Finally SEGA, FINALLY. We campaigned, we never gave up, and at last, our voices were heard.
Today, SEGA has delighted the gaming world with the timely news of Ryo Hazuki’s two Dreamcast releases becoming the next franchise to see the reincarnation treatment.
And it gets even BETTER, releasing on the Xbox One, PS4 and PC gaming consoles, the titles are to be produced for both digital and physical retail release.
SEGA has released a reveal trailer with some pre-release footage.
In the press release SEGA (speaking at the “Sega Fest” event) commented
“You’ve asked, we listened and we’re extremely excited to finally announce that Shenmue I & II are coming to PS4, Xbox One and PC in one package! Both games will feature Japanese and English voice overs, the choice of classic or modern controls and more!”
What is Shenmue? I sense newcomers are thinking, (besides going on the most amazing adventure, with some goofy voice acting) this is what the two ground breaking games will offer.
Originally released for the Dreamcast in 2000 and 2001, Shenmue I & II is an open world action adventure combining jujitsu combat, investigative sleuthing, RPG elements, and memorable mini-games. It pioneered many aspects of modern gaming, including open world city exploration, and was the game that coined the Quick Time Event (QTE). It was one of the first games with a persistent open world, where day cycles to night, weather changes, shops open and close and NPCs go about their business all on their own schedules. Its engrossing epic story and living world created a generation of passionate fans, and the game consistently makes the list of “greatest games of all time”.
Story
A tale of revenge.
In 1986, teenage jujitsu artist Ryo Hazuki returns to the dojo of his father, Iwao Hazuki, only to witness his murder by a Chinese man, Lan Di. Lan Di steals a mysterious artifact known as the Dragon Mirror. Ryo vows to avenge his father’s death and sets out tracing Lan Di’s path.
The first game in the series, Shenmue begins the tale as Ryo travels around Yokosuka, Japan, gathering clues about his father’s murder and dealing with nefarious gangsters along the way.
The sequel Shenmue II continues Ryo’s quest, this time crossing the sea to Hong Kong, China. Ryo ventures deeper into the criminal underworld, meeting martial arts masters who aid him on his journey and offer insight into his father’s death and unravels the mysteries of the Dragon Mirror that his father kept hidden.
Gameplay
- Take the role of Ryo Hazuki.
- Explore a 3D open world searching for clues, examining objects, and talking to NPCs.
- Battle enemies and bosses making full use of the moves of Hazuki-style jujitsu.
- Beat quick-time events (QTEs) and mini-games.
Key features
- The best Shenmue experience
- Pioneering Dreamcast classics available for the first time on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC
- Updated user interface
- Choice of modern or classic controls
- Japanese audio available for the first time for a global audience (English audio also available)
- Fully scalable screen resolutions
- An epic legend
- A tale of revenge on a grand scale
- Solve the mystery of your father’s murder
- An experience never to be forgotten
- The world feels alive
- Talk to anyone, scour the world for clues
- NPCs live independent lives on their own schedule
- Faithful recreations of 1980s Japan and Hong Kong, China
- Distract yourself with classis SEGA arcade games, collectables, duck racing, and more
I’m literally stoked by the news, and perhaps even a little overwhelmed.
Thank you SEGA, thank you Yu Suzuki, thank you Sony, and a HUGE high five to all you awesome fans that, (myself included) never gave up nagging at SEGA’s HQ, be it emails, the hilarious toy capsule campaign from many years ago, the Shenmue themed packages and the countless online campaigns. It’s finally paid off, so I sign off by saying, let’s find some sailors, raise a glass in heartbeats and enjoy the moment!
(If like me, you’re totally hyped for the incoming releases, then drop GameHype a comment in the box below, thanks)
