- Joined
- Aug 17, 2018
- Location
- UK
So it's been a year since release, and a year since I completed the game.
53 hours I spent with Shenmue 3, no fast travelling, taking everything in as slow as possible.
I remember telling my wife how much I was enjoying the game, and how it felt like Shenmue.
And then I suddenly wasn't and it didn't.
Progressing the story at a snail's pace, unfortunately, gave me the impression that this was a long game, mainly due to the lack of story progression, the lack of QTE's and the lack of combat. By the time I reached the old castle, it felt like the story was about to really progress and the action was going to ramp up in frequency.
There isn't really anything I can say about the old castle that hasn't already been said.. but my heart kept sinking and by the time the credits rolled I was upset and angry.
I didn't want it to, but it killed my excitement, at that very moment I didn't want a Shenmue 4 unless that whole part of Shenmue 3 was "fixed".
So a year of reflection.
I haven't touched the game again since as I haven't felt the need to. But having just received my Steam key it made me start thinking about the game again.
Turns out, I loved the game up until the old castle, I truly did. And just like Shenmue 1 & 2, I want to talk to people and explore those areas again.
But how the whole last part panned out, made me realise that I don't see Shenmue 3 as canon.
To me the interactions during the whole old castle were incorrect as if they were made by someone who didn't know the series and wasn't really a fan.
I thought to myself, do I want to play Shenmue 3 again, and the answer is yes, but only if that last part doesn't exist.
Shenmue World Kickstarter made me also start thinking if I cared anymore for the series. I did eventually back it, but before, like the Shenmue 3 Kickstarter, I'd have slapped money down instantly no questions asked.
Would I be excited if Shenmue 4 was announced... sure.. but I'd be far more excited if a Shenmue 3 director cut was announced that addressed the issues I and others have with the game. Once Shenmue 3 felt like canon to me, I'd be extremely excited for Shenmue 4.
53 hours I spent with Shenmue 3, no fast travelling, taking everything in as slow as possible.
I remember telling my wife how much I was enjoying the game, and how it felt like Shenmue.
And then I suddenly wasn't and it didn't.
Progressing the story at a snail's pace, unfortunately, gave me the impression that this was a long game, mainly due to the lack of story progression, the lack of QTE's and the lack of combat. By the time I reached the old castle, it felt like the story was about to really progress and the action was going to ramp up in frequency.
There isn't really anything I can say about the old castle that hasn't already been said.. but my heart kept sinking and by the time the credits rolled I was upset and angry.
I didn't want it to, but it killed my excitement, at that very moment I didn't want a Shenmue 4 unless that whole part of Shenmue 3 was "fixed".
So a year of reflection.
I haven't touched the game again since as I haven't felt the need to. But having just received my Steam key it made me start thinking about the game again.
Turns out, I loved the game up until the old castle, I truly did. And just like Shenmue 1 & 2, I want to talk to people and explore those areas again.
But how the whole last part panned out, made me realise that I don't see Shenmue 3 as canon.
To me the interactions during the whole old castle were incorrect as if they were made by someone who didn't know the series and wasn't really a fan.
I thought to myself, do I want to play Shenmue 3 again, and the answer is yes, but only if that last part doesn't exist.
Shenmue World Kickstarter made me also start thinking if I cared anymore for the series. I did eventually back it, but before, like the Shenmue 3 Kickstarter, I'd have slapped money down instantly no questions asked.
Would I be excited if Shenmue 4 was announced... sure.. but I'd be far more excited if a Shenmue 3 director cut was announced that addressed the issues I and others have with the game. Once Shenmue 3 felt like canon to me, I'd be extremely excited for Shenmue 4.
Last edited: