Shenmue 1 and 2 HD Review - The Final Verdict

[@jayward238]

They are still my favorite games of all time. They were a great escape, I found myself wishing as a kid I could live in the game. Learning about a different culture at a young age made me appreciate people more. Such an amazing experience. Shenmue 3 can't come fast enough.

[@JETJOOBOY]

Get this game.. Enjoy it. Do not rush.. It is a Masterpiece of Modern Art ...

[@gtrman12887]

The bad voice acting adds to the nostalgia

[@dcb6729]

I agree, FF 10 had its fair share of similar audio issues and corny dialogue and I love it. Its apart of the nostalgia and charm of these games.

[@SC0RPI0NFURY]

Feels like an old dubbed kung fu movie and it’s awesome 👍

[@cliffturbo2146]

I don't think modern gamers are gonna like it.

[@dcb6729]

@@cliffturbo2146 It's sad but true. 😢

[@SynphamyMusic]

I actually envy new players... I've revisited these games several times over the years and knowing where to find everything and who you need to speak with to progress the story kind of kill the magic a little bit. I wish i could discover Shenmue for the first time again.

[@xXSevanmoXxv]

I love shenmue I have been playing this all day !!!! I used to play this on the Dreamcast when I was a kid and I had no idea what I was doing at the time...

[@SynphamyMusic]

I love the fact that Shenmue is in the spotlight again. It's about time!

[@SynphamyMusic]

@KTV 4U Yep, it was pretty awful. I don't have any hope left for future games. They should just finish it in anime form. I can't believe they wasted the opportunity and kickstarter money on a game that barely even took one step forward story-wise. I just want some kind of conclusion not "Ryo stopped off at a village for a bit" 'cos that's basically what it amounted to.

[@LeadMe2TheBliss]

@@SynphamyMusic Don't worry, bro. We will get Shenmue 5 in 2032! 🤣🤣

[@NC0880]

The excitement I feel for this game can’t be put into words. I can feel gamers emotions while reading different posts & I’m sure we all can truly say..... “FINALLY Shenmue is back & a big piece of the gaming universe puzzle has been filled! THANK YOU!”

[@djbpresents9584]

Looks trash

[@chrisossu2070]

The game probably won't be for everyone, but at least it's now cheaper than crack.

[@FantasyVisuals]

Where you buying your crack ? Change dealer bro , you is gettin played.

[@tj1990]

XD

[@TitanCrusher101]

eKane Pegg FBI, we got em.

[@Zuccurino]

At least crack is enjoyable unlike this game

[@sacredninja6866]

@@Zuccurino You play call of duty

[@AutomotiveCNC]

To everyone who repeatedly screams that "Shenmue 1 and 2 HD" is a remaster. Don't mix up remaster of a film (movie) and port of a game. While remasters of films usually mean increasing the pixel count, changing the colour palette and sometimes adding newly created CG or "matte painted" objects into the 2d picture, in the world of 3d video games that's a completely different thing. A remaster of a 3d game involves REPLACING of the original 3d models and/or textures with high definition ones, and sometimes the music, sound and animations are replaced as well. "Shenmue 1 and 2 HD" is a pack of two old 3d games PORTED to modern systems while KEEPING the original 3d models, textures, animations, music and sound INTACT. The only difference in the game's presentation is the increased screen resolution, as well as several higher resolution HUD images added on top of the original 3d models, textures, animations, music and sound. A FullHD or 4K HUD does not magically transform a 3d game into a remaster. We have seen many examples of ports of old SD or HD games with increased resolution of the HUD, simply because the target systems are more modern and powerful.

[@orriblecol6587]

The original Shenmue was the most expensive video game ever developed at the time, with an estimated production and marketing cost of US$47 to $70 million, though some of the development also covered Shenmue II. Despite attracting positive reviews and a cult following, the games were commercial failures and further installments entered development hell. In 2004, Sega announced a spin-off massively multiplayer online role-playing game, Shenmue Online, but it was not released. In 2010, a social game, Shenmue City, was launched in Japan; it was shut down in December 2011. In 2015, Ys Net began developing Shenmue III after a successful crowdfunding campaign. High-definition ports of Shenmue and Shenmue II for Windows, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One were released in 2018.

[@Yinzermakesvids]

@Zoltor just goes to show how far head of it's time it was.

[@randomduck8679]

Orrible Col is this copied off Wikipedia

[@jimmyd6226]

Being a part-time forklift operator has never been so fun.

[@Deadeye012011]

Been playing for the past 2 days almost got the platinum on Shenmue 1 still holds up as one of the best open world's ever.

[@yoshatabi]

Destroyer of Regressives is the Platinum easy to get?

[@Deadeye012011]

@@yoshatabi yes you can get it in one playthrough.

[@Deadeye012011]

@@yoshatabi you just have to be careful as some are miss able.

[@santorres628]

It's the only platinum trophy I ever cared to have and got it on my first playthrough on shenmue 2 is little harder I miss like 2 trophies so I have to go back and see what they are I'm pretty sure is the duck race but idk the other 1

[@AngryCalvin]

The greatest gaming experience I have had in many years. I grew up with Atari 2600 and have a gigantic gaming resume. I don't care at all for QTE's, my only complaint yet this is one of my all time favorites. I love the atmosphere, the combat, and just about everything this game has to offer. After beating both games once I went back and beat them again getting 100% achievements. The only game I have ever done this with. I loved the nostalgia of going to the arcades and playing Sega classics. Collecting toys of Sonic and Virtual Fighter. Learning martial arts and kicking the crap out of street thugs. One of the funnest games ever. Never had a Dreamcast but the only console I regret never owning back in the day. It didn't suck like N64. Been collecting all of the Dreamcast games on Steam and they are a blast. Shenmue is unique. It gets everything right that most open world games miss.

[@JETJOOBOY]

NO.. The Audio HAS TO be scratchy.. Imagine watching old Bruce Lee Movies with quality voice tracks..

[@thegamingchef3304]

This games still playable and enjoyable. Beat it again not to long ago. They don't make games like this anymore.

[@Go4Broke247]

The game was ahead of its time, Sega Dream Cast. No worries.

[@johnobrien9147]

justgeorge247 If the gameplay was bit more polished at the time it would have been the best game of all time

[@captainfuture5984]

I'm a big fan of Yakuza and although these look dated they look like they have the same environment and feel as Yakuza series. I'm gonna try it.

[@bisugzzz]

Captain Future same here, ive never been a fan of shenmue, and im a die hard yakuza fan. this will be a good intro to shenmue 3

[@gonzolo4]

Yakuza is the spiritual successor to Shenmue

[@johnhanson3329]

If u give it a chance to get going it becomes really, really engrossing, it needs a chance to get u hooked but its not to everyone's tastes.

[@RagnarokMic]

Yakuza was clearly built on a foundation of what Shenmue had done before it, but don't expect Yakuza going in. Shenmue has action, but is not an action game, it's more about discovery and pushing the narrative along. It's a much slower experience than the balls to wall beat-em-up of Yakuza.

[@ganjatheninja]

been gaming for 24 years graphics dont make a game bro

[@ethanalexander2870]

Bought both of them. Not disappointed at all.

[@adamphillip5305]

Both? they come as a package

[@ethanalexander2870]

@@adamphillip5305 exactly i bought them both

[@teklast9179]

I want 3 we need it!

[@adamclark8994]

Started the game the other day and it was good times. Reminded me of the old days. I spent the afternoon talking to people, advancing the story and then waited for a event to happen at night time. I love that things in happen in Shenmue otherwise it would just be boring, just talking to people and that's it.

[@erickiam25]

If people can play mine craft with crappy graphics they can play this

[@Bobby14]

Crappy? Man, i can't believe these games came out in 1999 and 2001 and not in 2005!

[@nanoff815]

True.

[@armorwolf7934]

Exactly I fucking hate when people make excuses like that but then play shitty Minecraft shadow of the colossus never needed a remake so I’m happy shenmu stayed the way it is

[@WarlordRising]

Compared to most open world games these days, it feels smaller, but more condensed at the same time. One street in Shenmue contains more things to do than an entire city in most games today. As the old adage goes, quality vs. quantity.

[@MrLeewhite336]

the dreamcast was ahead of it's time. The graphics on it was way ahead of the other systems out then. Matter fact all of Sega's gaming consoles where better then the rest that was out at the same time, they just had a bad marketing team or something. But Sega should be 1st in gaming.

[@trcsonic]

My favorite videogame franchise. I love Shenmue 1 and 2

[@carlosalachemunoz5802]

I love this game 1 and 2. Great games

[@Duskets]

This package is worth it alone for the opportunity to play with both English and Japanese voices.

[@random_gamer_guy82]

I never played it on Dreamcast sadly, just got the first two for £15 . I'm not sure what to expect really. I just want to find something to get me through coronavirus lockdown.

[@Muskateering]

Did it help? To get you through coronavirus lockdown?

[@JadedVibes]

I just purchased Part 1 and 2 Remastered versions as a bundle pack discounted for $4.49 in the Playstation Store on my Playstation 5. I already own Part 3, but it's also currently discounted for $2.99 their discounts will end on 3/16/23. If you don't already own them, now is the best time to make your purchase!

[@profcheese]

It's a bit much this chap moaning about the voice overs! Pot and kettle springs to mind :)

[@Protoman85]

just upscaling qualifies it as a remaster, ok sega

[@willropa4226]

I'm just here because I was curious, saw the anime series before learning that Shenmue existed as a video game long before the anime was created, so I was curious to see what's going on in this side of the fandom. At the moment, looks like 1 and 2, which happened to be the only arcs of the show I saw, are classics while 3 shot itself in the foot, can't wait to see how that went down.

[@ForeverYoungBDE]

Can’t wait to save my boy mark weak ass again:)

[@LegendaryGamer1947]

Good video I love Shenmue

[@TonyJabroni87]

Picture checks out.

[@mountainbearoutdoors]

having missed it the first time around I had a quick go via emulation and im so excited to play it properly on ps4, just ordered It off ebay for cheap, cant wait!

[@teklast9179]

I loved both games really gave me an escape outlet the fact that they may never make a sequel really infuriating! Like just cause other people wasn't feeling it the real fans need some respect give us 3 dammit!! You owe it to us!

[@KevCraven]

They are making a sequel!

[@saborfrancias]

Best game series of all times.. And only 2 games

[@CrimRui]

You talk about English voices but fail to mention that original japanese audio is there to choose as well. Which makes the game significantly different.

[@turismofoegaming8806]

I am happy that they left The games and pretty much their original state because that’s what I was looking forward to playing again and that’s what I got upscale to HD!! I love remasters, like the resident evil remastered but I can’t stand when developers leave out tidbits that I am expecting to see Again and that I am super nostalgic for just to find out it got cut like the clock tower part in resident evil three remake!!?!

[@BobbyHo2022]

Shemue is an acquired taste. I played Shemue 1 on dreamcast and didn't get it. Thought it was boring. Now I love the series.

[@CSick27]

boosting the graphics and leaving the audio untouched was an odd choice. even with the compressed voice audio, they still couldve tweaked the eq and added a filter just to clean it up a little. not hard stuff. its my only complaint about the port, but the contrast between modernized graphics and the same crappy audio is a disappointment for me

[@LastChanceChez]

I wish this collection also had a bonus disc that has all the passport disc content from the dreamcast releases

[@KingsRight]

i like them more on pc than i did on dreamcast, and that's coming from someone who loved the dreamcast versions.

[@RobertoRodriguez-fj3yp]

I remember this game 😄😍. The bald head guy at the end was hard to Beat lol.

[@DavidF971]

If I had never played these games before, I'd be pissed off at your bitchass, for spoiling it for me.

[@CanonGames]

Shenmue 1 and 2 are so awesome! Shame about Shenmue 3

[@paulmidgley8040]

There are 2 games that stand out more than any other games when i first played them. One is shenmue, i just couldn't get enough of it. The other Ocarina of time another masterpiece. All down hill after these 2.

[@syedfahad8812]

Does anyone know if the hd release made any money?

[@jaym5118]

Though I'm not judging the Dreamcast just from one game, trying to play this game made me wonder why the heck people loved the Dreamcast so much? The graphics, sound and controls were horrible! I had to stop playing. Couldn't take it anymore. SEGA should have done a complete remaster of these games and fixed the clunky controls and lousy camera angles etc. I wanted to love these games, but I just couldn't overlook the many problems.

[@virgogaming6488]

Shenmue 1 I quit playing when it came to the forklift job harbor portion. And that forced stealth section is the WORST stealth level I've ever played in a video game.

[@JETJOOBOY]

Also.. In the last few days ... Patches have been released to resolve graphical glitches... Particularly the Wide Screen problem ..and some audio errors..

[@tooturtletastic]

This is a very adept review, thank you.

[@FantasyVisuals]

Shenmue II is the bomb. The gaming magazine Edge did an article about 10 years ago , asking if shenmue 1 is one of the worst games ever. Itspoor. Worst thing about the ports is you cant control the brightness , at night in shenmue 1 I can see virtuslly nothing. Shenmue 1 is frustratingly linear. " crap, crap , mega crap "- JK Simmons. Glad I have Shenmue 2 though.

[@masa5300]

Hate how nowadays "linear" is a con.

[@johnkelley8339]

Just finished 2 hopefully 3 doesn't have a 3 hour expositional walk, the end of 2 took way to long

[@TheEnnyG]

Think fans of the Yakuza games would like the shenmue games as well?

[@shubhankar2508]

They're very, very different experiences. Hard to say.

[@robert779]

Shenmue’s story is much more epic than Yakuza’s.

[@masa5300]

@@robert779 uhh no it's not. Yakuza 0's story is one of my favorite stories ever. Shenmue's story doesn't even come close lol

[@thomascelentano433]

The voiceover audio is my only real gripe. Pure laziness. You know they have the masters sitting around somewhere, But they just couldn't be bothered to replace the files.

[@professortachanka]

For those who got the physical copy, did anyone else have to manually download each title individually from the disc?

[@mrgr8guy257]

I've been wondering about this but can't find anything. I have a feeling that the games are not actually on the disk.

[@Jfree7791]

u actually can have a mini map if u buy them.

[@brucewaite3733]

Shenmue is true art

[@AndDeathForAll82]

“This is not a remaster” *proceeds to list all of the things that make it a remaster

[@josh-rz3uq]

They're not remasters but they're also not ports.

[@arnoldrivers9666]

josh They ARE remasters though. Look up the definition of a remaster in film or audio. These games are 100% remasters.

[@blazedyoda8608]

I got this new for £20 and I've never played shemue before and I am about to play it, wish me look

[@prity777]

Enjoy it.

[@33Dannyb]

If you’ve never played the games you gotta go into them like they’re a piece of video game history and not some amazing experience. They were amazing for their time but not anymore.

[@InspireWire]

Excellent review!

[@arnoldrivers9666]

They ARE remasters. Remastering is simply cleaning up the product to make it more clear. I have no idea why Sega would say they aren't remasters. It's most definitely not just a port. A port is simply copying the product over to another system, leaving everything untouched.

[@AutomotiveCNC]

To everyone who repeatedly screams that "Shenmue 1 and 2 HD" is a remaster. Don't mix up remaster of a film (movie) and port of a game. While remasters of films usually mean increasing the pixel count, changing the colour palette and sometimes adding newly created CG or "matte painted" objects into the 2d picture, in the world of 3d video games that's a completely different thing. A remaster of a 3d game involves REPLACING of the original 3d models and/or textures with high definition ones, and sometimes the music, sound and animations are replaced as well. "Shenmue 1 and 2 HD" is a pack of two old 3d games PORTED to modern systems while KEEPING the original 3d models, textures, animations, music and sound INTACT. The only difference in the game's presentation is the increased screen resolution, as well as several higher resolution HUD images added on top of the original 3d models, textures, animations, music and sound. A FullHD or 4K HUD does not magically transform a 3d game into a remaster. We have seen many examples of ports of old SD or HD games with increased resolution of the HUD, simply because the target systems are more modern and powerful.

[@scify6278]

what other more modern systems was this game ported to??????????????

[@sladey21]

I just don't know whether ro get this or not, I played a bit of 2 years ago but don't remember much.

[@jorgealfy]

9/10 for me. -would be a perfect 10 if there was a Nintendo Switch version.

[@masoudsarmeili933]

Hi there. i installed shenmue pack I & II for pc in my laptop but only shenmue II could run and the other one (shenmue I) didn't run at all and an error massage appeared (close this program) so is there any one that can help. by the way the system spec is as follows : win 7 4 Gb ram Hdd 500 512 MB ram AMD graphic card tkx

[@ronniecoffman401]

Legendary

[@agallagher5936]

Whenever I think of Shenmue, for whatever reasons I the only thing I remember from playing this on the dreamcasts were the long loading times... Can't remember the story etc... Weird.

[@starshark1016]

About the loading screens, since its on newer consoles now they are actually super quick.

[@agallagher5936]

@@starshark1016 I never played it on the newer console. Only the original Dreamcast. OG. Maybe I should try out the newer versions

[@starshark1016]

Quite the opposite for me. Never owned a Dreamcast but always wanted to play these games. It's a good deal I'd say, since its cheaper than most games on the market and the games still look and play great.

[@agallagher5936]

@@starshark1016 Oh yea, I definitely must play this game again

[@bluecellspy]

An 8 for both games?! Ridiculous! 9 at the least

[@antonioriosp]

10 is low for Shenmue.... maybe 17/10 or 18/10 would be fair

[@Terror0619]

The fighting is amazing in this game but the camera outside fighting is atrocious and almost unplayable. I dont remember it playing this bad. 2 of my favorite games ever and played the shit out of them years ago but now I cant even play them. Were these games this bad 20 years ago? We need full remakes.

[@masa5300]

That's how they always were. When we're kids, we enjoy pretty much everything. It's just nostalgia. Plus the game was pretty amazing for its time

[@HypnoSwag]

Sega lost the original voice files, hence why they couldn't remaster them.

[@Muskateering]

Then they are BITCHES

[@Xlaxsauce]

Pathalogic is like that ain't it?

[@martin4458]

I wouldn't have the patience.

[@Thecollector33]

Good honest review. I’m sold not to buy this game.

[@CJUrbex]

did u buy it ? its on steam for £8 for both currently !

[@joeb2588]

just come to the Switch, 1,2 and 3

[@JETJOOBOY]

There are very few games in the last 20 years that even come close.. I have deleted several demos of games I really wanted to like.. Simply because the controls were garbage.. Or the game itself was just ... Crap.

[@travisgraham3104]

Does anyone know if there's a virtua fighter mini game in either shenmue?

[@vitorfernandes651]

Jesus you need to install better textures mod and also increase the settings on your pc. Force hdr too. It looks way bett er on my tv in 4K

[@thecasualdude9271]

Waiting to be listed in psn price drops.

[@BenitoCamelasCuevas]

Dect Lariosa $19 for Black Friday

[@gregwalker121]

Its $12/13 now

[@KheranSmith]

love it still :-D

[@veganforever9703]

got brand new for £5s today :)

[@worldhaslosttheplot9735]

The fighting was always a bit shitty...

[@trippleknowswhatsup]

Father's heaven

[@TheWitchHuntSlash]

Nine Dragons

[@boosty8895]

Mother's Earth

[@trippleknowswhatsup]

@@TheWitchHuntSlash mothers earth

[@trippleknowswhatsup]

@@boosty8895 beep beep beep....

[@TheWitchHuntSlash]

Sorry for the delay Gui Zhang, it‘s Comrades.

[@lecobra418]

Never had the chance to play Shenmue because I didn't own a Dreamcast back in those times but this seems like Yakuza's ancestor so I can bet this game hasn't aged very well.

[@charleshardy3053]

It's nothing like that game.

[@lecobra418]

@@charleshardy3053 Stating something without elaborating is like wanking without jizzing.

[@RagnarokMic]

Aged about as well as any 20 year old game that isn't as simple as a 2D sidescroller has.

[@myoung3199]

The game paved the way for games like Yakuza, but this game did not age well at all. I was a HUGE Shenmue fan back in the day, but this game sucks to today's standards. Play for nostalgia alone.

[@Terror0619]

Yeah. For real man. I played shenmue like crazy 20 years ago and were my favorite games. I got the ports for ps4 and this shit is almost unplayable. The fighting is good but I dont remember the camera being so bad outside of fights. I can barely navigate at all and I know the whole game by heart. I never should of bought it because it kind of ruins the way I seen the game back then. I must of been lying to myself 20 years ago when I would tell myself it was the best game ever and had the best controls ever and camera. Idk what I was thinking. I can name 20 games from around the same time that controlled way better then this game. Lol

[@virgogaming6488]

I'm enjoying Shenmue 2 but Shenmue 1 is unplayable.

[@asimumer9474]

Forklift boy and his shitty game. -Jim

[@taomahNEGEV]

Bugged as hell. A disgrace.

[@danielbradshaw2858]

Have the bugs not been sorted out on PS4?

[@taomahNEGEV]

@@danielbradshaw2858 I have only the PC version.

[@omiorahman6283]

My net is broken is the bad box collecting and chicken race still mandatory

[@benvalenz1888]

*sigh* I wished it was a remaster, definitely didn't age well

[@DavidF971]

Wrong. The thing that hasn't aged well, is you.

[@armorwolf7934]

You probably made this comment after playing Minecraft 😂 ya exactly I fucking hate the excuses people make to not play old games when they play games like Minecraft that are pixelated 3D I’m glad it didn’t get a remake normies like you would ruin it just like how you guys ruined shadow of the colossus

[@angryred1908]

if u never played this, there no point in checking it out now

[@Bjre.]

Personally shenmue 1 feels more dragged out and not as good as the second one the first one has a clunky fighting system and the forklift section is repetitive

[@ganjatheninja]

funny thing is i am from aberdeen washington lmfao

[@DavidF971]

You're not funny. Take this L and shove it up your ass.

[@coolcat3701]

They should of remastered it Your just trying to justify their laziness lol, how much were you paid for that?

[@bert_gimspon]

What a long 8 mins with almost no introspection to what this game is actually about..

[@Papa-ci6xv]

Meh

[@VanJoelSan]

Amazing games. Play them. you will see for yourself. Slow at the begining but if you're patient, it will pay of big time!!

[@DavidF971]

Bitchboy

[@Harpreet6938]

Never this early

[@pavelowpower]

I really like this game the story is amazing. I have just got to the harbour. I was young when i first played this so i didn't really get into it properly but i got for £4.99 2 weeks ago and i am having so much fun with game. And i still have the second one to come after i finish the first woohoo.

[@soccerj75]

Buy it on Xbone or PC, the PS4 version is trash and broken. Glitched cutscenes, audio gets cut out constantly, disappearing characters..even the Portstation 4 cant even handle a 20 year old port...truly pathetic!

[@RagnarokMic]

If there's any issue, it would be in the game, not on the system, as the system handles much more dense games. Also, there's been a slew of reports on similar glitches on the XBone. Seems more like a fanboy throwing non-sense shade.

[@kimito5237]

Yoo I use to play this when I was 11(i bet yall $100 this will not get pinned)

[@lecobra418]

Reverse psychology will not work kiddo.

[@jomilirizarry5102]

These games are super boring, and will make you sleepy. Don't believe the retro hype, just move on.

[@VanJoelSan]

You must have a mind of a 6 year old who gets bored after 5min without someone being killed or shot lol go play GTA. You clearly can't compreend them. :)

[@carlosalachemunoz5802]

My friend, I have to disagree with you. I had both games and I still love it

[@aimanalsharafi1363]

Fuck u!!

[@TheAutumnNetwork]

Go get your adderall, then play the game buddy. Or just bounce back to FartNite

[@philipkempbell7174]

Well said.... The Dreamcast failed for a reason. This is it.