Few single-player games can boast as loyal a fanbase as Shenmue has. After campaigning tireless for a HD re-release after the successful Kickstarter for Shenmue III, wishes are answered today as Shenmue I & II launch on current-gen consoles in a nice and tidy collection.
Shenmue tells the story of Ryo Hazuki who witnesses the murder of his father at the hands of a man known only as Lan Di in 1980’s Japan. Ryo then makes it his personal mission to uncover the mystery behind Lan Di, why he killed his father and stole the Dragon Mirror. His journey will take him through the quiet towns of Yokosuka and Sakuragaoka in the first game, before heading to Hong Kong in the second game.
Many features remain from the original such as the persistent clock, myriad of minigames and Virtua Fighter-esque combat; rather than tinker with the game too much, it remains largely as it was when released. The graphics have been touched up with nice HD visuals but other than that, everything else is almost as it was, to give the old school fans the same experience and the newcomers the real deal.
Launching today priced at £24.99, Shenmue I & II are games constantly regarded as ‘must plays’, setting the benchmark for open-world games to follow. This, for many, will be the best opportunity to do so. Look out for our review coming soon and let us know in the comments below if you plan to pick these up!
For now though, you could do worse than hit up a digital store of your choosing. Xbox One owners should make their way to the Xbox Store asap. PS4 and PC players will know what they need to do to get a download moving.
Game description:
A tale of revenge. In 1986, teenage jujitsu artist Ryo Hazuki returns to the dojo of his father, Iwao Hazuki, only to witness his murder by a Chinese man, Lan Di. Lan Di steals a mysterious artifact known as the Dragon Mirror. Ryo vows to avenge his father’s death and sets out tracing Lan Di’s path. The best Shenmue experience: – Updated user interface – Choice of modern or classic controls – Japanese audio available for the first time for a global audience – Fully scalable screen resolutions An epic legend: – A tale of revenge on a grand scale – Solve the mystery of your father’s murder – An experience never to be forgotten The world feels alive: – Talk to anyone, scour the world for clues – NPCs live independent lives on their own schedule – Faithful recreations of 1980s Japan and Hong Kong, China – Distract yourself with arcade games, collectibles, duck racing, and more
