Shenmue III Reviews

Shenmue III is ranked in the 34th percentile of games scored on OpenCritic.
9.5 / 10.0
Nov 7, 2019

With this new entry, only 40 percent of the entire Shenmue story has been told according to the game’s creator. While Shenmue III doesn’t move the plot as far as I’d like, I’m hungry for more.

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Kirk McKeand
Top Critic
Nov 19, 2019

Despite these annoyances, despite the fact that it’s a game designed with decades-old sensibilities, I enjoyed my time with it. It doesn’t have the conclusion we’ve been waiting two decades for and it barely drives the story forward at all, but the climactic battle is as satisfying as that 70-man tussle in the first game’s harbour.

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7 / 10
Nov 19, 2019

All the ingredients are there to make of Shenmue III is a great Shenmue game : rivetting story, copius side content, beautiful backgrounds and great characters. But it's also a bit dragged down by its dated production values. Gamers who the first two Shenmue games and who can overlook technical shortcomings will have a great time. Bring on Shenmue IV!

Review in French | Read full review

Recommended
Nov 20, 2019

A bewitching time capsule that transports us to late 80s China, and to turn-of-the-century video games.

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80 / 100
Nov 20, 2019

Shenmue III has some issues and it is not a game for everyone, but, if you enjoyed the two first games and you know what kind of game this is, it will satisfy you, as far as gameplay, setting and plot are quite good and remain loyal to Dreamcast era. It was worth waiting eighteen years. Now the question is: when will we be able to play Shenmue IV?

Review in Spanish | Read full review

Fextralife
Lanzen
Top Critic
7 / 10
Nov 20, 2019

Beautiful to look at and live in, particularly in its second half, its charm and story mostly overcome its dated roots, except for the capsule game mechanism which spoils the overall experience.

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Unscored
Nov 20, 2019

It’s not the lack of elegant dialogue or the glitches that make this game so disappointing, but the idea that a series that was so obsessed with what would be possible from gaming in the future has turned into a way for people to attempt to revisit the past.

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Unscored
Nov 20, 2019

Shenmue III is a highly expected game by gamers because it is the continuation of a cult franchise. However, time has passed, but it seems game's developers don't notice it. It's beautiful, the soundtrack is very good and the story endures, but the animations are unreal and the gameplay more than tedious, it becomes impossible. It looks like a PS2 game, instead of PS4.

Review in Spanish | Read full review

Metro GameCentral
Top Critic
6 / 10
Nov 21, 2019

A literal dream come true for fans and while most others will struggle to understand the appeal it's impossible not to admire Yu Suzuki's vision and tenacity in not only making the game but making it his way.

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Nov 21, 2019

Shenmue III has finally arrived, and it is exactly what fans of the series have been asking for.

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IGN Spain
Top Critic
7 / 10.0
Nov 21, 2019

The story we never thought would come is already here, outdated in many aspects and mechanics, but maintaining all the necessary charm to not disappoint the fans.

Review in Spanish | Read full review

GameCrate
Top Critic
6.5 / 10.0
Nov 21, 2019

To put it politely, Shenmue III has the potential to charm existing fans of the Shenmue saga, if only in how much it painstakingly recreates the stilted beauty of its two predecessors. However, if judged on its merits alone and/or by a non-Shenmue fan, this game just feels like a whole bunch of wasted Kickstarter money. If there's one thing that Shenmue III proves, it's that bringing new fans into the fold was never Ys Net's goal.

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76 / 100
Nov 21, 2019

Shenmue 3 Polarized: For some, it's the fulfillment of a dream, for others it's a frumpy game design in a nicer garb.

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Nov 22, 2019

A magnificent, authentic, totally uncompromised sequel that crucially ignores virtually every gaming trend of the past 18 years.

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7 / 10.0
Nov 22, 2019

Speaking of a video game of such importance, it is difficult to separate the nostalgia effect from the actual quality. While Shenmue III proposes itself exactly as it wanted to be, on the other hand it stumbles into a series of smears that go far beyond anachronism. The desire to appear in everything as the ideal sequel to a series frozen for eighteen years proves to be a double-edged sword. As much as Shenmue III manages to find internal coherence in its compact rhythm, one cannot overlook the obvious conceptual limits that undermine its overall quality. Yu Suzuki's title does not go beyond the "miracle" of his own existence, and as satisfied as it may be, even for the most dedicated fans it will be impossible not to admit an unpleasant aftertaste of lost opportunity.

Review in Italian | Read full review

3 / 5.0
Nov 22, 2019

In a lot of ways, this review could probably go on for a lot longer highlighting how dated and lifeless this game is, but the fact of the matter is it is meant to appeal to fans. It’s hard to comment on how they’ll feel, but this is objectively a bad game and while it has elements of being so bad it’s good, such as the emotionless voice acting, making it hard to see the value in.

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3 / 5.0
Nov 22, 2019

Shenmue III deserved something better. The developers should have found a way to meld what makes Shenmue distinctly Shenmue with bringing the game mechanics into 2019. I’m all for remasters of old games and keeping those same clunky mechanics with those old games, including the punishing difficulty. However, I want my sequels to old games to adapt and grow with the times.

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6 / 10.0
Nov 22, 2019

I’m glad that Shenmue 3 exists, and I hope the series continues so fans get the conclusion they deserve. It’s just a shame that it has rooted itself in the past.

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85 / 100
Nov 22, 2019

Shenmue III feels like a remake of the Dreamcast game that never existed, for better and worse. It's got everything fans loved about the Sega classics, along with some of their baggage. Still, the best of the series is the greatest it's ever been. It can feel as bloated as the originals, and some mechanics feel unnecessary or are poorly explained. If you're curious about that fabled Shenmue charm, though? This is the best entry to date.

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Kyle Hilliard
Top Critic
5.9 / 10.0
Nov 22, 2019

Rejoining Ryo Hazuki's quest to avenge his father is exciting, but Shenmue 3 feels like a game that has ignored the innovation and progress of the last 20 years of video game development.

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