Shenmue 1 & 2 Reviews

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

79 / 100
Aug 20, 2018

A no brainer for fans of classic gaming. It hasn't aged well in some facets and the port is a bit lazy, but it still offers an unique experience.

Review in Spanish | Read full review

7.8 / 10.0
Aug 20, 2018

Shenmue is still a great game. A masterpiece in art direction. It's emotions,

Review in Italian | Read full review

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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7.5 / 10.0
Aug 20, 2018

An couple of outstanding adventures almost 20 years ago that are coming almost untouched... That's a good and a bad thing at the same time. If you are an old school gamer that's looking for reliving the original experience it's perfect, but the games are getting old to be as entertaining as they were.

Review in Spanish | Read full review

IGN Middle East
Ammara Rounaq
Top Critic
7.5 / 10.0
Sep 9, 2018

It is a good modern version that works to visually upgrade the game while preserving the original Dreamcast version and will attract both old and new fans, but it is not without flaws.

Review in Arabic | Read full review

75 / 100
Aug 21, 2018

A carefully conserved milestone of the medium, inviting to a fascinating journey through time to the beginnings of modern game design.

Review in German | Read full review

Alana Hagues
Top Critic
75%
Oct 20, 2018

If you're looking forward to Shenmue III, this is the perfect time to brush up on the series.

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GameZone
Top Critic
7.5 / 10.0
Sep 3, 2018

If it weren't for some technical aspects and mechanics held back by their age, Shenmue would be easy to recommend to just about anyone. So long as Shenmue 3 really adapts itself for the modern gamer while still remaining Shenmue at its core, it could be something incredibly special. After hearing about this series for so long (both through praise and criticism), I can safely say I am a believer in Shenmue and can't wait to play 3 next year.

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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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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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Metro GameCentral
GameCentral
Top Critic
7 / 10
Aug 20, 2018

Yu Suzuki's classics remain as unique and fascinating today as they ever were, if you can tolerate the painfully slow pacing and wooden dialogue.

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7 / 10.0
Aug 22, 2018

These are not remakes of the original Shenmue games. We accept these ports as they are, flaws and all, because they have a wonderful and engaging story that has kept fans wanting more for 18 years.

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7 / 10
Aug 26, 2018

Shenmue I & II divided players and critics on the Dreamcast, and will continue to do so on the PlayStation 4. These games are an acquired taste, but there's nothing quite like them, and if you can overcome some of their more awkward idiosyncrasies, you'll be rewarded with a set of revolutionary sandboxes that impress even today. The ports are let down by a handful of recurring bugs, but are otherwise presented authentically, and while the voice acting is no less embarrassing today, there's a charm to both the script and performances that can be endearing to an open mind. There's no question that these titles deserve their place in the annals of gaming history – but whether you'll love them or loathe them will ultimately come down to personal taste.

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ZTGD
Top Critic
7 / 10.0
Oct 9, 2018

Yes, it looks a little shiner and it is of course the first time the two games have been available as a collection on a console that isn't the Dreamcast (Shenmue II was ported to the original Xbox) but if you have never played these games before, expect a little resistance. It may also be worth holding on a little while and picking it up in an inevitable future sale. Alternatively, if these do not sound like your cup of tea it may be worth taking a look at the Yakuza 0/Kiwami games as these seem to be the natural advancement of Shenmue, with many considering them to be representative of what would have been if Shenmue had been able to continue as a franchise.

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PCMag
Top Critic
Sep 26, 2018

Shenmue I & II collects Sega's classic open-world games and gives them modern touches. The titles feature fun combat and quirky humor, but they also suffer jarring pacing issues.

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