Shenmue II is an all-time classic. It's a real triumph the fact that it is as spectacular in 2022 as it was in 2001 is an astounding achievement. It exemplifies why Yu Suzuki is one of the greatest video game designers of all time and makes it clear why fans of the series waited nearly twenty years on baited breath for the next saga in Ryo Hazuki's journey to avenge his father.
Shenmue II is everything Shenmue I is but bigger, bolder and better. The game is longer, there are more lush and rich and large environments. More NPCs, more characters, better storytelling, richer relationships. The Shenmue games just ooze and drip with heart and charm at every corner. The voice acting is horrendous both in English and Japanese (though at least the English dub is occasionally, unintentionally, hilarious). And even despite what should be a significant negative for a cinematic storybased game, Shenmue II shines as bright as any other on the video gaming pantheon.
I read a review of Shenmue I that said what made Shenmue special was that it made a great video game story and adventure out of the stories of normal regular every day people in a mostly normal people scenario. The heroes didn't have to be super and the enemies didn't have to be aliens or giant monsters. And that's the real power of the first two games in this series. Sure. There's some grandiosity and silliness. Yes, Ryo seemingly can beat hordes of goons in hand to hand combat without much of a sweat. But Ryo is just a boy avenging the death of his father. And he's scraping up every clue and chasing down every lead getting into pickles with the mafia or local law enforcement along the way. Befriending those kindhearts and those rogues who offer him help along the way.
Hong Kong is huge and bustling. It's busy and lively. Colorful characters are everywhere, running motels, running pachinko boards or card games, fighting in local arenas, mixed up with the local mob, panhandling on city corners. All with the time to chat with you or accost you. Adding flavor and color and depth to all of your interactions no matter how brief. Ren and Wong rob you at the beginning of the game only to become your best friends by the end. Joy has a shocking interest in a fellow lost and confused foreigner in Hong Kong's crowded streets. Dou Niu is a fittingly scary villain with his Harely Quinn-esque sidekick, Yuan chasing you through abandoned apartment buildings with a chainsaw. The characters are bold and simple. Memorable and engaging. Who the fuck is Master Baihu? I don't know but I'm struck by his design and mystique and I was happy to kick his ass to save Joy.
Ren gripping Ryo's shoulder at the end to let him know he would continue to help him search for Lan Di. Wong risking his life to help me find Yuanda Zhu. Xiuying's sisterly care for Ryo and worry he'll follow the same path as her brother. All the characters that Ryo interacts with both in short or for long portions of the game leave an indelible mark on the narrative. Shenhua absolutely steals the show in the game's epilogue. A captivating final few hours that consist almost entirely of walking and talking, Shenhua and the Bailu revelations provide a phenomenal cliffhanger ending that leaves the player desperate to know more about how the Hazuki saga will resolve. Shenhua is a complete scene stealer and the entire Guilin portion gives the end of the game a fantastically wanderlust filled vibe. Somehow providing that feeling of wistfulness that comes after finishing a great book or game, while still playing the game!
There are some quibbles of course. Some of the QTEs are a shade too fast with checkpoints too far back. Airing out the books probably lasts a day too long and climbing the Ghost Hall Building is probably one floor too high. Getting to the basement of the Big Ox Building probably takes a floor too long. But these are seriously trivial qualms. If the Big Ox Building wound up being a tad too grating, the entire Guilin ending is such a palate cleanser that it's hard to be upset at the sum of Shenmue II's parts.
Take everything about Shenmue I. Make it bigger, better and more polished. A fantastic gaming achievement. Shenmue II still holds up so, so well.
Shenmue II is everything Shenmue I is but bigger, bolder and better. The game is longer, there are more lush and rich and large environments. More NPCs, more characters, better storytelling, richer relationships. The Shenmue games just ooze and drip with heart and charm at every corner. The voice acting is horrendous both in English and Japanese (though at least the English dub is occasionally, unintentionally, hilarious). And even despite what should be a significant negative for a cinematic storybased game, Shenmue II shines as bright as any other on the video gaming pantheon.
I read a review of Shenmue I that said what made Shenmue special was that it made a great video game story and adventure out of the stories of normal regular every day people in a mostly normal people scenario. The heroes didn't have to be super and the enemies didn't have to be aliens or giant monsters. And that's the real power of the first two games in this series. Sure. There's some grandiosity and silliness. Yes, Ryo seemingly can beat hordes of goons in hand to hand combat without much of a sweat. But Ryo is just a boy avenging the death of his father. And he's scraping up every clue and chasing down every lead getting into pickles with the mafia or local law enforcement along the way. Befriending those kindhearts and those rogues who offer him help along the way.
Hong Kong is huge and bustling. It's busy and lively. Colorful characters are everywhere, running motels, running pachinko boards or card games, fighting in local arenas, mixed up with the local mob, panhandling on city corners. All with the time to chat with you or accost you. Adding flavor and color and depth to all of your interactions no matter how brief. Ren and Wong rob you at the beginning of the game only to become your best friends by the end. Joy has a shocking interest in a fellow lost and confused foreigner in Hong Kong's crowded streets. Dou Niu is a fittingly scary villain with his Harely Quinn-esque sidekick, Yuan chasing you through abandoned apartment buildings with a chainsaw. The characters are bold and simple. Memorable and engaging. Who the fuck is Master Baihu? I don't know but I'm struck by his design and mystique and I was happy to kick his ass to save Joy.
Ren gripping Ryo's shoulder at the end to let him know he would continue to help him search for Lan Di. Wong risking his life to help me find Yuanda Zhu. Xiuying's sisterly care for Ryo and worry he'll follow the same path as her brother. All the characters that Ryo interacts with both in short or for long portions of the game leave an indelible mark on the narrative. Shenhua absolutely steals the show in the game's epilogue. A captivating final few hours that consist almost entirely of walking and talking, Shenhua and the Bailu revelations provide a phenomenal cliffhanger ending that leaves the player desperate to know more about how the Hazuki saga will resolve. Shenhua is a complete scene stealer and the entire Guilin portion gives the end of the game a fantastically wanderlust filled vibe. Somehow providing that feeling of wistfulness that comes after finishing a great book or game, while still playing the game!
There are some quibbles of course. Some of the QTEs are a shade too fast with checkpoints too far back. Airing out the books probably lasts a day too long and climbing the Ghost Hall Building is probably one floor too high. Getting to the basement of the Big Ox Building probably takes a floor too long. But these are seriously trivial qualms. If the Big Ox Building wound up being a tad too grating, the entire Guilin ending is such a palate cleanser that it's hard to be upset at the sum of Shenmue II's parts.
Take everything about Shenmue I. Make it bigger, better and more polished. A fantastic gaming achievement. Shenmue II still holds up so, so well.