Shenmue III

 PlayStation 4
User Score
7.7

Generally favorable reviews- based on 1112 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 828 out of 1112
  2. Mixed: 52 out of 1112
  3. Negative: 232 out of 1112
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  1. Huntsx877
    Nov 26, 2019
    10
    True sequel. You get lost in the beautiful world and map design. Side quests are engaging and not a chore. You are encouraged to explore the maps in an interesting way. Very charming characters and story, completely unique experience. I would recommend anyone with patience to play this.

    The combat is still satifying, although it is a small step down. What's improved is the training and    True sequel. You get lost in the beautiful world and map design. Side quests are engaging and not a chore. You are encouraged to explore the maps in an interesting way. Very charming characters and story, completely unique experience. I would recommend anyone with patience to play this.

    The combat is still satifying, although it is a small step down. What's improved is the training and building up your kung fu, attack and stamina.

    Game is amazing by any standard let alone a crowdfunded game    … Expand
  2. broj446
    Nov 26, 2019
    10
    Amazing it's as if was made a decade ago and not a clone of cinema games of today . It's exactly what I wanted in a 3rd game of shenmue I'd of hated it if was just another clone of modern games . Now 4th game could maybe bring it up to date a bit more
  3. wongtrip
    Nov 27, 2019
    10
    A fantastic piece of video game history finds a worthy sequel. You'll be surprised how alive the world is. For example, each progress allows new dialog options with the NPCs which does so much for the immersion. This game isn't for everyone but if you commit yourself to it, Shenmue 3 offers a unique gaming experience.
  4. Horst123
    Nov 27, 2019
    10
    One of the best Games recently published. Play it and dive deep into Chinese culture.
  5. Hazuki38
    Nov 27, 2019
    10
    First, no, I’m not a bot. Yes, I created an account specifically for reviewing this game. Why? Because I have been waiting for it for almost two decades, I backed it on KS and I feel that this game, and Yu Suzuki still need my support. And yes of course I have played the game, game that I could not be happier with!! It has literally everything I was hoping for, and some more. Atmosphere,First, no, I’m not a bot. Yes, I created an account specifically for reviewing this game. Why? Because I have been waiting for it for almost two decades, I backed it on KS and I feel that this game, and Yu Suzuki still need my support. And yes of course I have played the game, game that I could not be happier with!! It has literally everything I was hoping for, and some more. Atmosphere, slower pace, music, story, even the fighting system is good once you get used to it. It’s Shenmue at its best! NO OTHER game allows you to experience what this game does. NONE, period. Yes the dialogue cutscenes could have been better handled, but honestly, after an hour or so, it is not noticeable anymore. And this is certainly not bothering enough to affect my rating, hence the 10/10. When I read that “it looks like a PS2 game”, it’s just plain ridiculous, game is gorgeous. Sure, if what you are after is an action packed game, with big quest markers in the middle of the screen, where you can kill hundreds of NPC’s… then this one is not for you. But if you want to experience something unique, charming, poetic, that has this 80’s feel, that is martial arts focused, where you take your time… Just get it and you’ll be in for a treat!… Expand
  6. yudigital
    Nov 27, 2019
    10
    Me and my brother really love this game. Great music, good attitude, peaceful. Very unique experience. Perfect score from me
  7. starbirdgamer82
    Nov 28, 2019
    10
    Master piece!! A great Shenmue sequel!!

    Everything feels like going back into the true roots of Shenmue.
  8. Kami786
    Nov 28, 2019
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Fantastic game in every way. Really enjoyed it! Brought back memories. I hope Shenmue 4 gets the funding it deserves and we are given an even bigger better game.… Expand
  9. Mikepakione
    Nov 29, 2019
    10
    Cant wait for the 4th installment. Beautiful scenes nostalgic shenmue gameplay. Ryo voice actor is the same from the previous 2 iterations. Overall I loved the game the only thing I found could've been better was the fighting seemed too simple and moves weren't as challenging as the first 2 games but you won't veven be bothered by it because the story is amazing.
  10. Mikedie1
    Dec 1, 2019
    10
    Finished the game Today. And enjoyed every minute of it. Its a true shenmue game!
  11. okeean
    Dec 1, 2019
    10
    Игра Shenmue 3 такая же олдскульная как и предыдущие части. В игре есть, всё, о чем мечтали фаны Shenmue. Ничего не испорченно, все элементы бережно перенесены в третью часть. И это прекрасно. Графика в игре даже по современным меркам неплохо выглядит. Unreal Engine 4 всё таки. Лично мне игра очень нравится.Игра Shenmue 3 такая же олдскульная как и предыдущие части. В игре есть, всё, о чем мечтали фаны Shenmue. Ничего не испорченно, все элементы бережно перенесены в третью часть. И это прекрасно. Графика в игре даже по современным меркам неплохо выглядит. Unreal Engine 4 всё таки. Лично мне игра очень нравится.
  12. Kolossus221
    Dec 3, 2019
    10
    great unique experience that you will only get with a shenmue game. if you have the patience.
  13. Hazuki1986
    Dec 3, 2019
    10
    The story continues. Cannot wait for Shenmue 4. Amazing game for a small team.
  14. Pedroff
    Dec 4, 2019
    10
    Well, it's Shenmue, enough said. A game with soul, a middle finger to modern gaming conventions and something not made for the average Joe or the reviewers from the "especialized" media that lost their real passion for videogames long ago. Thank You, Yu Suzuki. Don't give up and bring us Shenmue4.
  15. Jordikira
    Dec 7, 2019
    10
    La mejor saga para mi" tiene una más que digna continuacion es meterte en la piel del protagonista y en este caso resulta facil
  16. Darkvode
    Dec 7, 2019
    10
    Has a really great story and it feels alive highly recommend to new players to the series to give it a chance
  17. eziowith550ti1
    Dec 25, 2019
    10
    The Story Goes on.... :') Such an authentic Shenmue game finally ! Thank you so much Yu Suzuki !!!
  18. 24Nathan
    Dec 26, 2019
    10
    I have been waiting for this sequel since 2002 when I first beat Shenmue II on the original Xbox. It is everything I wanted and then some. Thank you to everyone involved and on to #SaveShenmueIV! Definitely recommend this game as well as Shenmue I (Dreamcast) and Shenmue II (Dreamcast, Xbox, Xbox 360 backwards compatible), or the rerelease collection on Steam, Xbox One, and PlayStation 4!
  19. Chettytheyeti
    Dec 27, 2019
    10
    Incredible game with lots to do and that special Shenmue feeling. Thanks to the game developers for making this happen!
  20. Lkskiller
    Dec 28, 2019
    10
    When it was said they made a game for the fans of the first two games they weren't exaggerating. Yu Suzuki and his team have recreated the feeling of Shenmue 1 and 2 whilst embracing benefits modern consoles. The fact they made this game on a Kickstarter budget is nothing short of incredible. They should be immensely proud .
  21. Joobles
    Dec 29, 2019
    10
    Won't disappoint earlier fans. Still delivers the fun mini games like forklift driving and great story. The combat system feels ALOT better now too
  22. acedies
    Jan 2, 2020
    10
    Sure it has its ussues, but I loved every second of it! Can'wait for Shenmue 4!
  23. darthjf
    Jan 5, 2020
    10
    As a fan of the original games I wholeheartedly love Shenmue III. It's everything I ever hoped for and what small issues there are can be forgiven due to the limited resources the dev team had at their disposal. It's a lovingly crafted game as I'm sure anyone willing to dive into its virtual world can notice.

    But despite being exactly what the fans wanted it's not a game for everyone. I    As a fan of the original games I wholeheartedly love Shenmue III. It's everything I ever hoped for and what small issues there are can be forgiven due to the limited resources the dev team had at their disposal. It's a lovingly crafted game as I'm sure anyone willing to dive into its virtual world can notice.

    But despite being exactly what the fans wanted it's not a game for everyone. I get that a lot of people aren't going to like it, but it's not due to any faults in the game itself. Rather, Shenmue has always had a design philosophy that's different from other open world adventure games. Some people simply aren't going to agree with what Shenmue is, and think it should be something else.

    Shenmue is a slow game by design. Rather than rushing to complete this and that objective to progress in the story, the game encourages you to look around the world and enjoy the mundane aspects of the game world. Practice your kung fu, do odd jobs for money, gamble, and play arcade mini games. Rather than being a goal driven hectic quest from A to B it's about immersing yourself in the life in your virtual world and enjoying the journey as the overall plot slowly moves forward.

    Some will get sucked in this experience and love it. Other's won't and will hate it. But I love it and that's all that matters to me. 10/10.    … Expand
  24. FlameHaze_
    Jan 23, 2020
    10
    First of all, if you expect Shenmue to be a game full of action and adventure, know that this is not what you will find. This franchise offers a unique and difficult to explain experience. It takes a certain maturity to face it, and a taste for simple things. I'm a big longtime fan and I have to say that Shenmue is one of the best franchises I've ever played, and Shenmue II is still theFirst of all, if you expect Shenmue to be a game full of action and adventure, know that this is not what you will find. This franchise offers a unique and difficult to explain experience. It takes a certain maturity to face it, and a taste for simple things. I'm a big longtime fan and I have to say that Shenmue is one of the best franchises I've ever played, and Shenmue II is still the best game.

    Frankly, Shenmue III disappointed me a lot in the story part, because in Shenmue II Ryo knows people who try to teach him about how bad the desire to get even is, but he is so obstinate about it that he doesn't give up ... I hoped that in Shenmue III there would appear at least a moment when some great master tried to teach him about how bad it is to want to take revenge, which being one of the main themes of Shenmue II, I honestly felt that this part was left out in Shenmue III. Another thing I didn't like was the unnecessary moments of humor, especially in high tension fights. Another criticism I make is the amount of events that this new game brings, it is considerably much smaller than Shenmue II, and even Shenmue I had more events than this new game, at the end of the game I got the feeling that I have progressed in almost nothing in history.

    Precisely because it fails with history, presenting little content, there are few exciting moments, few pauses for Shenmue's incredible songs to be played and contemplated with the beautiful backgrounds in the background. It seems that Yu Suzuki forgot to be romantic and made his masterpiece a kind of comedy without much content. The game also has several sidequests, they are cool and meet the modern demand that says that every RPG needs sidequests, but I find many of them out of place, because for a character as obstinate as Ryo, I really don't think he would stop his investigations to help someone in a sidequest have nothing to do with their goals.

    Regarding gameplay, there are few moments of QTE (quick time events) because there are few events in history, there are few fights, few dangers, when compared to Shenmue II, and to make matters worse, the response time to press the button at these times is very short ... If I made almost no mistakes in Shenmue II (missing only very difficult and unexpected sequences), in Shenmue III I practically missed them all.

    On positive aspects, we have very beautiful scenarios, which meet the expectations of the fans precisely because they are not ultra realistic cinematic scenarios of the great AAA games, but at the same time it is not as if we were playing a Playstation 2 game. On the positive side, we have the expectation if we see Shenmue IV, maybe Yu Suzuki will be able to make a great game again, just like Shenmue II. The grade I gave is high because it is from the heart, I love this franchise and this game was ok enough for me to continue loving, despite everything I recognize the effort of Yu Suzuki's team, you can see that they gave their best in the project , and I have expectations that in Shenmue IV they will deliver a much better story, as they will not need to spend so much time on graphics and new mechanics, since they have already created them for this game.    … Expand
  25. BarryBlanc
    Jan 29, 2020
    10
    Shenmue III is everything I was hoping it would be, and even more. It's like time stand still since Shenmue II and I mean it in a good way. Now let's hope for Shenmue IV!
  26. rfederer
    Feb 13, 2020
    10
    Shenmue, a game of the heart, to try it is to adopt it.
    This 3rd opus has never split public opinion as much.
    But what game can boast of having 3 sequels to its story?
    Try the FPS vision and discover details of rare richness. [link deleted]
  27. VJS1980
    May 1, 2020
    10
    Absolutely loved this game. As someone who waited 18 years, I was completely in love with it. Shenmue 3 stays true to the spirit of the original games and adds a lot more. If you want an original, fun and deeply engrossing game, play the Shenmue series. There’s nothing else like it.
  28. Thor4803
    Jun 23, 2020
    10
    Shenmue remains Shenmue, the world would be worse off if it was not there. Thank you You !
  29. segamaster
    Jul 26, 2020
    10
    Yu Suzuki and his team did it again.
    Thank you Yu Suzuki for everything you've done and I hope you still do through the years for the media. Literally nobody comes close to your work.
    Thank you YS Net for such an amazing game. You guys are the reason why I keep playing games nowadays.
  30. Xeneise_gonza
    Aug 6, 2020
    10
    It’s Shenmue, you either love it or hate it.
    I understand that it may look boring and weird for younger audiences, but they have to understand is the continuation of a magnificent saga that changed the way we knew video games.
    Definitely worth playing if you loved the first two titles, you get to feel that unique and wonderful “shenmue feel”.
  31. Walidus
    Oct 5, 2020
    10
    Whether you like to travel to a Chinese village or a large town, Shenmue 3 will make you want to pack your bags and leave to Guilin on the first flight. Truly a masterpiece and one of the greatest games of our generation!
  32. Gamer1994
    Sep 29, 2021
    10
    At least we got a continuation to the story 20 years later. Voted this a 10 as a motivator for them to make the next installment
  33. Chronos84
    Sep 29, 2022
    10
    Excellent game, not sure why the press is destroying it in the reviews. Maybe they were expecting some new mechanics more adapted to the “fortnite generation”. But WE Shenmue fans find the game really good and can’t wait to see what happens next.
  34. nervedamaged
    Nov 29, 2019
    9
    Two words: Fan Service. And that is what backers and fans of the originals wanted. Not for everyone, but this is what I hoped for. The only drawback is now we need a 4th and I was hoping we wouldn't.
  35. Sersnake
    Nov 22, 2019
    9
    Everything we always wanted! A game with the fans in mind, no matter the cost.
  36. bennibop
    Nov 19, 2019
    9
    Everything I could of hoped for, has not sold out to modern gaming conventions and has stuck to what made the originals great.
  37. abraham_b
    Nov 24, 2019
    9
    Shenmue is not a game series for everyone. It requires patience and is best played as a sort of relaxing, comfy game. I would highly recommend this game to people who are fans of slower, laid back games like Harvest Moon and people who liked Shenmue 1 and 2 as it is quite amazing how faithful it is to those games after all these years. Though I do think that people should try the Shenmue 1Shenmue is not a game series for everyone. It requires patience and is best played as a sort of relaxing, comfy game. I would highly recommend this game to people who are fans of slower, laid back games like Harvest Moon and people who liked Shenmue 1 and 2 as it is quite amazing how faithful it is to those games after all these years. Though I do think that people should try the Shenmue 1 and 2 HD collection first to see if they'd like this sort of game and it is a cheaper option.

    Some people say it feels dated, but that word has negative connotations and in this case, I would argue that it uniquely feels dated in a good way. It's like being transported back to early 2000s gaming, but with a modern twist and that's really fun, not bad. For example, the movement controls aren't great, but they don't hinder the experience much at all and the VO whilst not good, is charming, even for someone like me who doesn't have nostalgia for the originals (I first played them around 10 years after they released).

    The game is not without its faults, i.e. sometimes not being able to skip dialogue, the stamina system, whilst adding a layer of challenge is also unrealistic when eating something like garlic heals you (for a game series which is notorious for being mostly realistic).

    But the world is as atmospheric as the originals, you feel like you live there. That's the best thing about Shenmue. The NPCs are all alive, they have their own names, stories, daily routines, jobs etc. There are plenty of ways to advance the story and the different people you talk to tell you different things depending on who they are and what they know. There are a wealth of mini games, which are mostly fun, but also serve as an important means of making money. The music, like the other Shenmue games, is some of the best orchestral video game music I have ever heard and is beautiful.

    Overall, this game is as divisive as Shenmue has always been, but my view is that if you are into these type of slow, relaxing games, then it's definitely worth a shot. If you are not, then just don't bother and save your money for something else. If you are unsure, as mentioned above, try Shenmue 1 and 2 HD, taking a laid back approach to it, and see if you like it before buying.    … Expand
  38. wrinklysword
    Nov 19, 2019
    9
    Really good game..Only downside is graphics...For modern gamers, if you like yakuza ,you might like it..
  39. Ichibecks
    Nov 20, 2019
    9
    La digne suite du 2, bien que techniquement daté, la magie opère toujours. N'hésitez pas à vous lancer dans cette incroyable histoire !
  40. muhammadfikrey
    Nov 29, 2019
    9
    this is what really fans need ,the best ending in the sequel cant wait to see what happens next .
  41. Paulo969
    Nov 25, 2019
    9
    Vamos esclarecer algo muito importante: este é um jogo financiado pelos fãs , feito para os fãs. E é aqui que esta todo o credito e valor a Yu susuki e sua equipa por terem tido a coragem de irem contra todos os esteriotipos e evoluçao dos videojogos desde 2001 e terem respeitado o que os fãs queriam e nao um jogo que vai vender milhoes de unidades apenas porque sim. Foi isto que paguei emVamos esclarecer algo muito importante: este é um jogo financiado pelos fãs , feito para os fãs. E é aqui que esta todo o credito e valor a Yu susuki e sua equipa por terem tido a coragem de irem contra todos os esteriotipos e evoluçao dos videojogos desde 2001 e terem respeitado o que os fãs queriam e nao um jogo que vai vender milhoes de unidades apenas porque sim. Foi isto que paguei em 2015 quando apoiei o kickstarter, foi exactamente o que queria que tive de volta.… Expand
  42. sadapple
    Nov 24, 2019
    9
    Here are the pros and cons that I felt after played it for 3 days and over 20 hours:

    Pros: 1. The game gives the player(especially the series fan) a genuine Shenmue experience. 2. The world the game created is is full of details. If you are a patient player which accept a leisure style of playing, you might encounter many surprises during the exploration of the world. If you are an    Here are the pros and cons that I felt after played it for 3 days and over 20 hours:

    Pros:
    1. The game gives the player(especially the series fan) a genuine Shenmue experience.
    2. The world the game created is is full of details. If you are a patient player which accept a leisure style of playing, you might encounter many surprises during the exploration of the world. If you are an old gamer from the 1990s, you might even find yourself addicted to some of the mini-games in the world.....
    3. Shenmue 3 is also a journey of improving one's body and soul, recommended for those players that are interested in KongFu or Asian culture.

    Cons:
    1. The graphics of the game feels like in late-PS3 standard, which might prevent some players of the new console generation to pick it up.
    2. The story of Shenmue 3 doesn't progress much. Since Suzuki has mentioned before that the Shenmue story has 11 chapters, I guess it would take at least two more games to finish the story while Suzuki is already 61.....

    To sum up, as a player, one definitely have the right to criticize Shenmue 3's outdated graphics and lack of some modern open-world game features(like in Assassin Creed, GTA V, etc), but do remember that this is NOT a AAA game and the funding for Shenmue 3 is limited. So here I rated the game from a kickstarter game perspective, and I think in this perspective, Shenmue 3 does live up to the expectations of most of the series fans by providing a genuine Shenmue experience.

    PS: Suppose one is asked to rate the three games which come out recently: Death Stranding(abbreviated as "DS"), Pokemon Sword and Shield(as "PokeSS) and Shenmue 3(as "Sh3").

    A hard core gamer might rate them as follows:
    DS: 9/10,
    PokeSS: 7/10,
    Sh3: 8/10.

    A serious game media might rate them as follows:
    DS: 6/10,
    PokeSS: 4/10,
    Sh3: 5/10.

    A "generous" game media might rate them as follows:
    DS: 9/10,
    PokeSS: 10/10,
    Sh3: 9/10.

    I believe for a normal person or game media, the rating standard for games should be consistent. Guess how IGN's ratings for the three games are? It turns out to be as follows:
    DS: 6.8/10
    PokeSS: 9.3/10
    Sh3: 5.9/10

    It's so inconsistent and almost felt like it was rated by a lunatic to me. How shameful!    … Expand
  43. rtb
    Nov 19, 2019
    9
    My oh my how excited am I?! Guys, Shenmue 3 is here! After a long wait of almost 20 years we finally have our hands on the sequel we’ve always wanted, and the sequel we deserve. For those of you jumping into Shenmue for the first time, welcome, but be aware this game was intended for those of us who have waited 18+ years. We have a strong bond between this game and are finally able to haveMy oh my how excited am I?! Guys, Shenmue 3 is here! After a long wait of almost 20 years we finally have our hands on the sequel we’ve always wanted, and the sequel we deserve. For those of you jumping into Shenmue for the first time, welcome, but be aware this game was intended for those of us who have waited 18+ years. We have a strong bond between this game and are finally able to have our connection grow here today. Let me start off with how great it looks. Now compared to modern day game obviously Shenmue can’t compare. But for those of us who have waited in the Shenmue “Purgatory” this is exactly how we would’ve wanted our game to look and age. Everything feels smoother from combat to graphics and frame rates (PS4 Pro). It’s awesome to hear the familiar voice of Ryo Hazuki and Friends again, as well as meeting new friends and enmities along the way. So once again Shenmue friends! It’s here! Let’s celebrate! Here’s to Shenmue 3 and hopefully Shenmue 4 and more! Sincerely,
    Shenmue Fan    … Expand
  44. Crazymilanfan
    Nov 19, 2019
    9
    I have played very little of Shenmue 3 till now. Having played on Dreamcast 2 decades ago and then remaster on ps4, as a fan I find this game great. As many would have mentioned that the feel is very much of shenmue and why we loved the game in the first place. My rating is for the fans of the series as I would call this game for fans only and for us it delivers despite it very low budgetI have played very little of Shenmue 3 till now. Having played on Dreamcast 2 decades ago and then remaster on ps4, as a fan I find this game great. As many would have mentioned that the feel is very much of shenmue and why we loved the game in the first place. My rating is for the fans of the series as I would call this game for fans only and for us it delivers despite it very low budget compared to modern games.… Expand
  45. Ralu9102
    Nov 23, 2019
    9
    I love this game, at the begining of the developement I thought It would't be at the same level as shenmue 1 and 2 but is it. I totally recomend this game to anyone who love the yakuza saga or sega.
  46. Lost-Sock
    Nov 19, 2019
    9
    Played 11 hours so far. Absolutely everything I hoped for. The pangs of nostalgia flooding back on me are wondrous, yet it's also completely new and fresh in many ways. Positives - the music is amazing, the graphics although really dodgy in character models are actually quite nice in the rest of the game. The story ticks along nicely whilst still retaining that Shenmue charm ofPlayed 11 hours so far. Absolutely everything I hoped for. The pangs of nostalgia flooding back on me are wondrous, yet it's also completely new and fresh in many ways. Positives - the music is amazing, the graphics although really dodgy in character models are actually quite nice in the rest of the game. The story ticks along nicely whilst still retaining that Shenmue charm of procrastination. The fighting mechanics, which looked clunky in videos is actually spot on which was a nice surprise. All in all from what I've seen so far, it's excellent and not at all the dud I was actually expecting. Negatives - The voice acting is still atrocious, especially Ryo, but then it's part and parcel of Shenmue I guess. I'd rather they stuck with the awful original Ryo actor, then get someone like Keifer Sutherland along, sometimes a poor yet recognisable thing is better than something better but jarring. I HATE the eating mechanic, nobody on earth Ryo's size eats as much as he seemingly needs - going from barely ever eating (or needing the toilet) in the previous games, it's completely off putting the guy is suddenly a ravenous pig. That's the only real reason I've given it a 9, the eating mechanic really is that much of a negative, as well as slowing the game down with unnecessary munching, it's also expensive. It's the one new addition I'd gladly see them remove in a patch, I've no idea what Yu was thinking adding it in other than to pad the came length. Ryo should be as big as Fatty from Shenmue 2 the amount he shovels down in this game. I guess Suzuki plays Yakuza a lot, but even in that you don't need to eat constantly, only ever really needing to when low on health or to progress story/friendship elements. So far so good, loving it. Apart from the new gluttonous Ryo and the weird waxy faces of a lot of the characters (they kinda remind me of One Piece characters)… Expand
  47. Blockcaptain86
    Nov 25, 2019
    9
    A 9 out of 10 for Shenmue Fans because its exactly what we wanted but because the game is VERY old school its problematic for new arrivals! For them its probably a 6 out of 10!
  48. Jonjen
    Nov 19, 2019
    9
    Fantastic game, picks where the sequel left off, plays just like the classics and that's just perfect. It's everything you wanted from a Shenmue III all them years ago and more.
  49. Reprise
    Nov 19, 2019
    9
    I was barely a teenager when the first Shenmue was released. I had been following the development for several years, captivated by the glimpses, teases and various previews that had been released over the course of several years. When the game was finally released, I was blown away by the characters and world Yu Suzuki had crafted. The game was everything I had hoped and dreamed it wouldI was barely a teenager when the first Shenmue was released. I had been following the development for several years, captivated by the glimpses, teases and various previews that had been released over the course of several years. When the game was finally released, I was blown away by the characters and world Yu Suzuki had crafted. The game was everything I had hoped and dreamed it would be and once I had seen the closing credits, I knew I needed more.

    As we all know, Shenmue I was just the first part of a much larger story, but fortunately for fans, aside from XBox exclusivity in North America causing an unnecessary delay for those in that region, they didn't have to wait to long for the second game in the series. Shenmue II was released shortly after the first game and not only had a huge number of improvements, it also had a much larger world. Unfortunately, it ended on a huge cliffhanger and fans have been waiting 18 years to find out what happens after lead protagonist, Ryo Hazuki and literally the girl of his dreams, Shenhua leave that damn cave.

    So does Shenmue III live up to the hype? The short answer is yes, but as you'd expect, there are some caveats.

    The game begins right where Shenmue II left off, with Ryo and Shenhua in the cave together, witnessing the mysteriou appearance of the dragon and phoenix mirrors upon the wall of the cave. After a few interactions with Shenhua, we're able to explore the world of Shenmue III and finally play the new installment in the series. Gameplay-wise, Shenmue fans will be right at home. Shenmue III plays in a very similar fashion to its predecessors and despite some modernisations (for example, dual analogue movement controls), the game is very much a successor to the first two games in every way imaginable. This means movement, animations, character models and dialogue are all a little dated, but in terms of Shenmue III's core gameplay, it honestly plays as a beautiful continuation of the groundwork the previous two titles laid.

    Environments are now bigger and mostly seamless, instead of the compartmentalised worlds the previous two games had. In addition, although character models aren't the best you will see on the PS4 by a long shot, the worlds you can explore are beautiful. As you'd expect from the Shenmue series, these are full of fun activities to engage in, characters to interact with and side quests to complete.

    The story writing and plot is as great as ever. Old characters return to the fold and the pacing has that classic Shenmue style. Dialogue is as quirky and - at times corny - as you'd expect, but fans of the series will not be disappointed.

    In terms of the game's flaws, I'm not completely sold on the benefits of the new stamina system, which I find to be a mild hindrance when it comes to encouraging players to explore and enjoy traversing through the various areas within the game. The combat also has a more RPG-style leveling system this time, with the core-combat itself, being altered from the Virtua Fighter mechanics to something a bit more straightforward. It's certainly enjoyable, but perhaps not as deep as the original fighting gameplay. I personally like the RPG training system this time, but can understand others might not.

    Overall, Shenmue III lives up to 18 years of hype and is a resounding success. I just hope the wait for Shenmue IV isn't quite so long.    … Expand
  50. ARokitLawnChair
    Nov 19, 2019
    9
    If you were a fan of the games in the past, you’ll love this title. It’s unapologetically a sequel to those games, warts and all (some it wears with pride), with a few welcome quality of life improvements. Although the addition of food/stamina is a questionable mechanic added into the game that isn’t fully realised and comes across as a real half step, as you’re just replenishing you’reIf you were a fan of the games in the past, you’ll love this title. It’s unapologetically a sequel to those games, warts and all (some it wears with pride), with a few welcome quality of life improvements. Although the addition of food/stamina is a questionable mechanic added into the game that isn’t fully realised and comes across as a real half step, as you’re just replenishing you’re stamina for the sake of using food and spending money with no animation or sequence of consuming the food. Despite it being the third title in the series, it’s a good starting point for curious first timers.… Expand
  51. Scribe86
    Nov 19, 2019
    9
    A perfect continuation to a series left dormant for close to two decades. Yu Suzuki has managed to recapture the spirit of Shenmue from the games from back in the early 0’s whilst managing to include many quality of life changes, making the gameplay experience far more enjoyable. Considering this is initially a crowdfunded project (other parties financially contributed also) I think thisA perfect continuation to a series left dormant for close to two decades. Yu Suzuki has managed to recapture the spirit of Shenmue from the games from back in the early 0’s whilst managing to include many quality of life changes, making the gameplay experience far more enjoyable. Considering this is initially a crowdfunded project (other parties financially contributed also) I think this has turned out much better than expected. The voice acting and audio direction is far superior to previous entries, the controls have been greatly improved and the use of the unreal engine has bought the games visuals up to the current generation. There are a small few critiques; some of the dialogue threads seem a little disjointed at times and the removal of throw moves from Ryo’s moves was a disappointment. However this is a faithful continuation of the series which I think anyone even with the slightest interest in role playing/action adventure games based in the East in the 1980’s should definitely consider playing. Experienced no noticeable slowdown, graphical or pacing issues - played on a base PS4.… Expand
  52. Real1Gaming
    Nov 19, 2019
    9
    For as far as I have played, this game is one thing, and it is the most important thing; It is Shenmue! Flaws and all. Some might find it a bit stilted and I have noticed that the English translation is a bit off (I play in japanese and notice it with the subtitles) which results in strange conversations. It is a bit rough around the edges, but for the budget, Yu Suzuki managed to squeezeFor as far as I have played, this game is one thing, and it is the most important thing; It is Shenmue! Flaws and all. Some might find it a bit stilted and I have noticed that the English translation is a bit off (I play in japanese and notice it with the subtitles) which results in strange conversations. It is a bit rough around the edges, but for the budget, Yu Suzuki managed to squeeze out a really amazing game.… Expand
  53. alex_de_tampa
    Nov 19, 2019
    9
    (Recommend playing with Japanese voice over and English Subtitles) What do you get when you mix LA Noire,Yakuza, Persona, and Virtua Fighter? Shenmue 3. Initially is a story of revenge but as you play it becomes so much more. Charming story of friendships, action and adventure. It’s easy to get sucked into this world.
  54. Stiffo
    Nov 19, 2019
    9
    The game is perfect for fans of the original . Anyone coming in to the 3rd instalment should play the 1st & 2nd game before playing this title . I’ve waited so long for this to be a reality but I’m not naive to say it’s the best game ever , it’s not ! It’s a game for the fans of the series . It re-mains true to its origins and is a true continuation of a much loved story.
  55. KosiKosa
    Nov 20, 2019
    9
    Shenmue has always been a unique series, and while it was a revolution for the gaming industry back in the 1999, Shenmue III budget isn't nearly as close as the one for the original games. Despite that, Yu Suzuki and Ys Net managed to craft a beautiful and authentic game that keeps at core what makes this series such an incredible experience while taking advantage of modern technologies.Shenmue has always been a unique series, and while it was a revolution for the gaming industry back in the 1999, Shenmue III budget isn't nearly as close as the one for the original games. Despite that, Yu Suzuki and Ys Net managed to craft a beautiful and authentic game that keeps at core what makes this series such an incredible experience while taking advantage of modern technologies. Shenmue III is a love letter to the fans but nonetheless a very attractive game for anyone looking for a different vision of gaming.

    The story goes on!    … Expand
  56. SC126HD
    Nov 20, 2019
    9
    10 hours in and its definately a true shenmue game, graphics arent bad, they seem a little outdated but it doesnt affect the gameplay by far and what do you expect from a kickstarter game? Voice acting is what you'd expect but it gets better throughout. Story gets even more interesting the more and more you get through the game. Combat is fun and sparring with allies and levelling up moves10 hours in and its definately a true shenmue game, graphics arent bad, they seem a little outdated but it doesnt affect the gameplay by far and what do you expect from a kickstarter game? Voice acting is what you'd expect but it gets better throughout. Story gets even more interesting the more and more you get through the game. Combat is fun and sparring with allies and levelling up moves is definately my favourite part. I look forward to progressing on further.… Expand
  57. MrAndersonPG
    Nov 20, 2019
    9
    For fans of the series, this is a true Shenmue experience. Everything that you loved about the game has stayed intact. I was worried that the game was try to conform to modern standard but what I received is a traditional experience that fans will love. "You know what the great about Shenmue is? I keep getting older and it stays the same". Fans will really enjoy the game though newcomersFor fans of the series, this is a true Shenmue experience. Everything that you loved about the game has stayed intact. I was worried that the game was try to conform to modern standard but what I received is a traditional experience that fans will love. "You know what the great about Shenmue is? I keep getting older and it stays the same". Fans will really enjoy the game though newcomers will probably say to themselves "What the hell is this?" Over all, this is what I wanted and this is what i got. Thank you, Yu Suzuki!… Expand
  58. Kamichan75
    Nov 20, 2019
    9
    Great game! This Is what fans wanted! Wonderful in every moment, superb gameplay, it's always interesting. Thank you, Suzuki-san!
  59. dbc162
    Nov 20, 2019
    9
    It captures Shenmue atmosphere perfectly. It's all what fans were waiting for. Thank you Yu Suzuky.
  60. T0NE
    Nov 20, 2019
    9
    An epic story continues after 18 years. Great feel all around. Mix of old school and new school. Same with the graphics as well. It has the Shenmue vibe down. Only knock is the combat system. Not a fan of it.
  61. sphony
    Nov 20, 2019
    9
    Love this game, can't put it down. It lives up to the continuation of the story from 1 and 2. Yes there are some clunky parts in the game however its expected since it was only funded via kick starter. The mini games and story build up are great however! Battle system could use grappling moves and dodging. Other then that once you understand how the new battle system works its hard to put down.
  62. Gianx_8
    Nov 21, 2019
    9
    Una vera perla videoludica, che ancor oggi, nel 2019, riesce a stupire col suo ritmo zen, una grafica coloratissima e dettagliata, e una storia che sorprende sempre, sceneggiata in modo impeccabile. Sistema di combattimento migliorato, anche se un po' legnosetto, aiutato dalla buona gestione delle tecniche di Kung Fu (in stile gdr). Doppiaggio buono e longevità abbastanza alta (soprattuttoUna vera perla videoludica, che ancor oggi, nel 2019, riesce a stupire col suo ritmo zen, una grafica coloratissima e dettagliata, e una storia che sorprende sempre, sceneggiata in modo impeccabile. Sistema di combattimento migliorato, anche se un po' legnosetto, aiutato dalla buona gestione delle tecniche di Kung Fu (in stile gdr). Doppiaggio buono e longevità abbastanza alta (soprattutto se giocato dalla modalità difficile in poi). Per quanto mi riguarda, merita il 9 pieno. Grazie, maestro Yu!… Expand
  63. streapper
    Nov 22, 2019
    9
    It's the Shenmue experience that fans were waiting for. The music, the history, the conversations, the environtment... All is awesome. I can't say the same for the graphics, is not the revolutions that suppose the Shenmue I & Shenmue II at their time also there is a problem with the camera during the conversations, the characters are walking - speaking & then the camera change the positionIt's the Shenmue experience that fans were waiting for. The music, the history, the conversations, the environtment... All is awesome. I can't say the same for the graphics, is not the revolutions that suppose the Shenmue I & Shenmue II at their time also there is a problem with the camera during the conversations, the characters are walking - speaking & then the camera change the position and the characters are stopped, speaking in other place (the environment is not the same), then the camera change the position again and the characters are walking as before, is a feeling like a "cut & paste scene" during the conversation. But the rest is pure magic. Thank Yu Suzuki!… Expand
  64. Agahnim01
    Nov 21, 2019
    9
    Started the game and played 10 hours yesterday (i'll update the review when i'm done).

    Shenmue 3 is pretty much everything i expected, and hoped it would be. I was thrown back in the breathtaking world of rural Guilin and felt right at home from the start. The music and the landscapes are charming and relaxing. This is a game for people who want to take their time, relax and enjoy    Started the game and played 10 hours yesterday (i'll update the review when i'm done).

    Shenmue 3 is pretty much everything i expected, and hoped it would be. I was thrown back in the breathtaking world of rural Guilin and felt right at home from the start.

    The music and the landscapes are charming and relaxing. This is a game for people who want to take their time, relax and enjoy the scenery.... and take time it will. If you're in for an adrenaline rush, you'll be greatly disappointed, but if you're ready to take your time and stay as calm and reflective as a polished mirror, you're in for a relaxing and endearing quest of world exploration and self discovery.

    Technically, this is not the most advanced game ever. The landscapes are astonishing, but the NPCs' character models range from: "dang those wrinkles are spot on!" to "Is that coming out of a PS1 CG sequence?"

    The same discrepancies can be seen in the animations. Where you'll see the most impressive, smooth and weigthed martial arts animations that you've seen in a video game, but where something as simple as a NPC scratching his head looks like it's been done by a fifth grader trying his hand at Motion Builder for the first time.

    It's obvious that the game had budget constraints and had to make choices, but the choice it made were, for me at least, the best they could have done to make the game feel like a true sequel to Shenmue 2.

    In a modern age overflowed by action games and fast and exciting, adrenaline filled ephemeral experiences, the ambiance, the story, the awkwardly quirky characters and the amazingly slow paced adventure offered by Shenmue 3 provides a breath of peaceful and calming fresh air to anyone who enjoys a soothing forest hike over a car race.    … Expand
  65. t3e
    Nov 21, 2019
    9
    Personally really, really, loving it. Keep finding myself in disbelief at how loyal of a sequel this game is. It's a beautiful change of pace from the style of video game that currently over saturate the market.
  66. Roronoa-pt
    Nov 21, 2019
    9
    An amazing sequel to the old Dreamcast classic. Top notch soundtrack, good graphics and lovely and addictive gameplay.
  67. GameStart
    Nov 21, 2019
    9
    Malgré ses lacune techniques, la vision d'artiste de cet opus tant attendu est réussie, c'est poétique et on retrouve le goût de l'aventure. Shenmue 3 fait du Shenmue et le fait très bien ;-)
  68. BPD
    Nov 21, 2019
    9
    Admittedly I am a huge Shenmue fan, I loved the original 2, so there may undoubtedly be some bias. That being said, Shenmue 3 is a great sequel to the original 2, especially when you consider the limited funds Yu Suzuki had to create it. I've always discussed Shenmue as an experience more than a game, it truly is the most Role Playing Game I've ever played, as you become Ryo Hazuki, andAdmittedly I am a huge Shenmue fan, I loved the original 2, so there may undoubtedly be some bias. That being said, Shenmue 3 is a great sequel to the original 2, especially when you consider the limited funds Yu Suzuki had to create it. I've always discussed Shenmue as an experience more than a game, it truly is the most Role Playing Game I've ever played, as you become Ryo Hazuki, and Shenmue 3 continues that quest.

    Shenmue has consistently been a game about calm and patience, they are themes the game is trying to convey to both the protagonist and the player. Without patience to allow yourself to be fully submersed in the world of Shenmue, you will not like it. The pace is slower than most games, but that is deliberate and by design. There is not constant action, instead there is thorough evaluation of your world and the people who inhabit it, and sometimes that is also done through combat.

    The mechanics of the game remain fairly the same from 20 years ago, for good or ill. Tank controls are present. The fighting feels refreshing and new, but also less complex than it's predecessors. Given the limited budget, I am impressed with the fighting mechanics of the game.

    Shenmue 3 is a fantastic sequel to Shenmue 1 and 2. As a Shenmue fan, I am not disappointed. As a newcomer, all I can say is watch the story cinematic to get caught up, and allow yourself to be immersed in the world of Shenmue and become Ryo Hazuki as he lives his daily life while searching for clues regarding his father's untimely death. Shenmue is a world that demands, and IMO deserves, your attention and your patience.

    Happy gaming.    … Expand
  69. Nexxtone
    Nov 22, 2019
    9
    Alles was wir wollten ist genau dieses Spiel, und wir haben es bekommen...
    Grafik nicht mehr ganz uptodate, aber das spielgefühl ist genau das gleiche wie damals... Einfach nur top
  70. Jimj
    Nov 22, 2019
    9
    If you were a fan of the series or a newcomer I think you'll enjoy this game
  71. Starscream178
    Nov 22, 2019
    9
    A faithful and glorious return the series with a few missteps.
    Just finished not to long ago. For those ready to jump in, get ready for some sweet savory Shenmue action, because that's what you're getting, for good and bad. All the cliche Shenmue parts are there, cheesy voice acting (in parts good, and in parts horrible - which is pure Shenmue and forgivable), massive exploration on a    A faithful and glorious return the series with a few missteps.
    Just finished not to long ago. For those ready to jump in, get ready for some sweet savory Shenmue action, because that's what you're getting, for good and bad. All the cliche Shenmue parts are there, cheesy voice acting (in parts good, and in parts horrible - which is pure Shenmue and forgivable), massive exploration on a large scale and small, and an awesome almost and maybe mystical story line.

    Where the game falls flat is the lack of return of key voice actor from the previous entries to the series, Eric Kelso definitely comes to mind. The other issue, being the certain battles in the game being a little to easy, and some story pacing could have been a little tighter. All things considered though, a spectacular return to the series, a complete blast right back into the 90's/early 2000's.

    If Shenmue IV is anywhere near as good as Shenmue III, I can't wait to see what happens next! Great job Backers, Dev Team, Suzuki and Cedric as well!    … Expand
  72. Waldentravis
    Nov 22, 2019
    9
    The game embodies all of the magic that made the first two games special. Controls have been tweaked to play better on current generation hardware. This is a true sequel to a fantastic franchise.
  73. cap083
    Nov 22, 2019
    9
    First of all I have to say that Shenmue1(+2) were my first open world games to expirience back in the days. That said I love all those cheesy dialogues, japanese (nowadays known as yakuza) creepiness[...] I also love the tank like steering of the character + the virtua fighter light fights. What I hate about S3 is the rural landscape to start of and that there are no more throwing moves.First of all I have to say that Shenmue1(+2) were my first open world games to expirience back in the days. That said I love all those cheesy dialogues, japanese (nowadays known as yakuza) creepiness[...] I also love the tank like steering of the character + the virtua fighter light fights. What I hate about S3 is the rural landscape to start of and that there are no more throwing moves. But fu** that - the moment the title screen pops up I forget everything I know about nowadays gaming and I am hooked to my ps4cpad/pc gamepad like an addict coming a long way from rehab. All this cheesiness, and ignorance of 2019 gaming standards keeps me hooked to the screen like I was back in the 90's. I do 't give a flyi g **** about the fact that it looks like an indie game in beta instead of a triple a title it tried to be back in the days. Shenmue3 is just what I wanted it to be...some kind of "antichrist" to nowadays gaming standards and all this blueprinted gaming **** they serve us every day.
    I really don't know how the story is moving along after luke 3 hours trollin around in this ****ed up village, but hell yeah shenmue is and has always been a bitter sweet journey...not a concert of wishes from your favorite band to just lay back and enjoy    … Expand
  74. Thatryancole
    Nov 23, 2019
    9
    Overall no it isn't perfect no game is. Hard boundaries prevent exploration until specific points in the story. Subquests are very easy and sometimes painful to miss. But the story is compelling the combat feels great and the economy of in the game is very strong. I LOVE the game and personally can't wait for shenmue 4 to be realized hopefully this time it won't take 20 years to get there.
  75. Tito_dani
    Nov 24, 2019
    9
    Voy a dar mi opinión personal ,todo el mundo de la prensa “experta” en videojuegos catalogo a shenmue 3 de basura o que está anticuado para mí lo de expertos en videojuegos lo voy a dejar en el aire por que han demostrado muchas veces que son unos vendidos asquerosos.

    Para el verdadero fan de la saga no pedía que se cambiasen demasiadas cosas del juego ya que con sus mecánicas de juego a    Voy a dar mi opinión personal ,todo el mundo de la prensa “experta” en videojuegos catalogo a shenmue 3 de basura o que está anticuado para mí lo de expertos en videojuegos lo voy a dejar en el aire por que han demostrado muchas veces que son unos vendidos asquerosos.

    Para el verdadero fan de la saga no pedía que se cambiasen demasiadas cosas del juego ya que con sus mecánicas de juego a pesar de ser de la época de Dreamcast es un juego que atesora mucha magia y amor.

    Los gráficos y jugabilidad sin estar acordes a esta generación están muy bien ,he visto juegos con gráficos muchísimo mejores y el juego es una autentica basura por ejemplo death stranding y por que lo puntúa tan bien la prensa ? Por sus gráficos y por que es de Hideo Kojima por nada más ya que el juego si que es basura .


    Si jugaste a shenmue 1 y 2 juégalo sin ninguna duda y si nunca jugaste a shenmue primero pásate los primeros y entenderás la importancia de este shenmue 3.

    Que no sea un juego para todo el mundo no quiere decir que sea una basura ni cualquier otra locura que leo de la prensa “experta “.

    Soy coleccionista y poseo muchísimos juegos y consolas y os puedo asegurar que muchos de los juegos que la prensa cataloga como malos o mediocres son verdaderas joyas y otros que nos venden como joyas sí que son auténtica basura al igual que los expertos que nos los recomiendan tras haber recibido sus correspondientes maletines para meterle una nota buena. Yo le pongo un 9 ya que hay aspectos mejorables pero en esencia para el fan de shenmue este juego era lo que queríamos ni mas ni menos por eso muchos contribuimos en kickstarter.    … Expand
  76. Tedroos
    Nov 24, 2019
    9
    Not just a game but a beautiful Zen like experience. The cozy atmosphere incredible attention to detail and addictive gameplay loop set Shenmue 3 apart from other games. One of the best of 2019.
  77. Jos2215
    Nov 25, 2019
    9
    Shenmue 3 est le meilleur Shenmue à ce jour. Une vraie réussite. Vivement le 4.
  78. Junkies
    Nov 25, 2019
    9
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Feels just like part 1 and 2, the final stretch of the game did leave a bit of a bad taste though. All in all I've enjoyed this thoroughly.… Expand
  79. S_Austin
    Nov 26, 2019
    9
    As a fan of the original 2 games I backed this on kickstarter, it was a heck of a wait, but for me it was worth while.
    As I'm an old school gamer who grew up on fogger, and space invader, then onto the nes and so on, I love old single players, with a good story, plenty to see and do, and so far I'm extremely grateful and pleased that shenmue 3 has everything I wanted, ok it's not a modern    As a fan of the original 2 games I backed this on kickstarter, it was a heck of a wait, but for me it was worth while.
    As I'm an old school gamer who grew up on fogger, and space invader, then onto the nes and so on, I love old single players, with a good story, plenty to see and do, and so far I'm extremely grateful and pleased that shenmue 3 has everything I wanted, ok it's not a modern aaa game, but it's not meant to be, it's shenmue!     … Expand
  80. AndyMavis
    Nov 27, 2019
    9
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. After 18 years we finally get out of the cave! Brings back all the memories of the Dreamcast. Won’t be for everyone as this game needs to be played slowly as you can leave your own life at home and jump into a 1980’s Chinese movie. Mastering Kung fu, catching chickens, finding thugs (not sailors), pail toss, forklifts, chopping wood the list goes on with so much to experience but with the main aim to find Lan Di and avenge your fathers death. Hopefully SEGA get back on board to finish the story for Shenmue 4.… Expand
  81. Brownzilian
    Dec 1, 2019
    9
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. It's a good game overall, specially if you have played the previous ones and is a big fan, although it's not nice the clifhanging ending, considering the time we've been waiting for this game.… Expand
  82. Seshayn
    Dec 2, 2019
    9
    Shenmue 3 is a true continuation, maintaining its roots while becoming better at what it always has been. The only reason it gets a 9 instead of a 10 from me is the strict bedtime of Niaowu, maintaining the 9pm sleepy time that seemed to make sense for the story in Bailu village for the purpose of having time to speak with shenhua and not be wandering.

    However in the city this feels like    Shenmue 3 is a true continuation, maintaining its roots while becoming better at what it always has been. The only reason it gets a 9 instead of a 10 from me is the strict bedtime of Niaowu, maintaining the 9pm sleepy time that seemed to make sense for the story in Bailu village for the purpose of having time to speak with shenhua and not be wandering.

    However in the city this feels like I had the exciting night life taken from me. Chances to explore the beautiful landscape at night limited by an unexplained bedtime.

    Aside from this, a lack of moves learned from masters was disappointing. The only two times it happened were story parts few and far between and the moves held no significance outside of specific plot scenes.

    These two things were mild but constant thus taking a point off for me. Everything else was perfect to me. I hope it was and/or will be to you as well!    … Expand
  83. aresef
    Dec 6, 2019
    9
    As a backer, criticizing Shenmue III is a tricky matter. It's like going to a fine restaurant, ordering the house specialty and then complaining about the onions or whatever. But primarily, this is Shenmue III as if it had been made in 2003, and that's exactly what I wanted. There are new wrinkles--Ryo loses stamina as he moves around and especially as he runs, so you have to spend yuan onAs a backer, criticizing Shenmue III is a tricky matter. It's like going to a fine restaurant, ordering the house specialty and then complaining about the onions or whatever. But primarily, this is Shenmue III as if it had been made in 2003, and that's exactly what I wanted. There are new wrinkles--Ryo loses stamina as he moves around and especially as he runs, so you have to spend yuan on food. You can make money all kinds of ways--the game doesn't force you into forklifting, though that's an option. But what I like is that nearly everything ties back into beefing up Ryo's kung fu. Find herbs or procure various merchandise or capsule toys, trade them in for scrolls. Earn money, buy scrolls. Buy food, heal up between spars or fights. Gamble, get a diamond, pawn it and buy a scroll.

    Suzuki also gives the people what they want. Forklifts are back. Capsule toys are back. Arcades (though without Sega classics) are back. An entire building in Niaowu celebrates the fans who made the game possible.

    But it seems like all the infrastructure of sidequests and training was built to support a longer game than the one we got. There was supposed to be a third village, Baisha, which presumably due to a budgetary wall turned into the area of the game's climax. The narrative of the game feels a bit papered over, a bit rushed toward the end to account for this change. And the run-up to the events that lead Ryo and Shenhua to leave Bailu are strikingly similar to the events that lead to the game's conclusion. And while the game threads the needle of having talented voice actors and being appropriately camp, there are really frustrating gaffes in the subtitles and script.

    As cinematic as Shenmue was and is, part of the charm is that Ryo can talk up anybody, go anywhere, do anything within the environment of the game. And that is definitely there. But this kind of gameplay and pacing can be an acquired taste for people who didn't fall in love with the games way back or with their re-release. If you love Shenmue, this is more Shenmue. If you're more used to the pace of a Yakuza, this might not be for you.

    Disclosure: I backed the game to the tune of $300 and have my name in the credits.    … Expand
  84. Pbiggs
    Dec 12, 2019
    9
    I loved the shenmue games growing up as a kid - the series is unique in so many ways. After a long wait I finally got my dream - Shenmue 3, and it did not disappoint. I've plugged hours into this game with no regret - this game is very much about the journey, not the destination.
  85. LuchoCorleone37
    Dec 14, 2019
    9
    yu zuzuki logro lo impensable, hacer la tercera entrega de su serie.....aprende de ello valve, en fin es un buen juego pero peca en ser de diseño anticuado........se siente como si hubiera sido desarrollado en dreamcast luego fuera porteado al ps4 y a la pc
  86. EsotericSaturn
    Jan 7, 2020
    9
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Shenmue III is a faithful continuation to Ryo Hazuki’s story that definitely doesn't disappoint. The story properly leads off of the events of Shenmue I & II, and certainly will be more appreciated by people who have completed those games as well. But, even people new to the series will find much to enjoy. For me, I was somewhere in between since I knew of the series, but hadn't played any of the games. I played all three games back to back over the course of a couple weeks & got really invested in not only the story, but the characters & vast world to explore with much to do.

    The world you explore is absolutely gorgeous, even by modern standards & the sound design compliments the game as a whole. There are many things to do such as various jobs, kung-fu training, gambling & even arcade games. It also features evolved fighting throughout the story, but also through optional street fights to earn tokens.

    The biggest gripe people seem to have with this game is that it's not the end to the story, which I can understand since Shenmue IV isn't guaranteed, although I would argue that it is more likely to happen than not for a number of reasons that I'll include at the end of this review. But, fans disappointed about the end not really being the end should look at this game as Yu Suzuki getting the ball rolling again, which can be the hardest part.

    Is Shenmue III a perfect sequel? No, but it is a pretty damn good one that retains much of the charm since the days of the Dreamcast while still evolving enough to be considered a modern marvel. Shenmue III I believe will go on to be an underrated gem of this console generation, just like the first two were in their own era.



    Extra notes about Shenmue IV:

    The reason I believe we're more likely than not to get Shenmue IV are many of the same reasons why Shenmue II & III were feasible. Many people forget that Shenmue III would have happened even with a budget of just $2,000,000, which won't be too hard for them to reach from sales of the game at retail & on digital storefronts, as well as licensing deals they’ve signed to produce collector's editions from companies like Limited Run Games.

    Another point I have that is related to how Shenmue II was more feasible even as the Dreamcast met it's demise is that Shenmue IV can simply reuse some assets from Shenmue III to keep costs down, similar to how Shenmue II reuses some assets from Shenmue I.

    My final point & the final block in this wall of text is that they can always do another crowdfunding campaign. There's absolutely no reason they can't do it again & even without factoring in any money made from retail sales, I'm sure they would hit at least their minimum threshold to make Shenmue IV happen just from their dedicated fanbase alone. With that, I'll be looking forward to the continuation of Ryo’s journey & I hope you will as well.    … Expand
  87. susoloy
    Jan 12, 2020
    9
    I discover the saga the last year and i'm very glad of it. Yu Suzuki made a very good game . I hope the Shenmue 4 come soon.
  88. Shacklers
    Feb 3, 2020
    9
    If you're a fan of the original games, you'll most likely love this game! But if you're unsure whether you should buy this or not, I'll try to quickly explain what the game is all about.

    Basically it's a life simulator. What would it be like living in a chinese village and trying to avenge your fathers death? Now you can experience it! It's a realistic game in many ways. You got to earn    If you're a fan of the original games, you'll most likely love this game! But if you're unsure whether you should buy this or not, I'll try to quickly explain what the game is all about.

    Basically it's a life simulator. What would it be like living in a chinese village and trying to avenge your fathers death? Now you can experience it! It's a realistic game in many ways. You got to earn money cause you need food to survive. You spend time practicing your kungfu skills and you search for clues by either talking to people or perhaps by opening drawers and finding secret objects there. It's kinda like a detective game. There is fighting in this game too, but it's not really an action game. It's closer to an RPG.

    It's a relaxing game in many ways. You're not supposed to beat the game as fast as you can. You're supposed to explore places and try out different minigames. Maybe go to the arcade, or go fishing or pick up some herbs that you can sell later. There's a lot of things to do in the game.

    Every time I start playing a new game, one of the first things that I always want to do is to just go talk with random non-playable characters and see what they've got to say. Usually I'm always disappointed cause you can't talk to them, or because the dialogue is just plain text and it's not fully voiced. In Shenmue games talking to NPC's is more fun than in ANY other game. All the non-playable characters have their own personalities and they have something new to say almost every time you talk to them. And their responses are sometimes hilarious. So that's one of my favorite things about these games. Talking with random people and trying to find clues.

    I got to mention the music in this game too. It's so atmospheric and you really start to feel like you're in China yourself exploring exotic locations.

    If you've never played a Shenmue game before, this might feel like a strange game at first. Especially because the game continues right from where the last game ended 18 years ago. There is a video that explains everything that's happened before, but you might be a bit confused even after watching it. Still, there's nothing else out there that's comparable with Shenmue, so I do recommend the game, if you want to try something a bit different.

    Some people have criticized the game cause it feels like an old game. Now the game was made for fans of the original games, so most people are happy that they didn't change the game too much. The original games were way ahead of their times anyway.

    At the end of the day the biggest problem with the game is it's budget. It is a Kickstarter game after all and the budget of the game is extremely small compared to other open world games out there. There are plenty of moments when I thought that the execution could have been so much better if the creators of the game would have had more money. But what they managed to do with the budget is something extraordinary nevertheless. I can't get my head around, how they managed to create such a massive game with such a tiny budget.

    It's not a perfect game. The main story of the game feels shorter than in the original games. Quicktime events are a bit too fast. The fighting system is in some ways better and in some ways worse than in the originals. Sometimes fighting feels a bit unresponsive compared to the originals. But practicing your kungfu is a lot more satisfying this time around. And fighting multiple opponents works better now. I also love the fact that you can break stuff around you while you're fighting. All in all the game revolves around getting better and better at kungfu and I really like that.

    If you're a fan of kungfu movies, that's another reason to pick this game up. Just remember that it's not a beat em up game. It focuses more on practicing your kungfu.

    If you loved the original games mainly because of the story, you might be disappointed with this one. Simply put the original games had a better story. But if you loved the original games mainly because of the gameplay, atmosphere and the lifesimulator elements, then there's a good chance that you'll love this game even more than the originals.

    The idea behind the original Shenmue game was to make a game where you're free to do almost anything. It was a highly interactive, cinematic-quality game that tried to mimic reality. All the non-playable characters had their own daily routines. They went to work and later in the evening you could find them at a bar or maybe at a park somewhere. The game had a day and night cycle and a very revolutionary weather system too. The attention to detail was extraordinary and in many ways you could say that it was the first open world game created. Shenmue games are a very important part of video game history and I definitely recommend trying either the original games or this one.

    It's not a game for everyone though, cause it is pretty slow paced. But people who love these games, love them with passion!    … Expand
  89. dogeymon83
    Mar 27, 2020
    9
    Shenmue 3 is a gift from the past. People who review it low would just as well have done the same with the first two. If you don't get these games, then you probably never will. There is a unique charm and bewilderment to Shenmue. Yu Suzuki is almost as unapologetic in how he has pushed forward with bringing us an experience that feels inextricably connected with the first two way soShenmue 3 is a gift from the past. People who review it low would just as well have done the same with the first two. If you don't get these games, then you probably never will. There is a unique charm and bewilderment to Shenmue. Yu Suzuki is almost as unapologetic in how he has pushed forward with bringing us an experience that feels inextricably connected with the first two way so perfectly that it's more of a miracle that he's kept it the same than the fact the game came out in the first place.

    Shenmue 3 falls short in very few areas, but it definitely has it's flaws. It's a game that deserved a bigger budget to give us an even more polished Shenmue game. I would have wished Shenhua looked exactly the same as the first two games. And petty little things like no animation for drinking soda or the title screen not being the same plague my greedy little mind sometimes. But as a Shenmue fan, I got an experience that is above and beyond what I could have hoped for. With a series that is as niche as this, Shenmue 3 is a miracle of a game.    … Expand
  90. SemenGalyutin
    Dec 20, 2021
    9
    Игра мне очень понравилась. Я с головой окунулся на более чем 100 часов. Выбил платину. Атмосфера, это то чего мы ждали почти 20 лет. Если вам нравится 1 и 2 часть серии то и 3 часть понравится. Есть минусы у игры и отсутствие локализации главный минус, другой минус это QTE. Тайминги очень низкие из за чего ни одно QTE я не прошел с первого раза, хорошо что их не так много. Еще мне неИгра мне очень понравилась. Я с головой окунулся на более чем 100 часов. Выбил платину. Атмосфера, это то чего мы ждали почти 20 лет. Если вам нравится 1 и 2 часть серии то и 3 часть понравится. Есть минусы у игры и отсутствие локализации главный минус, другой минус это QTE. Тайминги очень низкие из за чего ни одно QTE я не прошел с первого раза, хорошо что их не так много. Еще мне не понравилось то что внешность героев изменили, и они отличаются от персонажей 2 части. А кто говорит что много гринда то эти люди просто заморачивались возможно из за платины. Играя в удовольствие ты даже не заметишь этого. А продажа сетов растений в первой локации может перекрыть растраты вплоть до конца игры. Вся игра проходится около 20 часов а повторное прохождение 13-15 часов. Платина 100 часов.(из за рондома)… Expand
  91. Khristian5
    Dec 11, 2021
    9
    Los fans de Shenmue agradecemos seguramente en una gran parte, que la experiencia de juego sea idéntica como lo fue en Dreamcast en jugabilidad y mecánicas del juego. Poder seguir la historia después de tantos año es un sueño hecho realidad. Igual no es el juego que esperaban las nuevas generaciones que acaban de conocer la saga hace poco, pero si para los que vivimos y acompañamos a RyoLos fans de Shenmue agradecemos seguramente en una gran parte, que la experiencia de juego sea idéntica como lo fue en Dreamcast en jugabilidad y mecánicas del juego. Poder seguir la historia después de tantos año es un sueño hecho realidad. Igual no es el juego que esperaban las nuevas generaciones que acaban de conocer la saga hace poco, pero si para los que vivimos y acompañamos a Ryo en su día en la búsqueda del espejo del fénix y la venganza de la muerte de su padre y nos quedemos con las ganas de continuar con la historia. Y sinceramente me encantaría que siguiera con una cuarta parte y no tardara tanto en salir como esta tercera. Gracias por volver Hazuki.… Expand
  92. DANIPSX
    Nov 20, 2019
    8
    I just played it on PC.

    The graphics are really great, remember that this game needed kickstarter to be released, so It's really great in terms of budget/quality. The sound its similar to the original ones, but with quality increased. The story still great. The story was the point that make a lot players get in love with this videogame. Gameplay fells the same as 18 years ago.    I just played it on PC.

    The graphics are really great, remember that this game needed kickstarter to be released, so It's really great in terms of budget/quality.

    The sound its similar to the original ones, but with quality increased.

    The story still great. The story was the point that make a lot players get in love with this videogame.

    Gameplay fells the same as 18 years ago. This could be a bad point for new players of the saga, but fans of the original saga are going to fell in love again.

    This game never meant to be a tripe AAA video game. This game was supported for fans, and It has been made for fans.

    Enjoy the game, not the critics or rates!.    … Expand
  93. ioio32l
    Jun 20, 2020
    8
    Exactly what Shenmue fans from the Dreamcast days asked for, feels like a Dreamcast game, feels like Shenmue, it is the way it should have been! Perfection! Now we just need Shenmue 4 and 5 to fully see the story Yu Suzuki has been trying to tell for so long.
  94. hobnob_
    Nov 20, 2019
    8
    Shenmue 3 is an oddity. The art styles are inconsistent, the controls are bizarre, the stamina system will have you pulling your hair out, the combat seems to have limited scope for mastery and feels like a button masher throughout, the voice acting is jank at best. But somehow the game contains a magic and a charm which can’t be denied.

    There’s something about starting a day in a video    Shenmue 3 is an oddity. The art styles are inconsistent, the controls are bizarre, the stamina system will have you pulling your hair out, the combat seems to have limited scope for mastery and feels like a button masher throughout, the voice acting is jank at best. But somehow the game contains a magic and a charm which can’t be denied.

    There’s something about starting a day in a video game with a part time job before you get down to business that brings the world alive. All you’re doing is playing a timing mini game (sometimes very rudimentary), but it doesn’t feel like that. Somehow, the purpose (making money) underpinned by Ryo’s story (finding his father’s killer) make you think that this is an important activity to help Ryo on his way. Shenmue 3 is full of those kinds of experiences.

    Getting to know the denizens of the game has never been more satisfying. In the opening village you quickly learn who has what kind of information. The town gossip can tell you where everyone lives, the martial arts experts can tell you where to train, the old man can tell you the history of the place. It all fits together in a coherent way, and before long you will know exactly who to talk to to find things out because you have familiarised yourself with the game’s environment and gotten to know characters who all have their own names are are more fleshed out than the NPCs of pretty much most other games.

    By no means a perfect game, and struggling with the balancing act of succeeding a 2001 title and a limited budget, Shenmue 3 is nonetheless a fantastic game. And ultimately, that’s what games are about; fantastic experiences. If you can adapt to the controls and allow yourself to get taken on it’s journey, Shenmue 3 is a fantastic experience.    … Expand
  95. Sonic1
    Jun 5, 2023
    8
    What I would improve for Shenmue IV:
    Much more story progress
    Better dialogues Meaningful characters Smaller, but more and dense environments Better cinematic quick time events Better draw distance If fights are not possible in high quality, I would invest in great quick time events 2 capsule machines are good enough (Figures and Sega arcade) Remove stamina Better interior    What I would improve for Shenmue IV:
    Much more story progress
    Better dialogues
    Meaningful characters
    Smaller, but more and dense environments
    Better cinematic quick time events
    Better draw distance
    If fights are not possible in high quality, I would invest in great quick time events
    2 capsule machines are good enough (Figures and Sega arcade)
    Remove stamina
    Better interior lighting and music transition (Adding doors and loading screen)
    Original Sega Arcade game
    Improved Ryo and Shenhua (Shenmue Passport )
    I like Ryo in I&ll much more
    No herbs
    Fights and training like in Shenmue 1
    Save money for better story, characters, good quick time events and a dense environment    … Expand
  96. Zeppelin158
    Nov 23, 2019
    8
    This is absolutely a faithful sequel to the first two, which were my favourite games on the Dreamcast. Sure it is rough graphically and clunky in parts but it plays just like a shenmue game. I would recommend if you like slow paced adventure games rich in character and atmosphere.
  97. Sobski117
    Nov 19, 2019
    8
    The wait is over! Shenmue III is finally here and it doesn't disappoint. I've been building this game up in my head for so long and it's crazy that for the most part it's met my expectations. The graphics are great (although there is some heavy texture pop-in that hopefully will get improved on in a patch), the story carries on directly from where II left off and also doesn't disappoint.The wait is over! Shenmue III is finally here and it doesn't disappoint. I've been building this game up in my head for so long and it's crazy that for the most part it's met my expectations. The graphics are great (although there is some heavy texture pop-in that hopefully will get improved on in a patch), the story carries on directly from where II left off and also doesn't disappoint. This is a game that fans and those who know what they're getting should enjoy. Performance on the PS4 Pro could be better but hopefully (as with the texture pop-in) that will be ironed out in a future patch.… Expand
  98. Reed618
    Sep 14, 2020
    8
    I'm surprised to say I enjoyed this game quite a bit. It has pretty big flaws but overall I had quite a lot of fun. I played Shenmue 1 and 2 in 2019 and found the first game quite charming and the second a little too padded, also the QTEs could be really unforgiving at times.

    I went in with low expectations but there's a lot to enjoy here. The art style is really quite nice. The    I'm surprised to say I enjoyed this game quite a bit. It has pretty big flaws but overall I had quite a lot of fun. I played Shenmue 1 and 2 in 2019 and found the first game quite charming and the second a little too padded, also the QTEs could be really unforgiving at times.

    I went in with low expectations but there's a lot to enjoy here. The art style is really quite nice. The environments are pleasant to explore and most of the character models are solid particularly the main cast. There are some nice features missing like lip synching and sometimes the dialogue and subtitles are very different but kickstarter games often lack polish and that stuff is quite minor. I found pop in could be annoying at times particularly in the game's second location Niaowu. Occasionally the streets would be deserted and I would find myself in a shop waiting for an npc to load in so I could buy something.

    The game is structured in a very shenmue way. It hasn't changed much. You talk to one npc and they direct you to another npc. You proceed like this but you also get to explore the environment at the same time and you occasionally meet some interesting characters. I found the first area was a bit confusing to navigate at times and a little small but things improved a lot when I reached Niaowu. It's larger and has a much simpler layout.

    There are some moments where the game feels padded out though and this really sucks. At one point you need 2000 yuan which is quite a bit. The npcs kept encouraging me to visit a fortune teller and try gambling but the system in place here is ridiculous. You visit a fortune teller, then run to another npc to buy tokens, then run to another npc to gamble and then you can trade your tokens in with another npc for prizes and then you travel to another npc to sell the prizes for money. I don't care how much slower it is... I chopped wood. I don't have the patience for that. I listened to youtube videos and I chopped wood. This wasn't so bad but later in the game you then need to earn 5000 yuan. You'll most likely find the fights are getting tougher as well which means you might need health potions which cost about 380 yuan each and if you want to buy more fighting moves those will cost you hundreds or maybe thousands of yuan. This really sucks. I'd much prefer it if you could just learn moves by training.

    The worst occasion of padding I noticed was shortly before the final encounter. I won't spoil anything but there's some buildup and a cool epic cutscene and you enter a new location and then shortly after arriving a guy tells you his ring, camera and plate were stolen. I spent 15 minutes searching a room for the ring, plate and camera. After that I was finally able to progress with my rather urgent quest. Honestly... they could have shortened this game by a good five hours. It would have been a better more streamlined experience.

    My final big complaint is the fighting system. There's a weird delay between pushing the button and executing the move so it's very difficult to get into a flow. You can easily launch a move and then find you're about to be hit but you're unable to do anything. Worse than this though is how you improve. You can spend huge amounts of money on skill books to learn new moves and you can spend large amounts of time doing repetitive mini games to level up your kung fu, your endurance and your health. I just played on easy and started carrying health potions towards the end. I trained when I had time to kill but honestly the way you level up sucks.

    So... overall... it's shenmue... it's basically a nicer looking shenmue 2 with more forgiving QTE's and I enjoyed it. I liked the environments, the characters, the story and even the divisive ending. The combat isn't good but it's not bad either and aside from moments that felt grindy or padded it was a pleasant experience. Honestly it's a much worse experience compared to yakuza but I'm glad I played it and I hope we see a Shenmue 4 someday even though that does seem extremely unlikely.    … Expand
  99. JMVegas
    Nov 19, 2019
    8
    After the long long wait, it's finally here. It is indeed Shenmue at it's core, and it's beautiful.
  100. GenoNF
    Nov 8, 2020
    8
    Shenmue 3 es justo lo que prometió Yu Suzuki en 2015, se trata de la continuación directa del segundo titulo de la saga. Desde mi punto de vista, el juego no puede ser comparado con las grandes producciones de hoy en día a las que nos tienen acostumbrados. Shenmue 3 es el deseo de los fans de que aquella historia inacabado por fin tenga un desenlace, pero para cumplir este deseo tenemosShenmue 3 es justo lo que prometió Yu Suzuki en 2015, se trata de la continuación directa del segundo titulo de la saga. Desde mi punto de vista, el juego no puede ser comparado con las grandes producciones de hoy en día a las que nos tienen acostumbrados. Shenmue 3 es el deseo de los fans de que aquella historia inacabado por fin tenga un desenlace, pero para cumplir este deseo tenemos que obviar que el juego no ha contado con una producción digna de otros títulos.

    Shenmue 3 se siente como un juego de Dreamcast, aunque son incluidas unas mecánicas que no llegan a funcionar como se espera,como el tema de la estamina o el nivel de pelea de Ryo. Estos errores no son graves problema para el juego en su totalidad. El que para mí si es un problema más grave es el hecho de que no todos los personajes interactúan con Ryo, te saca del mundo que quiere crear.    … Expand
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Awards & Rankings

14
#14 Most Discussed PS4 Game of 2019

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
67

Mixed or average reviews - based on 78 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 30 out of 78
  2. Mixed: 41 out of 78
  3. Negative: 7 out of 78
  1. PSX Extreme
    May 18, 2020
    30
    What a horrible experience this was. Whatever minuscule redeeming qualities this game might have are drowned out by just how infuriating it is. And I can’t think of anybody who is a fan of this franchise that can honestly call this game good with a straight face. Get this game if you’re a fan of the series, but don’t be surprised if it just ends up making you hate yourself for waiting nearly two decades for what is essentially the video game equivalent of Freddy Got Fingered.
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  2. PSX Extreme
    May 18, 2020
    30
    What a horrible experience this was. Whatever minuscule redeeming qualities this game might have are drowned out by just how infuriating it is. And I can’t think of anybody who is a fan of this franchise that can honestly call this game good with a straight face. Get this game if you’re a fan of the series, but don’t be surprised if it just ends up making you hate yourself for waiting nearly two decades for what is essentially the video game equivalent of Freddy Got Fingered.
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  3. Cubed3
    Apr 13, 2020
    50
    Shenmue 3 is a tough recommendation for general audiences. It won't please the die-hard fans of the originals due the step backwards in terms of game design. Neophytes who are curious about it will be confused and bored by the sleep-inducing pace, plus the how the voice acting has not changed since the early '00s. The visuals may have improved, and the loading times are a thing of the past, but this is still has the soul of a Dreamcast title. It won't live up to the expectations that fans have, nor will it excite interest in the franchise. Nothing of substance gets solved by the conclusion, and there's a lack of a pay-off to playing such an intentionally slow experience. The highs in Shenmue 3 involve doing what amounts to nothing; that is just taking in the atmosphere and exploring.
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