Hmmm. I don't know how to word it properly...We also have the Project Berkley trailer:
I think, as you suggest, it was the physical manifestation of the mystical elements that caused problems. I kind of feel like I was always prepared for the possibility that the prophecy regarding the mirrors might be literal, but actually seeing a physical manifestation of magic in what was, at the time, one of the most realistic video game worlds ever created was really quite jarring.It did feel weird how we got more overt mystical moments in disc 4 of Shenmue 2 than we did in the entire third game. Shenhua was making flowers float in the air, the floating sword, the magical jolt Ryo and Shenhua got when they touched the sword at the same time, etc...
In Shenmue 3, all I can remember is dialogue options where Ryo has the ability to talk about Shenhua's ability to communicate with animals and even then, Ryo doesn't exactly seem to believe her. This is despite her doing the things I mentioned above in Shenmue 2 right in front of his face.
Yu really seems to have taken the 'by the fans, for the fans' to heart in the third game. To the point where it came at detriment to his original vision of the games. I mean, that's why we have arcade machines in Bailu village. I'm sure he was well aware of the concerns of some fans who wouldn't take too kindly to Shenmue going down a 'magical' route.
That is my concern, I want to see Yuu and the original staff true vision not being influenced by anything. Or at least the key elements.Yu really seems to have taken the 'by the fans, for the fans' to heart in the third game. To the point where it came at detriment to his original vision of the games. I mean, that's why we have arcade machines in Bailu village. I'm sure he was well aware of the concerns of some fans who wouldn't take too kindly to Shenmue going down a 'magical' route.
That is exactly the comparison I was thinking those days, Indiana Jones. Shenmue have a great mistery atmosphere too, little a little the things are turning more and more mysterious and in so supernatural things just like in these movies.I see things transpiring a bit like an Indiana Jones film (minus Temple of Doom). Everything is mostly grounded up until the very end where something supernatural finally happens to pay the villains their comeuppance (e.g. cursed treasure).
Had the other Shenmue sequels been guaranteed on Dreamcast, I think the big WTF supernatural moment would have been reserved exclusively for Shenmue 4/5, instead of appearing more prematurely in Shenmue 2.