Shenmue Chapter 1
For: Dreamcast
Genre: RPG / FREE (fully reactive
eyes environment)
Reviewed by: Escee (Brandon)
Developer: AM2
Publisher: Sega
Released:11.14.00
Shenmue is possibly the
most anticipated game for Dreamcast. Period. Not only does Shenmue
have possibly the best graphics on Dreamcast ever, but it
defines its own genre - a completely new gameplay. Yu Suzuki, the
game's creator, defines this new genre as FREE, or fully reactive
eyes environment. This means you can go anywhere and do anything.
There are no restrictions. You can even go buy a Coke from a vending
machine if you want - although it in no way helps you. It is just
little details like this that make you fully realize the extent
of the nonexistance of restrictions.
In Shenmue, chapter 1 of what
is supposed to be a 12-chapter series, you control Ryo in a Japanese
town called Yokosuka in 1986. Someone has killed Ryo's father (details
are revealed in the intro of the game) and Ryo must seek vengeance
on the killer. Throughout Shenmue you are on this quest to get revenge
on the man who killed your father.
Shenmue
brings a new level of realism to gaming. If you played Sonic
Adventure you will remember the train station, with the train
always waiting for you. Well, in Shenmue, if you want to
catch the bus you have to get to the bus stop at the right time,
or wait for the bus to arrive. This is realism. Of course, the game's
time runs much faster than real time, but that is definately a good
thing. But the fact that Shenmue actually acts as if days
are passing as days are passing truly enables a new level of realism.
Shenmue
is a game where you can feel as if you are in a world. Everything
seems to be ultra-realistic, from the graphics to the characters'
attitudes. Shenmue even includes old Yu Suzuki arcade games
like Hang On and Space Harrier in the arcade within
the game's world. All I can say is that I am waiting for Shenmue
to be released in America, November 2000. I certainly hope that
the game released here is as good as the one released in Japan.
media: download
the shenmue trailer
|
8.28.00
click on the screenshots above to see the
full image
download
the shenmue trailer
images
from ign
|