Shenmue I & II

 Xbox One
Metascore
72

Mixed or average reviews - based on 10 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 3 out of 10
  2. Mixed: 7 out of 10
  3. Negative: 0 out of 10
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  1. Xbox Tavern
    Aug 23, 2018
    93
    Of course, Shenmue is showing its age, but both games are still more than capable of capturing attention in a way that many other games simply can’t. Everything from the characters, to the world, to the amazing score and story, is clearly a labor of love. Even if, like me, you still have the old DC copies kicking about, this collection is absolutely the best way to experience these games.
  2. TheXboxHub
    Sep 11, 2018
    90
    Whether you are a newcomer or a series fanatic these are games that deserve to be played, and with a fantastic price to boot there isn’t really an excuse not to. Play Shenmue. Now.
  3. Jeuxvideo.com
    Aug 20, 2018
    75
    Rising from its ashes, Yu Suzuki’s saga is still a legend and this amazing adventure hasn’t aged at all. Still, this port would have required a little more care.
  5. Official Xbox Magazine UK
    Oct 21, 2018
    70
    An HD re-relase of a beloved series. It's a pity that it hasn't received the remaster treatment. [Nov 2018, p.78]
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  6. XboxAddict
    Sep 10, 2018
    70
    Shenmue has a very important part in videogame history, as a whole, for numerous reasons, which is why I wish it got some updated polish and improvements that it rightfully deserved. Given the series' turmoil history though, we should be happy we’ve at least gotten this port. If you want to experience a game unlike any other, and can keep an open mind about when it was originally released, you’ll start to appreciate it for what it was at the time, and in the present it is almost like a time capsule directly back to 1999.
  7. XGN
    Sep 3, 2018
    70
    Shenmue 1 & 2 remaster are games that every fan should own. Still, both games feel really old on every front. There are some changes but it’s simply not enough. Though these games deserved a remake, they are still worth your while.
  8. AusGamers
    Aug 30, 2018
    70
    For all its faults and this remaster’s bare-minimum approach to presentation – Shenmue is still worth playing. And hey, any game that can be described as Virtua Fighter meets The Sims, set in Japan during the 1980s, always will.
  9. SomosXbox
    Aug 27, 2018
    65
    Although the soul of this magnificent work is still intact, with the re-launch of Shenmue I & II, a golden opportunity to bring Yu Suzuki's masterpiece to the younger public is lost due to its poor remastering work.
  10. Generación Xbox
    Sep 5, 2018
    62
    A great title of a lousy remaster. Shenmue was a pioneer 20 years ago, nowadays the experience can be totally different.
  11. Cubed3
    Sep 28, 2020
    60
    It is a really fun world the games put forward, and it is great to explore and figure out where to go and what to do next. At the same time, though, they don't necessarily play that well, and they show their age in a lot of unfortunate ways. This is definitely more of an acquired taste, and it is probably best to say that these are better experiences than they are video games. They're worth checking out, particularly for someone that has fond memories of them on the Dreamcast, but be warned that there are some warts that need to be looked past before you dive in headfirst.

Awards & Rankings

56
#56 Most Discussed Xbox One Game of 2018
91
#91 Most Shared Xbox One Game of 2018

User Reviews

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User Score
7.8

Generally favorable reviews- based on 75 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 55 out of 75
  2. Mixed: 8 out of 75
  3. Negative: 12 out of 75
  1. Xbox_Alive
    Aug 23, 2018
    8
    The presentation side of the game is the best yet and without a doubt you see improvements in both the visuals and sound design over theThe presentation side of the game is the best yet and without a doubt you see improvements in both the visuals and sound design over the original game’s. Playing through the story once again brings back a lot of fond memories and even in today’s modern surroundings the story shines ever so bright.
    I really enjoyed the combat yet again and this time around it felt much more tight and fluid because the controls held up really well throughout. Boredom never really rears its ugly head throughout your time with the game’s because there’s a lot of variety present which means there’s always something for you to do. Being able to save anywhere is an absolutely fantastic addition because it means you don’t need to worry about dying and this in turn keeps frustration levels down Unfortunately the game suffers with a few technichal issues but thankfully the developers have said these will be patched soon. While the soundtrack sounds great the dialogue is a little muffled and doesn’t sound great some of the time. Does Shenmue I and II do enough to get a recommendation from me? 1999 was a great year for me because whilst I really enjoyed game’s before 1999 I think this year made me really fall in love with the gaming world. The Sega Dreamcast was a console I really adored and I was sad when it became discontinued. That being said in its short time the Dreamcast opened up a number of doors for consoles and it also delivered masterpieces such as Shenmue I & II. Playing Shenmue I & II again brings back a lot of fond memories and as far as remasters go they’re very good to say the least. What I really like about these remasters is that whilst they improved aspects of the game they’ve also kept the original feel of them as well, which in turn means that newcomers and veterans of the series will each find something that will tickle their fancy. At the end of the day Shenmue I & II definitely does more than enough to get a recommendation from me and I’m pleased to say that it was an absolute pleasure to play through these masterpieces again.    … Full Review »
  2. Jetro
    Jan 18, 2020
    10
    Si eres de la vieja escuela sabrás apreciar este juego como se debe. Todo es grandioso en un juego que sentó las bases de lo que hoy en díaSi eres de la vieja escuela sabrás apreciar este juego como se debe. Todo es grandioso en un juego que sentó las bases de lo que hoy en día son videojuegos modernos.… Full Review »
  3. 24Nathan
    Dec 26, 2019
    10
    Definitely recommend these classics. Shenmue I (Dreamcast) and Shenmue II (Dreamcast, Xbox, Xbox 360 backwards compatible), are now availableDefinitely recommend these classics. Shenmue I (Dreamcast) and Shenmue II (Dreamcast, Xbox, Xbox 360 backwards compatible), are now available on Steam, Xbox One, and PlayStation 4! These are my personal favorite games of all time. Don't forget to check out Shenmue III on PlayStation 4, Epic Games Store, and Steam (November 19th, 2020)! And then on to #SaveShenmueIV!… Full Review »
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