With the impending release of Shenmue 3 (Nov. 19 2019) ive decided its time to revisit the notable series of games to get myself back in to F.R.E.E. Shape (Full Reactive Eyes Entertainment) . I still own my copy of Shenmue 1 for Dreamcast (VMU save file completed in August of 2003) and that is the version ive decided to play. There seems to be quite a few small issues with the remasters that had come out, plus there was some product brands that had to be removed (Timex) so I figured I may as well just stick with how its was originally released since I have the equipment to play it and im perfectly fine with its presentation. My plan for Shenmue 2 is to attempt to rip a copy of the European Dreamcast release and transfer my VMU save over — when I played Shenmue 2 before I had done so via the Original Xbox release, which was fine, but id like to do it in this more initial manner. These Diarys won’t be a complete recap of all the action, just things that stick out to me.
Here We Go: Oh, whoops, not so fast! Seems my Disc 1 won’t load! Just sticks at the first loading screen and stops dead. After an initial panic that my dreamcast has dropped-dead, I did some research in nearly 20 year old forums that this is a known issues with the Discs initial printings of the game. I dont recall this happening at all when I played it originally, but no matter what I do (nor which Dreamcast I try) will the original disc load. Everyone 20 years ago says burn a copy and it should be fine. They were right! Burned copy loaded right up and I am on my way!
On My Way: Right off the bat I have a warm feeling come over me, the introductory cut-scene really sets the stage for the sort of soap opera drama the game is going to be conveying. Once I am in control of Ryo I immediately open every single drawer and cabinet in the house and take every single picture off the walls. I zoom in on every minuscule detail and am charmed by how many unimportant objects were recreated in this game just to shove it into a drawer because thats simply what would be in the drawer! Its not lost on me that this sort of thing has probably been done several times over now in modern gaming, but ive not really kept up with a lot of the now surely classic Free Roaming style Sand Box games that came out (specifically the Yakuza games). So this kind of thing is still working me over just as it did when the game came out originally, when it equally impressed people and made people go “Big deal, you can look at kleenex boxes”. I should probably leave the Hazuki residence….
Taking it to the Streets: I can’t imagine playing this game without the English voice actors. I know there is “undubbed” versions you can get and you can change it to Japanese voices in the Remasters, but there is no way I would do that. So much of these games charm comes from the voice actors. It does make the game less realistic but it adds a lot to a sort of altered reality vibe that, for me, plays well against how realistic the game is attempting be in other areas. My first interaction with a random person on the street was a man sitting in the dirt, drunk, staring at a brick wall. His only concern was how strange it was that Ryo was attempting to investigate his fathers death at 9:30pm at night. Fair enough.
Tobacco shops and Jazz Bars: Im not sure I know of another game where small business owners are so integral as they are in Shenmue. Pretty much everything you’re trying to do until you get to the harbor is based on what dirt and gossip all the small business owners know in the area. They know who can translate a letter for you, they can remember what they saw “on the day the snow turned to rain”, and they certainly know where to find Sailors. Every time you gain access to another business its a real treat because you never know what you’ll find. Some are real eager to see you like the guy at the Motorcycle shop, others forget who you are even though youve bought them SEVERAL Sodas from the vending machine when they didnt have any change like the chefs adult son at the Chinese Restaurant. But whatever, ive got to find Warehouse #8.
Sea Breeze: At this point in my play im on Disc 2 and have taken the Bus down to the harbor. Im starting to get into more fist fights, sneaking into buildings like its Metal Gear Solid, etc. Its getting more video-gamey with each passing day. Which is nice because the Harbor is lacking a lot of the social-flare of the city and neighbor hoods. Lots of people that have ZERO interest in talking to some random 18 year old with a band-aid on his face. Ive made some key progress in the games story, witnessed a Golem-like creeper guy watching me from a rooftop, and I think sooner rather than later ill be hopping into a forklift and earning a days pay. Oh, and the small stray kitten ive been feeding dried fish and squid legs to has climbed out of its cardboard box! Its all very exciting!
