Shenmue 1 & 2 Reviews

Shenmue 1 & 2 is ranked in the 56th percentile of games scored on OpenCritic.
Aug 20, 2018

Shenmue and Shenmue 2 have never looked or felt this good. Experience these unmissable classics in the best way possible.

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Cubed3
Top Critic
6 / 10
Sep 26, 2020

The first two Shenmue games are undeniably very important, but they fall just short of being great. They are undeniably unique, even all these years after their release, and the best thing that can be said about them is that they are interesting. It is a really fun world the games put forward, and it is great to explore and figure out where to go and what to do next. At the same time, though, they don't necessarily play that well, and they show their age in a lot of unfortunate ways. This is definitely more of an acquired taste, and it is probably best to say that these are better experiences than they are video games. They're worth checking out, particularly for someone that has fond memories of them on the Dreamcast, but be warned that there are some warts that need to be looked past before you dive in headfirst.

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5 / 10.0
Oct 9, 2018

Shenmue I & II are great games for Dreamcast, but not for modern consoles. Let them rest.

Review in Slovak | Read full review

Ofisil
Top Critic
4 / 10
Oct 8, 2018

If looking for a simple port, as well as a bundle of the Shenmue duology, you are in for a treat, despite the fact that the enhancements of this version are underwhelming. Those expecting an action-adventure that is as good as it is popular, though, get ready for a rude awakening, because, nostalgia, and pioneering innovations aside, this just isn't fun anymore.

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80%
Oct 5, 2018

Shenmue I and II on PlayStation 4 is a great way to enjoy two classics from the Dreamcast era that many players probably never got a chance to play back in the day.

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PS4Blog.net
the_nmac
8 / 10
Sep 2, 2018

Shenmue I & II is a great way to revisit gaming history from the past. The games were so far ahead of what was in the industry at the time focusing on a fully open world and finding ways to integrate you into it. I have heard from several game designers in interviews about how this game made them want to design games and infomred how there current products are being created. The voice work sounds dated and the contorls even with modern upgrades still don't feel great either, but this is a second chance to play gaming history. Don't miss out on it and get caught up before the Trilogy ends next year with Shenmue III.

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8 / 10
Aug 28, 2018

Despite the technical issues with the game, it still a great gaming experience and worth the try

Review in Arabic | Read full review

7 / 10.0
Aug 29, 2018

As a series that has a huge legacy and influenced many games since its release, Shenmue hasn't managed to age that well. The awkward control scheme takes some time to get used to, and there are some unfortunate bugs that seem to hit hard enough to ruin the experience, but the story still has a lot of heart and charm to make you care enough to finish it.

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Simon Brown
Top Critic
8 / 10.0
Aug 27, 2018

Shenmue I & II brings the Dreamcast classics to a new audience as well as those nostalgic for the old days. They are still fun, exciting games even with a few quirks due to their age and are well worth playing in 2018.

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Aug 21, 2018

If nothing else, the simple reality that Shenmue is again a living franchise is, all by itself, something truly amazing.

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9 / 10.0
Aug 31, 2018

Shenmue is game that truly becomes captivating because of the experience and the story that surrounds itself with mystery. For those without the patience, the progression may not be what others are looking for, but I think more story-heavy games should incorporate that kind of steady build-up that balances with timely action sequences that makes it feel a little less linear than it actually is.

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Oct 28, 2018

Shenmue I and II are clearly games of their time, and many newcomers will find it hard to understand the fascination of these games. But for me it was a celebration of joy to to stroll again through the dreamy streets of Yokosuka, or to fight my way through a skyscraper in Hong Kong. Sure, the 18-year-old hothead Ryo sometimes steers himself like a tank, and yes, the story has its lengths and the presentation its weaknesses. Nevertheless, todays games rarely offer such an atmosphere, credibility, immersion and charm. Shenmue I & II ultimately became exactly what I wanted it to be: A worthy remaster for fans.

Review in German | Read full review

Wait for Sale
Sep 10, 2018

Fans of the Shenmue series place the games on a pedestal reserved for the gaming greats, heralding it as one of the greatest things to ever happen in the industry. In a sense, this isn’t incorrect; for all its faults, Shenmue blazed a trail that many amazing games would go on to follow. Its ideas at the time weren’t just novel but borderline revolutionary, and its reputation in that sense is well deserved. That said, the games have aged incredibly poorly, and by modern standards, they are downright terrible to play for a multitude of reasons. A slow and dull story, clunky controls, more forced waiting than an MMORPG, and any other number of design elements that haven’t aged well. Effectively, they’re an essential part of gaming history, but they aren’t fun to play. For new players coming into the Shenmue series on nothing but recommendations alone, temper your expectations with the understanding that “cornerstone” in this industry does not automatically mean “classic.”

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8 / 10.0
Sep 7, 2018

When it comes down to it all though? Shenmue I & II are fantastic and must plays. The character designs, the efforts into the locations, the various gameplay systems from the QTEs which are actually good to the Free-Fighting system that is among the best that I’ve ever tried. All of it, comes together so well that it’s sad to think that it was a commercial flop and that it took this long for the series to come out to KickStarter in order to once again see the light of day. I’m quite looking forward to the third once it finally arrives. Check out PY's Part 1: http://www.chalgyr.com/2018/09/Review-PS4-Shenmue-1-2-Part1.html

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7.5 / 10.0
Sep 3, 2018

Discover the magic of Shenmue and find out why these games are so beloved by fans

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8 / 10.0
Sep 14, 2018

Shenmue 2 is an excellent continuation of not only Ryo Hazuki's story, but also showing the evolution of open-world adventure RPGs around the turn of the century. Shenmue 1 & 2 paved the way for so many other greats; Dragon Age: Origins, Grand Theft Auto IV and V, Demon's Souls/Dark Souls, and even the Tomb Raider reboots. Though they may not have necessarily pioneered some of the now-standard aspects of gaming, Shenmue 1 & 2 showed that abrasive functions like the QTE or that open-world aspect of "alive" worlds. With Shenmue 1 & 2's rerelease, gamers of all ages can experience a cult classic that deserved for more exposure than it received. Now, with it releasing on common platforms, Shenmue 1 & 2 has a larger audience than ever before, and those that decide to follow Ryo's story will be richly rewarded.

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4 / 5.0
Aug 31, 2018

As antiquated as they may be by today’s standards, Shenmue 1 and 2 are classic and impressively forward-thinking games that overcome their technical issues with their epic stories and charming characters. They certainly aren’t perfect, but this well-made collection proves that they’re definitely worth revisiting.

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7.6 / 10.0
Sep 1, 2018

When compared to other games that received the proper remaster treatment by Sega, Shenmue 1 & 2 HD doesn't shine with its minimalist rework for the new console generation.

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USgamer
Top Critic
Aug 24, 2018

As a person that didn't play Shenmue when it was new, I found it a very difficult game to come back around to with its awkward controls and plodding nature. The second game is faster and more giving with its content, which makes for a better game and the highlight of the package. Slavish fans of the original will find this a workmanlike repackage of the original games. Modern audiences, though, will still have to overlook some serious rough edges to find out what the big deal is.

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7 / 10
Aug 20, 2018

This collection is by no means perfect and probably shows off Shenmue’s imperfections more than its strengths, but just having the Shenmue Collection at all still blows me away as it reminds me that this world still holds a very special place in my heart.

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