Best dreamcast game ever (Shenmue (DC))

Member Name: NO.1 Rock fan

Product:	Shenmue (DC)
Date:	07/05/01 (182 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: The entire concept, detailed environments, variety of gameplay

Disadvantages: Infrequent slowdown, the game ends too soon

Imagine with me the following scenario: after playing a friendly game of darts with the geeky arcade owner of your local town, you leave the darkly-lit establishment, stroll down the bustling main street while doing your best to avoid leg-powered vehicles, only to be jumped by two unruly sailors which you quickly polish off with your physical prowess, all the while trying not to get your trendy leather jacket dirty. In addition to this being a run-on sentence, it also seems too cinematic (not to mention abnormal) for a regular person's leisurely stroll through town. It wouldn't seem likely that a mere game could hope to portray such variety with any sort of competence, right? Obviously you haven't played the eagerly awaited Dreamcast title Shenmue, the final product of popular AM2 designer Yu Suzuki.

You killed my father…now you must die!

Before I start gushing about the wonderful merits of Shenmue, I must first come down to earth and admit that the plot behind the game isn't going to be the groundbreaker to which all succeeding games must aspire. You play as Ryo (pronounced ree-`o) Hazuki, and you must avenge your father's death by tracking down the man, a mysterious Lan Di, who committed the foul deed right before your very eyes (while restrained by the ever-present Men in Black). Yep, that's it. Just your average "you take what's mine, I'll make you pay double" revenge story. Of course, the plot quickly becomes complex by throwing all sorts of characters and sub-quests at you, so you don't need to worry about quickly losing interest.

Wow, this looks so real…hey, what's with the slowdown?

If you've seen any of the recent Playstation 2 games, then you've probably been impressed by the attention to detail regarding environments and, more importantly, the depiction of people. True, Shenmue doesn't have any graphical effects that couldn't be duplicated on
the Playstation 2 (if the developers learn how to harness its power, at least). But if all Dreamcast games could have visuals like Shenmue's, then Sony's console would have a difficult time luring gamers into parting with their hard-earned greenbacks. Ryo's dojo is fully equipped with Asian-influenced sliding doors, fully 3D and textured furniture like tables and wardrobes, lanterns that emit soft luminescence, and every sort of appliance that would be found in your typical home. Every one of these objects has highly detailed, smoothly rendered textures that aid, rather than hinder, your immersion into the world of Shenmue.

What really impresses me, though, is the characters themselves. Each one sports an impressive polygon count that is on par with any fighter from the Tekken or Virtua Fighter series. Since this game is set in 1986, Ryo is decked out in a bomber jacket with adequate-fitting jeans and white sneakers (a far cry from the garish-colored jackets and loose jeans that are popular today). In regard to his facial features, the easiest way to describe them is to check out the superbly modeled faces found in Final Fantasy VIII's cinemas. With Shenmue, the developers have tightened the gap between game depictions of humans and actual reality.

Unfortunately, the game engine has several flaws. While the game is designed so that you can walk around a three-dimensional environment while other characters act upon their own routines, it is disturbing to find that characters will seemingly appear out of thin air. Probably done to relieve stress on the Dreamcast's CPU, the sudden appearance and disappearance of NPCs (Non-Player Characters) distract the immersion that Shenmue strives to attain. Strangely, the actual environments of locations such as the town of Dobuita don't suffer from the same pop-up. Another problem is that when there is lots of movement on the screen and it starts to heavily rain or snow, slowdown occurs.
I'm willing to bet that the Playstation 2 would not suffer from this weakness if it had an equivalent version of Shenmue.

When a game includes its own music CD, the soundtrack must be good…

Shenmue comes with its own soundtrack, which can be found on the CD labeled "Shenmue Jukebox" (well, I know it comes with the Limited Edition version of Shenmue that I have, anyway). So, the music must be good, correct? To my ears, it sounds like it is trying to be stirring and subtle at the same time. Like Nobuo Uematsu has done with Final Fantasy VII and VIII, the composer of Shenmue attempts to create thematic music that influences you by its intricacies instead of by forcing its way into your head through the method of repetitiveness. True, some of the themes are easily memorable, like the delicate tune that plays when you encounter your girlfriend, Nozomi. However, most of the soundtrack aims to add to the game instead of compete with it, much like in movies.

Then, there is the voice acting. Sega decided to push the release date of Shenmue back from last spring until now so that it could undertake the time-consuming task of dubbing the dialogue. Was it worth it? Well, it is obvious right from the beginning that Sega could not defeat the near-impossible task of synching the lips of the characters with their voices. This disturbed me for the first few hours of play, but time proved to cure me of this dilemma (which basically means that I got used to the foreign film-like dubbing). Ryo's voice sounds reasonable for his appearance and age, with the right amount of emotion to prevent you from wishing to strangle his neck. The other major characters also sound fairly professional, at least as far as videogame dubbing goes. Not surprisingly, the quality drops slightly with most of the minor characters, but I've yet to find a voice that truly nauseates me.

This almost seems like I'm playing a visual equivalent of a
n old Infocom game!

Since Shenmue has many different varieties of gameplay, it is hard to compare to any game that has been released in the last few years. If you've ever played a command-line game such as Zork or one of the many Quest games from Sierra, then you'll be pleasantly surprised with the sequences found within Shenmue. My reason for comparing this game with those old classics is that you can basically interact with any object that you encounter. Approach a phone, and you can call someone up. Flip a light switch, and the previously darkened room becomes easily visible. Want to play an arcade game like Space Harrier or Hang On? Do it! The amount of things to do, whether necessary or not, is mind-boggling.

In order to enjoy all of these activities, you must first learn the control scheme. The D-Pad is used to walk, with a style similar to Resident Evil (push forward and back to move, left and right to turn). The analog pad turns Ryo's head in the desired direction, which can be done even when you are walking. To further explore your surroundings, push the right trigger to zoom in on objects, which can result in more opportunities to interact. Two action buttons allow you to use objects, converse, and cancel. The left trigger, when depressed, allows you to run. Finally, you can open your notebook and enter the options menu, both of which provide you with additional information.

While these commands are used for most of the game, you will occasionally encounter special events that have their own method of controls. The first of this type is called the QTE, or Quick Timer Event. If you've ever played the old laserdisc game Dragon's Lair, then you'll understand how to play during a QTE. Most of the action is taken out of your hands, and you simply react to command icons that flash onto the screen. For instance, if a thug is about to pummel you and the 'A' symbol appears on the screen, just push the '
A' button quickly and you will sidestep him and probably turn the tide of battle. While this type of gameplay has been met with resistance in the past, QTEs are infrequent and actually are fun when they do occur.

Another special event is called Free Battle. Occasionally, you will be faced with certain opponents that wish to battle you through martial combat. When these battles occur, you must respond by using a variety of maneuvers, like punches and kicks. Actually, these combat sequences are much like playing a game of Virtua Fighter or Tekken. You can learn special moves that require certain button sequence. You also have the option of throwing or dodging your opponent(s). Though the fighting engine doesn't match the depth of the aforementioned games, it is surprisingly detailed for what is basically a mini-game.

The reasons why I love Shenmue (and you should, too!)

Like I said before, the plot isn't unique enough to instantly recommend buying Shenmue. However, it is the little touches that Suzuki has instilled into his game that have kept me entranced. The "Time Control" technology, as stated by the CD case, is a very cool feature in which morning gradually turns to night, and the inhabitants of Dobuita have their own lives that they follow. While we've seen this done before in games like the Ultima series, the passage of time lends a sense of urgency to your explorations, which keeps you on track of your overall goal (but don't worry, since you've got several months to complete your quest). Also, the "Magic Weather" system (another term found on Shenmue's box) does an excellent job of adding to the realism of Ryo's world. Sometimes the sky is clear and sunny, and sometimes it is overcast. Random occurrences of snow and rainfall are a nice touch. Both of these features would be sorely missed if they were absent, which I feel speaks a lot for their inclusion in Shenmue.

Additi
onally, I really enjoy all of the optional actions that are available to do. For instance, you will quickly find an abandoned kitten that needs some attention and food. While you could just leave him be, the option of naming him and caring for him is just too enjoyable to pass up. The various shops have several products available for purchase, like milk and candy. While most of these items are not necessary to buy, it is a nice feature nonetheless. One location that is completely optional to take advantage of (other than for plot purposes) is the You Arcade. Inside, you will find several games that you can play, like the previously mentioned Space Harrier and Hang On. Also, you can play darts, mess around with a jukebox, or play some games that are designed to enhance your QTE skills. Don't be surprised if you find yourself addicted for hours on these diversions that don't actually have anything to do with your progress in Shenmue!

Finally, the fact that this game exists at all is a good sign for owners of Sega's Dreamcast. Since Sony, Microsoft, and Nintendo each have consoles which hope to dominate the console market, Sega doesn't have much time left to snag supporters and developers. Hopefully, with the technical achievements found in Shenmue, developers will find the inspiration to release similarly innovative games that can hold their own against the technologically superior competition. If you currently own a Dreamcast, or have been sitting on the fence waiting for a must-buy title, then make sure you pick up Shenmue. It is easily the Dreamcast's best attempt at this time.

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