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About Shenmue...
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Here is an overview of different modes and what you'll find in the game.
Free Battle Ryo is trained in the Hazuki family martial arts, and you'll occasionally
be attacked by thugs and various other villains. You'll have to defeat them using an
amazing fighting engine - dare I say the most impressive fighting engine outside of
the big three of 3D fighters? Ignoring the overly dramatic camera angels, which tend
to make movement clumsy, the fighting system in Shenmue seems to be perfect for
fighting hoards of incoming assailants. You can punch, kick, defend, and use a skill,
and in addition to a standard array of Virtua Fighter-style moves, you have access
to a set of moves you learn throughout the adventure (see the next section for more
details). These moves can actually be leveled up by practicing them in the dojo, or in
an abandoned parking lot in the game world.
This fighting system is a high point - and if you play towards the later areas of the
game, you may get a glimpse into what Streets of Rage on the Dreamcast could look
like. The magic is that many of the attacks can strike multiple opponents. You can
grab one opponent and, while holding him, take out other opponents with kicks.
You must learn.. grasshopper!
Yet another way that Shenmue innovates, and something
that we heard nothing about prior to the game's release. Ryo is in a constant state of
learning when it comes to his martial arts, and various characters in the game will
teach him moves, explaining how a move is accomplished, but never stating the
exact button combinations. You have to watch their movements closely and try to
mimic them. If you see them move back, then you should move back. If you see them
execute a hand move of some sort, then maybe the punch button is in order. All the
while, the character is coaching you, making such statements as "You don't have
enough strength in your arms" . . . or something like that. It can be, often, difficult to
mimic the moves, but when you do manage to get it right, it's a rewarding feeling.
And if you can't get it right, the game will allow you to proceed on without asking
any questions.
Quick Timer Events There are many scripted events in Shenmue, where Ryo
engages with other characters. AM2 has made these sequences loosely interactive,
with your being required to press a button at a given time, else go down some
unwanted path. The Quick Timer Events start off short and are used sparsely, but
when you get to the third disk, you'll be in quick timer heaven with some of the most
awesome sequences you've ever seen, either in film, or in a game. Forget about the
complaints people initially had for this system - it's a welcome addition, and adds a
lot to the game. So much so, in fact, that I wish AM2 had used it for more of the
events.
Ride Your Motorcycle For various reasons, you'll at some point need to ride a
motorcycle. You speed through the highways on the outskirts of Yokosuka,
controlling the motorcycle as you would in an actual motorcycle game.
Fork Lift??That's right! For various reasons, you'll at some point obtain a job as a fork
lift driver.
Games within games You can go into Yokosuka's game center and try your
hand at classic Sega games such as Hang On and Space Harrier, as well as a few
newbies such as darts and a Quick Timer Event boxing game. You'll even find a pool
game in MJQ Bar.
Raise a petYou get the opportunity to raise a kitty
. If you follow the path that takes this injured kitty to
prime physical health, you'll have to purchase food from the local 24-hour Tomato
Mart and feed it daily.
Realism?
(ok ok, not that realistic!)BUT this is truly the most realistic game in history. Screen shots
don't do it justice. If you don't want to import, get the demo. Shenmue
is proof that the DC is capable of unbelievably realistic graphics. This is a real pic btw :)
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