PC Version is the best with Mods.
https://nexusmods.com/shenmue/mods/
https://nexusmods.com/shenmue2/mods/
Especially this one.
https://www.shenmuedojo.com/forum/i...ck-native-mod-it-works-without-specialk.1378/
Here some images I took with HD mods.
https://www.shenmuedojo.com/forum/i...ck-native-mod-it-works-without-specialk.1378/
But if you want to Experience Every Scene in the game Emulator is the Way to go. Example you want to do a Notebook Completionist to see every possible story path or want to see the different Events Scenes that happen if you fail a QTE.
Then emulator way to go.
As well Shenmue I & II still have bugs that Sega will likely never fix they stopped adding patches last year.
Now About emulators.
Right now there is only 3 emulators to consider from best to worse.
1) Redream
Pros:
- Works Perfect no Setup needed other than tell it the folder you put games.
- Works Perfectly No Graphical issues like Redream/Flycast.
- No Sound Glitches due too your computer lacking resources.
- Perfect Performance. Redream Basically has the Performance of NullDc but with the graphics of Demul!
- The Creator is extremely High Performance he writes codes a LOT more than other Dreamcast emulator developers and constantly updates.
-Creator will talk to you if you reply him on discord. Very active.
Cons:
- HD option cost money.
- Only 5 save state slots that you have to Pay.
- It's not Open Source anymore.
- Premium version cost $5 But totally worth it. Better spend $5 than waste 5 hours trying to setup demul properly. Making it work or Testing settings.
- Has least compartible games but when they work they work 100% perfect.
2) NullDc---->Became(Redream)--->New Port for Retroarch(Flycast)
(Basically, NullDC creator made Redream with a stronger focus for Mobile. Flycast is a new port of Redream with improvements. They copy-pasted code from Redream old codebase (When Redream was open source) and improved Redream for PC.)
Pro:
- Flycast has Save States.
- It has great performance like NullDc and doesn't need a powerful PC to run.
-999 Save States! slots.
Cons:
- Drama The creator of Reicast threaten to sue Flycast. Since Retroarch creator basically removed all Dreamcast emulators in Retroarch and only left Flycast only. Retroarch lead developer constantly harrassed Redream creator when he chooses to make code private and add premium version.
- Has same issues with Graphics that Redream and even Null DC has.
- Works great but clunky compared to Redream and not properly optimized.
3) Demul.
Pro:
-Best compatibility can play most if not all Dreamcast games.
-Games Run great if you have a powerful PC
Cons:
-Very hard to setup.
- Very Demanding you need a stronger PC and video card with High Video Ram to get the max possible settings.
- Last updated 2016
- Has Save States but they very buggy and don't work well.