Review for Shenmue III. Game for PC and PlayStation 4, the video game was released on 19/11/2019
Not all video games have the same value and not all gamers experience them in the same way. There are those who consider them normal pastimes against boredom, and those who seek and breathe meaningful experiences in them, letting themselves be fully involved in front of the screen. A transport that persists even in moments away from the pad, when you rethink, fantasize and can't wait to go back to living that adventure to see how it ends. Here, Shenmue fans had to endure an 18 year long hiatus; yet at E3 2015 it took just a cherry petal and the first five notes of that theme to unleash a moving and thunderous ovation all over the world.
Such is the passion that the Shenmue saga has sparked in the hearts of hundreds of thousands of fans, an affection that Yu Suzuki was finally able to reciprocate with Shenmue III.
In evaluating such a particular product it is essential to have the right perspective on its production. The first Shenmue released on Dreamcast was one of the most avant-garde and influential titles ever seen in the gaming landscape, so much so that many of its features have been taken over the years by several other titles, to become ordinary nowadays. . An extraordinary result that was possible by combining the creative flair of Yu Suzuki with the generous budget made available to Sega for its realization; the economic commitment unfortunately did not prove fruitful given the commercial failure of the underestimated saga. While it is true that the Kickstarter campaign organized for Shenmue III has been a record success, it is equally essential to keep in mind that these donations have been well below the budget available to create the first chapters. We are therefore not dealing with a triple A production, but with a title with obvious limits which has managed to emerge on the market with resources that are not small, but certainly lower than those that made it great originally.
Faced with the passion and generosity that made it possible, Yu Suzuki's priority was clear from the beginning: dedicate Shenmue III to fans, put aside any attempt at standardization, attractiveness towards a wider and more common audience and create a title that reflects what fans have been waiting for in these long years: a sequel faithful to the original vision. Strange as it may seem, for Shenmue III the only way to be unique in the modern market was to not change, to stay consistent with its unusual and revolutionary formula and in fact that's what happened.
In light of this, if you have never played Shenmue before, be warned: this is a saga unlike any other you have ever played, and if you want to recover it, the advice is to start from the Shenmue I & II HD compilation.
Shenmue III opens like frozen in time exactly where the previous chapter ended with one of the most famous cliffhangers ever seen. The protagonist Ryo has recently met the young Shenhua, and when the two find themselves in front of the enormous engravings of the dragon and the phoenix in the quarry, they intimately realize that their meeting has been orchestrated by fate. The meaning of the images in the stone, however, remains indecipherable without an explanation from Shenhua's father, the only person who seems to know something about the two mirrors at the center of the story. However, the man has been kidnapped and it will be up to the two young people to find out where he is and save him, starting with the nearby village of Bailu.
The story that accompanies our journey is certainly among the standout elements of the game, if only because it is the continuation that fans have craved for all these years. Once an initial inertia is overcome, it becomes more and more intriguing, with familiar faces that return from previous titles, new characters who will be involved in our research and some twists. Everything pushes us with increasing momentum towards the fateful confrontation with the hated Lan Di, even if this (we anticipate it) will not put an end to Ryo's adventure.
It must be said that the narrative style has remained intact compared to the previous chapters, for better or for worse. This includes very low intensity dialogues, as well as an uncertain direction that does not devote much to our involvement. The rhythm of the narration is calmly cadenced, interspersed with pauses that the game requires the player to investigate or work on the protagonist. Like its predecessors, Shenmue III is reminiscent of a coming-of-age novel that physiologically integrates the experience of daily actions into its vital heartbeat, which are preparatory to advancement or simply useful for strengthening the protagonist.
It is above all on the gameplay side that we see the refusal of the development team to renew and distort the original formula, and the iron will to give fans the same type of experience as the predecessors on Dreamcast. Also in Shenmue III we will not have precise directions or maps with points of interest marked to continue, in the role of Ryo we will have to explore the various locations on foot asking for information from the inhabitants and collecting clues, perhaps looking in the various interactive furniture.
Occasionally we will be involved in action scenes to be managed with the classic Quick Time Events, which as in the past will not be generous in granting us ample reaction times; it will therefore often happen that you have to repeat some sequences by memorizing the key sequence.
Among the innovations introduced in the main dynamics, we immediately notice the need to eat to keep the health bar high, which runs out with the normal passage of time, health that we will need to face the fights or even just to be able to run. This feature is initially unpleasant, but in reality it fits perfectly into Shenmue's DNA which pushes the player to step into the role of a protagonist who is thus more "human" than a bunch of animated polygons.
To support himself, therefore, Ryo will have to earn money by doing part-time jobs, or by multiplying his possessions by betting on the various mini-games present. There are also various secondary occupations such as gathering herbs, fishing, collecting gadgets etc. All activities that we can undertake to earn money or trade with objects and manuals of martial techniques.
And in this regard, the combat system is probably the most overhauled aspect compared to the past. Ryo's skill level, as well as his strength and endurance, are now expressed in levels that can be upgraded through training sessions alone or with sparring partners. Even the techniques learned can be refined by dint of being practiced. These are now handled by sequences of the four main keys that correspond to kicks and punches, and it is even possible to assign them to key shortcuts executable with R2.
The movements are now better manageable, less chaotic and disorienting, and although the hitboxes continue to leave something to be desired, the game pushes the player to approach the clashes in a truly martial way: tapping the attack keys at random will not take you very far, but it will It is necessary to carefully observe the opponent and alternate attacks with parries, dodges and counterattacks. It remains a rather crude system, but whose edges have been smoothed out a lot compared to past chapters.
We are therefore faced with a game that, in seeking the fidelity of the spirit of the saga, it remains anchored to an extremely old-school formula, which will test the patience of many players. On various occasions it seems to be dealing with a thankless task, as if the game made us waste time uselessly with repetitive actions, aggravated by inaccurate and cumbersome controls. It is true that with an in-depth study of the game structure, alternatives to such exhausting dynamics could probably have been found, but it is also true that we are still talking about a production with limited resources that has as a priority to ensure that the essence of Shenmue remained intact. And from this point of view, Ys Net has certainly been more than accurate.
It must also be considered that we are in the presence of an anachronistic game design, but also extraordinarily authorial. With Shenmue Yu Suzuki teaches us the importance of every single day and the ability to make progress and improvements one step at a time. The impatient Ryo finds himself immersed in Chinese culture and its philosophical system that values just that. It is no coincidence that he will be led to learn Kung Fu, whose literal translation is: "skill obtained over time through hard work". Hence, the hours spent earning a living and training take on a deeper meaning, impossible to grasp with a hasty approach. Nothing in Shenmue III happens quickly, from dialogue to travel, and the game creates a quiet tension as the hours of the day slip away. The player is called to devote himself to his goal, to develop self-control and to enjoy this relaxed but at the same time persevering pace of play.
To perfectly frame this adventure with a contemplative breath we find one effective and inspired art direction. Technically the graphic aspect of the game leaves something to be desired, presenting antiquated polygonal models, just enough textures, coarse animations and recurring pop-up phenomena. Yet these limits quickly end up in the background, immersed in the overall charm that cannot fail to impress your aesthetic sense. The two macro locations in which Shenmue III will take place, the village of Bailu and the city of Niaowu, show us China in all its enchanting beauty, with an abundance of details and a use of lights to create numerous picturesque views.
After working on the previous titles, Ryuji Iuchi returns to the role of composer with a soundtrack capable of evoking the Chinese atmosphere and culture in a masterly way. Particularly fascinating are the melodies arising from traditional instruments, such as the erhu and yangqin, capable of enclosing in their notes the musical essence of China, gentle and melodic but at the same time full of melancholy. These are alternated with more modern instruments, in particular piano and synths, to accompany the most emotional and eventful moments. The audio design also does a good job and discreetly combines the musical accompaniment with the various ambient sounds such as the whispering of streams, the sounds of various animals and the chatter of the inhabitants.
Too bad that the English dubbing is absolutely not up to the rest of the audio sector. The dialogues seem to be recited by people reading the lines for the first time and the whole thing sounds very flat and monotonous. One would almost think that this dubbing was created with intentional mediocrity in order not to create a clear cut and remain in line with that of the previous chapters. Fortunately, it is possible to set the original Japanese dubbing which, although it cannot be called exceptional, will avoid giving you the impression of listening to a B-movie from the 70s. For the texts there is localization, but also in this case it is a work at the limit of amateurism.
Shenmue III is a love letter to fans of the original games and a testament to Yu Suzuki's resolve that made this unlikely rebirth possible in defiance of any standardization rule. A product with clear budget limits, intentionally niche, uncompromising in keeping its authorial vision intact even at the risk of criticism of anachronism. If you've never played a Shenmue, if you don't know how to give up a decent dose of adrenaline or if you don't recognize yourself as a patient player, this title is probably not for you. If, on the other hand, you have enjoyed the previous chapters, you will know how to collect its old-school dynamics and savor once again the rhythmic and poetic adventure of Ryo through China.
► Shenmue III is an Adventure-Action game developed by Neilo Ys Net and published by Deep Silver for PC and PlayStation 4, the video game was released on 19/11/2019
