In 2000, I played one of the finest, most immersive, most gripping, most engaging games that I’ve ever played: Shenmue. I was a Dreamcast owner as the new millennium got underway, and at a time in my life when school, university applications, a Saturday job, and more were keeping me very busy, I began to drift away from video games.
But then Shenmue came along.
It’s no exaggeration to say that this was the title which first showed me that video games could be more than just digital toys, and what gaming as a medium could look like in the 21st Century. Shenmue told an intense story set in the real world, one that would’ve felt right at home on the big screen. It’s a landmark title for me; a proto-open-world game that first showed me what gaming was about to become, and a game I still find myself comparing other titles to over a quarter of a century later.
This webpage is an archive of my articles and posts about Shenmue, Shenmue II, Shenmue III, and any potential continuation of the series. Shenmue III was one of the first subjects I ever wrote about here on the website, back in December 2019, and I’ve discussed the Shenmue series on a few occasions since then.
I have plans to review the anime series at some point soon, a retrospective of Shenmue II is on the cards, and it’s possible that I will eventually play Shenmue III – though I haven’t done so yet.
So stay tuned for all of that, as well as future commentary about this wonderful game and series.
Cancelled Games I Wish We’d Got To Play
“All of these games sounded good to me, and I regret that they were cancelled before I could try them…”
My Favourite Places in Shenmue
“I thought it could be a bit of fun to explore Shenmue’s game world together…”
Video Game Spotlight: Shenmue
“Shenmue was more than just a game…”
Does Shenmue Have A Future?
“I’m pretty sure that this is where the Shenmue saga ends…”
Ten Games To Play While You Wait For GTA 6
“I hope I managed to pick one or two that you might not have been expecting!”
Crowdfunding and pre-ordering are completely different
“This fundamental misunderstanding has caused an awful lot of disappointment in recent years…”
Ten games to play instead of Cyberpunk 2077
“If, like me, you don’t really have £50/$60 to spend on a single game this close to Christmas – or you don’t have a PC or console capable of playing it – I thought it could be fun to go through a few alternatives…”
Ten more games I’d remaster (if I could)
“Some of the biggest companies in the games industry have recently put lots of money into remakes and remasters, and some games that I’d never have expected – like Destroy All Humans and Command and Conquer – have been brought up-to-date. So there’s a chance….”
I didn’t buy Shenmue III
“Wait, isn’t Shenmue III the sequel I’ve been waiting eighteen years for? Nope. Because it doesn’t conclude Ryo’s story…”
Trekking with Dennis 