Gotta come back here and give salutes! Thanks for doing your part, Johnny! It blew my mind to walk into the store and buy Shenmue on a modern system today, still stunned, WTF, a great day!
this blew my mind back at release and really opened my mind on games and what they could be, all of the life sim elements and a really brilliant world. almost alll of my friends didn't like it but I was obsessed between it and later the second one. still in my top 5 games ever and maybe the most important/changing games for me in my life.
Damn this is a great video on Shenmue! Really took me back, man. I know it might sound overly sappy, but playing Shenmue growing up was an extremely special time of my life and I really appreciate the fact that you and others have shared with me similar experiences and feelings with Shenmue. Your ability to articulate it all and conjure up nostalgia is fantastic. Great job!
Absolutely great, GREAT memories! Thank you sooooo much for the reminiscing, everything you felt, saw, experienced, I did too. One of, if not, my best video game experiences of all time, and from all the way over here in Coventry, England :-)
This video actually brought tears to my eyes. Take that as a sign of how important the Dreamcast, and Shenmue can be to people who were there for that golden moment, at the peak of Dreamcast's popularity. Every day felt like heaven. The online capabilities, albeit limited, were still so far ahead of anything at the time. It enabled access to amazing online communities like PSO, and special features like the ones in Sonic Adventure, trading chaos and the like.
First time i saw shenmue, it blew my mind, it was the most incredible graphics i've ever seen on a video game and this made me look forward to the next generation of how much graphics will improve. This was my most memorable game along with soul calibur and house of the dead as well as other launch titles which made the dreamcast the greatest console to ever come out.
I was like 8 years old when I first saw my cousins playing Shenmue!!!! My cousins always asked me to come and listen to the soundtrack with them! So epic! Shenmue needs a REMAKE!!!
This game brings back such great memories. I remember going through some hard times back in school but coming home and playing this game just made me forget everything. The soundtrack was so beautiful and soothing and i just loved playing every minute of it. Thank you Yu Suzuki for giving me such a great childhood
Love to see this video now. I feel like the 14 years of waiting were nothing now. But I definitely don t want this to happen ever again. Thx for your passion as always.
Dreamcast was such an awesome console and Shenmue one of the best games ever made in game history. This game invented so many things like open world, QTE, mini games in game etc. All these ideas went into nowadays AAA games like GTA, GoW or Yakuza series without anyone of the current gamers actually know where those ideas came from. I really hope one day there will be Shenmue 4. Epic trailer trailer, still in 2019!
dude this game was definitely amazing for it's time. the voice acting in it being cheesy is honestly one of the bigger charms for me in the game lol i also liked that it was based in the 80's :D But yeah man great stuff and great vid :D
Just have to say that this is still my favourite youtube channel. Thanks so much for having put together this little corner of the internet. It always makes me happy when I visit :)
Yu Suzuki said he wants Shenmue 3 as much as we do. And he said if he could get the go to make these games again, the story he has in mind would end around Shenmue 5. He's also considering Kickstarter for funds, so be on the lookout for that.
When I first tried this back then it literally blew my mind. People say it was slow or boring but i thought it was SO amazing and you could do so much. Simply a fantastic game.
I love your enthusiasm for these games!! I remember first reading about Shenmue in "NEXT-GEN" magazine and how excited I was about the prospect of playing a Virtua Fighter adventure game. But it became so much more than that! I love the characters in the game and the experiences you go through playing as Ryo.I wish as well we could see a resoultion to the story.. playing it all out in our Dreamcast!! R.I.P. Dreamcast.
Your passion for the game makes me want to play it and I’m extremely happy for you that 8 years later after making this video you will get the third game and conclusion you had good thoughts and hopes for. I hope you enjoy it and brings you something special
Shenmue 3 will be a very special experience. I bet it'd involve menial, old fashion tasks around bailu village. Pumping water from wells, chopping wood. At this point they don't have to be cutting edge in the graphics dept, otherwise it'd be awkward and photorealistic, they should just go with more of an art direction, which would take less tech resources and cut development time.
You said it all, Johnny! I remember when I got shenmue. At that time I must have been around 12 or 13 years old. Because I'm from germany, my english wasn't as good as today at that time, but I still managed to understand everything in the game and follow the story. Looking back today, I really think shenmue had an impact on my english-learning experience. :)
This video is how i found your channel. I re-watch it from time to time, it has to be the best video that really captures the excitement of the time leading up to the release and the feel of the game. Keep up all the great work.
Your videos are great and your enthusiasm for these old games that I loved as well is much appreciated. We are definitely kindred spirits in the games that we love.
Just saw this video, I was a hardcore RPG gamer back in 1997-2002. I played the first shenmue in 2000 when i just graduate from high school and about the same age as Ryo. I played like a lots of lots of RPG. And that time, nothing close to Shenmue experience. Really even until now, this the only game that i still remember every single details in it. Its really grow in to you. The experience and the story is kinda stuck in your mind.
I played and beat this game when i was nine years old. I see kids nowadays getting lost in Call of Duty and other similar games. This was something that changed my life and will stay close to my heart for life and can actually teach you life lessons.
I don't have many friends who were Shenmue fans, its good to hear from a fan who has the same level of appreciation for the game! Of all the computer games I played when I was younger, this game brings back the happiest memories. I really enjoyed how you put it - you either love it or hate it! Its so true because some of my friends hated it but I loved it so much! I think its the attention to detail and the small things that really give it its charm and brilliance! I'll keep praying :-)
One of my all time favorite games. I remember it was summer and I was just watching TV, and my brother gave me this game for my birthday. I had no idea what the game was and just put it in. And when I started playing I got hooked. I literally played for 15 hours straight, then I went to sleep, and played another 15 hours and finished it. Only time I took off was for bathroom breaks and I ate during cutscenes. Every part of the game I loved and I spent so much time with each aspect of the game.
When you showed the few clips of that walk through the forest in shenmue 2... it totally revealed some lost memories of when I played that game.. I remember knowing the game was about to end.. I stopped and looked at all the scenery, I knew at the time that there was no way for shenmue 3 so I predicted the ending... I had no idea it would go in that direction!! I just feel really sad for the people who tried the game and didn't give it a chance or those who haven't played it before. It's great!
just platinumed the remastered version on ps4. love every moment of it besides coming close to the forklift race lmaooo the game was like a shout out to the martial arts films.
I Remember playing shenmue, the atmosphere really sets you in the mood, it feels like you are really in japan with Ryo, it is a really amazing game, some of the things in there you havent seen done before, love the series I hope they make a third one soon.
I remember when the first one came out, I was in high school and had read about it in a gaming magazine a buddy brought to school. My younger cousin has a Dreamcast and got the game, and I was so excited to play it. It was everything I ever wanted in a videogame at that time, havinf complete freedom in a big, interactive world. Unfortunatly, it was the first and only game that's ever completely overwhelmed me. I was used to not having a clear objective and there was SO much to do it just blew my mind! Another thing was I grew up mostly on Nintendo consoles, so I didn't know what a lot of the collectibles were and didn't have much of a desire to go after them. But I will always look at it as one of the most interesting, innovative games of it's time. The magazine said it was supposed to be like 7 games or something and it's sad they never got to see it through to the end being so.far ahead of it's time.
I finally invested the money in a Dreamcast version of Shenmue (I'm from Germany, so getting it wasn't too difficult). I only played the Xbox Version so far and I am excited experience the game it was originally meant to be played. Right now I'm finishing Shenmue for the 5th time (I had an unfinished save somewhere on Disc 2) to import my save. I want wait to play the second one again! For the 3rd or 4th time, I think.
Great review Johnny. I found your channel by searching for Guardian Heros reviews and since I saw yours I haven't looked back. This is another great review capturing all the nostalgia I had when I first played it.
I'm the ultimate shembue fan! Ive been dreaming of a number 3 for years, I'm so excited now it's a reality. People say the game is boring etc etc, but I think Its got something special no other game has ever had.
That Lan Di helicopter scene on the rooftop in shenmue 2 still gives me chills, one of the best gaming moments ive experienced ever no matter what i achieve in this life a chapter will be missing if I don't get to complete this game series
damn this must be the best game ever, i remember playing it when i was like 9-10 years old. i remember one day when i were practicing Karate which i did at the time, and during the whole lesson i just felt like running home so that i could continue with this game. i love that Ps3 and Xbox 360 will get an hd remake of this one. Shenmue 1 was probably the most important game in my life, well that and Metal Gear Solid 1. two games that really changed my world .
Johnny I love listening to you talk about your videogame memories, you presnt them in such a cool and watchable way. I really wish I had a dreamcast so I could play shenmue because it sounds so awesome. "Maybe I should buy another..."
I remember the first time I saw shenmue in a videogame shop, it was a japanese version, and the man from the shop started the game on the dramcast, I was impressed. I couldn't believe what I was watching, that real time intro, the graphics, all.... I just couln't believe it at all, I thought the graphics was a video until I started playing. I was on a high all the time. No one game ever has given me this sensation again. It's unique. It's a master piece...
This brought back a lot of memories. I still remember when one of my friends told me Shenmue 2 wasn't coming out. I was so bummed! The same as you, I was able to pick it up at my Electronic Boutique here in Timmins Ontario. Here hoping that we get Shenmue 3! Great episode!
I've just recently turned it on again and it made me feel the same way you did upon first playing it. They really cared about the world they created and it shows. 3 will be great too.
Amazing game, your videos always stir up this nostalgia in me. I can tell how much you love these games through your tone of voice. I'm glad they do the same for others that they did for me lol.
It is so refreshing to finally see someone who is dedicated to gaming who aren't "angry" for once. I'm just so tired of seeing angry this and angry that. Keep it up mate you actually gained one sub.
I remember the first time I played Shenmue. Home sick from school, but you couldn't tear me away from the TV. This game was amazing. And I wasn't even very far! One of these days I'm gonna drop some coin and get this series again.
No game has ever transported me to another place and drenched me in atmosphere like Shenmue. Although granted, a lot of that had to do with being 14-15 when I was playing it. Best Christmas!
Awesome Video Johnny!!!! I've only played bits and pieces of the first Shenmue game. I definitely can appreciate what the game did at that time. Going from place to place, around the town, going into peoples homes.....amazing. Soundtrack to this game is one of my favorite soundtracks to listen to. Awesome as always :-)
This is still my favourite game of all time. I preordered both & have played them numerous times. None of my friends get how great this is. It's an open world martial arts revenge epic set in 1980s Asia with countless things one can do. I am getting kind of bitter that SEGA has made SEVEN Yakuza games but can't just let me find out what happened to these characters I love so much more.
Playing Shenmue via VGA is sex to the eyes, seeing this game in its native 480p is something to behold if you keep in mind the game came out nearly 15 years ago. So many great titles on Dreamcast.
Dude....You look like your 12 in this video!! HaHa and I’ve been watching since near the beginning of your channel. I remember watching this when it was 1st posted 8 years ago! I’m 43 Johnny and it’s great to go back and enjoy and remember how different life was just 8 years ago! Thanks for all the video’s man. I watch at least acouple a day! We REALLY need a ALL GEN GAMERS REUNION, even if it’s only 1 podcast!!! Plus it give all you guys a excuse to catch up....ok, now I’m really trying to sell it...HaHa cheers Johnny!
I played Shenmue for the first time earlier last year, I have been a gamer for 17 years and nothing has sucked me in to a game more than Shenmue, I'd go as far as to say it's one of the best games I've ever played. Sure the graphics may have aged, but they're good enough to create a believable world and you can still make out the minute details. Plus using the Dreamcasts VGA output into a HDMI converter really is a sight to behold.
Ive been waiting for this review from your enthusiastic perspective since you had shenmue on your top ten list very long ago. It was worth the wait. Thanks Johnny you really Rock!
Sega dreamcast is my favorite console, and I have never even owned one! I used to play the ol' DC at my friends house all the friggin' time. I played Powerstone, MVC2, PSO, Sonic adventure. But I had never played Shenmue, and from every review i've seen of it, it looks awesome. God, I hope this comes to X-box live soon. Best part of this game, the main character's dad is played by Segata sanshiro in the japanese version. Now that is awesome.
Awesome review man, I felt myself agreeing with you on so many points. I loved exploring and experiencing the world of Shenmue 1 and I also felt the last section of Shenmue 2 in Guilin was pure magic. Thanks for the memories and best of luck to you!
I love the kid's voice that goes: "Let's play soccer!" I am in with your group Johnny in that I love the games. They are in my top 5 favourite games of all time and I just loved exploring the different areas in I then going to Hong Kong in II was brilliant. The dialogue is hilariously bad but like you said, it makes the game that much more special. Great episode Johnny and look forward to other video game memories.
this game blew my mind when i was young. totally agree with everything this dude had to say. i had never played anything like it. next to ocarina of time, shenmue was one of the first truly epic immersifying gaming experiences i had growing up and it will always hold a special place in my heart
Great video man. You completely captured and conveyed what makes these games so special. I share your passion for these brilliant games and music. I dont feel anything has matched the memories and feeling these games provided. They truly were a revelation. Especially the first. I love these games above all others with the possible exception of deus ex and hl2. I hope your passion for these games converts others to these games. They really really show games dont have to be relentless action.
You nailed it Johnny. So many classic aspects to these games. The music and weather all combine for the most atmospherics games I think I've played. My favourite section was S2 disk 3, Kowloon. The grimy hong kong tower blocks with multi level environments and echoing acoustics, got me fascinated by the real Kowloon Walled City, demolished in 1991. Check out "City of Darkness" for epic photos of this incredible organic city, Blade Runner meets Delhi kind of! Great tribute video brother.
johnny thank you for making a shenmue video finally, as a fan waiting for Shenmue III, i at least have a few LOGICAL ideas of how it would at least happen. Ryo would and the villagers would fix that road that was washed away on your trip up there, you would actually see the village and the villagers as well as give you clues on who built the cave, eventually meet up with Ren in some cinematic way, and possibly fight lan di on a mountain top (thats just wishful thinking)..any thought form anyone
totally with you on this, johnny. if you get over the expectation of shenmue being an action game and enjoy it as a life simulation game, it's amazing!
I still haven't gotten over the fact that there's no end to Shenmue. It has to be one of my top 3 games of my lifetime. All of your experiences seem very similar to mine. Thanks. Greaty great review.