Shenmue III

 PC
User Score
6.2

Mixed or average reviews- based on 434 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 239 out of 434
  2. Mixed: 29 out of 434
  3. Negative: 166 out of 434

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  1. Appolon20
    Dec 1, 2019
    1
    The author of the game is a total scammer. Not only is there nothing new in the game, it does not seem to have advanced for 15+ years. And not even that she goes to EGS. The story is empty and not interesting. Graphics from 2005. Grind money (chop wood, fish seriously?).
    When raising funds promised:
    3 locations (2 in fact) skill tree (none at all)   And this is just the tip of the    The author of the game is a total scammer. Not only is there nothing new in the game, it does not seem to have advanced for 15+ years. And not even that she goes to EGS. The story is empty and not interesting. Graphics from 2005. Grind money (chop wood, fish seriously?).
    When raising funds promised:
    3 locations (2 in fact)
    skill tree (none at all)

      And this is just the tip of the iceberg. Who are the people who value her well? Do not buy this game in any case!    … Expand
  2. yusep
    Jan 6, 2020
    2
    I am an old guy, 40 y/o. I played Shenmue 1 and 2 in Dreamcast when they where released. I nevery though they were master pieces but I valued them for what they were.
    I was pretty excited to put some money when the Kickstarted was announced, I wanted to contribute to keep the shenmue legend alive.
    After receiving the Kicsktarter download code I let few months pass to avoid being in the    I am an old guy, 40 y/o. I played Shenmue 1 and 2 in Dreamcast when they where released. I nevery though they were master pieces but I valued them for what they were.
    I was pretty excited to put some money when the Kickstarted was announced, I wanted to contribute to keep the shenmue legend alive.
    After receiving the Kicsktarter download code I let few months pass to avoid being in the hype or the doom stages. I went to the game with the most open possible mind and with low expectations.

    I have to say, the game is a total dissapointment.

    The script is REALLY bad to a point I can't keep playing the game as the character talk like the script was written by a 12 years kid. Everybody in the game talks like they have low IQ. slow, repeating phrases, behaving like they are basically stupid. the English dubbing is bad, unemotional... it feels like a real B series movie with no budget. But even worse as the animations and facial animations are very very bad. The amount of times the character replies with a "i see"is just playing annoying.

    The design of the game is bad, the only thing you do is to run errands, most of the time very Stupid ones. And from time to time you reach a fight where most of the cases you will lose it. the game forces you to grind the training ( very stupid training ).. Fighting is just mashing buttons, nothing deep or tachtical.

    on the tech side, it is ok, graphics themselves are ok. Animations are plain bad... but models and lighting is fine . Performance on PC.. the game is not ultrawide compatible, and I have to play it either fullscreen streched with proper performance or windowed or borderless with bad performance. Tried to play it on a 1080 p TV . the tearing was HORRIBLE. constant terrible line moving vertically on the screen.... the worst I have ever seen.

    A total dissapointment of a game who learned NOTHING from the last 15 years of game development.

    It is bad, there is no other way to describe it. I do not recommend to buy it, not even descounted. Try it if you can get it for free or max 5 dollars.    … Expand
  3. Ramiro1992
    May 19, 2020
    1
    Piece of crap game for a pc crap trilogy. Yu Suzuki is a bald headed ugly **** that took advantage of the autistic Shenmue fans to get zee money from them, pc **** that bought the game were scammed and not refunded after discovering that the game was crap. Thankfully I never liked a single SHenmue game, overrated franchise as always, I would never pay more than $10 bucks for a digitalPiece of crap game for a pc crap trilogy. Yu Suzuki is a bald headed ugly **** that took advantage of the autistic Shenmue fans to get zee money from them, pc **** that bought the game were scammed and not refunded after discovering that the game was crap. Thankfully I never liked a single SHenmue game, overrated franchise as always, I would never pay more than $10 bucks for a digital download link (except if it was a wonderful game) and no more than $30 for a physical game, **** you Suzuki! Shenmue is dead!… Expand
  4. Merifri84
    Mar 1, 2020
    0
    Это не игра, а просто жесть. Ю Сузуки, видимо пора завязывать с тяжелыми наркотиками и переосмыслить в каком году он живет, скучная, однообразная, тягомотина с отвратительной графикой. А ведь так надеялся, что будет интересно...Это не игра, а просто жесть. Ю Сузуки, видимо пора завязывать с тяжелыми наркотиками и переосмыслить в каком году он живет, скучная, однообразная, тягомотина с отвратительной графикой. А ведь так надеялся, что будет интересно...
  5. nco2k
    Jan 31, 2020
    0
    a great franchise completely ruined by corporate greed. yu suzuki stopped caring about the quality of his products, and is desperately trying to milk the remaining user base. shenmue 4+5 will most likely be equally as bad, if they can even get any funding after the whole kickstarter disaster.
  6. Andrudis
    Nov 22, 2019
    3
    Absolutely for fans only, not recommended if you are not fan of part 1 and 2.
    - Graphics look ages outdated. There is no any graphic settings for PC version at all, but you do not need them as game with this level of graphic will run smoothly even on most outdated PC
    - Dialogs are boring and often plain stupid. Quality of voice acting matches quality of dialogs through - all with the    Absolutely for fans only, not recommended if you are not fan of part 1 and 2.
    - Graphics look ages outdated. There is no any graphic settings for PC version at all, but you do not need them as game with this level of graphic will run smoothly even on most outdated PC
    - Dialogs are boring and often plain stupid. Quality of voice acting matches quality of dialogs through - all with the same monotonous intonation and absolute absence of emotions.
    - Controls are somewhat mediocre - you can get used to it, but it will still cost you certain frustration time to do this.    … Expand
  7. vloxomire
    Nov 23, 2019
    0
    Gráficos del 2000, solo para fans.Si hubiera salido hace 19 años hubiera sido interesante
  8. GJA
    Nov 20, 2019
    0
    Low effort game paid for by betrayed kickstarter supporters. Company banks on nostalgia and refused refunds until they were threatened with lawsuits.
  9. DrazekIronwing
    Dec 3, 2019
    0
    The game is a poorly envisioned pile of wank. Shenmue fans (I was one of them) are the ONLY people who are happy with the finished game, and even then I'd argue that there's a great number of them, myself included who are less than happy with the finished game. Is it all the Shenmue you could want? sure, if you want to play the worst, most grindy and mind numbing game of your life withThe game is a poorly envisioned pile of wank. Shenmue fans (I was one of them) are the ONLY people who are happy with the finished game, and even then I'd argue that there's a great number of them, myself included who are less than happy with the finished game. Is it all the Shenmue you could want? sure, if you want to play the worst, most grindy and mind numbing game of your life with graphics from the PS2 era.

    I enjoyed Shenmue 2, which is why I kickstarted Shenmue 3 however I was super un-impressed when they forced Epic exclusivity on us and all the game updates I've seen since have been getting worse and worse.

    The lip-synching and voice acting (bar maybe 2 or 3 voices i've heard) are completely atrocious!

    The method of levelling up your fighting skills is mundane, uninspired, grindy and boring as all hell.

    Ys Net haven't learned ANYTHING since the last Shenmue game, it's as if Yu Suzuki has been hiding in his bedroom for the last 20 years with his hands over his eyes and hasn't taken on board a single development from an entire 2 decades of awesome games throughout the years.

    If you're gonna sit there and try to tell me that this game is 'good' in any capacity, compared to the plethora of indie and double A titles we've had over the years... then you have lost all integrity as a gamer.

    Do you know what you should be playing instead of this drivel? - Yakuza, pick one, any of the Yakuza games are basically this but 100x better in every freaking way.    … Expand
  10. Aagahim
    Dec 3, 2019
    1
    Bad graphics, poor optimization. Lifeless animations and boring gameplay. Just play yakuza games and forget shenmue. It flopped when it came out originally and it will flop again. Nostalgia can be very blinding but the third installment in this franchise is very boring
  11. Morbus
    Nov 20, 2019
    0
    This would have been a good game... 10-15 years ago. Not in 2019.
    It lacks some basic quality of life features, like being able to skip time if you have to meet someone at a specific time of the day.
  12. sprayer
    Nov 20, 2019
    1
    This game is trash, i can't believe what this game was made by Japan developer, old graphics, no interactivity, gameplay very boring, very slow, every step animation. Better to play in Yakuza or other similar games. They forbid to write review after release and finally it's epic store. This is totally trash
  13. Gamblez00r
    Dec 2, 2019
    0
    Oh this game could be good like 10 years ago... It is obvious why developers decided to avoid fair release on Steeam and just grab fast money - they knew they couldn't deliver the proper modern game. Shame on them.
  14. Terg500
    Nov 21, 2019
    3
    The game is released on the 19th and critics aren't allowed to review it until the 21st. In the meantime the game gets flooded with lots of user reviews that have only reviewed Shenmue 3 for PC and PS4 and give this game a 10/10.

    10/10 imo means it's ABSOLUTELY perfect but this game isn't even barely decent. Seems like an obvious attempt from Deep Silver to get people to buy the game    The game is released on the 19th and critics aren't allowed to review it until the 21st. In the meantime the game gets flooded with lots of user reviews that have only reviewed Shenmue 3 for PC and PS4 and give this game a 10/10.

    10/10 imo means it's ABSOLUTELY perfect but this game isn't even barely decent. Seems like an obvious attempt from Deep Silver to get people to buy the game based on faked user reviews alone.    … Expand
  15. Zer0TheHer0
    Nov 19, 2019
    0
    ruined by that stupid off-centered camera. why can't developers understand that tvs and monitors have a definite CENTER?
  16. OfCourse
    Dec 1, 2019
    0
    If you see 10/10 review just click on the name and you will see that every single one of the is a fresh account with only shenmue 3 review on it. Why metacritic doesn't do anything against blatant score manipulation?
  17. Timmithy
    Nov 19, 2019
    0
    Horribly optimized for PC. Running this at 1080p on a RTX 2080ti and i'm always gettting an unstable frame rate.
  18. nicholsonadam
    Nov 20, 2019
    0
    As a Kickstarter backer at a high support level, I find that my Steam version is completely unplayable. Unresponsive to controls, doesn't boot up, was never delivered, may never be. Thanks, Ys Net and Deep Silver!
  19. Apriarcy
    Nov 20, 2019
    0
    There's a reason SEGA let this series die in favor of Yakuza. The creator is a hack and this is another game with a huge budget that manages to feel low budget and dated at release. Avoid it like the plague.

    Also way to lie to the diehard fans who kick-started your project.
  20. doujin
    Nov 20, 2019
    0
    If you are a fan of this series, maybe it will worth a shot to play. But for a newcomers this is really really bad game, core game is a talking simulator 70% of your playtime will be talk to npc and walking to talk with other npc.
    The combat is not smooth and weird.
    Animation is really bad even the mc face look like a polygon game, if the game release in 10 years ago it will be a great    If you are a fan of this series, maybe it will worth a shot to play. But for a newcomers this is really really bad game, core game is a talking simulator 70% of your playtime will be talk to npc and walking to talk with other npc.
    The combat is not smooth and weird.
    Animation is really bad even the mc face look like a polygon game, if the game release in 10 years ago it will be a great game. Maybe......    … Expand
  21. tastytoaster
    Nov 19, 2019
    4
    The game seemed... Its disappointing. Like, you lose health too fast like wtf
  22. cigi_68
    Nov 24, 2019
    4
    I have found memories of Shemue. But the nostalgia seems to have ducked with me. It is nice looking but the controls have not agreed well. It really does not play like a modern game.
  23. GokuRedSS4
    Nov 23, 2019
    1
    Graphics are absolutely dire, gameplay is stuck in the 90s and the voice acting is an absolute abomination. Whoever thought releasing such a lazy and terrible game in this state needs to be sacked. I backed this game on kickstarter and sold my copy of the game. If you're a fan of the series and don't mind playing a game with dreadful voice acting in 2019 then go ahead.
  24. muzmuz
    Nov 20, 2019
    0
    A 2003 game released 1 month before 2020. Shenmue is a poorly made video game with a lot of negative reputation behind its back
  25. Mikki1986
    Nov 19, 2019
    3
    This game is for fans only. If you havnt play the other games and your not playig because of nostalogia dont even bother this title. This game looks like mobile version of yakuza.
  26. Gabacon
    Nov 19, 2019
    3
    Well people are loving this game but i don't see it. The voice acting and the dialogue is one of the worst i have ever seen. The animations are from 2005. I know it is a third game in a series from way back when because i played those game. I was just hoping they had moved out of 1998 and joined us here in 2019.
    It IS pretty though :D
  27. WolfRoot
    Dec 4, 2019
    0
    Вас наебали и съебались с деньгами. Автор наплевать на своих фанатов
  28. loci
    Nov 20, 2019
    0
    Very bad game. It is very dated..an embarrassment really, I'm shocked. I am trying to get a refund. AVOID!
  29. umbershap
    Nov 24, 2019
    0
    Grafikler rezalet oyun gerçekten kötü ve sıkıcı oyunu. Orjinal Shenmue oyunları dönemlerinin teknik açıdan ve oynanış açısından jenerasyon liderleriydi iki oyunda da inovasyon vardı ve oyun dünyasına bir şeyler katmışlardı.

    Epic'den aldım ve iade etme şansım yok. Keşke oyun Steam'de çıkmış olsaydı da iade etme şansım olsaydı.
  30. leyt1125
    Nov 26, 2019
    0
    9 and 10 points to this game are voted by bots, just look at their profile - 2 ratings: 10 for PS and PC version of shinmue, and that's it
    Disgusting
  31. Vano_Sanchez
    Jun 21, 2020
    0
    This is the worst game ive ever played. Terrible gameplay. Terrible characters. Terrible story. Terrible promises... big disappointment.
  32. Gizilq
    Dec 6, 2019
    2
    Я не могу назвать ни одной причины, почему эта игра должна существовать. Да, я знаю, она во многом определила жанр Открытого мира и узаконила QTE, но это было 20 лет. Сейчас же, это набор раздражающих репетаптивных механик, ЗАГРУЗКИ, отвратительная анимация (хуже Greedfall, который сделали за 5 миллионов $), ЗАГРУЗКИ, хождение по карте в поисках людей, ЗАГРУЗКИ, таймер, нудноеЯ не могу назвать ни одной причины, почему эта игра должна существовать. Да, я знаю, она во многом определила жанр Открытого мира и узаконила QTE, но это было 20 лет. Сейчас же, это набор раздражающих репетаптивных механик, ЗАГРУЗКИ, отвратительная анимация (хуже Greedfall, который сделали за 5 миллионов $), ЗАГРУЗКИ, хождение по карте в поисках людей, ЗАГРУЗКИ, таймер, нудное зарабатывание денег и наконец ЗАГРУЗКИ.
    Особенно вся убогость игры заметна если сравнивать с серией Yakuza, которая является наследником Shenmue.
    2/10

    Google translation, sorry
    I can not name a single reason why this game should exist. Yes, I know, she largely defined the Open World genre and legitimized QTE, but it was 20 years old. Now, this is a set of annoying repetitive mechanics, LOADING, disgusting animation (worse than Greedfall, which was made for $ 5 million), LOADING, walking on the map in search of people, LOADING, timer, tedious making money and finally LOADING.
    Especially the whole wretchedness of the game is noticeable when compared with the Yakuza series, which is the heir to Shenmue.
    2/10    … Expand
  33. MrLet53
    Nov 10, 2021
    0
    Gameplay time is 1 our. Cutscenes time 10 hour. Really bad game all around. I don't understand japannese game developers, Why ı can skip cutscenes. Timing push button game. I really hate this game. This game is not worth any price. If this game is free, I hate again.
  34. Pikathulhu
    Jul 26, 2020
    3
    Every single aspect of this game is bad except for the music. Avoid this at all costs.
  35. Burretploof
    Feb 29, 2020
    3
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. What a disappointment this game is.

    I don't even mind that its mechanics are incredibly dated (it actually mostly plays like the original two games); the main problem is that this time around, there are even fewer story beats than in the previous games.

    The first game establishes Ryos motivation and has the player learn a bit about Lan Di and his relationship to Ryos father. It actually feels like a proper investigation with a few entertaining twists and turns.

    The second game is a journey; not just starting out in a different location but also featuring more than one place to explore. Additional major characters are added to the plot and they learn more about Lan Di and the Phoenix Mirror.

    But this third game? I'd be hard pressed to name even one story beat that is of any consequence to the overall story. The entire game is spent running the gauntlet, with almost none of the characters adding anything to the main story arc. The player learns literally nothing new until the ending cutscenes play.

    They also introduce a bunch of characters in this game but none of them are given any kind of proper introduction or motivation but at the end they're being treated as if they're all friends that help each other out? Ryo met Shiling once and only trained a few times with Hsu but even he was never established as anything more than a guy to spar with.

    Also, why is Feng Li doing what she's doing? Who even is she? No idea, as the game doesn't give her a proper introduction, either.

    This game is a mess and honestly, I consider it a waste of time and money - it seemed more like a cash-grab than anything of substance.
    Sure, I want to see where the story is going, but I would've been better off reading a synopsis of Shenmue 3 (which would probably be shorter than this casual review) than actually spending money on it and playing it for almost 30 hours.    … Expand
  36. Coleco_84
    Jun 21, 2020
    2
    Absolute disgrace to such a beloved 20 years old franchise.
    Just ignore it, pretend Ryo and Shenhua are still living in that cave.
  37. foreversic
    Feb 1, 2023
    0
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Never play these games. Shenmue 3 will now be the last in the series, one final, boring, stale flop before giving up the ghost. Spare yourself the time & don't even think about these games more than a few seconds, because that's how little value it has… Expand

Awards & Rankings

33
#33 Most Discussed PC Game of 2019

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
69

Mixed or average reviews - based on 14 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 5 out of 14
  2. Mixed: 8 out of 14
  3. Negative: 1 out of 14
  1. Riot Pixels
    Feb 17, 2020
    84
    If the original dilogy is Iliad, Shenmue 3 is Odyssey, a sequel that even exceeds expectations in some regards.
    Read full review
  2. Game World Navigator Magazine
    Jan 14, 2020
    44
    Despite all Suzuki’s claims that this series is his life’s work, Shenmue 3 feels more like a quick cash-in. [Issue#242, p.62]
  3. PC Games
    Dec 16, 2019
    50
    Even connoisseurs of the first two parts will be a bit sober after taking off their pink glasses. The story is by far not as good as it seemed back then and the gameplay is completely outdated. The fact that Shenmue 3 doesn't come to a conclusion is unforgivable after the long waiting time and the (financial) support of the fans. Players who approach the title without a nostalgia bonus will be annoyed anyway. The grind is pretty hard, the wandering around and the bad dialogues are even harder, but the fact that the game keeps stopping you on purpose is just incredibly frustrating. Hardcore fans can add something to the rating, everyone else can even pull something off.
    Read full review
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