- Joined
- Dec 19, 2019
- Location
- Tokyo
Shenmue has an image problem. It doesn't have a demographic, it isn't a Nintendo game, a fantasy game or have guns. It was originally sold to the Japanese as nostalgic 80s Japan, but its no longer in Japan. It's now in China, which isn't super marketable in Japan. Ryo is Japanese but doesn't have a sword, ninja stars or a huge tattoo on his back which is the only thing the west knows about Japan in video games. No one knows this series' strong points until they play it, everyone 'discovering' them. There's no doubt that these are some of the greatest games ever made, but they are a marketing executive's nightmare.
Shenmue 4 needs to change things up a bit therefore if Yu Suzuki wants a Shenmue 5. Great reviews might sell the game, but no one's going to spend money marketing it and Shenmue will never see another large budget, so Open-world innovation is out the window. If Shenmue 4 is the end then it may not need to change much, but no one would put up funds for Shenmue 5 if Shenmue 4 looks like Shenmue 3.
The action needs to be a much higher percentage of the content ( use the battle rally format) and it needs more humour. Remove the dating simulator conversations with shenhua and dial Ren up to 11. Think Shenmue 2 X Rush hour. Steal some yakuza ideas.
If the anime is a success maybe even make the graphics more anime-like and less toy story/shrek-like.
Only have one town and have the townspeople interactive as usual. Remove NPC voice acting if need be. Have yakuza style random fights in the town with ryo and ren and up to 10 enemies with these interactive residents being bystanders (or maybe even joining your side) that run away and close their shops. If they get injured or the shop is damaged the shop closes down until they heal/fix the shop.
Have an arcade with townspeople that challenge you and beat your top scores. Maybe have some games on a playable Dreamcast.
Basically I think this needs to be an arcadey/yakuza/rush hour game in a shenmue shell with an accompanied story and Open-world elements. Perhaps remove the day-to-day schedule if it prevents a fast pacing or allow for Open-world exploration after the linear story has been completed.
I'm not saying that I want these changes, and perhaps they are too drastic, but I think it's the only way to make it more palatable for a new audience and to generate funds for a Shenmue 5.
What do you think? Does 4 need to change the formula to attract fans for a 5th? Should 4 run the risk of ending the series prematurely by not selling enough?
Shenmue 4 needs to change things up a bit therefore if Yu Suzuki wants a Shenmue 5. Great reviews might sell the game, but no one's going to spend money marketing it and Shenmue will never see another large budget, so Open-world innovation is out the window. If Shenmue 4 is the end then it may not need to change much, but no one would put up funds for Shenmue 5 if Shenmue 4 looks like Shenmue 3.
The action needs to be a much higher percentage of the content ( use the battle rally format) and it needs more humour. Remove the dating simulator conversations with shenhua and dial Ren up to 11. Think Shenmue 2 X Rush hour. Steal some yakuza ideas.
If the anime is a success maybe even make the graphics more anime-like and less toy story/shrek-like.
Only have one town and have the townspeople interactive as usual. Remove NPC voice acting if need be. Have yakuza style random fights in the town with ryo and ren and up to 10 enemies with these interactive residents being bystanders (or maybe even joining your side) that run away and close their shops. If they get injured or the shop is damaged the shop closes down until they heal/fix the shop.
Have an arcade with townspeople that challenge you and beat your top scores. Maybe have some games on a playable Dreamcast.
Basically I think this needs to be an arcadey/yakuza/rush hour game in a shenmue shell with an accompanied story and Open-world elements. Perhaps remove the day-to-day schedule if it prevents a fast pacing or allow for Open-world exploration after the linear story has been completed.
I'm not saying that I want these changes, and perhaps they are too drastic, but I think it's the only way to make it more palatable for a new audience and to generate funds for a Shenmue 5.
What do you think? Does 4 need to change the formula to attract fans for a 5th? Should 4 run the risk of ending the series prematurely by not selling enough?
Last edited: