[Review] #7 - Shenmue I and II are getting re-released?!

Who would have thought that in 2018, an absolute classic of a game would get a re-release? Who would have thought that it wouldn't just be another remastered title. @holoz0r definitely didn't see this one coming.

Who on Earth would have thought that Sega would invite us to empty our wallets to the tune of "guess what, Shenmue I and II are getting re-released?!"

In a quiet press release on the 14th of April, Sega unleashed the best news many would have heard in ages. By the end of the year, Shenmue One and Two will see a relase on PC, Xbox One, and PlayStation 4.

But what is Shenmue?

It is a cult classic. There's quicktime events, role-playing, doing the dishes (well, not really, but that boring stuff about life), as well as a living breathing world (the kind that Pete Hines promised the world with Oblivion, and then again with Skyrim and every other Fallout game that has followed.)

Then there's the plot; which follows protagonist Ryo Hazuki as he tries to track down his father's killer. The game wasn't overly successful during its heyday, from a financial perspective, owing to the massive scope involved in the gameplay, which led to massive development costs.

But fans remember. And now, fans get a remastered, re-release; that promises us the same game, on current-gen hardware.

The press release spruiks exactly what is going on:

Shenmue I & II comes complete with the original feature set that defined modern gaming, including enthralling jujitsu combat, investigative sleuthing, and RPG elements in addition to memorable mini-games. Shenmue I & II is set within engrossing real-time open worlds that feel truly alive thanks to day-to-night cycles and weather changes, with a population of civilians who follow their own schedules.

This is the definitive version of these all-time classics and will be the best Shenmue experience to date. The re-release will stay true to the originals with modernised features including fully scalable screen resolution, choice of modern or classic control schemes, PC graphics options, an updated user interface and the option to enjoy either the original Japanese or English voiceovers.

But wait, there's more! - A trailer!

The trailer doesn't show a massive leap in the visual style of the title, with an early disclaimer notifying that it is "pre-release, work in progress footage" - and it shows. Don't watch the trailer expecting jaw-dropping next gen (or even current gen) visual splendour. You won't find it.

You don't need incredible graphics to make a game playable again, especially when Shenmue was released on Dreamcast, way back in 1999. The Dreamcast hasn't endured as well as consoles of its day, and is rarely seen in the wild; beyond vintage / retro gaming stores, and with a price tag to match.

This isn't a title I've ever had the opportunity to put my hands on, so it is one that I keen to obtain when it hits stores. It is a good thing that Sega didn't announce this on the first of April, because that would have just been cruel!