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Shenmue is not just a video game; it’s an exciting journey that redefined the medium, paving the way for modern open-world and narrative-driven games. Released in 1999 for the Sega Dreamcast, this masterpiece created by Yu Suzuki marked a turning point due to its ambition, realism, and technological innovations, making it a revolutionary work of art.
In this video, we will explore every aspect that makes Shenmue a legendary title: from its origins and development to the challenges it faced, along with curiosities, hidden details, and its lasting impact.
An Ambitious Project: Yu Suzuki's Vision
The idea for Shenmue started as Virtua Fighter RPG: Akira’s Story, an extension of the Virtua Fighter universe. However, Yu Suzuki realized that his vision went beyond a simple fighting game and decided to create an entirely new adventure. The project, originally intended for Sega Saturn, shifted to Dreamcast, allowing the team to take advantage of the new hardware’s capabilities.
The game was initially conceived as an epic spanning 11 chapters, and Shenmue represents only the first two. The vastness of this vision led to a development process that spanned years and had a budget of around $70 million, making it the most expensive game of its time.
Fun Fact: There is a working prototype of Shenmue for the Sega Saturn, showcasing the project’s ambition even on the more limited hardware.
A Living, Realistic World
One of the most impressive aspects of Shenmue is the vibrant, detailed world it created. Every part of the setting was designed to immerse players in a real version of 1980s Yokosuka:
NPC Routines: Every non-playable character followed their own daily schedule. They worked, shopped, and returned home, creating a believable ecosystem.
Total Interactivity: Players could explore every corner, open drawers, buy items from vending machines, or even turn on a radio to listen to music.
Authentic Atmosphere: Details like shops and item prices were accurately reflective of the era. The weather system was based on real 1986 data, adding an extra layer of immersion.
Fun Fact: The cat that Ryo can look after is inspired by a developer’s own pet cat, a detail that shows the level of personal touch involved in the game’s development.
An Epic, Deep Story
The plot of Shenmue follows Ryo Hazuki, a young martial arts apprentice, on his journey to avenge his father’s murder at the hands of the mysterious Lan Di. But revenge is just the beginning: the game intertwines themes of honor, fate, and self-discovery as Ryo unravels the secrets behind the Dragon and Phoenix Mirrors, two ancient artifacts tied to a millennia-old power.
And finally, here are some videos of SEGA games and consoles, which we covered here on Retro Legends:
SEGA playlist:
• Sega
Vectorman:
• VECTORMAN - the best graphics of the Mega ... &list=PLkl8XbnPGUBpRdT7PiAkSpe9E07NoPVVw
Sonic 3:
• SONIC 3: history, secrets and mysteries of...
Space Harrier:
• SPACE HARRIER | welcome to the fantasy zon...
10 things you didn't know... about GAME GEAR:
• 10 things you didn't know... about GAME GEAR
Wonder Boy:
• WONDER BOY: the Incredible story of a Sega...
Nights into Dreams:
• NiGHTS into Dreams: the forgotten masterpi...
10 things you didn't know... about SATURN:
• 10 things you didn't know... about SATURN
Ecco The Dolphin:
• ECCO THE DOLPHIN: a dive into the classic ...
The House Of The Dead:
• THE HOUSE OF THE DEAD: zombies, arcade and...
Comiz Zone:
• COMIX ZONE: the forgotten treasure of the ...
Sonic Adventure:
• SONIC ADVENTURE: from Dreamcast to legend
10 things you didn't know ... about Mega Drive:
• 10 things you didn't know... about MEGA DRIVE
Sega Rally:
• SEGA RALLY - the king of arcade racing of ...
10 things you didn't know ... about Sonic:
• 10 things you didn't know... about SONIC
Shenmue:
• SHENMUE: Yu Suzuki's masterpiece that chan...
OutRun:
• OUT RUN: how Sega created a video game icon
Alex Kidd:
• ALEX KIDD: Sega's forgotten hero
.. and the history of the 32X:
• SEGA 32X: a courageous idea that failed
Stay Retro, Stay Legends!
#Sega #YuSuzuki #Shenmue
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