Shenmue II (Xbox)

my copy came with the Shenmue movie, a very good film in it's own rights. As for the actual game, the music is amazing, as is the gameply, story etc this is a truly amazing game. If you want a full review you should check dedicated review sites, as there is too much to list as to what makes this game a masterpiece, but as I said the music and story are the best aspects of the game. The only downsides are the platforms you can play it on and the fact there will never be a Shenmue 3, so the story will never be finished, so Shenmue 2's story ends unfinished with loads of questions unanswered. As for it's platforms, you can only play it on the dreamcast I think? And heard that isn't very good and the original xbox. As for the xbox all I can say is I loved it's games, features, graphics etc...but I had to buy 3 or 4 as they kept breaking, compared to only one ps2...nuff said. So I personally just got it for the movie(which makes it an expensive but still amazing buy) as the xbox as a console is too unreliable to be worth buying as a permanent console choice. However if you've never played this game, this game is honestly so good it's worth buying an xboxjust to play this game(and other good games obvs) but if you do buy an original xbox to play this game, do so in the knowledge based on my experiences it will break at some point, it's not a matter of if, but when(and yes I did look after my xbox). So overall a perfect game which depending on which seller you go for comes with an equally perfect movie, but is let down massively by the platforms it's available on and the fact it's story will never be finished.

I had never heard of this game before and bought it mainly on the strength of the existing customer reviews. The very reasonable price and the bonus DVD of the first game swung it for me. The bonus DVD gives you a feature length (1hr 30min approx.) film of the first Shenmue. This is quite entertaining and provides a background to the game you are about to play - essential if, like me, you never played Shenmue on the Dreamcast. Unfortunately, it has its downsides. At times it looks more like a walkthrough of the first game than a proper movie. Also, it is unintentionally hilarious in places, e.g. the very pretty Nosomi telling Ryo to 'Cheer up, will you?' when his father's just been murdered. I can't help but feel something has been lost in the translation. Also, while the characters always wearing the same clothes, irrespective of the weather, may not be so noticeable in the game, it stands out like a sore thumb in the film. At times, while playing Shenmue 2, you may feel a bit lost and directionless. I remember the first time I got a part-time job working at a lucky hit stand. I sat there thinking, 'What am I doing here? I'm supposed to be following up on clues in order to help Ryo avenge his father's death, but instead I'm wasting time running a gambling stall.' However, I soon realised that things like that are an integral part of the game, in order to earn money, and that it's best to take it easy and enjoy the experience, instead of fretting over how little progress is made during a day. The sub games are cool, although games like Outrun and Space Harrier are showing their age & strangely aren't that much fun, even if, like me, you normally enjoy the retro experience. The slot machines are slightly confusing, too. I couldn't figure out how to exchange my tokens for money. One criticism I would make is that the game does seem to promote a gambling culture. There are an awful lot of places to gamble and lose money. I suspect the game's trying to teach you that you can spend a lot of time earning money doing an honest day's work and then blow everything in a very short space of time if you're not careful. Another criticism I would make concerns the camera angle & your inability to raise it. I would have preferred it to be a bit higher up instead of being centred on Ryo's back, which makes it a little awkward to see what is directly in front of him without swiveling it one way or the other. Also, your freedom is restricted by Ryo's sense of honour. For example, you can't jump into the water or run out onto a busy road & commit suicide or break into peoples' houses & steal their possessions. I'll admit that it's a far cry from a go anywhere and do anything game, if such a game will ever exist (Morrowind? Almost), but its one of the most rewarding and addictive RPGs you're likely to find.

It played for a few hours and stopped working saying unreadable I tried for over a month to get it to work no joy and seeing has I spent over £17 for an older game I feel ripped off,lucky for me I got another copy for £5

ShenmueII is not all its cracked up to be. When Shenmue was originaly released for the Dreamcast it was something of a revelation. Its a game of commendable scope with good presentation. Unfortunately its lofty ideals have been better implemented since, chiefly in the development of the 3D-Role Plaing Game (RPG)genre.Shenmue game puts you in the sneakers of one Ryo Hazuki, a Japanese boy in Hong Kong circa 1987. Ryo's on a bit of a revenge quest, and gets mixed up with local street gangs and kung-fu enthusiasts on his path through the game. The Hong Kong setting is lovingly portrayed in full 3D, and the game features dynamic NPC's that wonder about and give a realistic feel to the streets.ShenmueII isn't a proper Role Playing Game by any stretch of the imagination. For one thing, the storyline is quite startlingly linear, often leaving you little choice other than how fast you choose to run between the games many cut-scenes and sometimes even denying you that freedom. Ryo actions are almost always dictated by a very tight script. So if the plot requires you to unintentionally 'meet' someone in a particular area, the game throws up pretty crude barriers (sometimes literal ones) to make sure you do just that.Fortunately the storyline is quite good, Ryu himself is a likable chap who's easy to identify with (he's a kind of willful young hothead anti-hero, but a good kid really). Likewise many of the other main 'characters' in the plot are usually very entertaining and thier appearences welcome. A word of caution here though; the game probably relies a little too much on 'male interest'. Most of the other characters in the game are attractive women, or young girls. There's nothing in ShenmueII to shock your grandma and its all seemingly innocent and romantic. But some of the constumes are a little revealing and its questionable whether girl gamers will get the same kick out of playing.Character development is virtually non-existant, consisting entirely of learning kung-fu moves you hardly ever get a chance to practice, or use. This is a crying shame, because the fighting sequences in Shenmue are absolutely stellar, with smooth animation, responsive controls and usually numerous villains to battle. Unfortunately there just isn't enough fighting to really apreciate the deep virtua-fighter style combat system. The best description I can think of for Shenmue would be as a kind of interactive kung-fu movie. Unfortunately if it were a REAL movie it would be very dull (although full of mushy romantic stuff).I'm by no means a fan of arcade style games, generally preferring more sedate, strategic play. Unfortunately there is little thought required to play Shenmue at all. Puzzles merely consist of finding people and places, and the majority of sub-games rely on either blind luck or simple reaction time exercises.One of the games main flaws is the over-abundance of dull, repetetive tasks required to earn money and/or progress the plot. Examples include moving crates pointlessly around a warehouse and carrying books out of library to air.Any feeling of real life supposedly imbued by the necessity of sleep, work and cash in Shenmue are completely negated by its inconsistancies. You don't need food for example, or the loo, or laundry services. This might seem a petty complaint but the game simply seems like a (barely) interactive movie with a few superfluous inconvenient quirks to draw out the storyline. Theres little to spend cash on other than maps, gambling and collectables, which is frustrating when you can walk into most of the local shops but can't buy a thing!I've perhaps been a little harsh on ShenmueII. The graphics are certainly terrific considering the games age and the music is very good indeed. Sound effects and voice acting (the version reviewed is dubbed in English) are both patchy, but generally acceptable. The strong, well told storyline and appealing characters will probably keep most people playing till the end, but its not an intellectually challenging or particularly exciting game. Its basically like a low-budget australian TV soap opera, not many thrills and spills but kind of compelling and you end up watching it 'despite yourself' just to kill time.

Que dire de Shenmue sinon que quel que soit le jeu se rapprochant de pres ou de loin de Shenmue, rien n'y arrivera jamais a la cheville, grand initiateur du gameplay au QTE et profitant pour l'epoque d'une avancée technologique de 5 ans d'avance par rapport a la Ps2 sa reele concurente, ce jeu mele enquete, aventure, vie "réele" et combat.Si vous avez aimé le I, le II est et restera un incontournable, de plus en version Xbox il est retrocompatible Xbox360, donc n'hesitez plus, foncez pour ce jeu ô combien magnifique dans tous ses aspects!

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