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. ChilliHippo
    Dec 3, 2019
    8
    Only a year ago I started for the first time the Shenmue saga so I am no an old fan boy, however I imagined and understood the importance of this franchise in the history of the medium.
    My approach to this 3rd chapter was open minded and, despite the hype, the expectations were quite low knowing that it is a low budget kickstarter project.
    After 30h plus with teenage martial artist Ryo    Only a year ago I started for the first time the Shenmue saga so I am no an old fan boy, however I imagined and understood the importance of this franchise in the history of the medium.
    My approach to this 3rd chapter was open minded and, despite the hype, the expectations were quite low knowing that it is a low budget kickstarter project.
    After 30h plus with teenage martial artist Ryo Hazuki I must say the game felt pretty good to me.
    It is not a masterpiece but it holds the weight of the name on his shoulder quite well. The game features all the quirky characteristics of the first 2 games, which I believe for the average of players could be cons but for me are pros that makes it somehow special. Many people claim that the graphics are from previous generations...what?? (Seriously guys, how can you say that?) This game has some pretty impressive visuals in particular the lighting effects, the selections of material/textures, the 3D models of main characters are top notch instead the NPCs, although they all dubbed in English (or Japanese), are less detailed but still with a cool anime style.
    Even thought it still doesn't tell much, the story is good, the environments are colourful and live, the world crafted by Yu Suzuki's small team screams 80s Chinese culture from every corner: lore, fashion, food, architecture and music generated joyful magic feelings in me that only a few handful Nintendo games (or Studio Ghibli movie) gave me before, something far from being realistic but very close to what a videogame should be.
    Shenmue III has plenty of defects too, the gameplay is not for everybody as it could be slow and annoying in some parts, combat system as well doesn't keep up with modern standards however it becomes quite fun and rewarding when you get used to it. Then the animations, the low frame rate, the constant pop up of NPCs, the repetitions of some dialogues, the storytelling and many others small things could really make you raise the eyebrows but you kinda want to justify them if you think at what this game went through and at the ridiculous budget they had to start with.
    After all, it still feels like a miracle game that gave me awesome moments of fun so I hope it will sell well and that they can continue the franchise with more chapters without seeking anymore alms.
    I would give a nice 7 /10 for people like me who are new to the saga and a deserved 9/10 for the fan who have been waiting and hoping for 19 years and finally can enjoy it. The average final mark would be a solid 8/10.    … Expand
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. 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 .
  5. acedies
    Jan 2, 2020
    10
    Sure it has its ussues, but I loved every second of it! Can'wait for Shenmue 4!
  6. 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
  7. 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
  8. 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.
  9. Taf1010
    Dec 8, 2019
    0
    Симулятор гринда. Скучный сюжет (которого максимум час). Никакого прогресса по сравнению с 2 частью
  10. Kaniya
    Nov 23, 2019
    6
    From the moment you boot up the game on PS4 it feels like you are thrown back in time in PS2 & XBOX era. The menu and even the title sequence style of the game is the resemblance of a beautiful time that we all been through and may have forgotten.
    At its core, Shenmue 3 feels like its remake of a game that should have existed 15 years ago but that does not mean the game is disappointing.    From the moment you boot up the game on PS4 it feels like you are thrown back in time in PS2 & XBOX era. The menu and even the title sequence style of the game is the resemblance of a beautiful time that we all been through and may have forgotten.
    At its core, Shenmue 3 feels like its remake of a game that should have existed 15 years ago but that does not mean the game is disappointing. we never really expected shenmue 3 to carry the same cutting edge and revolutionary technology that it had back then. Instead with its relatively small budget , it tries to be more of sequel that is freezed in time and that is not a bad thing.
    Shenmue 3 doesnt have Mesmerising graphics, but the world is immersive enough if you want it to be. There are details in every corner of the game and you can view all the details from close. The world is colorful and pretty. From the green and lovely village to more populated river side area the world comes to life with its rich details in every corner. Top notch sound design and music also helps to breath life and artistic sense into the world.
    When it comes to gameplay, Shenmue doesnt really evolve the formula of the series. Its a game that is between Persona & Yakuza and yet neither of them. You got your romance, socialisation, daily life, adventures and occasionally kung fu fights. The game is filled with tons of dialogues, however I wish these dialogues were written much better. Some of the dialogues are boring and too cheesey. The voice acting is good but its no where near today standards. At times it feels almost too robotic but if you are fan of Shenmue then that is also part of the game's charm. Original shenmue was all about immersing yourself in the city, working, mini game and going through lots of cut-scene and scripted fights. The same is here, you spend majority of your time to be a detective like person and explore places on your own and slowly unfold a story that both long awaited questions & also leave and open some new topics to the lore of shenmue. Shenhua is the highlight of the game and I feel without her this game would have been a massive failure. Other side of gameplay is completely up to you. You want to engage in the world its your choice, thus for people who are not into narrative games shenmue can become boring but if you are fan of such games then you should be fine. Battles have a very dated arcady feeling and they were not my favourite part of the game. they almost feel like Virtua fighter series but for what it is, they are good and add some variety to the gameplay and depths to our character.
    In conclusion, shenmue 3 is a very faithful sequel, i wish the game was more evolved into modern day but judging by its small budget I assume it was the right call to make a game that we all wanted perhaps 15 years ago. Its nostalgic of old times, it reminded me more than the game itself, reminded me the time i discussed about how fascinating shenmue was to my friends at school. if you love shenmue you will not be disappointed. however if you are after game like Yakuza with more focus on fights, skill trees and side quests you might not quiet enjoy this one! this is a game that is designed mostly for existing fans of the original series.
    EDIT: After finishing the game today, I want to add to my review how frustrated and disappointed I am in the story and its conclusion. after 40 hours of campaign & 18 years of waiting and donating more than 100$ this is the worst thing ever! i expected lots of questions to be answered and lots of story progressed but instead he just left too many questions unasnwered and also added more to show its potential for sequels! i dont really see any sequel for this game with such a massive stupid ending. Thanks for nothing.    … Expand
  11. ray670121
    Nov 20, 2019
    10
    Shenmue 3 is worth to wait. Fans will enjoy its classic gameplay. Amazing story let magic memories have coming to my past. Thanks to Suzuki san created this series
  12. 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.
  13. henritoxbox
    Nov 20, 2019
    10
    This game is the perfect continuation of the story of Shenmue. You have a town to explore, people to met, gambling and jobs, capsule toys and a lot of training/fighting. If you love the previous game, you will love this one for sure. Thank you Yu Susuki san!
  14. Red_Eileen
    Nov 20, 2019
    10
    Developped like an independant game and really good.
    Sure thing, it's not a 100 millions $ budget game but it clearly does a good job.
    For Shenmue players, great improvements : more things to do and explore, more story secrets to discover, and still this martial arts spirit based on wisdom and self improvement. For non Shenmue players, well you shall play the two others, it would be    Developped like an independant game and really good.
    Sure thing, it's not a 100 millions $ budget game but it clearly does a good job.

    For Shenmue players, great improvements : more things to do and explore, more story secrets to discover, and still this martial arts spirit based on wisdom and self improvement.

    For non Shenmue players, well you shall play the two others, it would be better. But even, you will discover a poetic and nice game where you HAVE to take your time, and this is a major feature of the franchise. You're not to rush and finish the game quickly but rather discover it as much as you want and take pleasure while doing this. Fights are rather complex but you will be used to it quickly.

    You still don't know i you buy it ? Well take a risk once in a lifetime and discover a new univers and a cool way of playing videogames    … Expand
  15. ArielFPD7
    Nov 21, 2019
    10
    No conocía esta saga hasta que ví los remasters del 1 y 2. Y fue algo increíble. Entendí por qué había tanto alboroto con un juego "viejo". Era como si tuviese magia negra, pasaron como 18 años desde los primeros dos juegos y sin embargo estaba embelezado con su jugabilidad, la historia. Luego me enteré del Shenmue III, lo compré y luego de 10 horas jugandolo, es una obra maestra. No es unNo conocía esta saga hasta que ví los remasters del 1 y 2. Y fue algo increíble. Entendí por qué había tanto alboroto con un juego "viejo". Era como si tuviese magia negra, pasaron como 18 años desde los primeros dos juegos y sin embargo estaba embelezado con su jugabilidad, la historia. Luego me enteré del Shenmue III, lo compré y luego de 10 horas jugandolo, es una obra maestra. No es un juego para todos, si no jugaste los anteriores es difícil entrar en su mundo, en su ritmo. Pero es increíble, se ve hermoso, la jugabilidad es excelente, y el ritmo lento te obliga a recorrer su mundo y embeberte en él.… Expand
  16. james1991
    Nov 21, 2019
    10
    It's exactly what you would expect as a fan. If you liked the first 2 games you'll like this one. As for the people complaining about the graphics it's not a AAA game he made the game with about 1/10 of the budget of a AAA game and i feel they did a great job when you take that into consideration. as for the ending it's obviously not a definitive ending as the plan is to have 4 of them atIt's exactly what you would expect as a fan. If you liked the first 2 games you'll like this one. As for the people complaining about the graphics it's not a AAA game he made the game with about 1/10 of the budget of a AAA game and i feel they did a great job when you take that into consideration. as for the ending it's obviously not a definitive ending as the plan is to have 4 of them at least and any fan of the series will understand that. I hope this will generate enough money to allow him to finish the series.… Expand
  17. Knite205
    Nov 24, 2019
    10
    Waited 18 years! Big thanks to yu sasuzki. And his team! I Litterly fell in love with it. After 20 min if playing! Hoping for a shenmue 4!! Finger cross!
  18. FrizzyGG
    Nov 24, 2019
    10
    Shenmue 3 is a budget game made for hardcore fans in mind, it stays faithful to the original concept from Shenmue 1 & 2 and adds some welcome changes. It's been 18 years and I'm glad I got to see the continuation of this classic that should be dead, but just shows the power of a faithful community that never gave hope to get this game made no matter the odds. I'm just glad it exists andShenmue 3 is a budget game made for hardcore fans in mind, it stays faithful to the original concept from Shenmue 1 & 2 and adds some welcome changes. It's been 18 years and I'm glad I got to see the continuation of this classic that should be dead, but just shows the power of a faithful community that never gave hope to get this game made no matter the odds. I'm just glad it exists and hopefully we get more! The story continues...… Expand
  19. Slimshdy85
    Nov 24, 2019
    10
    Mantiene la esencia original, como si no hubieran pasado ya 18 años desde shenmue 2. Una vez más, Yu Suzuki lo ha vuelto a hacer y solo queda agradacerle su esfuerzo por hacer felices a todos los fans de la saga.
  20. Niohk
    Nov 26, 2019
    10
    A reminiscent of its earliest instalments with a few more things added to the fray. If you're looking for a 90s throwback but with a modern touch, this is it!
  21. Della64
    Nov 19, 2019
    10
    Stunning visuals, colors, lights, the nature
    ... It's incredible what they achieved with that small budget. And the audio is incredible too, the nature sounds are nothing seen so far in a videogame. The story is catching me and the fighting system is really hard (playing at hardest difficult) hardest
  22. NeilNDM
    Nov 19, 2019
    10
    A must buy game from the legendary Yu Suzuki. The originator of open world games returns with an epic follow up to the Shenmue series. Worth buying 100%
  23. segasweden
    Nov 19, 2019
    10
    Finally we get to play a game from this franchise again and without reveal any spoilers I would say it is worth the wait. Even if you are new to the series the game draws you in with its rich world of adventure, characters and life.
  24. Dokodemodoamike
    Nov 19, 2019
    10
    A sequel that is truely worth the name. It turned out way better than i expected. it is made with so much love and passion, you can feel it. People who never played 1&2 maybe get confused at the beginning (the recap video that comes with 3 is too short and lacks of information, you better watch on youtube for better recap videos). But fans will instantly get hooked again. It feels like asA sequel that is truely worth the name. It turned out way better than i expected. it is made with so much love and passion, you can feel it. People who never played 1&2 maybe get confused at the beginning (the recap video that comes with 3 is too short and lacks of information, you better watch on youtube for better recap videos). But fans will instantly get hooked again. It feels like as if nothing happened and it seamlessly flows from Shenmue 2 to 3. The world feels alive and gorgeous, people feel like true personalities. Fighting feels different, but when you get used to it, it feels challenging.
    There is no way a fan of this series will be disappointed. This game has a soul! Just ignore the haters who have no clue about the franchise.    … Expand
  25. RyoxHazuki
    Nov 19, 2019
    10
    An authentic masterpiece, the true heir of the Shenmue Saga. Love it. You really feel like a martial artists discovering all the best moves in old china. Priceless.
  26. Pjbrown
    Nov 19, 2019
    10
    It was worth the 18 year wait. Shenmue is a series if you have never played,you are truly missing out on something very special. The saga continues
  27. mikehook1
    Nov 30, 2019
    10
    A mastepiece in story telling. I am blown away by it's ability to make you want to keep playing. To learn more about a compelling mystery. Brilliant
  28. 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.
  29. ceNLIFE
    Apr 10, 2020
    10
    The game have a lot of problems overall, but for us, fans, its a great game, a game that we have waited for 18 years! I like the fact that in terms of gameplay this game almost feels like a Dremcast game released in 2019!
  30. 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
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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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