GamingGuest Userjapanese, subculture, original, game, action, adventure, sailors, shenmue, sega

Shenmue [1999]: The Fan-Favorite

GamingGuest Userjapanese, subculture, original, game, action, adventure, sailors, shenmue, sega
Shenmue [1999]: The Fan-Favorite

"Do you know any places where sailors hang out?"

 
 

Shenmue is an Action-Adventure game released in 1999 by Sega for the Dreamcast - directed and produced by the legend Yu Suzuki. Shenmue belongs to the classic and most beloved niche game franchises of all time, with fans worldwide that praise it for its story, world, atmosphere, mini-games [and its forklift].

 
 

Back in 1999, the game was anticipated to become one of the most promising and most expensive projects in gaming history. The graphics were a breakthrough for the Sega Dreamcast and the gameplay offered one of the first glimpses into a new generation of 3-D sandbox games. The soundtrack by Takenobu Mitsuyoshi and Yuzo Koshiro boasted one of the first full blockbuster orchestral set-ups in video game history.

 
 

The game follows the story of Ryo Hazuki, on the hunt to find revenge over his father's death, through the mystical villain Lan D. The story starts in Yokosuka as we follow Ryo through the small harbour town trying to find hints and clues about his father's death.

 
 

An open-world scenario that was highly innovative for that time with mini-games, arcades, and said forklift: The game created a one-of-a-kind bond with its players through many intricacies on and off the journey of its storyline.

 
 

Shenmue sold 1.2 million units and became one of Dreamcast's bestselling games. However, its sales did not cover its cost and became a major commercial failure for Sega.
Contrary to its financial success, the game manages to hold one of the most die-hard fanbases in video game history. It is the fans who have carried Shenmue's legacy long past the lifespan of the Sega Dreamcast.
Long after the death of Dreamcast, Shenmue and its sequel, remain the most loved underground games of their generation. A fundraiser for its third installment in 2020, managed to break Kickstarter records.

If you haven't ever played Shenmue, the Sabukaru Team strongly recommends you try this piece of last-gen video game history.