Wccftech has reviewed Shenmue 3:
More information.Shenmue III Review - Nostalgia-Drunken Master
It's hard to believe I'm actually reviewing Shenmue III here at the tail end of 2019. Shenmue and its first sequel were hugely influential games, establishing the framework countless other open worlds have been built upon, but unfortunately, they were also ahead of their time. The first two Shenmue games just didn't connect with early-2000s audiences, at least not to the degree needed to cover their bloated budgets. Shenmue creator Yu Suzuki spent years struggling to revive the series, but it was all in vain until the advent of Kickstarter, where Shenmue III managed to amass a whopping $6.3 million from fans (still the most successful Kickstarter campaign ever for a single video game).
Of course, as we've seen before, a lot of Kickstarter cash doesn't always translate into a great game. Does Shenmue still have something unique to offer players in 2019? Or does the master no longer have what it takes to compete? Time to put this old warhorse to the test...
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Is Shenmue III dated? Absolutely, but the game proves that, like most genres, open-world adventures still have a thing or two to learn from the past. Shenmue III isn't always as player-friendly as it could be, but its lively, uniquely-handcrafted world is truly absorbing. Here's hoping this isn't the end of Ryo and Yu Suzuki's epic journey.
Pros
Cons
- Very pretty in its own way
- Plot builds to a satisfying climax
- Missions are varied and engaging
- Densely-packed level design
- Plenty to keep you busy
- Genuinely relaxing
Score: 8/10
- Ungraceful combat
- Quick time events still not great
- Will we ever see the end of this story?