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Shenmue 3

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Shenmue 3

The wait is over. If you were one of those who just absolutely loved Shenmue 1 and 2, then check out version 3 now.

What is the premise and setting of the Shenmue franchise?

Shenmue 3: A Long-Awaited Return to Gaming’s Most Epic Saga

After over 18 years since the release of Shenmue 2 on the Sega Dreamcast, the highly-anticipated Shenmue 3 landed on PC and PlayStation 4 consoles. Developed by Ys Net and published by Deep Silver, this third installment to the action-adventure franchise brings back the nostalgic, immersive world-building and martial arts combat that had captivated gamers in the late 90s and early 2000s.

For those unfamiliar with the story, Shenmue follows the journey of a young martial artist and sailor from Japan named Ryo Hazuki, who seeks revenge for his father’s murder at the hands of a mysterious Chinese martial artist named Lan Di. The game is set in the 1980s, in a fictional town called Yokosuka in Japan and Hong Kong, where Ryo explores its open-world environment, interact with non-playable characters, solve puzzles and engage in fighting scenes to uncover clues about his father’s killer and his criminal organization.

Shenmue was hailed for its groundbreaking graphics, sound design, cinematic cutscenes, and innovation in combining RPG, simulation, and fighting game elements, all wrapped under a vivid, living world that felt like an interactive movie. It was also one of the most expensive and ambitious game productions of its time, with a budget of over $47 million and over 300 voice actors.

Shenmue 3 continues where the second game left off, with Ryo and his companion Shenhua Ling traveling to a remote village in China to unravel the mystery of her father, and possibly discover clues to Lan Di’s whereabouts. The game retains the core mechanics of exploration, investigation, and martial arts combat, but now with updated graphics, more refined animations, and improved Artificial Intelligence for the NPC characters.

The game also adds new features, such as a stamina system that affects Ryo’s health and fighting abilities, a skill tree that allows players to upgrade Ryo’s techniques and stats, a collection of mini-games to earn money and items, and a branching dialogue tree that influences the relationships and outcomes of some conversations.

However, Shenmue 3 is not without its flaws and criticisms. Some reviewers have pointed out that the game’s plot might feel too slow-paced and redundant, with mundane tasks such as chopping wood or catching fish taking up too much time and not contributing much to the story. Others have criticized the game’s graphics as being outdated and lacking in visual diversity.

Despite the mixed feedback, Shenmue 3 is still a must-play for fans of the series and for those seeking a nostalgic, immersive, and charmingly flawed gaming experience. Its story and characters remain as compelling and human as ever, and its dedication to recapturing the spirit of the original games shows how much passion and effort has gone into bringing Ryo’s journey to a satisfying, yet still open-ended conclusion.

Here’s hoping that Shenmue 3 will not be the end of this epic saga, and that we will soon see Ryo Hazuki’s tale continue with even more surprises, challenges, and mysteries to unravel.