As there are a lot of threads discussing the story and how it was handled I wanted to start a thread specifically taking a look at how some the ways Shenmue 3 may have retconned or simply cut previously established story ideas.
It's a known fact that Suzuki has changed the story a lot over the years, even if he's kept the overall plot relatively the same from the original treatment. I'm curious if you guys have any thoughts or additions on possible story changes the Shenmue 3 may have permanently made. I'm specifically looking at major plot changes not aesthetic changes like Shenhua's clothes or Ryo's bag.
Some examples:
Any I'm missing?
It's a known fact that Suzuki has changed the story a lot over the years, even if he's kept the overall plot relatively the same from the original treatment. I'm curious if you guys have any thoughts or additions on possible story changes the Shenmue 3 may have permanently made. I'm specifically looking at major plot changes not aesthetic changes like Shenhua's clothes or Ryo's bag.
Some examples:
- Sword of the Seven Stars
- This is now a dagger
- Doesn't appear in the opening cutscene
- Was left as a family heirloom but is provided no more explanation on its importance (other than being a glorified key)
- Paintings in Shenhua's house
- No more scary mountains. Considering we are now leaving Guilin at the end of Shenmue 3 this may never be seen again. My hypothesis was on the cut Baisha scenes
- No more Luoyang painting. Luoyang may still be planned for Shenmue 4
- Shenmue Tree
- No additional information on the Shenmue tree at all, it is barely mentioned in the game. Since the story is not going to return to Bailu I don't see how they can exposit on this further
- Second tree at Ternary Spring. Shenmue 2 implies that the Shenmue tree is special/one of a kind. Is it a normal tree now? Why name the story after it?
- Mirrors/Treasure
- Shenmue 3 implies the treasure is monetary. This may be a red herring though.
- We now know the mirrors were made in 1910 at the end of the Qing dynasty. This was likely planned but Shenmue 2 implies the mirrors are ancient, was this changed?
- Shenmue 3 ends with them going to the temple for the treasure. If we are indeed on only Chapter 6 has Suzuki excised parts of the story to wrap it up faster?
- Relief in the cave/Shenhua's father
- We know that the cave reliefs of the mirrors were worked on since the envoy in 1910. No further explanation was given, are we now to believe they are no longer important to the story?
- The letter in the cave strongly implies that Mr. Yuan is dead (listen to it again). He is obviously alive and well. Since he exposit's nothing and is basically a glorified McGuffin, I'm not convinced he was always planned in the story.
- EDIT: The opening of the game makes reference to this. It's possible it was retconned as mention of his illness seems to be pushed aside. However, it's possible it was jut misdirection as well.
- Chi You Men
- We were repeatedly told there are 4 leaders of the Chi You Men - There is no indication that anyone other than Lan Di is a leader.
- Chi You was a legendary adversary to Huang Di, but the story seems focused on the Qing dynasty and relatively modern times
- Niao Sun was featured as the main antagonist for Shenmue 3 in promo material and interviews, this seems to have been cut
Any I'm missing?
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