy meal

    Throughout the course of Shenmue, Ryo Hazuki will reminisce about his relationship with his father, and the lessons he taught him. Specifically there are a sequence of cut-scenes throughout the campaign which act as flashbacks, in which Iwao imparts valuable information to his son. In this guide, we’re going to show you how to find the...

  • Guide Shenmue - How to Find the Flashback in the Yard

    Simpler times

    Shenmue is a revenge story, wherein Ryo Hazuki seeks vengeance for the murder of his father, Iwao. In order to highlight the protagonist’s relationship with his parent, there are a series of flashback cut-scenes to find throughout the campaign, which can be triggered by looking at an object or even standing in the right place. In...

  • News Shenmue I & II Scores a Gorgeous Japanese Collector's Edition

    Only on PS4

    Shenmue I & II will not release in Japan until 22nd November, but fans’ patience will be rewarded in the form of a stunning Collector’s Edition only available overseas. The pretty PlayStation 4 exclusive will cost ¥5,990 (~$54) and will come with a copy of the game and a 40 song soundtrack in a special presentation package...

  • News Ryo Hazuki Recaps Shenmue's Engrossing Storyline

    Maybe another time

    In the latest of a string of Shenmue I & II promotional videos, SEGA’s roped in Ryo Hazuki’s voice actor Corey Marshall to offer some insight on the story. Yu Suzuki’s innovative adventure game is perhaps so beloved because it was one of the first games to really emphasise story-telling and cinematics – something...

  • News Good News! Shenmue III's Scope Just Increased Again

    Game reaches another stretch goal

    Shenmue III’s stumbled over $7 million in fan funding through slacker backer support, which means that the scale of the project has increased again. As per its stretch goal obligations, Ys Net will now be adding a new system named AI Battling. We’ve read the developer’s description of what it actually is a...

  • News Revisit Shenmue's Famous Dobuita Street in the Flesh

    Through the power of YouTube

    Dobuita Street is perhaps the most memorable location from the original Shenmue game. Home to Tom’s hot-dog stand, Nozomi’s flower shop, and… Like, a car park, it’s the central shopping district in the first instalment. It’s also a real-life place with real-life inspirations, as explained in this excellent...

  • News Shenmue I & II Sure Have Scrubbed Up Nicely on PS4

    New trailer celebrates release date

    It took one small screenshot of Shenmue in EDGE magazine to sell 11-year-old Sammy on the Dreamcast, and it still holds up today. Okay, so this trailer for the PlayStation 4 version of Shenmue I & II looks like it’s stepped out of the early 2000s – but it was a handsome title back then, and it remains so...

  • News Shenmue I & II PS4 Release Date Revealed

    Race ducks and drive forklift trucks in August

    Though no official confirmation has been made by SEGA, the release date for Shenmue I & II appears to now be set in stone. According to the bundle's listing on the PlayStation Store, the PS4 ports of these influential Dreamcast adventure games is 20th August in North America and 21st August in...

  • News Shenmue III Celebrates Backer Surveys with New Footage

    For the Rin

    Those of you who backed Shenmue III on Kickstarter should receive a survey soon, allowing you to select your t-shirt size and share other details depending upon the tier you chose. And to celebrate that news, developer Ys Net has released a cute little clip starring one of the title’s characters: Rin. It’s obviously not...

  • News Shenmue III Looks Like It's Going to Need Every Minute of That Delay

    And probably more

    Shenmue III was delayed recently, and by the grace of the Phoenix Mirror it looks like it needs it. The title just doesn’t seem to be coming together at all: new footage (skip to 2:15 in the embedded video) shows an improvement to Shenhua’s character model, but protagonist Ryo Hazuki and the rest of the cast still look...

  • News Shenmue III in Delay to 2019 Shocker

    Changed my mind

    Shenmue III was never coming out this year, but now publisher Deep Silver has confirmed. In an outstandingly brief statement, the firm said that the “extra time will be used to polish the quality of the game even further”. Considering the scant snippets of gameplay we’ve seen thus far have been barely polished at all, it’s...

  • News Shenmue I & II Will Not Add Time Skip to the First Game

    Changed my mind

    Back when Shenmue was first announced, SEGA leaned heavily into a buzzword: FREE. An acronym, the term stood for “fully reactive eyes entertainment”, and it was essentially used to describe the type of gameplay that we more commonly consider open world today; it meant that the title enabled you the freedom to go anywhere and do...

  • News You Won't Need to Win Many Games of Lucky Hit to Afford Shenmue I & II

    Collection will cost $29.99

    The Shenmue series includes a variety of ways to make in-game money, whether it’s operating a forklift, gambling, or moving crates (yes, seriously). In real-life, you won’t need to spend too much time grafting to afford SEGA’s anticipated compilation collection, as Shenmue I & II will retail for $29.99 in the...

  • Soapbox Why You Should Play Shenmue I & II on PS4

    But why you need to be very careful

    If you could hear beyond my screams of elation, the announcement of Shenmue I & II for PlayStation 4 overnight brought with it murmurs of excited curiosity: a new crop of gamers are finally going to get their opportunity to try out this cult series for themselves. That’s a good thing, as Ryo Hazuki’s...

  • News Shenmue I & II Searching for Sailors on PS4 in 2018

    The day the snow turned to rain

    Wow, we never thought we’d see the day. SEGA has followed up on its promise of a “huge surprise” by announcing that Shenmue I & II will be coming to the PlayStation 4 later this year. Considering we’d written off the possibility of this ever happening, that’s a pretty gigantic surprise indeed. This...

  • News Shenmue III Celebrates MAGIC 2018 with Four New Screenshots

    Lan Di drama

    Fans were disappointed by Shenmue III’s presence at MAGIC 2018 in Monaco this weekend, as Ys Net opted to show an extended version of last year’s awkward Gamescom 2018 trailer instead of all-new footage. The developer did, however, release four new screenshots, which we’ve embedded in this article. The character models are...

  • News Shenmue III Shows Impressive Progression in New PS4 Screenshots

    More details at MAGIC Monaco next month

    Shenmue III’s scheduled to release in 2018, and a trio of new PlayStation 4 screenshots show the progress that the project’s making. First up we get a new glimpse of protagonists Ryo Hazuki and Shenhua, who are beginning to resemble their Dreamcast counterparts. There’s still work to be done, but at...

  • News Shenmue III's Looking Like a Lock for 2018

    That's the plan, anyway

    Shenmue III will finally continue its search for Lan Di later this year – at least, that very much appears to be the plan. The title was originally scheduled to launch in 2017, but never looked like it was going to hit its ambitious ship date. However, Cedric Biscay – who fronts up Shibuya Productions, one of the many...

  • News Shenmue III Introduces New Character, Partnership with Lakshya Digital

    I see

    With publisher Deep Silver involved and a year of development still to go, expectations for Shenmue III have been raised. The good news is that Ys Net has been able to recruit some external support, with Lakshya Digital being brought on board to render the various non-playable characters that you’ll encounter around the world. If you’ve...

  • News This Shenmue III Facial Animation Video Will Not Alleviate Concerns

    Her face is scary

    The team making Shenmue III seem pretty naïve to us. So, you may recall the title’s first trailer releasing recently, and the ribbing that ensued regarding its non-existent facial animations. Well, now Ys Net has clumsily deployed a video showing it faffing about w

  • News Shenmue 1 & 2 Could Keep Friends Close on PS4 This Year

    Those you love

    It’s the rumour that won’t stop running: the two Shenmue titles could be coming to the PlayStation 4 this year. Just like the Bayonetta and Vanquish double-pack we reported on earlier, a bunch of Eastern European retailers all seem to think that Yu Suzuki’s legendary Dreamcast adventures are coming to Sony’s current console...

  • News Shenmue III Shows Off Three New PS4 Screenshots

    Chillin' in Guilin

    Shenmue III got a new trailer and details at Gamescom 2017, which generally divided opinion despite being a work in progress. While the new footage showcased some stunning environmental artwork, it also spotlighted some truly woeful animations. Series creator Yu Suzuki has said that

  • News Shenmue III's Character Models are Temporary, Facial Animations Were Removed

    Yu Suzuki weighs in on game length, improvements, and forklifts

    Shenmue III received its first PlayStation 4 teaser trailer this week, and it came in for some criticism. While the environments showcased certainly looked impressive, many felt disappointed with the title’s wax-work character models and non-existent facial animations. Speaking with...

  • Gamescom 2017 Shenmue III PS4 Screenshots Show Stunning Locales, Waxy Characters

    Yu Suzuki targeting improvements

    Shenmue III’s debut trailer has been met with a mixed response: fans love the look of the environments, but pretty much everyone is in agreement that the animations need work. It’s no surprise, then, that Ys Net’s long-awaited sequel looks much better in stills – with its oversaturated art style augmenting...

  • Gamescom 2017 Here's Your First Look at Shenmue III on PS4

    And thus the saga begins

    What a surreal moment this is: we’ve waited over 15 years, but here’s our very first look at Shenmue III on the PlayStation 4. We’ve got to be honest with you, it’s hard to believe that we’re even writing this. So, the good: the environments are excellent. Yu Suzuki’s adventure series is famous for its...

  • News Shenmue III Lands New Character Art, Global Publishing Partner

    Silver lining

    We were promised new Shenmue III information at Gamescom 2017 next week, and developer Ys Net has prefaced that with fresh artwork and news of a publishing partnership. Deep Silver – who seems to enjoy working with Kickstarter successes – has announced that it will publish the long-awaited sequel on the PlayStation 4 (and PC,...

  • News Shenmue III Footage to Debut at Gamescom 2017

    Sequel scores new logo, too

    After an extremely disappointing E3 2017 no-show, Shenmue III will be taking the trip to Gamescom 2017, where new footage of the anticipated PlayStation 4 sequel will debut. “While we are still working out the details with our partners, we plan to show our newest movie clips, share the latest updates, and even make some...

  • News Shenmue III Stalls the Search for Lan Di Until Second Half of 2018

    Game is "bigger and more beautiful" than expected

    Shenmue III is returning to the dojo until the second half of 2018, series creator Yu Suzuki has announced. The game was previously scheduled to launch later this year, but even the most ardent fans of the franchise must have anticipated a delay – especially when developer Ys Net ruled out an...

  • News Shenmue III Will Not Be At E3 2017

    Here's a new character, though

    Many had expected Shenmue III to be on display at E3 2017 next month, but developer Ys Net has ruled that out in an update on the title’s Kickstarter page. “We will be devoting June to game development and, as a result, will unfortunately not be participating in any game shows,” the studio said. It’s still...

  • News Yu Suzuki Discusses Shenmue III's Story Development

    Cool story, bro

    It's another Shenmue III update with very little on the progress of the project. This time, director Yu Suzuki talks about the development of the title's plot, and how he uses films as a reference for the cinematography. It's a very top-level look at the creation of games, and doesn't really provide many hints on the nature of the...

  • News Shenmue III Clears Some QTEs in Cruddy Dev Diary

    Changed my mind

    Shenmue III's supposed to release this year, but we'll save you the disappointment of a delay right here and now: it's not. Ys Net has uploaded its first developer diary in months today, and it's basically two minutes of next to nothing, as the team laugh and joke their way around the company's distinctively pokey office. There is a...

  • Rumour Shenmue HD Will Search for Sailors This Year

    The day the snow turned to rain

    A remastered version of Shenmue and its sequel will apparently release this year, according to a "trusted" Atlus source who spoke to Rice Digital. The two games will apparently deploy as a single package rather than separately, and are being prepared ahead of the release of Shenmue III, which is currently slated for...

  • News SEGA Raises Hopes with Shenmue HD Domain Registration

    Snow turns to rain

    The 'will they, won't they' saga surrounding Shenmue HD is becoming as drawn out as Ryo Hazuki's revenge, but SEGA Europe has raised hopes by registering a domain for the aforementioned compilation. According to the Who Is data, the publisher bought ShenmueHD.com back in September, perhaps suggesting that PlayStation 4 ports of...

  • News Shenmue III's Shaping Up Nicely in New PS4 Screenshots

    Way cool

    Following confirmation that Shenmue III is about to enter full-production, developer Ys Net has released a brand new batch of screenshots showing off the upcoming sequel. The studio still seems coy regarding actual character models – the early images of Ryo Hazuki and Shenhua looked all kinds of wrong – but these do look pretty. In...

  • News Shenmue III Headed Towards Full-Scale Production At Last

    Expect new videos early next year

    Many had hoped that we'd get a glimpse of Shenmue III at PSX 2016 this month, but the show came and went without word of Yu Suzuki's long-awaited sequel. However, the former SEGA man has provided an update on the project at long last, revealing in the latest issue of Japanese mag Famitsu that the title will be...

  • News SEGA's Still Investigating Those Oft-Requested Shenmue Remasters for PS4

    I see

    SEGA's still very much looking into those Shenmue remasters that we're all screaming for on the PlayStation 4, so its stance hasn't changed since… Well, it last gave lip service to fans a few months ago. "The issue is that it is a big game," a SEGA Europe representative told MCV, clearly forgetting that there are actually two She

  • News Shenmue Sub-Director Searches for More Sailors in Shenmue III

    Back on the bike

    Yu Suzuki's name will forever be tied to Shenmue – it was his magnum opus, after all. But as is the case with so many projects, he had a team around him to realise his vision, and one such person was Keiji Okayasu. He served as a sub-director on the SEGA Dreamcast original, and also contributed to its sequel massively. And now...

  • News Shenmue 3 Isn't Going to Be Ready for a Long, Long While Yet

    Yu Suzuki tells us where it's at

    Yesterday, Shenmue III celebrated its first Kickstarter anniversary with a short video from series creator Yu Suzuki. "Your cheers at the Sony announcement still ring in my ears," says the veteran developer, before going into detail about how the project is progressing. According to Suzuki, things have "really taken...

  • News Learn Why Shenmue Is Held in Such High Regard

    Courage shall determine his fate

    Not going to lie: Shenmue III's reveal almost had your humble host in tears last year. It's a game series that's had a profound effect on this author, as illustrated in this soapbox article. But many who missed out on the original – or perhaps were too young to play it – may not understand why Yu Suzuki's...

  • News SEGA Wants Shenmue HD on PS4 As Much As You Do

    And thus the saga begins

    Shenmue III is in active development for the PlayStation 4, but many of you have never played the Dreamcast originals. Talk of high-definition remasters of Shenmue and Shenmue II have been swirling since the PlayStation 3 days, but have never come to fruition. However, the publisher has reiterated that it's "investigating"...

  • News Shenmue III Sizzles in Scintillating New PS4 Screenshots

    Bailu's lookin' beautiful

    The first Shenmue III screenshot released didn't exactly capture the imagination, but the project's been in development for a little while now, and is slowly beginning to take shape. These images, deployed to coincide with a Shibuya Productions hosted event named Magic Monaco earlier today, really impress, showing shots of...

  • News Yu Suzuki Wants to Evolve the QTE with Shenmue III on PS4

    Push square

    Back when Shenmue launched for the Dreamcast in 1999, the concept of QTEs was brand new. Yu Suzuki's pioneering 80s adventure for the first time ever required you to be paying attention during cut-scenes: a flailing fist, a falling pot, a slippery road – button prompts would appear on screen and require inputs lest the sequence branch...

  • News Still Can't Believe Shenmue III Is a Real Thing? This Screen Proves It

    I see

    Shenmue III is real. We've known this for a good six months now, of course, but it's still something that this author – a lifelong Shenmue fan – has to pinch himself over. The sequel seemed unlikely for the longest time – over a decade, in fact – and now a new screenshot has emerged out of a Monaco press event. It's a prototype, so...

  • News Shenmue III Will Pick Up Directly After Shenmue II

    I see

    Cast your mind back 14 years and you're standing in a cave with mirrors bouncing light around it. The conclusion to Shenmue II, never properly explained, is where Shenmue III will pick up, as veteran director Yu Suzuki prepares to continue the plot of his legendary adventure game. According to a new Kickstarter update, the sequel will depict...

  • News Shenmue III's Already Looking Impressive on PS4

    Yu did it

    As undeniably excited as everyone at Push Square Towers is for Shenmue III, we've never held particularly high hopes that the game will be any good. But even at this early stage in development, it's looking visually impressive. As part of a Kickstarter update sent to backers, developer Ys Net has shared a few prototype screens – and...