25 replies to this topic

[Brian R.]

Shenmue is simply awesome. It's really fun if you let yourself get into its world. When I was actively playing Shenmue for the first time, I was playing every day, for hours, every night.

When it ended, I had to know what happened next... so I went and spent the most money I ever have for a DC game ($50) and got Shenmue 2 - the Euro version. And then I was playing it every day.

One of the things I liked the most - for all the time I played it, the one thing I never saw was a "Game Over" screen. Even if you mess up, you get another chance. Plus, you have an incredible degree of freedom in the game, but the game always gently guides you in the direction you need to be going, so you never get totally lost. I liked that about it. I hate getting lost or confused in a game, because then I put it down, walk away and usually never go back - that happened with Resident Evil Code Veronica.

Shenmue is some of the best stuff I've ever seen done in video gaming. Truly one of video gaming's greatest accomplishments, IMO.