SHENMUE 2 - INTO THE UNKNOWN! - Shenmue Dojo

Join Matt as he explores the very different world of Shenmue 2 looking at:
The Setting
People
Music
AND MORE!
What do you think of the world in Shenmue 2?
#LetsGetShenmue4
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/ @shenmuedojovod

[@threadsoflifebooks1878]

I've always thought Shenmue 2 was the best of the 3 games, though it may be because it was my first. It took everything Shenmue did and did it better imo. It's one of those rare occasions where a dev made a perfect game, then somehow managed to make the sequel even more perfect.

[@Master-Mo]

The brilliant thing about Shenmue 2 is how different it feels from Shenmue 1 in terms of atmosphere but it still feels distinct "shenmue"! Simply brilliant. One thing I would like to add when it comes to the Guilin section is the change of the QTE sounds. It just conveys, that you can enjoy the section without being on the edge, A great feeling after the rooftop-crescendo.

[@aedantampling]

HK is a must visit, one of my favourite places on earth and will be living near there soon

[@Zafarnama111]

I truly cherish the days I first played Shenmue and Shenmue II on my Dreamcast.

[@ShenmueDojoVOD]

Both brilliant days.

[@WTShenmue]

Absolutely love how everything was upped in regards to scale in Shenmue 2. So much to see and while making videos so much to see! But fav? Still one 😉 It's not as big and you can't explore as much. But that home feeling is so well done and just feels like the place I most want to be. To bad the Dreamcast doesn't have a play hour counter I bet I would have four times the amount of playtime in the first game compared to two just because I want that nostalgia buzz

[@superstreetfighter14]

Shenmue 2 is a masterpiece. Played the Xbox version. ✌🏻🤓

[@jaysato]

playing shenmue 2 made my visit to hong kong into a whole other level

[@Sevish]

Shenmue 2 is the stronger game I feel. Shenmue 2 amps up every aspect from the first game except for the feeling of comfort and homeliness in a virtual Yokosoka. It would be pretty cool if they made a 4th entry to the series.

[@brokengirl8619]

I thought so many of the same things when I first played it. I truly felt lost, alone, and the city was huge. The soundtrack was incredible. I so love that he met people he can trust along the way. Koloown felt sooo different, it felt very scary to me, compared to Hong Kong. But that mainly had to do with my fear of heights, lol. I had quite a few panic attacks while playing the kowloon part. I actually could not beat the ending, because of that, and because the final boss QTE were too damn hard. But I watched the end on youtube, and it was so emotional. That poor dear almost drowned. I would love to play the third game, but I do not have a playstation for it. It's the kind of franchise you don't want to end. I am playing the first one now as we speak, I have it paused. My four year old niece lows it too. I just got into the games this year. I had always wanted to play them but couldn't afford to, then got them on sale. I love them so much. Masterpiece.

[@Gary_Hun]

The second game lends itself better to replays. Although i would enjoy a couple more types of part time jobs in there.

[@seandonn2262]

Shenmue 2 is also my favourite. My only criticism is that they should have had forklift driving as well.

[@Syx7h]

I played through Shenmue II for the first time on the original Xbox a couple of years ago. It was excellent and it made me excited for Shenmue III. I still haven't finished III and never made it out of the first area. I bought the EU Shenmue II for Dreamcast a few years ago, but haven't played it yet. When I do another play-through it will be that version. I'd like to see an in-depth comparison of the Xbox and DC versions. I have the HD versions as well on Steam, but can't get myself to play them when I have the originals. I actually don't know much about them as in if they have they have extra content or not.

[@renners4367]

I agree with you Matt I love shenmue 1 and 2 for different reasons

[@SteCarter86]

Its really hard to pick a favorite game for me when i played the first games back when i was a kid on dreamcast i really was blown away the whole concept and ryos attitude kept me gripped i also love shenmue 3 i personally thought it was great it felt like a dreamcast game i was worried before the game came out that because so much time has passed since the second it would be different but luckily it wasn't ive not long gone 38 so i hope we see shenmue 4 before i die haha and im aldo proud to say that ive recently created a new shenmue fan my girlfriend watched me play through all 3 games on steam we even watched the anime together she was gripped so now she wants shenmue 4 so lets keep fighting pushing for this story to be finished.

[@shadowofmemorieswiki]

V-G: I respect Shen2's scale, I feel it gets a little too big with Kowloons vast empty towers but I do like the story content there. I'm also very grateful we got Guilin, I could have quite easily seen 2 End with the conversation with Y'Zhu. I think my favourite aspect of Shen2 is the presentation of martial arts. In Shen1 you gain moves here & there but in Shen2 Especially Hong Kong, it just feels part of the culture. While I respect the creative decision to make Ryo feel isolated, I feel the NPCs are less important, memorable. I get why but still much prefer the Yokosuka setting. Look forward to your part 3 summary :) (Genuinely!)

[@kiryukiwami98]

can not wait the video on Shenmue 3 !

[@YIDARMY08]

Love the vids mate. Keeping shenmue alive.

[@Peter_Hodge]

Playing shenmue 2 after 1 it makes you miss all the characters from shenmue

[@knk7744]

Maybe im taking a too big swing here. But Sega is planning 15 DCL characters for Super Monkey Ball Banana Rumble. Ryo in a Monkey Ball (Capsul) would suit perfectly. Maybe the community could make some noise for that. Because Sega puts there most beloved francises and already announced comebacks in that game like , Shinobo , Crazy Taxi and Jet Set Radio (I’m not a native speaker so apologies my grammar)

[@TeamGguN]

My favourite Shenmue game, always a pleasure to play Shenmue II, very good video ! (Are you planning to do the same video for Shenmue III ? It will be interesting !

[@ShenmueDojoVOD]

Yes. There's one due out in 2 weeks IIRC

[@lawrencelomas2220]

To me, Shenmue and Shenmue II are equally brilliant for different reasons, and each complements the other. The familiarity and homeliness portrayed in the first game make the danger and unfamiliarity portrayed in the second game more impactful. There are things I miss in Shenmue II, like solo training sessions and the cassette player, but the game's most impactful elements make up for what it lacks compared to the first. In other words, Shenmue II can feel slightly downgraded at certain points in the game, but when the best moments come along (leaf catching, barbershop QTE, rooftop fight with Dou Niu, the long walk and conversation with Shenhua, etc,) it nails those moments with sheer perfection.

[@ShenmueDojoVOD]

They are so closely matched. It's so difficult to choose!

[@Toboe0818]

Personally, I prefer the world / NPCs of Shenmue 1 better than Shenmue 2. While Shenmue 2 is amazing in terms of it's vastness, sense of being lost and alone, etc it made me feel less immersed. In Shenmue 1, most of the NPCs know Ryo and have history with him. So when you speak to an NPC in Shenmue 1, there's a better chance you will have more interesting dialogue that will reference Ryo's past, places he's been too, etc. In Shenmue 2, only the major supporting NPCs really give you that level of dialogue and still they fall a bit short since they don't really know Ryo. As for the world of Shenmue 1, I've grown such a connection to the various shops that I have a more sentimental bias. Shenmue 2's world is incredible and an achievement for the beginnings of the Open World game genre. It has lots of nice details and touches throughout. However, because it is sooo big, you don't really take the time to stay in one place to really inspect every little detail and experience F.R.E.E to the same degree as a smaller world like Shenmue 1. Ultimately Shenmue 2 is a better experience in terms of it's scale and level of exploration, but Shenmue captures Yu's idea of F.R.E.E better IMO

[@Grandmastergav86]

Shenmue 2....My overriding feeling is that the resultant product was a compromised offering due to SEGA's shift in direction. A very small indication of the questionable creative choices is evident in the opening cinematic - Forklifts are shown but the activity is replaced with the WOEFUL box carrying game. The move progression system is retained but there's nowhere Ryo can train and improve these moves solo (I hated this omission). Yes, you could train with Jianmin but it was nothing meaningful. The "follow person" mechanic (introduced with Wong) is hilariously awful. The incorporation of first person combat was a baffling addition, I get that they were trying to mix-up the proceedings but it just doesn't work. Overall the pacing is terrible - Beverly Hills Wharf, Kowloon and Guilin being prime examples. The progression to Dou Niu is ludicrously drawn out, admittedly the concluding encounters (including the fight with Baihu) are great. Many areas in Hong Kong aren't that interesting, even as window dressing. Kowloon's main areas feel outright unfinished, I exclude Dragon Street from that comment because it's such a neat little area. The lack of real connection to Shenmue 1's denouement is very strange not to mention unsatisfying. There's no mention of Gui Zhang in the central narrative (beyond some incidental dialogue with Joy) Unlike many, I vehemently dislike the fourth disc. Personally I think the game should've concluded the defeat of Dou Niu followed by a short coda showing Ryo heading to Guilin. I think there are much better ways to introduce Ryo and Shenhua, her inclusion feels rushed to me and their endless waffling.....nah.

[@jpasher6687]

I couldn’t disagree more about Disc 4, which I find sublime.