Shenmue
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Shenmue (シェンムー) (2000) is a Modern Action Adventure/RPG/FREE for the Sega Dreamcast, produced and directed by Yu Suzuki of Sega-AM2. Suzuki coined a new genre title, FREE (Full Reactive Eyes Entertainment), for the game, based on its unparalleled interactivity and freedom, as well as the innovative real-time and weather systems.
Despite being well received by critics, Shenmue was not a breakthrough hit for Sega, and it failed to increase the Dreamcast user base as significantly as was originally hoped. It did not turn in a profit, and is not generally considered to be a success for Sega.
Story
Chapter I
The story, which begins in 1986, centers on a young man named Ryo Hazuki (芭月 涼 Hazuki Ryō). Ryo returns home one day just in time to witness his father's killing at the hands of a man named Lan Di. Both Lan Di and Ryo's father, Iwao Hazuki, are martial arts experts, but Iwao is no match for Lan Di's abilities. Lan Di appears to be searching for a mirror, the location of which Iwao reveals before he is killed. After the killing, Ryo decides that he must avenge his father's death, even though he has no idea who Lan Di is or why his father was killed.Ryo's first clue is a car that some of his neighbors saw on the day of the murder. Though his leads are few and far between, Ryo slowly makes progress in his investigation by interviewing people all over Yokosuka. Just as he is about to run out of leads, a letter from a man named Yuanda Zhu suggests that he seek the aid of a certain Master Chen, who works at the harbor. Through Chen and his son Guizhang, Ryo learns that a local wharf gang known as the Mad Angels is connected to Lan Di's crime organization, the Chiyoumen. Ryo also learns that the mirror stolen by Lan Di is part of a set of two mirrors, and after much investigation he locates the second mirror in his own home.
Ryo takes a job on the waterfront in order to learn more about the Mad Angels gang, and eventually he causes them enough trouble that the gang kidnaps his friend (and principle love interest) Nozomi Harasaki. To rescue Nozomi, Ryo must first fight Guizhang, then team up with Guizhang to defeat all seventy members of the Mad Angels gang. Upon defeat, the gang's leader reveals to Ryo that Lan Di has left Japan for Hong Kong. With the aid of the Chen family as well as his family and friends, Ryo boards a boat to Hong Kong. Before the close of the first chapter (and subsequent end of the game itself), he is instructed by Master Chen to seek out the help of a master of the Chinese martial arts located in Wan Chai named Lishao Tao. Concluding the first chapter of Shenmue, Ryo boards a boat and travels to Hong Kong in pursuit of Lan Di.
Characters
In Shenmue, Ryo Hazuki is the main protagonist, and the only playable character. As the game progresses, Ryo meets a variety of new characters that serve to further the narrative of the storyline. The most important of these include Nozomi Harasaki, a childhood friend who is romantically interested in Ryo, and Master Chen Yeo Wen, who guides Ryo on his quest with his insightful knowledge and kindness. The main antagonist is Lan Di. Throughout the game, he is elusive to Ryo. Large sections of the narrative revolve around tracking Lan Di down. Two important antagonists that Ryo does come into contact with are Chai, a powerful Martial Arts expert who is often deranged in his devotion to Lan Di, and Terry, who runs a harbor gang known as the Mad Angels.
In addition, several characters provide insight into Ryo's true self and also give him motivation for his actions. There are several supporting characters that often act to further develop Ryo's back story to the player and define his personality more clearly. The most important of these being Nozomi Harasaki, who is understood to harbour a deep love for Ryo. Thier relationship can never progress beyond friendship, despite a sincere love and affection for each other, because of Ryos quest to avenge his father's murder. The scenes involving Ryo and Nozomi are often the most emotionally charged in the game, and perhaps more than any other help the player to understand Ryo and the turmoil he suffers following his father's death. Other childhood and family friends, who populate the Yokosuka area, also serve to further develop Ryo's character. There are also several incidental characters that populate the game world,Yokosuka. Although these characters might occasionally provide the player with some useful information, they are primarily present to produce the game's realistic atmosphere and setting.
Significance of the title
The game's title is derived from a specific tree that makes a cameo near the ending of the second installment in the series. The tree is located, both literally and figuratively, at the center of the prophecy that is a constant thread throughout the saga (and which is featured in the cinematic intros to both games). The Shenmue tree resides in the same small village (Bailu, which is located in Guilin) that spawned both Shenhua and the game's notorious stone mirrors.There is further foreshadowing to this tree in Shenmue I, although such references are very discrete. One example is the cassette named "Antiquity Tree", which Ryo may purchase at any point during the game. Anitquity means "ancient", hence "Ancient Tree". The musical score played from the cassette shares an uncanny resemlence to the muscial score of the Main Shenmue Theme. Therfore, it is suggested that the Shenmue Tree is an ancient tree, probably reflecting the tree's mythology and its significance.
Gameplay
Gameplay in Shenmue is diverse; while most of the game is spent walking around the atmospheric, lifelike Japanese locations in a third-person 'chase cam' mode (talking to people, searching for things, solving puzzles, and so forth), it is interspersed with dozens of 'mini-games', including forklift and motorcycle races, bar fights, chases down crowded alleys, full versions of Sega arcade games Space Harrier and Hang-On (both originally programmed by Shenmue creator and director, Yu Suzuki), dart games, and 'free fighting' sequences.Free fights
The free fights pit Ryo against one or more enemies in a cross between Virtua Fighter and Final Fight; Ryo has a large list of martial art techniques, almost worthy of a full one-on-one fighter. The player has the ability to enter a practice mode of sorts, in which Ryo will practice his various martial art techniques, either alone or with a friendly opponent - this helps to increase the player's familiarity with the Free Fight system. Whilst progressing through the game, players have the ability to learn more techniques, adding to Ryo's repertoire and ultimately making him a more powerful martial artist. There are several senior martial artist's that Ryo meets throughout his journey, and they offer to teach him new skills. The player has the choice to decline these offers, although they would be ill-advised to do so as Ryo's physical development is important to his success as his opponents become stronger. Another method for learning new techniques involves Martial Arts Scroll Rolls. These antique instructional scrolls can be found, or purchased, at various locations in the game. Once Ryo has read the scroll, the technique will be added to his repertoire, but the player will need to practice the key combinations it requires to truly master it. The culmination of the game involves a gigantic brawl between Ryo, his ally Guizhang, and exactly seventy enemies.
Free quest
The majority of Shenmue is based on Free Quest gameplay. During such gameplay, the player will explore the Yokasuka area usually for any leads to progress the narrative. Often, these leads will be gained by talking to local people who can provide important clues. If the player so desires, they can explore the area simply for fun without progressing the game's narrative. There are a variety of activities to engage in, the most well known being the ability to play several of Yu Suzuki's classic Arcade hits, such as Space Harrier, OutRun and Hang On. Other mini-game's include Darts and Snooker, but there are many more. Many players find that simply exploring the immensely detailed locations of Shenmue to be a greatly rewarding experience. Furthermore, talking to a wide variety of local people that although will not progress the narrative, can greatly enhance the player's understanding of the plot and/or gameplay mechanics. There are also several side-quests for players to engage in throughout the game. These will not effect the main narrative, but might provide Ryo will useful items or further develop characters and storyline for the player. Yu Suzuki has stated that for a player to see everything Shenmue has to offer, and to truly experience the game fully they must be patient and take the time to explore the game's numerous hidden facets.QTE
QTE (Quick Time Event) is a large part of what makes Shenmue a unique experiance. During these sequences, a button will flash on screen briefly and the player must press the relevant button or combination of to trigger Ryo's actions. Fights against opponents can take place in QTE form as frequently as in Free Fight form. In addition to battles, QTE sequences are used for various other scenario's. For example, at one point a QTE sequence is used when Ryo must chase an escaping crook and Lan Di associate who has stolen money from him. The sequence takes place in the middle of a busy town center, and a variety of incoming obstructions must be avoided. As the game progresses, the reaction speeds required of the player become quicker and the button combinations become more complex. The player's success or failure in these scenes can effect the flow of gameplay as well as the current cutscene.
The QTE concept is not new to Shenmue, however. The earliest known example of the QTE, is the gameplay of the original Dragon's Lair, released in 1983. While not referred to as a QTE (the term QTE was coined by SEGA), the principal was the same. There was also an earlier example of a SEGA game featuring prominent use of the QTE, 1996's Die Hard Arcade. Nevertheless, it was Shenmue which has made the QTE into the well-recognised, and increasingly popular gameplay-machenic that it is today. Since its release, several other games have included a QTE system, or similar. The most recent of these titles being Resident Evil 4, Fahrenheit and [[Lara Croft Tomb Raider: Legend]].
Development
The exact costs of Shenmue are the subject of much speculation. However, it is generally considered that the figure appearing in the Guinness World Records - $20,000,000 USD - is the most accurate. [link] Shenmue was in active development for approximately five years - between 1994 and 1999 - but creator Yu Suzuki has commented on several occasions that he had initial plans for the game several years prior to this.Early stages
Yu Suzuki has stated on several occasions that during its early stages, Shenmue was a traditional style RPG based on the characters and storyline of hugely successful beat-em-up title Virtua Fighter. The Ryo character was simply Virtua Fighter character Akira to begin with. The final Ryo character has several key differences, but there is a very clear visual resemblance between him and Akira. As the game's development progressed, the characters became original and the storyline moved away from its Virtua Fighter roots.
Initially, Shenmue was planned as a killer application for the beleaguered Sega Saturn. Although it was very powerful for its time, the Saturn was also notoriously difficult to work with and progress was painstakingly slow. Yu Suzuki has stated how difficult it was to get the most from the Sega Saturn, but that he is very proud of the visual quality he was able to achieve on the 32-bit system. Work on the Sega Saturn version of Shenmue is said to have been fairly complete, but following the console's commercial collapse internationally, Shenmue was shelved and never officially released on the format. However, Sega was already beginning work on an a brand new console (which during the early stages of its development was called the katana) and work on Shenmue quickly resumed, with the powerful new system as its format.
Project Berkley
As the gaming industry became more aware of Sega's next generation console towards the end of 1997 and beginning of 1998, Shenmue was also getting noticed. At this time, however, the game was only ever known as Project Berkley. tech demos from the game were being used by Sega to show what the Dreamcast was capable of producing. Many of these sequences were very well developed, and some were even used in the final retail version of the game. This has led many to believe that Shenmue was probably one of the very first Dreamcast titles to begin production. Shenmue quickly became Sega's flagship Dreamcast title - representing the systems powerful graphics capabilities and also its ability to render immersive, cinematic characters and settings.
Shenmue was one of the first video games to incorporate development techniques that had previously been primarily used for film. The voice acting in Shenmue was especially ground-breaking because it was the one of the first large scale games to include real voices for every single NPC in the game world, not just resorting to text transcriptions (ala The Legend of Zelda). Furthermore, this extensive audio script was recorded in both Japanese and English. Clay models of every character - regardless of how minor there role in the game - were built as reference material for animators creating the final in-game versions of the character models. The game also includes a highly cinematic musical score, which required a full size Orchestra. Composed by Yuzo Koshiro, the soundtrack has been critically acclaimed and is regarded by many as one of the finest soundtracks ever created for a video game.
Content and features
Magic weather system
Shenmue incorporates an entirely original system to produce the game's in-universe weather conditions. Named the Magic Weather System by Yu Suzuki, it is one of the most important elements responsible for creating the game's realistic universe. For every day that the player progresses through, weather conditions are generated. Conditions vary from rain, to snow, to overcast skies to sunny and several other variations. Furthermore, weather can change throughout the day - for example, a rainy morning followed by an overcast afternoon and evening. No two players will ever experience the same weather conditions, since the game generates random weather every time the game is played (Although the conditions generated are reflective of the season in which they take place). In addition, records of real life weather conditions of the Yokosuka area during 1986/1987 (the time period in which the game is set) were implemented into the game, giving player's the option to experience these weather conditions in addition to those which are randomly generated.
Geography
Shenmue takes place within Yokosuka, Japan. The four main areas of Yokosuka available to the player are detailed and offer many avenues for exploration. The Hazuki Dojo is located in a small hamlet called Yamanose, where many of Ryo's childhood friends and neighbours live. Ryo's childhood friends, Ichiro Sakurada and Noriko Nakamura, are also residents of Yamanose. Directly next to Yamanose lies Sakuragaoka, a slightly bigger neighborhood. There are several points of interest here, including Setsu Abe's Candy Shop and Sakuragoaka Park. Several important scenes of the game happen in this district. There are also several residents of Sakuragoaka that can offer assistance to Ryo in his quest to find Lan Di. They include local gossips Fusayo Mishima and Fusako Kondo, as well as Naoyuki Ito, who lends Ryo his motorbike when Nozomi is kidnapped.
Dobuita, the second largest location in the game, is a busy town that offers a wide variety of people and activities. Dobuita offers players the widest selection of shops in the game, from convenience stores to specialized antique shops where valuable martial arts scrolls can be purchased. Nozomi is often found in Dobuita at her grandmother's florist. There is also a red light district with several bars, restaurants, and a small casino. The bus service that allows Ryo to travel to Yokosuka Harbor is also located here.
Yokosuka Harbor is Shenmue's largest environment. Ryo first travels here to meet Master Chen, but he eventually works at the harbor to gain information on The Mad Angels, who have a large crimminal influence in the area. Mark Kimberley, who eventually becomes a valuable friend to Ryo, also works at the harbor, and has several run-ins with the Nad Angels. Shozo Mizuki, a homeless man who lives at the harbor, we learn is a martial artist who revers Iwao Hazuki, and teaches Ryo a variety of techniques.
Culture
Shenmue takes place within two years, from Novemeber 1986 upto (depending on the player's speed in completition of the game) April 1987. At Yu Suzuki's insistence, the game environment and culture adheres closely to this period. Various martial arts disciplines play an important role in both the storyline and the gameplay of Shenmue, and aspects of Japanese and Chinese culture related to martial arts are prevalent. Ryo's character represents a very typical young man of late 1980's Japan. He comes from a traditional background, and his childhood was focused around the mastery of martial arts so that he can one day become responsible for the Hazuki name. However, Ryo is part of a generation with changing values. His generation considers personal wealth and enjoyable life experiences more desireable than traditional Japanese values. This theme of changing values appears throughout the game in many forms, such as the numerous inclusions of American pop culture. For example, Ryo wears typically Western attire.Passport
NTSC and PAL editions of Shenmue included a feature not available in the original Japanese release. Accessible on a special fourth disc, Passport is a supporting application of sorts that greatly enhances the Shenmue experience. The Theater option allows players to view FMV Video sequences they have unlocked in the main game, while the Music option works in the same way but with unlocked tracks from the game's soundtrack. In addition, the Information section allows new players to learn more about the various aspects of Shenmue gameplay. Several of the game's main characters appear in pre-rendered sequences to talk through a variety of elements from Shenmue including Mini-Games, Magic Weather System, Free Battle and several others. These sequences are fully interactive, allowing players to interuppt the preset camera movements and take control of all camera movement. Many of these tutorial-style sequences were used as Technical Demo's and shown at various events, such as E3, prior to the game's release.
Passport also utilises the Dreamcast's internet connectivity. The Shenmue World feature contained highly detailed information about all aspects of the Shenmue world (i.e. Locations and Characters), and it also hosted an online manual. Furthermore, Shenmue World also allowed players to upload thier scores from the playable Arcade games found in Shenmue and to compete in the worldwide rankings board. Downloads, including Shenmue-themed VMU Icons and in-game collectable items (such as toy capsules), could be obtained through Shenmue World, with several of them requiring some kind of item trade. Via loading thier saved games, players could also use this feature of Passport to view detailed information about thier data - from total hours of play, to frequency of Mini-Game plays, to the number of Cola drink purchases. As of April 1, 2002, all Online features of Passport were discontinued. This was due to the cancellation of all Sega Dreamcast production, which also saw the closing of the systems dedicated ISP Dreamarena (for Europe) and SegaNet (for North America).
Reception
Initially released in Japan at the end of 1999, Shenmue is regarded by many critics and fans alike to be one of the Sega Dreamcast's stand-out games. This is largely due to the game's status as a groundbreaking technical achievement, but equally as a totally original and fulfilling gaming experience.Critical review
Shenmue often divided critics; many hailed it to be a masterpiece, while others found it self-indulgent and uninspiring. A universally praised aspect of the game, however, were its graphics. Gaming Target, who gave the game a perfect 10/10 score, described Shenmue's visuals as "The greatest in-game graphics that have ever been seen for a console." Even less favorable reviewers included strong praise for the game's visuals. RPG Fan, who gave the game a score of 68%, wrote "Shenmue is truly a benchmark game. The world and its complexity is flawless, easily the most impressive, real, and interactive world I've ever seen." However, many reviews cited the game's pace as a major flaw, complaining that the whole experience offered by Shenmue was far too slow. GameSpot highlighted this problem in their review: "By the time you're driving forklifts and participating in the game's QTE-filled conclusion, hours upon hours of boredom will have taken their toll." Several other critics gave the gameplay of Shenmue high praise. Gamepower said the game's Free Fight system was "just as entertaining as almost any fighting game on the market." The publication awarded Shenmue a rare 10/10 score, and concluded their review with "[Shenmue] is a landmark in gaming as we know it, a revolution in every sense of the word. The future is here, and we are staring it in the face. Shenmue is a masterpiece, I was honored to play."Sales
As of 2005, Shenmue has sold a total of 1.18 Million units worldwide. , making it the 12th best selling Dreamcast title. Considering the high production costs and high critical praise, these figures are rather underwhelming. Low key titles such as Marvel vs. Capcom, House of the Dead 2 and even a NFL 2K title managed to outsell the highly publicized Shenmue. The majority of the game's sales came from the US and Europe, where it found a significantly larger audience than in Japan. Shenmue is consistently listed as one of several key Dreamcast titles (Most of them SEGA productions) that ensured the console enjoyed solid sales during the Christmas and Thanksgiving seasons of 2000.Box art
See also
- [[Shenmue: The Movie]]
- Shenmue II
- Shenmue Online
References
External links
- [Official Shenmue Website]
- [Shenmue Dojo]
- [Shenmue Master (french site)]
- [Hazuki Dojo]
- [Shenmue Archive]
- [Italian Fansite]
- [NW's Shenmue and related games site]
- [Shenmue reviews] on GameRankings
- [Shenmue-Saga]
- [Man Mo Temple (German Shenmue forum)]
- [a video parody of Shenmue].
- [Article on the evolution of Ryu from the Sega Saturn to the Dreamcast version]
- [Short UK documentary] (Quicktime, 4mins) on the story behind the development of the series
- [Shenmue] at MobyGames
- [Shenmue Myspace]
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