- Joined
- Aug 29, 2019
This is my first post.
However, I have "lurked" in Shenmue Dojo since I first completed Shenmue II back in 2003.
Like a lot of you, for the 15+ years, I have periodically searched "Shenmue 3" into Google and was elated when this project was announced a few years ago. Shenmue I and II were an important part of my formative experience as a young man. I know this may sound strange to some, but I feel like Ryo's journey -- both his "external" journey through Yokosuka, Hong Kong, and Guilin, and his "internal" journey as he grows -- were my own as well, and I feel as if a part of me has been waiting in that cave with Ryo and Shenhua for more than 15 years. I still can't believe that Shenmue III is just a few months away and that our journey can finally continue.
What's going to happen next?
This is something I have pondered for a long time.
Now that Shenmue III is so close, I wanted to post my thoughts online. Not so that I can be proven right, but because I think it will be interesting to go back and read this after I have completed Shenmue III and reflect on how it compared with my expectations.
I've created this new user account specifically for that purpose. I hope this is posed to the correct section, and that I am not contravening any rules by posting this here.
* * *
In no particular order, here are my predictions for Shenmue III:
[1] Ryo will transcend his quest for revenge.
He'll come to realise that his father (and now himself, Shenhua, his growing army of followers) are part of a much bigger story. His father died for something that he believed was bigger than himself or his family. Ryo will come to appreciate this. As he matures through Shenmue III, finding answers will become more important than revenge.
This will also happen with Ren. We saw a glimpse of this at the top of the Yellow Head building: Ryo turned his back on Lan Di's departing helicopter, and was the closest he had ever come to giving up; but Ren put his hand on Ryo's shoulder, urged him not to give up, and Ryo turned back to face Lan Di and watch him depart toward Guilin. Ren's motivation will transcend riches. He, along with Ryo and others, will be drawn into a struggle between good and evil.
[2] Ryo's "power" (mentioned in the prophecy) will be revealed. But it isn't Kung Fu.
It's DETERMINATION, which he will learn to channel into leadership.
All through the first two games, Ryo has met allies, often older and wiser, who tried to dissuade him from his quest, notably Master Chen and Xiuying Hong. We get the sense that Ryo learned from these masters, and left their “orbit” with valuable wisdom. However, what we also see is that Ryo seems to have awakened something in them too. Chen, initially, felt that Ryo was a fool and was reluctant to help him. By the end of Shenmue I, he decides to send his only son to continue the quest by his side. Xiuying too seems to have been stirred by Ryo, and secretly follows him throughout Shenmue II, helping him to progress on his quest.
Despite Ryo’s general lone wolf nature and reserved demeanour, he seems to have inspired Master Chen, his Guizhang, Xiuying, Zhu Yuanda, Joy, Wong, Ren, and others to join his quest.
I see this theme continuing in Shenmue III.
As Ryo meets and learns from wise martial arts masters, elders, and perhaps other gangsters, he will continue to inspire and build his army of “friends, those you love”.
[3] Lan Di will try to recruit Ryo.
This is why Lan Di spared him at the top of the Yellow Head building: he sees in Ryo the same determination that he too possesses and recognizes that Ryo is, in a sense, a kindred spirit. This is the meaning of the part of the prophecy that says, “the strength that would destroy him”.
We know that the Chi You Men look for promising martial artists to recruit.
Lan Di will try to recruit Ryo. This is the context of their meeting in that building. Ryo will have the opportunity to fight Lan Di, and Lan Di will be more powerful. However, Lan Di will also hold back somewhat, while being impressed with Ryo’s fighting ability.
Related to this: Ryo will develop a more nuanced picture of who Lan Di is, and what motivated him to join the Chi You Men, travel to Japan, and, ultimately, kill Ryo’s father. This will contribute to Ryo’s transcending his quest for vengeance, or stepping into his role as a leader.
[4] “Keep friends, those you love, close to you…”
These were Iwao’s final words to Ryo, which he had to struggle to utter. He chose them wisely.
They will prove to be the theme of the entire series.
At some point, Ryo might have to choose between revenge and keeping his friends and those he loves close to him. He will come to a metaphorical and/or actual fork in the road, and will face a simple dichotomy:
Does he avenge his father’s death, and ignore his father’s dying words to him?
Or, does he heed them, realizing that taking to heart his father’s final lesson to him is a more fitting way to honour him that to murder his father’s killer?
Yu Suzuki may even give us this very choice as players. Perhaps, if we select the option for revenge, we are presented with a “game over” screen indicating that revenge is one of the bad endings.
[5] Shenmue tree
It is symbolic. This tree is ancient, perhaps even eternal, just as the struggle between good and evil is eternal. This is something Iwao learned in China, and he took a leaf from the Shenmue tree back to his home in Japan as a memento of this important lesson. Good will never completely triumph over evil. It is a struggle that must continue until the end of time.
This theme may show up in a more tangible form:
Ryo may succeed in helping Xiuying’s brother, and perhaps Lan Di, find redemption. His strength that I mentioned above may so powerful, he is able to do that. However, the “main boss” of the Chi You Men escapes, for another generation to face and struggle against.
However, I have "lurked" in Shenmue Dojo since I first completed Shenmue II back in 2003.
Like a lot of you, for the 15+ years, I have periodically searched "Shenmue 3" into Google and was elated when this project was announced a few years ago. Shenmue I and II were an important part of my formative experience as a young man. I know this may sound strange to some, but I feel like Ryo's journey -- both his "external" journey through Yokosuka, Hong Kong, and Guilin, and his "internal" journey as he grows -- were my own as well, and I feel as if a part of me has been waiting in that cave with Ryo and Shenhua for more than 15 years. I still can't believe that Shenmue III is just a few months away and that our journey can finally continue.
What's going to happen next?
This is something I have pondered for a long time.
Now that Shenmue III is so close, I wanted to post my thoughts online. Not so that I can be proven right, but because I think it will be interesting to go back and read this after I have completed Shenmue III and reflect on how it compared with my expectations.
I've created this new user account specifically for that purpose. I hope this is posed to the correct section, and that I am not contravening any rules by posting this here.
* * *
In no particular order, here are my predictions for Shenmue III:
[1] Ryo will transcend his quest for revenge.
He'll come to realise that his father (and now himself, Shenhua, his growing army of followers) are part of a much bigger story. His father died for something that he believed was bigger than himself or his family. Ryo will come to appreciate this. As he matures through Shenmue III, finding answers will become more important than revenge.
This will also happen with Ren. We saw a glimpse of this at the top of the Yellow Head building: Ryo turned his back on Lan Di's departing helicopter, and was the closest he had ever come to giving up; but Ren put his hand on Ryo's shoulder, urged him not to give up, and Ryo turned back to face Lan Di and watch him depart toward Guilin. Ren's motivation will transcend riches. He, along with Ryo and others, will be drawn into a struggle between good and evil.
[2] Ryo's "power" (mentioned in the prophecy) will be revealed. But it isn't Kung Fu.
It's DETERMINATION, which he will learn to channel into leadership.
All through the first two games, Ryo has met allies, often older and wiser, who tried to dissuade him from his quest, notably Master Chen and Xiuying Hong. We get the sense that Ryo learned from these masters, and left their “orbit” with valuable wisdom. However, what we also see is that Ryo seems to have awakened something in them too. Chen, initially, felt that Ryo was a fool and was reluctant to help him. By the end of Shenmue I, he decides to send his only son to continue the quest by his side. Xiuying too seems to have been stirred by Ryo, and secretly follows him throughout Shenmue II, helping him to progress on his quest.
Despite Ryo’s general lone wolf nature and reserved demeanour, he seems to have inspired Master Chen, his Guizhang, Xiuying, Zhu Yuanda, Joy, Wong, Ren, and others to join his quest.
I see this theme continuing in Shenmue III.
As Ryo meets and learns from wise martial arts masters, elders, and perhaps other gangsters, he will continue to inspire and build his army of “friends, those you love”.
[3] Lan Di will try to recruit Ryo.
This is why Lan Di spared him at the top of the Yellow Head building: he sees in Ryo the same determination that he too possesses and recognizes that Ryo is, in a sense, a kindred spirit. This is the meaning of the part of the prophecy that says, “the strength that would destroy him”.
We know that the Chi You Men look for promising martial artists to recruit.
Lan Di will try to recruit Ryo. This is the context of their meeting in that building. Ryo will have the opportunity to fight Lan Di, and Lan Di will be more powerful. However, Lan Di will also hold back somewhat, while being impressed with Ryo’s fighting ability.
Related to this: Ryo will develop a more nuanced picture of who Lan Di is, and what motivated him to join the Chi You Men, travel to Japan, and, ultimately, kill Ryo’s father. This will contribute to Ryo’s transcending his quest for vengeance, or stepping into his role as a leader.
[4] “Keep friends, those you love, close to you…”
These were Iwao’s final words to Ryo, which he had to struggle to utter. He chose them wisely.
They will prove to be the theme of the entire series.
At some point, Ryo might have to choose between revenge and keeping his friends and those he loves close to him. He will come to a metaphorical and/or actual fork in the road, and will face a simple dichotomy:
Does he avenge his father’s death, and ignore his father’s dying words to him?
Or, does he heed them, realizing that taking to heart his father’s final lesson to him is a more fitting way to honour him that to murder his father’s killer?
Yu Suzuki may even give us this very choice as players. Perhaps, if we select the option for revenge, we are presented with a “game over” screen indicating that revenge is one of the bad endings.
[5] Shenmue tree
It is symbolic. This tree is ancient, perhaps even eternal, just as the struggle between good and evil is eternal. This is something Iwao learned in China, and he took a leaf from the Shenmue tree back to his home in Japan as a memento of this important lesson. Good will never completely triumph over evil. It is a struggle that must continue until the end of time.
This theme may show up in a more tangible form:
Ryo may succeed in helping Xiuying’s brother, and perhaps Lan Di, find redemption. His strength that I mentioned above may so powerful, he is able to do that. However, the “main boss” of the Chi You Men escapes, for another generation to face and struggle against.