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. lastsid
    Feb 12, 2020
    6
    Shenmue is weird series of games. First and second have big value as part of gaming history. For me shenmue always was a legendary game which i always wanted to try. And when i finaly did, it wasnt what i expected. It definitely unique game even in modern gaming. Kind sorta life sim, more realistic and immersive than most of modern games, but kinda boring. First half of the game you needShenmue is weird series of games. First and second have big value as part of gaming history. For me shenmue always was a legendary game which i always wanted to try. And when i finaly did, it wasnt what i expected. It definitely unique game even in modern gaming. Kind sorta life sim, more realistic and immersive than most of modern games, but kinda boring. First half of the game you need to get in certain place in certain time. You need to wait untill that time. Walk across town. killing time in arcade. It's strange.it's weird and not very fun. But it creates mood, atmosphere, sense of time and place. And when the second half we work in port on fortkliff i get of sense of nostalgia when i get more free time and can hang in arcade all day instead of driving fortcliff from morning to evening. Shenmue isnt realy fun but it's interesting expirience and it is good in creating atmospehere. Second game is more adventureous. You're in foreign country. Everifing is alien and unfamiliar. Yor meeting new people, run into new problem. There is more fightin and more qte. I honestly like it less. First was comming of age story and this is adventure with fighring criminal, solving misteries and other stuff. It's still keeps it realistic feel but cuicumstances is very different. Third one, despite been released last year, feel very close in style to first two. Probably less eventfull and more boring. I honetsly expected more modern spin on shenmue formula, but shenmue 3 sticks to it's root and this make it feels dated. And it's not the end of story. It's ends on cliffhanger and promissed contnuation in shenmue 4. I remeber in the begining 12 games was planed. Interesting, are this plan are still relevant? In general shenmue is unique and interesting experience, but not a very good. Definitely dont play the third game separately. But should you play the whole series, i dont know. If you want non-violent game with good atmosphere and dont worry that it would waste your time on alot of boring parts, give it try.… Expand
  2. HUtorX
    Dec 4, 2019
    6
    6 - это дейтствительно честная оценка. Игра очень короткая, с кучей однообразного гриндящего геймплея. И это по прежнему не финал серии, который фанаты ждали 20 лет. А жаль. Я уверен что Shenmue IV не выйдет никогда.
  3. Whb
    Aug 5, 2020
    5
    This game would have been accepted if it was released ten or 15 years ago ... the game is so stiff ... the voice acting is robot like ... and some lines are just stupid ... I made myself endure all of that hoping that the story will balance things ... boy was I wrong .. the story takes you to many unrelated areas and you do not feel that what you are doing makes sense ... In other wordsThis game would have been accepted if it was released ten or 15 years ago ... the game is so stiff ... the voice acting is robot like ... and some lines are just stupid ... I made myself endure all of that hoping that the story will balance things ... boy was I wrong .. the story takes you to many unrelated areas and you do not feel that what you are doing makes sense ... In other words ... I wish they just stopped with shenmue 1 and 2 remastered… Expand
  4. TheKillerFries
    Jul 27, 2020
    5
    While the game definitely carries some of the Shenmue magic that the first two games had, it's impossible for me to recommend this game in full faith, even to fans of the series. Each step forward is met with a step back, and while the series has always heard complaints of a slow-pace and focus on realism and mundanity, never has the series included more padding than this one has.

    The    While the game definitely carries some of the Shenmue magic that the first two games had, it's impossible for me to recommend this game in full faith, even to fans of the series. Each step forward is met with a step back, and while the series has always heard complaints of a slow-pace and focus on realism and mundanity, never has the series included more padding than this one has.

    The visuals, like the rest of the game, are a mixed bag. Environments, items, collectibles, and effects are all met with an impressive amount of care and detail, while character models and animations are highly inconsistent and often breech uncanny valley. Similarly, it's refreshing to see Ryu acting much the same as he had before, many of the other characters don't have nearly as much charm as the quirky B-movie personalities from its predecessors.

    Most damningly, this addition's pacing has to be one of the worst I've seen in quite some time. The other Shenmue games suffered from pacing issues as well, but the third installation practically says "Hold my beer" as it prefers to make you train abilities and fighting moves for 40% of the game, collect increasingly ludicrous amounts of money for another 40%, and the remaining 20% includes much of the game's actual story and content, which often doesn't add much to the overall plot.

    I have to admit that I was disappointed with my experience. As a fan of the first two games, it pains me to see that such an anticipated sequel can fall so flat in terms of gameplay and story that it leaves me questioning whether I'd even support a similar Kickstarter for Shenmue 4. If they really want the series to achieve the highs that the prior two entries have, they're going have to try a lot harder than this.    … Expand
  5. skdursh
    Jun 28, 2020
    7
    Giving this a 5 to start because of some jank, broken promises, sneaky dev moves, EGS exclusive and crapping all over the backers who made this game happen, but it looks good, it has that Shenmue vibe complete with cheesy voice acting and melodrama, mini-games and all that jazz. I'll increase my score if I end up satisfied with the story once I complete it, but I still need to dock pointsGiving this a 5 to start because of some jank, broken promises, sneaky dev moves, EGS exclusive and crapping all over the backers who made this game happen, but it looks good, it has that Shenmue vibe complete with cheesy voice acting and melodrama, mini-games and all that jazz. I'll increase my score if I end up satisfied with the story once I complete it, but I still need to dock points just because of how underhanded they were all during development.

    Update: I loved the game, still docking 2 points for the previously mentioned issues. It's worth playing if you were a fan of the originals.    … Expand
  6. Rezken
    Jan 6, 2023
    7
    As a die-hard Shenmue fan I couldn't wait to play part 3 of the series. I had finished Shenmue I & II (the remake, of course) on PC and jumped straight into Shenmue III. The first thing I noticed: Ryu doesn't look like Ryu at all! The entire world looks too artificial, unworthy of a Unreal Engine 4 game. UE4 has so much more to offer, yet the makers of Shenmue III delivered a mediocreAs a die-hard Shenmue fan I couldn't wait to play part 3 of the series. I had finished Shenmue I & II (the remake, of course) on PC and jumped straight into Shenmue III. The first thing I noticed: Ryu doesn't look like Ryu at all! The entire world looks too artificial, unworthy of a Unreal Engine 4 game. UE4 has so much more to offer, yet the makers of Shenmue III delivered a mediocre result using it. I still enjoyed it though. It just didn't meet my expectations.… Expand

Awards & Rankings

33
#33 Most Discussed PC Game of 2019

Critic Reviews

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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.
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  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.
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