The story is a 4/10 and the combat was around a 6/10. The world, side distractions, and music was the strongest part and felt like a extension of Shenmue so it's like a 8/10. I enjoyed it, and I'm glad I got to experience a modern take on Shenmue if we never get 4 but it's very flawed as a whole and at best I can only give it a 6/10 at best in it's current state.
The game is far worse than either previous title in the series. First off the framing and direction of scenes was poor largerly due to those strange fades and weird scene jump cuts which were very distracting honestly.
Secondly Bailu presented Ryo with the perfect situation to learn more about his father's past and the story took zero advantage of it. The only thing you learned was that the town was once a central hub of the martial arts community which is what drew many in, including your father. But does not explain or build any background on all of the fateful events that led to Iwao potentially taking Sunmings life.
The game could have simply had one of the multiple Masters and characters who seemed to know him in the town explain their time together in the village and possibly have jumped into a few flash backs of simply showing their relationship with one another and possibly build up characters and world building details like possible personal beliefs, goals, interests, personal relationships, and disagreements, and such in order to establish at the very least potential motives as to why Iwao could have taken Sunmings life and also explain why he may have kept many of those items below the dojo in the first chapter. They didn't even need to do anything conclusive, they needed to at minimum alter or redirect the long held questions and sense of mystery towards a new one. The secret to good writing is not simply answering questions but giving a sense of understanding which can be used to mislead or set up more questions in the viewers mind.
Third issue is the fact Ryo seems to behave like he learned nothing in Shenmue 2 from Xiuying and her resistance and take on seeking revenge and all of the practicians of martial arts he interacted with about the wude which seemed to radically change his level of maturity by the time you face the Yellowhead Building and Dou Nui.
Not to mention Zhao and his revelation that should have made Ryo realize he is basically repeating a vicious cycle of revenge. You would think he wouldn't just try to immediately attack Lan Di and make himself look like a fool and nearly die, but instead IDK maybe ask him questions about all of these things you didn't know anything about that really bring your understanding of your father into question before you try to kill him or break him.
The game also ignored Ryo and his progression as far as strength, he just instantly gets slapped around by any above average thug even after taking out 70 men of various sizes and strength levels, and took out Dou Nui and a ton of trained professional thugs who clearly had their shit together.
To make this matter worse both sections of the game operate on the same structure of fail twice against a big opponent who they don't develop or give any reason for why they are so powerful, overcome some huge financial issue, learn a new move from a master, suddenly overcome the bad guy who your lucky if they even name and then move on.
They don't develop the Masters, side characters, or antagonists, the game basically had neither really present in the game, they were all there to just conveniently tie the story along, provide a couple fun scenes but we're not really part of the larger story and did not spend any extended time interacting with you about anything outside of learning a new move or testing you. They did not teach you ideas, principles, or anything else. The one made you spend a years salary on alchole and the other really just kind of tested you and helped you cross a body of water.
Things just sorta happen with no greater context, Ren just shows up with no greater explanation as to why he is there. Niu Sun is sneaking around in street clothes, but the game never gives a reason why she would do this. Lan Di is just chilling with other Chi You Men or gang leaders and you have to fight them, but the game explains nothing about them or why any of them are there. All of these wicked people in one place, just because it's convenient to the story. Shenmue previously explained these meetings and character interactions with the Long Zha deal in Shenmue and because Lan Di wanted Zhu in Shenmue 2 because he was a valuable asset information wise. You largerly worked with and became friends with Ren and the Heavens Gang because he was in direct competition with the Yellowhead Gang and you both stood to gain more working together.
The story as whole was all over the place and didn't really bring anything new or meaningful to the table, you could literally just skip the game and not really miss anything of value plot wise.
Honestly the story was insulting, both the franchise and the fanbase deserved some real progression and not some anime filler plot line masquerading as a sequel.
I had fun but as far as being a continuation of the story it's bad. My only hope is he gets enough money, networking, and partnerships through the development and release of this title that we actually get a better game in the 4th.
