[Dunk] Prior to Shenmue's release, people in video games tended to look like a block of polygons with a JPEG of a face, pasted onto their head. If you were lucky the characters would look somewhat human in a pre-rendered cutscene. So when my friend Neil booted this shit up on his Dreamcast back in 1999 It was like: Oh, shit! What?! That...?! That's the actual graphics?! How is it doing that?! How would they think of that? Even today, there are some impressive qualities about the game. Like, how every NPC has their own routine and can be talked to. [Ryo] "Hey!" [Random Boy] "Hey, Mister!" "Let's play baseball." [Dunk] You can open individual drawers in a cabinet. Uh... You can... Uh... Get these capsule toys. [Ryo] "Why so down?" [Random Boy #2] "I think a good one is ready to come out of this capsule toy machine..." "Ryo, please give me a 100 yen." [Ryo] Sorry, I'm in a hurry. "100 Yen each." This is cool!
(Bean the Dynamite from Sonic the Fighters) [Dunk] But I think the most interesting aspect of Shenmue is how it serves as a little virtual window into Japan. You have Ryo's house that is all segmented by these sliding doors, the toilet is built into the floor... Like, I don't know what the fuck you do with that thing! Every time he goes in the house he has to take his shoes off, outside they have a big Koi pond and a dojo, the houses have these little plaques with the name of the family who lives there. Then on the main strip, you've got
Uh... Tom! Who is permanently dancing in front of his hotdog stand. I've never been to Japan, but I'm assuming this is all exactly right. Especially the part with Sméagol...
(Gollum) [Chai] "*Laugh* Lan Di-sama... [Dunk] You have this incredible soundtrack, you have QTE sequences that are actually well made,
(Quick time events) you have clunky, but satisfying combat. All of these elements should add up to a great game. But... They don't. The primary gameplay of Shenmue consists of walking around and asking people questions about stuff they usually don't know about. [Ryo] "-You know any place where sailors hang out?" "Do you know a guy named Charlie?" "Did you see a black car?" "Do you know where there's a pay phone around here?" "Do you know where the antique shop is?" "Mario..." "Would you teach me some Italian?" "Do you know about Nagai Industries?" "Do you know anything about the Old Warehouse District?" "Do you know anybody who's familiar with the harbor?" "Do you know of a cheap way to travel overseas?" [Dunk] As you've probably noticed, the voice acting is REALLY... Really good. It's honestly the most entertaining aspect of Shenmue. [Rena] "Bastard!" [Yumiko] "I'm gonna kick your ass!" [Dunk] But what kills this game for me is how you're constantly forced to just wait around for the next thing to happen. There was a part where my only objective for that day was to go to the tattoo parlor and talk to the guy who runs it. So I get there... [Ryo] "It's closed" So, now I have to wait until 2:00 p.m. for it to open, And I mean,
look at my watch! It takes a while for time to elapse in this game. So finally, the store opens... [Charlie] "Tomorrow at 3" "wait at the arcade." [Dunk] Fuck you! So now I have to walk home, go to bed- Oh, wait!
It's not late enough for me to sleep yet! So, now I just stare into a corner until it's 8:00 p.m., go to sleep, get up at 8:30 and wait until 3:00 p.m. so I can play the rest of the game. This is dog shit game design. [Ryo] "Excuse me" [Dunkey as Ryo] "I'm looking for some gameplay." [Woman] "I'm sorry, but can you ask me later?" [Dunk] It's a shame this remastered version just straight-up broke on me before I could get to the good part of the game where you get a job as a Forklift driver and have to go to work everyday. Shenmue is a unique experience and a piece of gaming history but it's also probably the single greatest example of how willing gamers are, to overlook solid game design in favor of impressive technology. It isn't a fun game... but, it is funny. [Harry] "Bye bye, boy!" [?] "Bye bye." [Dunk] Now, Shenmue 2... has a feature where... You can race ducks against a penguin. That's how you make a game! [OUTRO]
Shenmue 2 on the other hand, IS A MASTAHPIECE!
Dunkey is spoiling us with all these videos.
Interesting to see that dunkey is excluding his #/5 rating at the end of his dunkviews now.
No uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuhu 0/10
But, Shenmue’s face does have good gramphics though, so I give it a 2/5, just a terrible game.
Years ago.. I was Chinese
The graphics that’s what this is really all about.
Dunkey, my husband has been obsessively watching your videos for a little bit recently, so I’ve gotten to watch them too. He started watching the older LOL videos, and it’s amazing to see how much you’ve improved. Your jokes are much more refined? if that makes sense. There’s a shitload less random gobblidygook and more layered humor. I love the consistent callbacks and references to previous videos; it’s not overdone, it just comes off as an awareness of previous work and slips in at an impactful moment.
In all the times we’ve watched and rewatched videos, there have been so many instances where I go “holy fuck I never noticed that before!” Those little details really take your videos to the next level to me. It’s clear how much time and effort you put in (either that or you’re really good at throwing shit together last minute!)
I’m also really enjoying the stuff you do with your friends. It’s always more fun to watch YouTubers and streamers play what they enjoy rather than the same old shit that some of their louder fans demand they keep playing.
Anyway, just thought I’d drop a positive note. You’re one of my favorite content creators and I hope you’re able to do it for as long as you want!
THANK YOU
I thought I was taking crazy pills when everyone says how great Shenmue is.
It's the epitome of an "all bricks, but no building" type of game. Everything is there for it to be a great game, but it falls way short of its potential.