Overall: 9
Gameplay: 10
Graphics: 10
Sound: 8
Replay Value: 9
Concept: 10

Could Shenmue possibly be the most hyped game of all time? If so, it has been hyped by the gaming public, and not by the creators themselves, as is so often the case with 'big' games. Shenmue seems to draw you into a world that's eerily realistic, and puts you through the eerily realistic paces of a young man named Ryo.

The game, in and of itself, is pretty simple. In fact, we've all seen it before, from the good old text adventures of yore (remember Zork?) to adventure games like King's Quest. Shenmue is most definitely an adventure game; don't let those who claim it is an RPG fool you. It carries on where Zork left off.

Ryo's father, a martial arts sensei has been killed by a mysterious master of a strange martial art. Sounds like a typical kung-fu movie plot? Well, it is, and this familar plot is what helps this game work. You are now thrust into that movie, and you choose this boy's destiny. You do this by literally living his life; you visit town, talk to people, make a few phone calls, even get a job to earn some cash. Yes, you live Ryo's life.

This is where the game blurs the line between what is real and what isn't. The reactions you get from others range from helpfulness from friends to distrust from strangers. When presented with a problem or task, you must find your own way to surmount it; or, alternately, ignore it altogether and go play the slot machines some more. There is a video game arcade inside the game that you can even visit and play classic Sega games in.

Doing so is exceptionally easy as well. Controls are simple, the d-pad moves you forward or turns you, one trigger is a run button, and the A button manipulates items. Another trigger is a zoom-in and 'lock on' button, which gives you an idea of what you can and can't interact with. The controls will never get in the way of enjoying the game.

In addition to wandering around and generally living life, Ryo can also get into battles, which switches the game into a respectable 3-D fighting engine. Additionally, you can practice your fighting moves, and Ryo becomes better in battle for doing so, making it worthwhile to take your time and enjoy the game.

This game is so deep that there is no point in describing every little detail. Suffice to say that there is plenty of detail to spare. One thing I will mention is the on-line connectivity; Shenmue comes with a seperate disc just for going on-line. With it you can compare your arcade scores with others around the world, compete in special on-line contests, download special features to your VMU, and get more info about the game. Any gamer who doesn't connect is really missing out on another dimension of the game.

Graphics are top-notch. Cities and towns are highly detailed, and pixellation is nearly non-existant, as is clipping and other typical 3-D problems. The graphics are truly seamless. The only downside are the character models, in particular the faces, which seem a bit plastic and out of place. Still, overall, the graphics are a cut above most other games available.

The music is excellent; a blend of eastern and western themes combine to engross the player even more without the music being intrusive. Sounds are perfect, except for sub-par voice acting. The best voice acting is for the character 'Goro', who, unfortunately, is the most annoying character in the game. Fortunately, the voices can be turned off and text displayed in thier place.

Many complain that the game is too short and there is no reason to replay the game. Of course, the game is only as short as you wnat it to be. Playing stright through could end it in 8 hours, but you'd be missing out on the dozens of side quests and activites it has to offer. Also, until you do replay the game, you don't understand exactly how deep it is. You will never play this game the same twice; small, seemingly innoccuous things have sometimes big effects in the game, bringing you to certain points while missing others. Truly a game to play again and again, and the many diversions only add to this, as well as the on-line support.

As for concept, this game brings back what we enjoyed in the adventure games of old, and updates it with better graphics, as well as using more powerful hardware to create a more complex and involving story.

Now, for the second part of 'what's real and what's not'. As I said earlier, Shenmue is possibly the most hyped game to date. Most players claim that 'you can do anything' and 'it's like real life'. Well, it's not, quite. You can do many, many things, but not everything. This gives it a real-life quality, but it's not quite real life. People often have very odd answers to your questions, and some things just don't make sense. It's allowable, however, considering the vast scope of the game overall. Just don't get sucked in by the hype, don't expect absolute freedom (there still is a bit of railroading), and you'll be very happy with this game.

All in all, Shenmue is a game that any Dreamcast owner should play. It will appeal to almost any type of gamer, and especially with the on-line options, it will give you more than your money's worth in sheer enjoyment. No, there is nothing totally difficult, and nothing terribly new, but this game is so interesting and involving that it's really in a class of it's own.

Recommended: Yes