Shenmue I is the most important game in my life by far. Everything you talked about growing up in a small town with frequent overcast weather is exactly my experience (northern Portugal sure is windy and rainy sometimes). The soundtrack catches the vibe with unbelievable detail. It felt right and at the same time it made me wonder about the world out there. How different people live their lives in different countries, with different cultures. I played the game at the right time, I guess. I was maybe 11 or something, my mind was just starting to open up. In 2019 I went to Japan to finally visit a place that was so special to me and at the same time, so mysterious. In one of the nights, I told my girlfriend that I was going for a walk to listen to Shenmue in-game music and wander throught the streets. Eventually, I broke down and cried. Some of joy, some of sadness. It was like I finally accomplished a huge personal goal and everything felt so perfect, yet so sad. All the memories of playing the game and looking throught the window, the heartbreaks, the lonely times. I'm bad with words, but that night I felt one of the deepest emotions I've ever felt. This video made remember that episode once again and how special Shenmue I truly is. Thank you and I hope you get the success you desire here in youtube. Big hug from Portugal.
Thank you so much for your kind words, Sir. I'm very happy that the video made a connection with you. I also went on my own pilgrimage to see some Shenmue sights (to Hong Kong where I visited the Man Mo temple). I'm going to make a part 2 soon, focussing on the 2nd game, where I'll talk a bit about those travelling experiences. Take care and all the best from England.
I think we modern male lack community, a belonging, a real mission. Ryo gave us that. I cried also and it has far more influence on me than where I was born etc. (again lack of ...)
I was 12 years old. I waited 1 Year and counted every Day until it's Release. I Was overhyped, shenmue sounded too good to be true. As I finally played it I was total blown away, it was soooooooo good. The hype was real. 15 years later I found a japanese girlfriend and of course the first sentences as we met Was about shenmue. I am not a Nerd. I just love this game too much. As we visited first time Japan I was in peace. My life could be not better at these times, finally see the real world and culture behind shenmue
"at least they dared to be great". That is a perfect description of the old Sega. They made the best consoles and games and nothing else ever came close. The saturn is still my favorite system of all time
When my elder siblings started playing shenmue, me and all our friends were absolutely floored... This was unbelievable. We all came from the polygons of the ps1. The most cinematic/memorable game we played previously was metal gear solid... Man what a time.
At the risk of sounding overly dramatic… This. No one has ever said it like this before. I can relate 100%/so much to nearly everything said here. Your video on shenmue II just hit me and I’m still processing but thoughts on it are much the same. A sincere thank you for creating this and getting your thoughts out 🙏
This video helped me come to terms with my feelings about the series. I found my original copy, which used to be displayed on my desk at home but eventually made it’s way into a drawer over the years. It got me thinking about how long of a journey it was from Shenmue 1 to Shenmue 3. It seemed impossible that it would ever exist and despite my negative feelings about it I’m still glad it does exist. But then I started considering what comes next and I eventually found my way to this video. It’s very likely we’re never going to see a Shenmue 4. If we do, it’ll probably be at a time when I’ve long left video games behind. But instead of the initial sadness I felt when I first realized that, this video made me think it’s okay if I never see anything else from the series. I still have the memories I made and the experiences associated with it and that’s enough.
I had that Dreamcast promo VHS tape! Bloody hell, blast from the past. And I think you've articulated Shenmue's appeal better than any review I've seen on CZcams. The small town mundane relatability, the sense on encroaching change, the melancholy, all spot on
I was a bit alienated also when I found Shenmue , I had moved to a new area and all my friends were gone. It was weird. All you have is ur imagination at that point. and Shenmue was like taking a trip to Japan. It was so intriguing. I was blessed to have been gifted a Dreamcast for Christmas and a copy of Shenmue. It is all I really wanted and asked for. Playing Shenmue gave me a way to step out into the world , in a way. Cuz that's what u have to do in the game. u don't have some super amazing magic powers. Ur just a young guy whose life been turned upside down and ur trying to make sense of it all, taking matters into ur own hands to make things right. SHENMUE makes u get a job. Imagine that lol. SHENMUE was truly one of a kind. It's kinda about growing up in a way. And being alone, yet being around people. Hard to explain. But Shenmue is one of those games with a unique spirit within it. It has its own soul embedded into it I think.
I’ve come back to this time and time again. This is genuinely my favorite retrospective ever. I wish more people would just talk about their personal experiences with the games they love. I just wanted to say thank you for this video, it’s one of my comfort videos and it gotten me through some really hard times. All the best ❤
It's is the proof of segas craftmenship that near 25 years on and no game comes close to the sense of place and the care for the characters that this game was able to provide back in 1999.
I love retrospective videos like this. The quality is amazing. I really wish SEGA was still in the console game sometimes. The Dreamcast almost seems otherworldly for the time it came out. So ahead of its time.
People don't realize how hard it was to do that arround 1998 and 2001 without Zbrush and appropriate UV unwrapping tool, Blender was not even a thing, they have to use real plaster sculpture digitized in to Softimage, it was a "tour de force", nobody was able to do that in real time before Shenmue, even Half life and Mario 64 or the Final Fantasy Series was not so advance visualy, it was a time before even GTA goes full open world.
Hi Retro Muel As a fellow mancunian I would just love to tell you how great this video of you reflecting on Shenmue is, I've not come across anyone you has been able to some up how I felt about the game in the same way, I played it on my brothers Dreamcast when it launched and I was 10 years old and it completely blew my mind, and no game since has left such an impact on me, thank you for a great video
_"You may say I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one. May the impossible dream live on."_ -- Pretty much sums up Shenmue and the Dreamcast itself perfectly succinctly and poignantly, and I can draw so many unfortunate analogues to my own personal life from this. Almost made me a little misty-eyed. I said _almost._
Got mine Christmas of 2000 as well and I was 15. Very similar experience. I'm taking the magic of this game to the grave with me... Thank you for this brother...
I grew up west of Des Moines, a medium sized city in the USA. We lived in a small town, and it was almost never sunny. I loved the clouds and rain, they made me calm. Shenmue was my go-to for a sunny day, when I was missing the clouds.
There is nothing like Shenmue. This is a game where you play it and you see things daily that remind you of a game you played 24yrs ago. I see a forklift, I think Shenmue. I see something Karate based, I see Shenmue. It is an absolute shame this game never got its proper ending. The game played so well.
Great video dude. You couldn't have said it any better. Nome of my friends or family understand why I play this game. For me it brings back the feeling of watching 80s and 90s action movies as a kid on my vcr. The story is very similar to Kickboxer or Hard to Kill. It's a great game to decompress too, just vibe to the epic soundtrack and walk into bobs pizza every day to say hello to Mario. I play it every winter while slightly buzzed and its super fun.
An excellent video. What fascinates me the most is that everyone feels the "home" of Shenmue 1 world in different subtones depending on personal home-town experience - you felt melancholy and loneliness, when for me coziness and nostalgia where more prevalent (not like they are self excluding). And I think it's yet another testoment to game's unparalleled immersion.
I definitely felt some of that cozy nostalgia. There is a Christmassy vibe there too of course which I love. I think I just wanted to highlight the melancholy aspect because I don't think it gets talked about much, despite it being a game that revolves around a family tragedy.
These Shenmue videos are the best as ive seen and experienced it the same way you did back in the day. Im tempted to get a Dreamcast with a CRT B&O TV now.
Dude! I just realised that you grew up not far from me, I'm from Chester. We also seem to have shared a fondness for mushrooms and tablets... This is so weird. I feel like you are telling my story of Shenmue. I love the games so much and you've got yourself a subscriber because I know that this video is straight from the heart 👍
Thanks for watching, Mate. Ah cool yeah I went to uni in Chester actually, way back when. I actually bought my copy of Shenmue from the upstairs gaming bit in the big HMV there I believe. Really miss that place, and the Megastore! Lived there for a spell in 2008ish too. Many fond memories. Thanks very much for your kind words and for the sub. Take care.
@@retromuel That would be Virgin Megastore (so many good memories)... I used to play Killer Instinct there with my mates and practice the 48 hit combo with Orchid. Your video was amazing buddy. All the best to you my dude and thanks for this video. Ine San is always there for us! 💵💵💵👍
Man, you really nailed it with the reason Shenmue is so revered and its sequels don't quite live up to it. Over the years I've noticed how all the nostalgia and admiration is always aimed at the first game. That mirrors my own feelings on the franchise. There was something truly special about the first game I could never really put my finger on. You just said it: its the tone. I supported the Shenmue 3 kickstarter in full knowledge it wasn't going to be a commercial success. I knew I could hold and buy it for much cheaper not long after launch. I was right, and yet I chose to show my love for the franchise and support the team. Shenmue 3 sits still unplayed in my shelf. I'm a bit scared to attempt it, heard so many bad things about it. I will someday.
Just came over from the Friendmue Shenmue podcast and I absolutely loved your retrospective here. It was both reflective of Ryo's journey and of your own which made it more personable. Though Dobuita is an actual location, it really is an analog to all the small towns players would have grown up in. The grandest video game worlds don't also have to be the biggest, and Shenmue certainly does a lot more with less.
Amazing video this really spoke to me, I was 18 when I got Shenmue on Christmas day and will never forget my time being transported to that sleepy Japanese fishing village for a week or so, it really was like an alternate life for me. I have had many gaming experiences that have matched Shenmue over the years since but that fateful Christmas still resonates very strongly with me. Also like you I from England and was a daily smoker (amongst other things) at the time which as you probably agree makes you immerse yourself in games even more, I also got that very DCUK magazine and the Official Dreamcast Magazine (where Shenmue got 10/10) and I must of read that 100 times or more in anticipation of playing it. So glad I found this video because I always think of Shenmue this time of year and I've subscribed of course!.....Oh yeah and the SNES is the best console of all time :p
I was 12 when this came out, I'd never herd of it, I spent months saving and I went to a games shop expecting to get about 6 or 7 second hand games, but my brother talked me into spending half my budget buying this brand new and I was really reluctant, but I caved in the end and was the best thing ever did 😅
To me at the age of 10-11 ; this game was truly intimidating, couldn't play it, had to watch my cousin play it😅 but now I'm making a game that borrows elements from shenmue👏🏽👏🏽🤞🏾
I must say this probably one of the best videos about Shenmue I've ever seen in all of these years. I can definitely relate to your experience with Shenmue and I'm certain a lot of other fans also will. Thank you for creating this video and I hope a lot of other gamers out there see it to and realise they might be missing out in a truly one of a kind gaming experience unlike any other out there and decide to give this wonderfull series a shot. Thank you.
On the topic of unsettling music during the game, I've noticed that it starts to play when something wrong is about to happen like when Charlie waits with his goons to beat us up the music starts to play and so on
Maaan! That trailer from the Dreamcast Magazine... I must have read that issue and watched that trailer a hundred times and somehow forgot it. Until now! 😊 Thanks for this mate. Subscribed 👍
Wonderful video on one of my all-time favorite games. Your words certainly struck a chord with me. I actually have a podcast called the Friendmue cast over on the Shenmue fans channel. I'd love to have you on as a guest to chat some shenmue!
Super video! Your retrospective speaks from the heart of many shenmue fans. The melancholy and aesthetics in shenmue 1 have fascinated me to this day and never really let go... I'm glad to have encountered this game at the right time in my life...
I was hooked the minute you mentioned issue 0 of ODM! Still have my copy somewhere, complete with the VHS tape, the shiny film wrapper it came in, and every issue that followed it - all well worn from being pored over on the school bus. What a special time in my young life, and gaming in general! Shenmue is easily the game that is most important to me. I still dream of one day visiting Japan and Hong Kong.
Wonder video! You really nailed the topic of Ryo's realistic movement. I try to explain to people but haven't been successful. The in game world is so fleshed out and detailed, Ryo's deliberate tank control fits in perfectly. It wouldn't work with modern dual stick control which looks so phoney to me. Another got example of realistic movement is RE4. The slow tank control creates a more tense realistic situation compared to all these other action games where the characters skates around like you said something along the lines of "mechanical metal chess pieces"
Just echoing what others have said already but bravo on the video, definitely deserves more recognition. Your words definitely rang true with me and you expressed yourself wonderfully. I would love to know your thoughts on Shenmue 3, will that be for a future video? Was a massive disappointment for me but I’m glad at least that it hasn’t impacted on my love of the first two games. Thanks again mate.
I just purchased Part 1 and 2 Remastered versions as a bundle pack discounted for $4.49 in the Playstation Store on my Playstation 5. I already own Part 3, but it's also currently discounted for $2.99 their discounts will end on 3/16/23. If you don't already own them, now is the best time to make your purchase!
Hey! You said you bought Issue 0 in Manchester City Center, I did too! I also had that VHS tape! I really enjoyed the freeform nature of the video, which is really the best way to approach this game. I have to say I maybe had a bit of a different perception to you about Shenmue's advertising -- it had lots of adverts in games magazines, there were a few segments on BBC about it, and it was all over the internet but.. yeah, it wasn't as huge as it should have been. I guess they saved that for the US market. I also found your description of middle-class manchester life kinda interesting too. I didn't smoke weed but, I think that common "directionless" attitude was common then. With my daughter I'll be giving her a lot of direction because I just had to find my own way in life, and that like you say, sucks :D
Interesting. I really don't remember much promotion for it at all but perhaps I had taken my eye off the ball a little at that time. There weren't any TV adverts in the UK I think? Even a number of Saturn games got terrestrial TV adverts in the mid 90s - Worldwide Soccer, Daytona CCE and Fighting Vipers spring to mind. Bizarre that they wouldn't make one for this mega budget RPG. My only knowledge of it was from the Official Magazine if memory serves. Thanks for watching and engaging. Hope you enjoyed the vid.
Unbelievable coverage..I love how you captured the slightly haunting atmosphere of the software...I actually would put a few of the music tracks right up there with the classic tracks from the Resident evil series....There is a great vaporwave mix of the first games soundtrack I throw on from time to time it rocks!!....
I didn't know there was someone else that also felt a very clear sadness, melancholy and romance with Shenmue 1 specifically. I started 2 but couldn't continue because something felt off. I think the stilted dialogue and voice acting makes it more immersive because you are able to "subtract" it mentally from the game. Thank you so much for making this video. It's motivating me to continue making my shenmue inspired game. I would really recommend you to play Boku No Natsuyasumi for the PS1 if you have a friend that can help you reading the Japanese as it's never been translated. If not, the second best thing is Tim Roger's excellent review on CZcams.
_Most shenmue fans were in their teens or younger... Am I the only one who played shenmue in his 30s when it 1st came out?!_ _Btw, no matter how much I love dreamcast, Saturn is still my favourite console._
what a beautiful retrospective! awesome job transmitting your very personal experience which in many ways coincides with what I loved the most about Shenmue I and II and how I absorbed it's experience.
@@retromuel I'd be interested to hear your views on it too. I found it underwhelming. The environments are quite pretty though, I will admit. The combat is horrendous, the story does not advance at all, and it's very short. ( Granted, it's a Kickstarter backed title) If we remove 3 tomorrow, it wouldn't mean a thing. It's just a game that was put out to satisfy fans. It was a filler title. 1 and 2 are far superior titles. I don't think Shenmue in modern times is able to rekindle those same experiences we had in the late 90s and early 2000s. It's sort of frozen in time in that way. If you don't compare it to anything else but previous titles, it still is behind those, and they were released decades ago. I backed 3 on Kickstarter and played it with a fully open mind. I didn't allow my nostalgia bias to cloud my views at all. It's not a bad title, it just failed to recapture the nuances that made the series great.
@@marianosantiniello2213 Shenmue 3 easily could've been a lot better if they just didn't add that awful hunger/eating mechanic. This alone drags the game several points down. And I hated when I saw the Arcade show room in Bailu Village, it totally broke whatever the immersion I might've had, it was just so stupid to be there. Then of course there are myriads of other things they got wrong like you've said
I've always loved the idea of Shenmue (since my Dreamcast days in fact), but the gameplay wasn't/isn't my cup of tea. Your fantastic vid has convinced me to finally give it a go. Outstanding.
"It made the N64, and even the PS1, look SHIT in comparison." Lol. Fantastic video. S1 is one of my favourite games of all time, for the reasons you mention here. I've never finished S2, even though it does what it intends to do so well, continuing Ryo's adventure. I just couldn't be arsed with the difficult gameplay in Kowloon. S1 and Dobuita are just so real and memorable - and you're free, and encouraged, to drink it all in. You say it all here better than I ever could.
I played shenmue 2 on xbox at around 14 and a few years later got a dreamcast finally, including shenmue....i couldnt keep it alive but i have all 3 on my ps4. Their was a particular realness/truth that the game conveyed just right.
The Shenmue games have aged badly in many ways and were quite divisive at the time. Regardless, I absolutely adore the games. I can't think of another console so synonymous with a single game than the Dreamcast with Shenmue. Shenmue is one of the primary reasons why the Dreamcast is one of my top 3 consoles of all time, and I love the games just as much today, if not more, than I did 20+ years ago.
Shenmue sits in a weird place in the gaming pantheon. At its time, it was revolutionary, but the gaming industry as a whole has surpassed it. Yu has come out publicly and said he does not care about modern gaming and does not play them at all. Yakuza and Sifu have directly taken concepts from Shenmue. Shenmue is an amazing game, but it lacks broad appeal. What's left is people who appreciate it for what it did for gaming. It's an immersive experience, but people prefer fast paced with a focus on action. It's a very niche title. The first time I played Shenmue 1, I was blown away. It was way ahead of its time . Ironically, it's way behind the times now. Shenmue is a phenomenal title, the vast majority of gamers won't be able to contextualize it properly.
2:00, I love how unapologetically you say that Saturn is the greatest console ever made 😄👍 I love it too, it's in my top 3 but the greatest I think is PS1 just for the sheer amount of great games. Dreamcast another one if only for Shenmue
Yeah I mean it's hard to argue with the PS1, although I actually think the 360 is a bit underappreciated. It was around for 10 years and has an absolutely vast quantity of great games, and all the Live arcade stuff too. Saturn is my personal favourite. Stuff like Nights, Panzer Saga and Virtua Fighter 2 and all the obscure Japanese arcade ports is just so awesome and so unique. I even love the bizarre architecture of it and the effects Sega was able to squeeze out of it (the infinite planes and the water in Panzer Zwei etc.) I miss when consoles had some personality and distinguishing features. Thanks for watching.
Thank you very much Man. Yakuza's great - I'm just giving my own highly subjective opinion on it Vs Shenmue. It just doesn't appeal to me quite as much. Take care and thanks for watching.
As a 12 yo kib in 200, there was definitely a good amount of marketing for this game in magazines and on television, though I never owned a DC when it was sold retail. I eventually pikced one up in 2006
I'd just like to say that the movie in this video perfectly fits the mood of the game. What also stands out to me about this game is how mythical it feels. We all know that Shenmue takes place in the 1980s, but it feels like a tale from ancient Chinese folklore that was written in 2000 BC. That's what always captivated me about this game, despite its flaws. What's the name of the song that plays through roughly 70% of the video? It starts in the beginning.
Thank very much and thanks for watching. It's an unused track from the "What's Shenmue?" demo. It's usually called "unused track 1" or similar. There are a few versions up on CZcams.
Why use the old Sex Pistols and New York Dolls manager for a dream advert voiceover? He sounded good tbf I'm just confused as to why they thought of using him.
Shenmue I is the most important game in my life by far. Everything you talked about growing up in a small town with frequent overcast weather is exactly my experience (northern Portugal sure is windy and rainy sometimes). The soundtrack catches the vibe with unbelievable detail. It felt right and at the same time it made me wonder about the world out there. How different people live their lives in different countries, with different cultures. I played the game at the right time, I guess. I was maybe 11 or something, my mind was just starting to open up.
In 2019 I went to Japan to finally visit a place that was so special to me and at the same time, so mysterious. In one of the nights, I told my girlfriend that I was going for a walk to listen to Shenmue in-game music and wander throught the streets. Eventually, I broke down and cried. Some of joy, some of sadness. It was like I finally accomplished a huge personal goal and everything felt so perfect, yet so sad. All the memories of playing the game and looking throught the window, the heartbreaks, the lonely times. I'm bad with words, but that night I felt one of the deepest emotions I've ever felt.
This video made remember that episode once again and how special Shenmue I truly is.
Thank you and I hope you get the success you desire here in youtube.
Big hug from Portugal.
Thank you so much for your kind words, Sir. I'm very happy that the video made a connection with you.
I also went on my own pilgrimage to see some Shenmue sights (to Hong Kong where I visited the Man Mo temple). I'm going to make a part 2 soon, focussing on the 2nd game, where I'll talk a bit about those travelling experiences. Take care and all the best from England.
Same here Ricardo. Melhor jogo de sempre...
I think we modern male lack community, a belonging, a real mission. Ryo gave us that. I cried also and it has far more influence on me than where I was born etc. (again lack of ...)
I was 12 years old. I waited 1 Year and counted every Day until it's Release. I Was overhyped, shenmue sounded too good to be true. As I finally played it I was total blown away, it was soooooooo good. The hype was real.
15 years later I found a japanese girlfriend and of course the first sentences as we met Was about shenmue. I am not a Nerd. I just love this game too much. As we visited first time Japan I was in peace. My life could be not better at these times, finally see the real world and culture behind shenmue
I agree.
Say, have you see any sailors?
"at least they dared to be great". That is a perfect description of the old Sega. They made the best consoles and games and nothing else ever came close. The saturn is still my favorite system of all time
When my elder siblings started playing shenmue, me and all our friends were absolutely floored... This was unbelievable. We all came from the polygons of the ps1. The most cinematic/memorable game we played previously was metal gear solid... Man what a time.
Kept you waiting huh
At the risk of sounding overly dramatic… This. No one has ever said it like this before. I can relate 100%/so much to nearly everything said here. Your video on shenmue II just hit me and I’m still processing but thoughts on it are much the same. A sincere thank you for creating this and getting your thoughts out 🙏
This video was in the recent someordinarygamers video. And im glad it was there because i really liked it. Great work.
This video helped me come to terms with my feelings about the series. I found my original copy, which used to be displayed on my desk at home but eventually made it’s way into a drawer over the years. It got me thinking about how long of a journey it was from Shenmue 1 to Shenmue 3. It seemed impossible that it would ever exist and despite my negative feelings about it I’m still glad it does exist. But then I started considering what comes next and I eventually found my way to this video. It’s very likely we’re never going to see a Shenmue 4. If we do, it’ll probably be at a time when I’ve long left video games behind. But instead of the initial sadness I felt when I first realized that, this video made me think it’s okay if I never see anything else from the series. I still have the memories I made and the experiences associated with it and that’s enough.
I agree. 3 completely ruined the series for me, but I still cherish the first 2
I had that Dreamcast promo VHS tape! Bloody hell, blast from the past. And I think you've articulated Shenmue's appeal better than any review I've seen on CZcams. The small town mundane relatability, the sense on encroaching change, the melancholy, all spot on
I was a bit alienated also when I found Shenmue , I had moved to a new area and all my friends were gone. It was weird. All you have is ur imagination at that point. and Shenmue was like taking a trip to Japan. It was so intriguing. I was blessed to have been gifted a Dreamcast for Christmas and a copy of Shenmue. It is all I really wanted and asked for.
Playing Shenmue gave me a way to step out into the world , in a way. Cuz that's what u have to do in the game. u don't have some super amazing magic powers. Ur just a young guy whose life been turned upside down and ur trying to make sense of it all, taking matters into ur own hands to make things right.
SHENMUE makes u get a job. Imagine that lol.
SHENMUE was truly one of a kind. It's kinda about growing up in a way. And being alone, yet being around people.
Hard to explain. But Shenmue is one of those games with a unique spirit within it. It has its own soul embedded into it I think.
I’ve come back to this time and time again. This is genuinely my favorite retrospective ever. I wish more people would just talk about their personal experiences with the games they love. I just wanted to say thank you for this video, it’s one of my comfort videos and it gotten me through some really hard times. All the best ❤
Holy.... how does this only have 6k views?!
It's is the proof of segas craftmenship that near 25 years on and no game comes close to the sense of place and the care for the characters that this game was able to provide back in 1999.
Who knew an XQC drama video would bring me to such a gem of a channel
I love retrospective videos like this. The quality is amazing. I really wish SEGA was still in the console game sometimes. The Dreamcast almost seems otherworldly for the time it came out. So ahead of its time.
People don't realize how hard it was to do that arround 1998 and 2001 without Zbrush and appropriate UV unwrapping tool, Blender was not even a thing, they have to use real plaster sculpture digitized in to Softimage, it was a "tour de force", nobody was able to do that in real time before Shenmue, even Half life and Mario 64 or the Final Fantasy Series was not so advance visualy, it was a time before even GTA goes full open world.
You should write a blog on this. Most gamers have no idea how hard it was to pull this off in that era.
Hi Retro Muel
As a fellow mancunian I would just love to tell you how great this video of you reflecting on Shenmue is, I've not come across anyone you has been able to some up how I felt about the game in the same way, I played it on my brothers Dreamcast when it launched and I was 10 years old and it completely blew my mind, and no game since has left such an impact on me, thank you for a great video
_"You may say I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one. May the impossible dream live on."_ -- Pretty much sums up Shenmue and the Dreamcast itself perfectly succinctly and poignantly, and I can draw so many unfortunate analogues to my own personal life from this.
Almost made me a little misty-eyed.
I said _almost._
Muta brought me here! Very thoroughly impressed!
Great video!!! Who is here because Muta talked about it?
Me
Shenmue is just one of those games that makes you hold back tears when you think about it. What a f*cking special game!
I could listen to you for hours. Your voice is incredibly calming.
Subscribed. Thank you for making this, and thank you Mutahar for fighting back against CZcams's trash algorithm!
Got mine Christmas of 2000 as well and I was 15. Very similar experience. I'm taking the magic of this game to the grave with me...
Thank you for this brother...
Smoking weed, eating mushrooms, listening to the Pixies and Radiohead, playing Shenmue on an OG television. Living in the golden age.
SomeOrdinaryGamers brought me here, your content is fire dude 🔥
I grew up west of Des Moines, a medium sized city in the USA. We lived in a small town, and it was almost never sunny. I loved the clouds and rain, they made me calm. Shenmue was my go-to for a sunny day, when I was missing the clouds.
Thanks for the recommendation, Mutahar.
hello from mutahars new video. great video and nice editing keep it up
There is nothing like Shenmue. This is a game where you play it and you see things daily that remind you of a game you played 24yrs ago. I see a forklift, I think Shenmue. I see something Karate based, I see Shenmue. It is an absolute shame this game never got its proper ending. The game played so well.
Great video dude. You couldn't have said it any better. Nome of my friends or family understand why I play this game. For me it brings back the feeling of watching 80s and 90s action movies as a kid on my vcr. The story is very similar to Kickboxer or Hard to Kill. It's a great game to decompress too, just vibe to the epic soundtrack and walk into bobs pizza every day to say hello to Mario. I play it every winter while slightly buzzed and its super fun.
Ahhh me too, every winter I play the whole series then metal gear solid.. its good to know people aliek
An excellent video. What fascinates me the most is that everyone feels the "home" of Shenmue 1 world in different subtones depending on personal home-town experience - you felt melancholy and loneliness, when for me coziness and nostalgia where more prevalent (not like they are self excluding). And I think it's yet another testoment to game's unparalleled immersion.
I definitely felt some of that cozy nostalgia. There is a Christmassy vibe there too of course which I love. I think I just wanted to highlight the melancholy aspect because I don't think it gets talked about much, despite it being a game that revolves around a family tragedy.
This video encapsulated everything Shenmue makes a person feel that gets it.
youtuber someordinarygamers gave u a shoutout in his latest video. nice content bro keep up the good work
These Shenmue videos are the best as ive seen and experienced it the same way you did back in the day. Im tempted to get a Dreamcast with a CRT B&O TV now.
Dude! I just realised that you grew up not far from me, I'm from Chester. We also seem to have shared a fondness for mushrooms and tablets... This is so weird. I feel like you are telling my story of Shenmue. I love the games so much and you've got yourself a subscriber because I know that this video is straight from the heart 👍
Thanks for watching, Mate. Ah cool yeah I went to uni in Chester actually, way back when. I actually bought my copy of Shenmue from the upstairs gaming bit in the big HMV there I believe. Really miss that place, and the Megastore! Lived there for a spell in 2008ish too. Many fond memories. Thanks very much for your kind words and for the sub. Take care.
@@retromuel That would be Virgin Megastore (so many good memories)... I used to play Killer Instinct there with my mates and practice the 48 hit combo with Orchid. Your video was amazing buddy. All the best to you my dude and thanks for this video. Ine San is always there for us! 💵💵💵👍
Came from @SomeOrdinaryGamers. Love the video game essay content!
Beautiful video. Very much mirrors my own experience though I was a few years younger when I first played Shenmue. Thank you for creating this.
What a great way to summarize what many feel about this fantastic and personal game.
the shenmue soundtrack is the soundtrack of my life
Doyou know whats the music at the beginningof the video? I loved it but i am unable to find it
sorry im not sure
@@gerardomorenoperez1639
@@gerardomorenoperez1639here’s the song… czcams.com/video/KqKBa5VqcQQ/video.html
Man, you really nailed it with the reason Shenmue is so revered and its sequels don't quite live up to it. Over the years I've noticed how all the nostalgia and admiration is always aimed at the first game. That mirrors my own feelings on the franchise. There was something truly special about the first game I could never really put my finger on. You just said it: its the tone.
I supported the Shenmue 3 kickstarter in full knowledge it wasn't going to be a commercial success. I knew I could hold and buy it for much cheaper not long after launch. I was right, and yet I chose to show my love for the franchise and support the team.
Shenmue 3 sits still unplayed in my shelf. I'm a bit scared to attempt it, heard so many bad things about it. I will someday.
Just came over from the Friendmue Shenmue podcast and I absolutely loved your retrospective here. It was both reflective of Ryo's journey and of your own which made it more personable. Though Dobuita is an actual location, it really is an analog to all the small towns players would have grown up in. The grandest video game worlds don't also have to be the biggest, and Shenmue certainly does a lot more with less.
Yo this is a beautiful piece, thank you for sharing/creating this.
Amazing video this really spoke to me, I was 18 when I got Shenmue on Christmas day and will never forget my time being transported to that sleepy Japanese fishing village for a week or so, it really was like an alternate life for me. I have had many gaming experiences that have matched Shenmue over the years since but that fateful Christmas still resonates very strongly with me. Also like you I from England and was a daily smoker (amongst other things) at the time which as you probably agree makes you immerse yourself in games even more, I also got that very DCUK magazine and the Official Dreamcast Magazine (where Shenmue got 10/10) and I must of read that 100 times or more in anticipation of playing it. So glad I found this video because I always think of Shenmue this time of year and I've subscribed of course!.....Oh yeah and the SNES is the best console of all time :p
I was 12 when this came out, I'd never herd of it, I spent months saving and I went to a games shop expecting to get about 6 or 7 second hand games, but my brother talked me into spending half my budget buying this brand new and I was really reluctant, but I caved in the end and was the best thing ever did 😅
I've watched the video untill the end and it's so good and so emo, thank you again for this masterpiece
To me at the age of 10-11 ; this game was truly intimidating, couldn't play it, had to watch my cousin play it😅 but now I'm making a game that borrows elements from shenmue👏🏽👏🏽🤞🏾
Making you say?
I must say this probably one of the best videos about Shenmue I've ever seen in all of these years.
I can definitely relate to your experience with Shenmue and I'm certain a lot of other fans also will.
Thank you for creating this video and I hope a lot of other gamers out there see it to and realise they might be missing out in a truly one of a kind gaming experience unlike any other out there and decide to give this wonderfull series a shot.
Thank you.
Thank you for your kind words, Bud. All the best.
I completely agree with your assessment. I also felt like I could relate to Ryo as well.
On the topic of unsettling music during the game, I've noticed that it starts to play when something wrong is about to happen like when Charlie waits with his goons to beat us up the music starts to play and so on
Mate youre experience was literally identical to mine , except I am in Dublin , the weed , the e the mushrooms , the shenmue... Fantastic
Maaan! That trailer from the Dreamcast Magazine... I must have read that issue and watched that trailer a hundred times and somehow forgot it. Until now! 😊 Thanks for this mate. Subscribed 👍
Wonderful video on one of my all-time favorite games. Your words certainly struck a chord with me. I actually have a podcast called the Friendmue cast over on the Shenmue fans channel. I'd love to have you on as a guest to chat some shenmue!
Thank you so much Buddy. Glad you enjoyed it. Wow absolutely I'd love to!
@@retromuel sweet! Do you have a way I can reach you? Twitter, email, discord?
@@VirtuaBros Sure. Email's probably best. It's samastbury@yahoo.co.uk
@@retromuel great. Just sent you an email. Looking forward to arranging a show with you :)
@@VirtuaBros we need a second episode of friendmuecast featuring @retromuel
Super video! Your retrospective speaks from the heart of many shenmue fans. The melancholy and aesthetics in shenmue 1 have fascinated me to this day and never really let go... I'm glad to have encountered this game at the right time in my life...
I was hooked the minute you mentioned issue 0 of ODM! Still have my copy somewhere, complete with the VHS tape, the shiny film wrapper it came in, and every issue that followed it - all well worn from being pored over on the school bus. What a special time in my young life, and gaming in general!
Shenmue is easily the game that is most important to me. I still dream of one day visiting Japan and Hong Kong.
Shenmue is the best game, its a masterpiece that never will be beaten. Todays games have no soul.
Have you played The Last Guardian? It has plenty of soul
Wonder video! You really nailed the topic of Ryo's realistic movement. I try to explain to people but haven't been successful. The in game world is so fleshed out and detailed, Ryo's deliberate tank control fits in perfectly. It wouldn't work with modern dual stick control which looks so phoney to me. Another got example of realistic movement is RE4. The slow tank control creates a more tense realistic situation compared to all these other action games where the characters skates around like you said something along the lines of "mechanical metal chess pieces"
Just echoing what others have said already but bravo on the video, definitely deserves more recognition. Your words definitely rang true with me and you expressed yourself wonderfully. I would love to know your thoughts on Shenmue 3, will that be for a future video? Was a massive disappointment for me but I’m glad at least that it hasn’t impacted on my love of the first two games. Thanks again mate.
We need you on the friendmuecast once more. PLEASE
I just purchased Part 1 and 2 Remastered versions as a bundle pack discounted for $4.49 in the Playstation Store on my Playstation 5. I already own Part 3, but it's also currently discounted for $2.99 their discounts will end on 3/16/23.
If you don't already own them, now is the best time to make your purchase!
This video, I like it. Came from Mutahar's newest vid, just subbed. What kind of vid do you plan on doing for your 100K subs special?
Amazing video! Really enjoyed the tone you set for this one. This is everything one would want from a video like this, specially regarding Shenmue.
your home town looks like a mix of Shenmue streets with oblivion buildings lol
Fantastic video. Nice work!
Hey! You said you bought Issue 0 in Manchester City Center, I did too! I also had that VHS tape! I really enjoyed the freeform nature of the video, which is really the best way to approach this game. I have to say I maybe had a bit of a different perception to you about Shenmue's advertising -- it had lots of adverts in games magazines, there were a few segments on BBC about it, and it was all over the internet but.. yeah, it wasn't as huge as it should have been. I guess they saved that for the US market.
I also found your description of middle-class manchester life kinda interesting too. I didn't smoke weed but, I think that common "directionless" attitude was common then. With my daughter I'll be giving her a lot of direction because I just had to find my own way in life, and that like you say, sucks :D
Interesting. I really don't remember much promotion for it at all but perhaps I had taken my eye off the ball a little at that time. There weren't any TV adverts in the UK I think? Even a number of Saturn games got terrestrial TV adverts in the mid 90s - Worldwide Soccer, Daytona CCE and Fighting Vipers spring to mind. Bizarre that they wouldn't make one for this mega budget RPG. My only knowledge of it was from the Official Magazine if memory serves.
Thanks for watching and engaging. Hope you enjoyed the vid.
We definitely would have been friends growing up. Your story sounds shockingly similar to my own.
Unbelievable coverage..I love how you captured the slightly haunting atmosphere of the software...I actually would put a few of the music tracks right up there with the classic tracks from the Resident evil series....There is a great vaporwave mix of the first games soundtrack I throw on from time to time it rocks!!....
I feel you… thanks for the great flashback, shenmue, FF7 and SH gives me nostalgia
I didn't know there was someone else that also felt a very clear sadness, melancholy and romance with Shenmue 1 specifically. I started 2 but couldn't continue because something felt off. I think the stilted dialogue and voice acting makes it more immersive because you are able to "subtract" it mentally from the game.
Thank you so much for making this video. It's motivating me to continue making my shenmue inspired game.
I would really recommend you to play Boku No Natsuyasumi for the PS1 if you have a friend that can help you reading the Japanese as it's never been translated. If not, the second best thing is Tim Roger's excellent review on CZcams.
Thanks for the recommendation and thanks for watching. Good luck with your game! What's the concept?
Fantastic video man, really enjoyed your Retrospective! Makes me want to replay the game :)
Well I just completed this video and I must say it was excellent..
Great video an Shenmue and its era, didn't expect to get excited after the so many videos on the same topic !
You have made some of the best shenmue vids for sure
The vibes of shenmue 1 is the best in shenmue series
_Most shenmue fans were in their teens or younger... Am I the only one who played shenmue in his 30s when it 1st came out?!_
_Btw, no matter how much I love dreamcast, Saturn is still my favourite console._
I was 19. 😂
what a beautiful retrospective! awesome job transmitting your very personal experience which in many ways coincides with what I loved the most about Shenmue I and II and how I absorbed it's experience.
Dreamcast is the greatest console.. period.. it’s thinking
It's still thinking in 2023.
Excellent video. I'd love to hear your thoughts on Shenmue 3 sometime.
Thanks for watching and I hope you enjoyed it. I'll definitely get around to a Shenmue 3 video at some point.
@@retromuel I'd be interested to hear your views on it too. I found it underwhelming. The environments are quite pretty though, I will admit. The combat is horrendous, the story does not advance at all, and it's very short. ( Granted, it's a Kickstarter backed title) If we remove 3 tomorrow, it wouldn't mean a thing. It's just a game that was put out to satisfy fans. It was a filler title. 1 and 2 are far superior titles. I don't think Shenmue in modern times is able to rekindle those same experiences we had in the late 90s and early 2000s. It's sort of frozen in time in that way. If you don't compare it to anything else but previous titles, it still is behind those, and they were released decades ago. I backed 3 on Kickstarter and played it with a fully open mind. I didn't allow my nostalgia bias to cloud my views at all. It's not a bad title, it just failed to recapture the nuances that made the series great.
@@marianosantiniello2213 Shenmue 3 easily could've been a lot better if they just didn't add that awful hunger/eating mechanic. This alone drags the game several points down. And I hated when I saw the Arcade show room in Bailu Village, it totally broke whatever the immersion I might've had, it was just so stupid to be there. Then of course there are myriads of other things they got wrong like you've said
I've always loved the idea of Shenmue (since my Dreamcast days in fact), but the gameplay wasn't/isn't my cup of tea. Your fantastic vid has convinced me to finally give it a go. Outstanding.
Great scripting dude, thanks for sharing the memories.
"It made the N64, and even the PS1, look SHIT in comparison." Lol. Fantastic video. S1 is one of my favourite games of all time, for the reasons you mention here. I've never finished S2, even though it does what it intends to do so well, continuing Ryo's adventure. I just couldn't be arsed with the difficult gameplay in Kowloon. S1 and Dobuita are just so real and memorable - and you're free, and encouraged, to drink it all in. You say it all here better than I ever could.
I played shenmue 2 on xbox at around 14 and a few years later got a dreamcast finally, including shenmue....i couldnt keep it alive but i have all 3 on my ps4. Their was a particular realness/truth that the game conveyed just right.
anyone else here from someordinarygamers? great video dude
Thanks to Muta ig. Now i found a hidden gem 🍷🗿
Probably I just desagree with your opinion about Yakuza, but really good video!
A very well made video.. keep it up. Struck me very deep
The Shenmue games have aged badly in many ways and were quite divisive at the time. Regardless, I absolutely adore the games. I can't think of another console so synonymous with a single game than the Dreamcast with Shenmue. Shenmue is one of the primary reasons why the Dreamcast is one of my top 3 consoles of all time, and I love the games just as much today, if not more, than I did 20+ years ago.
Shenmue sits in a weird place in the gaming pantheon. At its time, it was revolutionary, but the gaming industry as a whole has surpassed it. Yu has come out publicly and said he does not care about modern gaming and does not play them at all. Yakuza and Sifu have directly taken concepts from Shenmue. Shenmue is an amazing game, but it lacks broad appeal. What's left is people who appreciate it for what it did for gaming. It's an immersive experience, but people prefer fast paced with a focus on action. It's a very niche title. The first time I played Shenmue 1, I was blown away. It was way ahead of its time . Ironically, it's way behind the times now. Shenmue is a phenomenal title, the vast majority of gamers won't be able to contextualize it properly.
Amazing documentary, of my favorite game, and you even released it on my birthday!
great video
2:00, I love how unapologetically you say that Saturn is the greatest console ever made 😄👍 I love it too, it's in my top 3 but the greatest I think is PS1 just for the sheer amount of great games. Dreamcast another one if only for Shenmue
Yeah I mean it's hard to argue with the PS1, although I actually think the 360 is a bit underappreciated. It was around for 10 years and has an absolutely vast quantity of great games, and all the Live arcade stuff too. Saturn is my personal favourite. Stuff like Nights, Panzer Saga and Virtua Fighter 2 and all the obscure Japanese arcade ports is just so awesome and so unique. I even love the bizarre architecture of it and the effects Sega was able to squeeze out of it (the infinite planes and the water in Panzer Zwei etc.) I miss when consoles had some personality and distinguishing features. Thanks for watching.
beautiful video!
What's the outo tune please? Love it so nostalgic
It's called "Wave of Morning Haze." Thanks for watching.
Wait… what. How does this game look that good. This is PS2 level graphics? Kind of looks better than PS3 not gonna lie
I'm gonna ignore everything you said about Yakuza, so this video is amazing
Thank you very much Man. Yakuza's great - I'm just giving my own highly subjective opinion on it Vs Shenmue. It just doesn't appeal to me quite as much. Take care and thanks for watching.
@@retromuel
Damn. Thank you
@@retromuel I agree
As a 12 yo kib in 200, there was definitely a good amount of marketing for this game in magazines and on television, though I never owned a DC when it was sold retail. I eventually pikced one up in 2006
Was that in the US?
@@retromuel yeah I thought I had added as in northeast US? But evidently didn't mention my region in the comment
@@retromuelI was in the netherlands and there was a lot of hype and marketing around shenmue 1 here.
This video was amazing
Hey man, mind sharing the name of the white noisy track playing in the background throughout the video? :)
It's on the "What's Shenmue?" Ost. Called "Unused Music 1" I think. Nice isn't it?
I'd just like to say that the movie in this video perfectly fits the mood of the game. What also stands out to me about this game is how mythical it feels. We all know that Shenmue takes place in the 1980s, but it feels like a tale from ancient Chinese folklore that was written in 2000 BC. That's what always captivated me about this game, despite its flaws.
What's the name of the song that plays through roughly 70% of the video? It starts in the beginning.
Thank very much and thanks for watching. It's an unused track from the "What's Shenmue?" demo. It's usually called "unused track 1" or similar. There are a few versions up on CZcams.
@@retromuel Wow, they should've used this track. It's surreal, just like this game at times.
Un vídeo con mucho corazón!
You sound like a young Pierce Brosnan!
Why use the old Sex Pistols and New York Dolls manager for a dream advert voiceover? He sounded good tbf I'm just confused as to why they thought of using him.
No idea. Just because he was regarded as a hip old guy I guess.