Shenmue II
Developed by Sega AM2/d3t Ltd.
Published by Sega
Released for Xbox (10/29/2002) | Xbox One (8/21/2018)
Also on Dreamcast/PC/PS4
Also on Dreamcast/PC/PS4
Xbox Version Backwards Compatible with Xbox 360/Xbox One
Shenmue II picks up right where the first game left off, (minor spoiler alert) starting off with Ryo arriving in Hong Kong. Originally a Japan-only release in 2001 for the Dreamcast, Shenmue II was large enough to warrant 4 GD-ROMS (the disc format used for the Dreamcast). English-speaking audiences wouldn't get to experience the game until 2002 when it received a release for the Xbox and, thanks to the size of the DVD format, the whole game would now fit on a single disc. A bonus disc was included which contained Shenmue: The Movie, a 90-minute feature that showcased the plot from the original game. The game would remain locked to the Dreamcast and Xbox platforms all the way up until 2018 when Shenmue I & II were released for the Xbox One, PlayStation 4 and PC. The port boasts some nice upgrades, but these are still the classic Shenmue games for better or worse. Has the sequel aged gracefully or is it one of those better left in the past? Let's get into it and explore the world of Shenmue II...
Visually, Shenmue II is very much in line with the original game but there are larger and more diverse environments to explore. The environments you'll explore are impressive and detailed for the most part, though towards the end of the game you'll spend lots of time inside buildings that tend to feel empty and boring. The characters look about the same as the first game and it is still one of the aspects that could really use an overhaul as the characters come off looking a bit stiff and doll-like at times. The music is another department where Shenmue II saw some improvements, featuring a soundtrack with some nice tunes that I found more memorable than the songs in the original. The quality of the voice samples is also much better this time. Overall it's a more polished presentation than the first entry on all fronts.
Building on what made the original such a great game, Shenmue II adds to that and then some. There are lots of new fighting moves to learn, new gacha to collect, new jobs to work and lots of new environments to explore. Ryo's story is expanded upon and gets interesting, though beware this is merely an entry in a series so there's no actual conclusion at the end. Possibly my favorite new addition to the game are the 2 new arcade machines to play: Afterburner II and Outrun. It's hard to argue that these aren't a significant improvement over the original game's offerings, but just to top it off both of those games are in here as well (Space Harrier and Hang-On). For the most part, Shenmue II does exactly what a sequel should do: take the first game, refine it and add more content.
Shenmue II is a much larger game than the original title, but the larger scale brings more opportunities for bugs and glitches. I was able to make it through the first Shenmue game without encountering any bugs, but this was not the case with the second title. Sound issues and lock-ups were among the worst issues I encountered, but they were massive turn-offs and more than enough to motivate me to just play something else on several occasions. The audio issues didn't occur until around the halfway point in the game and consisted of several sounds just refusing to play, such as character footsteps and attack noises while fighting. The lock-ups tend to happen when the game is transitioning to another area, so make a habit of saving before approaching loading screens or risk losing whatever progress you've made since your last save.
Shenmue II is a much larger game than the original title, but the larger scale brings more opportunities for bugs and glitches. I was able to make it through the first Shenmue game without encountering any bugs, but this was not the case with the second title. Sound issues and lock-ups were among the worst issues I encountered, but they were massive turn-offs and more than enough to motivate me to just play something else on several occasions. The audio issues didn't occur until around the halfway point in the game and consisted of several sounds just refusing to play, such as character footsteps and attack noises while fighting. The lock-ups tend to happen when the game is transitioning to another area, so make a habit of saving before approaching loading screens or risk losing whatever progress you've made since your last save.
Shenmue II takes everything that was great about the original game and gives us more. More locations, more fight sequences, more characters, more dialogue, more story and a whole lot more QTE. The adventure feels more grand and there's much more to explore. While it sounds like it should be a no-brainer that Shenmue II is superior to the first game, this is one of those cases where less is more. Many will disagree, as the sequel brings noticeable improvements in several departments of the game. There's one key addition the sequel that holds it back for me and that is the overabundance of QTEs, especially in the later part of the game. Some of them are quite lengthy and require a fast reaction and one mistake will send you back to the beginning of the event, making certain parts of the game unnecessarily frustrating. The sections of the game where you have to work to earn some money have mostly turned into QTE laden affairs as well, which gave me a newfound appreciation for the forklift segments in the original game. While not as good as the first game in my unpopular opinion and despite all of my complaints, Shenmue II is still an excellent follow-up in a groundbreaking series.
It's a shame it took Shenmue III so long to see the light of day and even more of a shame that Sega didn't deem the Xbox a worthy platform to receive a port of the new game. My question to Sega is why would you release this collection of the original games on Xbox but not the new follow-up? Sega has usually been good about supporting the Xbox platforms (though between Shenmue III and the latest Virtua Fighter game this looks to be changing). Perhaps someday in the future they'll get around to porting it to an Xbox console, but I'm not holding my breath in anticipation.
Final Verdict: Shenmue II is a solid follow-up to the first game, continuing the saga of Ryo Hazuki on his journey for revenge. It delivers more of everything from the first title and if you enjoyed that one you'll like this too.
Purchase Links:
Buy Shenmue I & II (Xbox One Digital) - Microsoft Store
Buy Shenmue I & II (Xbox One Digital) - Microsoft Store
Related Reviews:
Shenmue - Xbox Overview
Shenmue - Xbox Overview
Related Links:
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| Xbox US Cover |
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| Dreamcast JP Cover |
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